Ahead of the arrival of the much-anticipated Go Fest 2020, Niantic has outlined a new set of special challenges very much of kin to the Throwback events of recent memory.
During set periods, players will be assigned three special weekly challenges regardless of if they purchase a Go Fest ticket or not. On top of this, if a specific number of players from each of the three teams can complete these tasks in time, additional rewards will be unlocked for Go Fest 2020. During this time, we'll also see special spawns in the wild, in eggs, and in raids. Among them is Flying Pikachu, a new Pikachu variant with details that have yet to be released.
Week 1: Skill Challenge
| Research Begins | Research Ends |
|---|---|
| July 3, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. local time | July 8, 2020, at 10:00 p.m. local time |
The first week of this event coincides with the four-year anniversary of Pokemon Go's release. During this leg of the event, players will be given a 3-step set of research. Completion of this event will reward an encounter with the aforementioned Flying Pikachu, the yet-to-be-released Water/Flying Type pokemon Ducklett (don't forget to Pinap!), and a Star Piece!
Players who successfully complete the challenge will also be granted access to the GO Fest Elite Skill Challenge, a yet-to-be-disclosed special research line that can be completed at any time and that will not need to complete to help unlock rewards for Go Fest 2020.
To top this research off, each of the three teams will also be given a goal that must be completed in order to unlock a special spawn for Go Fest 2020.
- Mystic: complete tasks 1,000,000 times total to unlock Alomomola
- Valor: complete tasks 1,000,000 times total to unlock Chansey
- Instinct: complete tasks 1,000,000 times total to unlock Chimecho
4th Anniversary Event
Niantic didn't forget! We have a new event coming in honor of Pokemon Go's 4th anniversary!
- Flying Type Pokemon will be featured
- Flying Type and special hat Pokemon will be more common in the wild, raids, and hatching from eggs
- Ducklett will see its grand debut in 5k eggs and the wild
- Flying Pikachu will be in the wild and raids, and will be available in its shiny forme
- Special Pokemon encounters will be available via snapshots
- The Jump Start Special Research will be making a return for those who have not yet completed it!
Ho-oh Special Raid Weekend
The Rainbow Pokemon is returning to the raid scene for a special Raid Weekend... but still no word on Sacred Fire or other special moves.
| Raids Begin | Raids End |
|---|---|
| July 3, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. | July 6, 2020, at 10:00 p.m. local time |
Week 2: Battle Challenge
| Event Start | Event End |
|---|---|
| July 10, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. local time | July 15, 2020, at 10:00 p.m. local time |
Another three-task set, and another special unlock set for Go Fest 2020 for this week, as well as some hints at something potentially special...
Completion of this week's research will grant encounters with Hitmonlee and Absol, as well as a super rocket radar! I wonder what we'll want to have that for...? The unlocks for this week are as follows:
- Mystic: complete tasks 1,000,000 times total to unlock Alolan Grimer
- Valor: complete tasks 1,000,000 times total to unlock Alolan Marowak
- Instinct: complete tasks 1,000,000 times total to unlock Ferroseed
Completion of this set will unlock the GO Fest Elite Battle Challenge, another unique challenge that can be completed at any time and does not go towards any additional unlocks.
| Event Start | Event End |
|---|---|
| July 12, 2020, from 11:00 a.m. local time | July 12, 2020, from 2:00 p.m. local time |
It's a "battle-themed event", and Niantic says to "have your Pokemon ready for battle". Also worth noting is that Niantic said that it hopes that it doesn't "take over too much of your time". Hmm, I wonder what this could mean...? Oh well, here's a likely unrelated article!
Week 3: Friendship Challenge
| Event Start | Event End |
|---|---|
| July 17, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. local time | July 22, 2020, at 10:00 p.m. local time |
The last leg of our journey will set us firmly into the realm of friendship. Let me just state this now: start saving all stickers that you may have now as they're apparently going to be a part of this week's event. For this week, we'll see a new Summer Style Pikachu in the wild and raids, and the release of Petilil! Completion of the research will grant encounters with Alolan Raichu and Petilil, as well as a Lucky Egg. And, as the previous weeks, we have more special unlocks for Go Fest:
- Mystic: complete tasks 1,000,000 times total to unlock Dratini
- Valor: complete tasks 1,000,000 times total to unlock Litwick
- Instinct: complete tasks 1,000,000 times total to unlock Togetic
...am I the only one who feels like Go Fest might be a bit better if Instinct doesn't hit 1,000,000 in these events? Probably the weakest spawns in general my estimation (with the exception of Ferroseed), and this is coming from a day-one Instinct player! I mean, they're not bad by any stretch, just less impressive than other teams. Completion of these is the same as the previous research events: GO Fest Elite Friendship Challenge with a new set of challenges unrelated to GO Fest that can be completed at any time.
Summer-Themed Event
Finally, this same time-frame brings a small summer event to bring us into Go Fest 2020!
- "Summer-themed" Pokemon will be available in the wild, in raids, and hatching from eggs. Including a Summer Style Pikachu in the wild.
- Petilil will be available in the wild and 5k eggs when the weather is sunny. This could very well be a weather-specific Pokemon moving forward.
- A special event snapshot encounter
Closing
We have a little something for everyone here! From a potential Rocket Takeover event (save those charged TMs just in case) to the return of the jumpstart research for those who have not yet completed it, it promises to be an exciting few weeks... and that's not even touching on Go Fest itself!
Personal goals: get all of the Elite researches unlocked (and then sit on them forever), finally catch a shiny Ho-oh (highly unlikely given my unique luck), and catch some good Petilil and Ducklett (because why not?). That said, we'd love to hear what you think of this event, and what your goals are. Please let us know in the comments below!
