Continuing the somewhat more up-front and transparent plans that they've displayed in recent months, Niantic has announced the basic event plans for July. This month we get another new research breakthrough, a set of spotlight hours, and the grand debut of the final member of the Tao Trio, Kyurem!
Larvitar Research Breakthrough
| Breakthrough Begins | Breakthrough Ends |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT | August 1, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT |
Replacing Trapinch will be the first-form of the pseudo-legendary Rock/Dark Type Pokemon, Tyranitar. Tyranitar has withered a bit in terms of absolute viability recently due to being out-classed as both a Dark and Rock Type attacker, while its PvP performance has also left it struggling to stay relevant. However, it's best to not let this fact distract from the future that we now know is coming:
Mega Tyranitar
Mega Tyranitar is likely to be a very viable Pokemon in both PvE and PvP metas, so it will be nice to have a few chances to get a good and/or shiny Larvitar for the future!
July 2020 Spotlight Hours
Kyurem's Release
At last we've reached the final member of the Tao Trio, Kyurem!
Kyurem is an Ice/Dragon Type Pokemon, and on the surface it seems like the least interesting of the three. It's not terribly powerful and seems less likely to make any sort of a real dent on the game on its release. However, remember that in the main series Kyurem is able to fuse with Zekrom and Reshiram to create something far more powerful...
While we currently have no confirmation that a base-forme Kyurem will be needed to make Kyurem Black/White, it's probably wise to try to catch at least one or two high-IV individuals just in case! Expect analysis and raid guides for Kyurem soon!
Full Announcement
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Trainers,
Here’s what you can look forward to during the month of July.
July Research Breakthrough encounter
From Wednesday, July 1, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Saturday, August 1, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7), Larvitar, the Rock Skin Pokémon, will be available as a Research Breakthrough encounter. If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny Larvitar!
A Pokémon with a mysterious power... Kyurem arrives in five-star raids!
First came Reshiram, then Zekrom—now, Kyurem is coming to Pokémon GO! Starting Tuesday, July 7, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7), Kyurem, the Boundary Pokémon, will be waiting for you to challenge it in five-star raids. In addition, there will be Raid Hour events featuring Kyurem every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. local time while it’s in five-star raids.
Pokémon Spotlight Hours
In the month of July, Pokémon Spotlight Hour will take place every Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. local time, and each hour will spotlight a different Pokémon and special bonus!
- Tuesday, July 7, 2020: Taillow will be in the spotlight, and you’ll earn twice the Candy for transferring Pokémon.
- Tuesday, July 14, 2020: Zubat will be in the spotlight, and you’ll earn twice the XP for evolving Pokémon.
- Tuesday, July 21, 2020: Oddish will be in the spotlight, and you’ll earn twice the Stardust for catching Pokémon.
- Tuesday, July 28, 2020: Buizel will be in the spotlight, and you’ll earn twice the XP for catching Pokémon.
Don’t forget—GO Fest weekly challenges start July 3
Celebrate Pokémon GO’s fourth anniversary by completing weekly challenges to unlock more species of Pokémon that’ll appear during Pokémon GO Fest 2020! Learn more here.
Please be aware of your surroundings and follow guidelines from local health authorities when playing Pokémon GO. Upcoming events are subject to change. Be sure to follow us on social media, opt in to receiving push notifications, and subscribe to our emails to stay updated. For the latest on in-game events and feature updates, be sure to check this help center article.
—The Pokémon GO team
