Yes, you can absolutely recruit Legendary Pokémon in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX, but there's a specific condition for many of the powerful Pokémon you encounter during the main story.
How Legendary Recruitment Works
While many Pokémon can be recruited once defeated in a dungeon, Legendaries often have unique requirements. For the Legendary Pokémon you encounter as bosses before completing the main storyline, such as Zapdos, Moltres, Articuno, Entei, Raikou, Suicune, Groudon, Rayquaza, and others, they cannot be recruited on your initial encounter.
Here's a breakdown of the process:
- Pre-Credits Encounters: Any Legendary Pokémon you battle as a story boss before the credits roll (e.g., Zapdos at Mt. Thunder, Rayquaza in the Sky Tower) are not recruitable at that point. Defeating them progresses the story, but they won't join your team.
- Post-Credits Recruitment: The key to recruiting these formidable allies lies in completing the main narrative. Once you have seen the "The End" screen and the game's credits, these specific Legendary Pokémon become available for recruitment. You can then return to their respective dungeons and challenge them again. Upon defeating them in these post-game encounters, they will have a chance to join your rescue team.
This ensures that players fully experience the main story before assembling an all-powerful team of Legendary Pokémon. It adds a rewarding post-game challenge, encouraging exploration and strategic planning to bring these mighty allies into your roster.
