5 Pokemon That Still Need Hats in Pokemon Go

Pokemon GO has been putting hats on Pokemon since its first Christmas event. While the hat phenomena has mostly been contained to the Pikachu family, many Pokemon have opportunities to get in on the fun with New Years, Spring, Fashion Week, Halloween, and Christmas events. While our dreams of Party Hat Wurmple and Top Hat Hoothoot have been realized, there are some popular picks that have been missed by fans. The article below highlights just 5 of many costumed Pokemon that have yet to make it into Pokemon GO.

It’s no secret that Dedenne is the superior Pikachu. It retains the original fat Pikachu energy, without being too bulbous like Togedemaru, along with Raichu’s more appealing color palette. Given its adorable form, it would be the perfect Pokemon to place a hat upon. Can you believe that Dedenne has been in Pokemon GO for nearly a year now and it still doesn’t have a hat?! To add, Dedenne has no evolutions, so there would be no evolution-based barrier to the assumed approval process to get a costumed Dedenne into Pokemon GO. 

As for the hat, the possibilities are endless. A flower crown would be a simple first step in the Dedenne Hat revolution, as it would be adorable and has precedence in the Pokemon Animated Series. A tiny, golden crown would also be most excellent, already being featured on Dedenne in Pokemon’s 2014 Halloween plush line. Witch Hat Dedenne? I would die. In short, if almost anything can work on Pikachu, it’ll work better on Dedenne. 

It’s no secret that Dedenne is the superior Pikachu. It retains the original fat Pikachu energy, without being too bulbous like Togedemaru, along with Raichu’s more appealing color palette. Given its adorable form, it would be the perfect Pokemon to place a hat upon. Can you believe that Dedenne has been in Pokemon GO for nearly a year now and it still doesn’t have a hat?! To add, Dedenne has no evolutions, so there would be no evolution-based barrier to the assumed approval process to get a costumed Dedenne into Pokemon GO. 

As for the hat, the possibilities are endless. A flower crown would be a simple first step in the Dedenne Hat revolution, as it would be adorable and has precedence in the Pokemon Animated Series. A tiny, golden crown would also be most excellent, already being featured on Dedenne in Pokemon’s 2014 Halloween plush line. Witch Hat Dedenne? I would die. In short, if almost anything can work on Pikachu, it’ll work better on Dedenne. 

Joltik stands out as one of the smallest Pokemon in the franchise. If Joltik were to have a hat, it would have to be the tiniest, tiniest little thing on the planet. A flower crown? Joltik can barely handle a flower. 

Alternatively, Pokemon GO could go the opposite direction and give Joltik a very large hat to contrast Joltik’s small size. Enter: Sombrero Joltik. To add to the absurdity, Joltik’s running animation, when set as your buddy in the overworld, is jumping up and down at a rapid pace. Now imagine that, but with a giant sombrero on. It would be glorious.

To add, TPCI approving Sombrero Joltik could remind them that Mexico exists and would love to have a regional or two this year. Historically, South America has often only had Brazil as a special event for the region. Given Mexico’s passionate Pokemon GO player base and large turnout in 2022, having at least 1 regional would be greatly appreciated. 

Dragonite is a beloved Gen 1 Pokemon, equal parts powerful and adorable. I don’t think any Pokemon GO fans would complain about a Dragonite hat event, especially with its recent Superpower buff in Pokemon GO’s Season of Light update. For Dragonite specifically though, it might be better received with a costume rather than a hat. 

In Pokemon the First Movie, Dragonite flies around the world delivering invitations to Mewtwo’s tournament a la messenger bag. Many players want another shot at capturing Armored Mewtwo, as well as the clone skins of the Gen 1 starter evolutions. Why not usher in the rerun of the Pokemon the First Movie event with none other than Messenger Bag Dragonite?

Alternatively, Messenger Bag Dragonite could be an interesting way to promote the “Ready to Raid” feature that was recently datamined by the Pokeminers. While players hope this feature will expedite the count down timer for low party raids, the current assumption is it’ll be a status set to let your friends know you’re available and seeking remote raid invitations. Sending out invitations? Sounds like something Dragonite from Pokemon the First Movie would do. 

Better idea, both. “Ready to Raid” promoted by Messenger Bag Dragonite. Then Messenger Bag Dragonite serves as a timely excuse to rerun Armored Mewtwo and the clone skin starter evolutions. Now this relatively benign update to raids has some big hype around it. Niantic, if you’d like to hire me, my DMs are open. 

Another Pikachu clone? Well, they are adorable. However, hatted Pachirisu serves a greater purpose: Giving Pachirisu a global event spawn. As it stands, only a limited portion of the northern hemisphere has access to Pachirisu spawns. To best use Pachirisu in Great League PvP, it needs to be a 100% IV Pokemon and maxed at level 51. With such a limited spawn location, it is an extreme chore for most players to max out their Pachirisu.

So what hat should Pachirisu wear? A santa hat or flower crown feels simple enough. Maybe a single sprouting flower to remind people that Pikmin Bloom still exists. Perhaps they could give Pachirisu a sweatband and jersey to promote Niantic’s next big release, NBA All-World. The possibilities are endless. Like Pikachu and Dedenne, Pachirisu is very hat-able, and PvP minded trainers would appreciate the access.

If you’re not on Twitter, Cowboy Hat Caterpie may sound like an odd choice. Its origin stems from twitter user @MikeNerdlaw who has commented on nearly every single one of Pokemon GO’s tweets  “Cowboy Hat Caterpie please” since 2020. Unlike the original hatted meme bug, Party Hat Wurmple, Cowboy Hat Caterpie has no canonical precedence beyond one man’s desire. This may make Cowboy Hat Caterpie feel undeserving, and I would have agreed, that is until Pokemon GO did the unthinkable. 

On July 22nd 2022, Cowboy Hat Snorlax debuted as an event spawn for Pokemon GO Fest Seattle. Cowboy Hat Snorlax?!?! Clearly, Cowboy Hat Caterpie is on Niantic’s radar, as I cannot imagine what would possess Pokemon GO to release a Cowboy Hat anything in Pokemon GO. But to do so and not have it be Caterpie?!?! That’s cold.

Cowboy Hat Caterpie started as a meme, but it’s more than that now- Cowboy Hat Caterpie is justice. Thanks to Cowboy Hat Snorlax, creating the Cowboy Hat asset is no longer a barrier to Cowboy Hat Caterpie. All that needs to happen now is for Pokemon GO to ask and for TPCI (or whoever decides what gets hats in this game) to say yes. All we can do in the meantime is ask, “Cowboy Hat Caterpie, please.”

This article merely highlights a handful of the many Pokemon players would like to see hats on in Pokemon GO. Needless to say, Dedenne is a huge priority. Every costume event that passes that doesn’t feature Dedenne is a wasted opportunity. Sombrero Joltik would be hilarious, but a little tiny hat would also be fantastic. Messenger Bag Dragonite would be hype. Anything-hat Pachirisu would be appreciated. And Cowboy Hat Caterpie, please.