Ho-Oh and Lugia are two of the most iconic Legendary Pokémon in the entire franchise, and spotting them soaring overhead in Pokémon Pokopia is genuinely thrilling. What most players don't realize is that those flyovers aren't just eye candy. You can actually call both of them down, speak to them, and register them to your Pokédex. It takes serious preparation, but this guide walks you through every requirement, material, and step to make it happen.
What Do You Need Before You Can Befriend Ho-Oh or Lugia?
Before crafting either bell, two conditions apply to both Legendaries:
- Complete the main story. You must finish all Important Requests and roll credits. Neither bell recipe unlocks until the endgame is cleared.
- Collect feathers and Rare Pokémetal. Both bells require 5x Rare Pokémetal each, plus the specific feathers tied to each Legendary.
Beyond those shared requirements, each Legendary has its own additional condition tied to recruiting other Legendary Pokémon first.
How to Befriend Ho-Oh
Step 1: Meet the Three Legendary Beasts
To unlock the Clear Bell recipe, you must first meet Raikou, Entei, and Suicune, the three Legendary Beasts found on the Dream Islands. These roaming Legendaries are well-hidden, much like their original appearances in the Game Boy Color era, so tracking them down takes patience.
Once you've encountered all three Legendary Beasts, the Clear Bell recipe automatically unlocks.
Step 2: Craft the Clear Bell
With the recipe in hand, head to your crafting menu and gather:
- 5x Rainbow Feathers
- 5x Rare Pokémetal
Step 3: Call Down Ho-Oh
Wait for Ho-Oh to appear flying overhead. When it does, place the Clear Bell on the ground and ring it. Ho-Oh will descend, greet you, and be added to your Pokédex.
How to Befriend Lugia: Tidal Bell Guide
Step 1: Meet the Three Legendary Birds
To unlock the Tidal Bell recipe, you need to meet Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, the Kanto Legendary Bird trio. Fans of Pokémon the Movie 2000 will recognize this connection immediately, as Lugia's bond with the three birds is classic Pokémon lore brought to life in Pokopia.
Meeting each bird requires building their altars. The altar building kits are found at Palette Town. Once you place an altar, wait for the corresponding Legendary Bird to appear at that location. Repeat this for all three birds to unlock the Tidal Bell recipe.
Step 2: Craft the Tidal Bell
With all three birds met, gather the following:
- 5x Silver Feathers
- 5x Rare Pokémetal
Step 3: Call Down Lugia
Wait for Lugia to fly overhead, place the Tidal Bell on the ground, and ring it. Lugia will make its entrance and join your Pokédex.
How Do You Get Rainbow Feathers and Silver Feathers?
Both feather types drop randomly when Ho-Oh and Lugia fly overhead during normal gameplay. Ho-Oh scatters Rainbow Feathers and Lugia scatters Silver Feathers. After a flyover, look for the feathers on the ground and collect them. Some players report needing to use the Cut ability to access certain feather drop locations, so keep that in mind if a feather appears out of reach.
You need exactly 5 of each feather type, so collecting them passively while progressing through the story is the most efficient approach.