Year of the Rat
From Friday, Jan 24 to Monday, Feb 3rd at 1PM PST (GMT -8), there will be a Lunar New Year event celebrating the Year of the Rat, including boosted wild Pokémon species, new Pokémon in eggs, and other bonuses!
Boosted Species
A number of red-colored Pokémon will have their spawn rates boosted. Even more exciting, Gyarados will be available in the wild, and be shiny-eligible!
New Hatches
Darumaka, Shuckle, and Foonguss (and potentially others) will be available in 7 km eggs! Darumaka evolves into the super exciting Darmanitan, the new top DPS Fire-type attacker!
Other Bonuses
- Gifts that you open may hold rare candies!
- Increased odds of becoming Lucky Friends with your best friends!
- Pokémon that you trade have an increased chance of becoming Lucky, giving a 50% dust discount on power-ups and a guaranteed 12/12/12 IV floor!
Minccino Field Research Event
On Sunday, February 2nd from 2-5 PM local time, you'll be able to find field research that will give Minccino, a Pokémon originally found in the Unova region that is now being added to Pokémon GO.
- Limited time research! Make sure you get out and do as much as you can, because afterwards Minccino will likely be much harder to find!
- Minccino will have boosted hatch rates from 5 km eggs, and will remain in 5 km eggs after the event ends.
- Shiny! Minccino's shiny is being added into the game along with the normal color, so good luck hunting for one!
- Other boosted spawns: Year of the Rat-related Pokémon will be everywhere. The post lists Rattata, Raticate, Pikachu, Sandshrew, Nidoran(F), Nidoran(M), Sentret, Marill, Zigzagoon, Plusle, Minun, Bidoof, and Patrat.
Original Niantic Post
The full post can be found here.
Trainers,
Happy Lunar New Year! The Pokémon GO Lunar New Year event is happening once again, spotlighting various red Pokémon and, in celebration of the Year of the Rat, a Limited Research event featuring Minccino, the Chinchilla Pokémon. Take a look at the details below.
Pokémon GO Lunar New Year Event
It’s time to welcome in the new lunar cycle with red Pokémon appearing more frequently in the wild, lucky bonuses, and the appearance of a Pokémon not previously found in Pokémon GO: Darumaka!
Date + Time
Friday, January 24, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Monday, February 3, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PST (GMT −8)
Features
- Certain red Pokémon will be featured. Charmeleon, Vulpix, Parasect, Voltorb, Jynx, Magmar, Magikarp, Flareon, Slugma, Wurmple, Corphish, Kricketot, and Foongus will appear more frequently in the wild!
- Gyashaa! If you’re lucky, you might spot a Gyarados in the wild. Will you be lucky enough to encounter the coveted red Shiny Gyarados?
- Darumaka will hatch from 7 km Eggs. Some red Pokémon will be hatching from 7 km Eggs, such as Shuckle and Foongus. Making its Pokémon GO debut will be Darumaka, the Zen Charm Pokémon!
Bonuses
- Gifts will have a chance of rewarding you with Rare Candies, so be sure to send and open lots of Gifts with your friends.
- Be sure to trade more often with your friends—the likelihood of becoming Lucky Friends will be increased.
- When you trade a Pokémon, there will be an increased chance it will become a Lucky Pokémon.
Minccino Limited Research
In celebration of the Year of the Rat, Minccino, the Chinchilla Pokémon, will be appearing in Pokémon GO for a special Limited Research event. Professor Willow has also uncovered that Minccino can evolve into Cinccino through use of a Unova Stone!
Date + Time
Sunday, February 2, 2020, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time
Features
- Field Research: Minccino Limited Research tasks will allow you to encounter Minccino.
- Pokémon that fit the theme of the Year of the Rat will be appearing more frequently in the wild. Look out for Rattata, Raticate, Pikachu, Sandshrew, Nidoran♀, Nidoran♂, Sentret, Marill, Zigzagoon, Plusle, Minun, Bidoof, and Patrat.
- Minccino in 5 km Eggs: Minccino will be hatching more frequently from 5 km Eggs. After the event ends, Minccino will continue to be available in 5 km Eggs.
- Shiny Minccino will be available! If you’re lucky, you might encounter one!
Wishing you health, wealth, and luck during the Lunar New Year! Stay safe, and happy exploring!
—The Pokémon GO team
