Don’t miss Rayquaza’s final Raid Hour of 2019

Trainers,

It descended, it dominated, and it even determined that some adventurers were worthy of being its Trainer. Soon, it will return to the skies.

But until then, you can look forward to one final Raid Hour with the Legendary Rayquaza, the Sky High Pokémon!

Date + Time 

• Sunday, September 1, 2019, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time

Features 

• There will be an increased number of five-star raids during the event hour.

Here’s your last chance in 2019 to encounter the elusive Shiny Rayquaza. Give it all you’ve got, Trainers! Let’s GO!

—The Pokémon GO team

Flower-crowned Eevee are coming to Research Breakthroughs!

Trainers,

We’re excited to share a few changes to Research Breakthrough rewards in the coming weeks!

Research Breakthrough Updates

• From September 1, 2019, at 1 p.m. PDT (GMT −7) to November 1, 2019, at 1 p.m. PDT (GMT −7), Eevee wearing flower crowns will be available as Research Breakthrough encounters.
• If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny Eevee with a flower crown!

Eevee wearing flower crowns will be the exclusive Pokémon appearing in Research Breakthroughs during this time. Don’t miss your chance to evolve them into all the available Eevee Evolutions in Pokémon GO!

Let’s GO!

—The Pokémon GO team

Thank you for an amazing summer in 2019, Trainers!

Trainers,

Over the past three years, we’ve seen not only Pokémon GO grow as a game but our Trainers grow as a community as well. Your passion is what inspired us to bring the experience of Pokémon GO Fest to even more Trainers. Pokémon GO has always been a unique gaming experience, and we believe it has always been meant to be enjoyed by all on a global scale. We were thrilled to be able to provide that experience to both GO Fest attendees and Trainers around the world through the Global Challenge.

Trainers were able to catch a vast variety of Pokémon, seek out elusive Shiny Pokémon, trade with Trainers from around the world, and take GO Snapshots of Pokémon in diverse habitats. Friends were made, research was completed, and every Trainer was able to take part in the Global Challenge that unlocked bonuses for all to enjoy. We believe Team GO Rocket saw the excitement and wanted to be a part of it too, which is why they showed up unannounced on several occasions!

We wanted to make the summer of 2019 even better than summers of years past, so naturally we thought, “Let’s do more Pokémon GO Fests!” We were thrilled to be able to bring three immersive experiences to different regions of the world. It was a great pleasure to bring this experience to Chicago, USA; Dortmund, Germany; and Yokohama, Japan. We’d like to especially thank all our partners, the three destination cities who welcomed us, and everyone who was part of making this herculean effort possible.

And last but not least: thank you, Trainers, for making this year’s summer of events an amazing celebration around the world. We appreciate you, your dedication, and your commitment to exploring the world around you with Pokémon GO.

Don’t worry, Trainers—the summer may be over, but there’s still so much to experience in Pokémon GO! We’re pleased to announce the remaining Community Day events for 2019.

Event Dates + Times

• October 12 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. local time
• November 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. local time
• December 14–15 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. local time both days

In case you missed it, we’ve also revealed the details of what’s in store for you during each week of the Ultra Bonus that Trainers unlocked by completing the Global Challenge! You can read more about it in our last blog post: Not just wishful thinking—the Ultra Bonus has been unlocked, and Jirachi has awoken!

In our continuing efforts to make the Niantic Live Event experience as global and far-reaching as possible, we have more exciting plans in store next year! Don’t forget: #NianticLive2020 is still ongoing. Think your city has the perfect park to host a Niantic real-world event? Nominate your city using the hashtag #NianticLive2020 on Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to involve your city and tourism board to bring Niantic Live Events to your city!

From Community Days to Pokémon originally discovered in Unova arriving in Pokémon GO, there’s plenty to look forward to for the rest of the year. We hope you enjoyed this summer of events and can’t wait to meet you out there next summer. Happy exploring!

—The Pokémon GO team

Not just wishful thinking—the Ultra Bonus has been unlocked, and Jirachi has awoken!

Trainers,

Congratulations! With all your hard work in successfully completing all three parts of the Global Challenge, you’ve unlocked the Ultra Bonus! We’re excited to finally reveal the details of what’s in store for you during the three weeks of this event.

Week 1: Johto Journey
Trainers can enjoy a chance to work on their Johto Pokédex while exploring and raiding. Put on your walking shoes, as Pokémon never before seen in Eggs in Pokémon GO will be hatching during this time.

Date + Time
September 2, 2019, at 1 p.m. to September 9, 2019, at 1 p.m. PDT

Features

• If you’re extraordinarily lucky, you might hatch Unown forms U, L, T, R, and A from 10 km Eggs.
• Raikou, Entei, and Suicune will return to raids, along with other Johto Pokémon.
• If you’re lucky, you might encounter Shiny Sentret and Shiny Gligar!

Bonuses

• 2× Incubator effectiveness

Week 2: Global Challenge, Global Hatches
Pokémon from across the globe will join in the celebration this week, along with a special appearance by a Mythical Pokémon that will be available to challenge in raids.

Date + Time
September 9, 2019, at 1 p.m. to September 16, 2019, at 1 p.m. PDT

Features

• Regional Pokémon Farfetch’d, Kangaskhan, Mr. Mime, and Tauros will hatch from 7 km Eggs. If you’re lucky, you might hatch Shiny ones! These Pokémon will remain available from Eggs until the end of week 3—September 23, 2019, at 1 p.m. PDT.
• All Deoxys forms will make their first appearances outside EX Raids.
• Need a good team to take on Deoxys? Other Pokémon appearing in raids will help you build a good team to challenge the DNA Pokémon.

Bonuses

• 2× Incubator effectiveness

Week 3: A Unova Unveiling
All your research has paid off! Professor Willow has informed us that some Pokémon originally discovered in the Unova region are now appearing in the world of Pokémon GO!

Date + Time

September 16, 2019, at 1 p.m. to September 23, 2019, at 1 p.m. PDT

Features

• Mewtwo with the special move Psystrike will be available to challenge in five-star raids. If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny Mewtwo!
• Need a good team to take on Mewtwo? Other Pokémon appearing in raids will help you build a good team to challenge the Genetic Pokémon.
• The Gear Pokémon Klink, originally discovered in Unova, will also appear in raids. You might even encounter a Shiny Klink!
• You may also find Shiny Patrat and Shiny Lillipup!

Bonuses

• 2× Incubator effectiveness

Jirachi Has Awoken!
We’re excited to announce that Jirachi is now available for all Trainers via Special Research!

For those who have already completed the exclusive Pokémon GO Fest Special Research and have caught the Wish Pokémon, completing this new Special Research will earn you Candy to power up your Jirachi.

On behalf of Professor Willow and the team leaders, thank you for tackling the Global Challenge with such electrifying, cool-headed, and fiery passion. Even if we have our team allegiances, we’ll always be bonded by our shared love of Pokémon. When we work together, anything is possible!

Now...who’s ready to experience a taste of Unova for the very first time in Pokémon GO?

—The Pokémon GO team

Join us in New Taipei City for a Safari Zone event!

Trainers,

Ready to catch the bug for our newest Safari Zone event? We’re buzzing with excitement over Pokémon GO Safari Zone New Taipei City. In conjunction with the New Taipei City government, we’ll be live in New Taipei Metropolitan Park from October 3 to 6.

Despite being one of the world’s most densely populated metropolises, New Taipei City has always strived to maintain the city’s biodiversity and natural scenery by transforming forgotten areas into beautiful new parks. The New Taipei Metropolitan Park is the largest city park in the Greater Taipei area and is famous for its waterside walkway and wildlife. Trainers will be able to find Scyther, Combee, and many Water-, Bug- and Grass-type Pokémon from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the park, as well as more than 60 tourist attractions across New Taipei City. From the historical old streets to scenic mountain areas, it’s your chance to make the most of this exciting city while catching Pokémon to your heart’s content!

No tickets are necessary for this event, and Trainers from near and far are all welcome to join in the fun.

The event is hosted in conjunction with the city government of New Taipei City.

We are excited to see you soon!

—The Pokémon GO team

Race your way through the Safari Zone Montreal this September!

Three, two, one—GO, Trainers!

The Pokémon GO team is excited to invite you to our Safari Zone Montreal this September. This ticketed event will take place along the historic Circuit Gilles Villeneuve at beautiful Parc Jean-Drapeau on Saint Helen’s Island and Notre Dame Island in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

From September 20 to September 22, Parc Jean-Drapeau will be transformed into a speedy Pokémon wonderland. Pokémon that evolve into fast Pokémon will appear more frequently in the wild, and unique Field Research will be available for Trainers to complete throughout the day.

Can’t join us in Montreal? Fear not. Trainers across Canada may encounter many of the Pokémon featured at the Safari Zone. In addition, Yanma will appear more frequently globally!

Act fast, Trainers! You can register for a chance to purchase tickets at this link, but they are limited. Don’t forget to make plans early to make sure you obtain transportation and accommodations for the event before these tickets sell out in a flash!

Meet you...at the finish line!

—The Pokémon GO team

Dive into Water Festival 2019!

Trainers,

Time to make a big splash! Even if you don’t live near the water, you can look forward to Water-type Pokémon coming to you soon in Eggs, raids, Field Research, and the wild.

That’s right—the long-awaited Water Festival is back!

Date + Time

• Friday, August 23, 2019, at 1 p.m. PDT until Friday, August 30, 2019, at 1 p.m. PDT

Features

• Water-type Pokémon like Magikarp, Wooper, Wailmer, and more will appear more frequently in the wild.
• The following Pokémon will be appearing more frequently in the wild around water: Wartortle, Poliwhirl, Seaking, Lapras, Qwilfish, Mantine, Lotad, Feebas, Piplup, Buizel, and Finneon.
• Water-type Pokémon will hatch more often from Eggs.
• Kingler and Crawdaunt will be able to learn Crabhammer, a Water-type Charged Attack that is newly available in Pokémon GO.
• If you manage to surf the waves of luck, you might encounter Shiny Carvanha or Shiny Barboach!

Raids

• Water-type Pokémon like Blastoise, Vaporeon, Lapras, and more will appear in raids.
• On Wednesday, August 28, 2019, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. local time, you’ll be able to encounter Uxie, Mesprit, or Azelf in five-star raids in their respective regions!

Bonuses

• 2× Hatch Candy
• If you have a Water-type Pokémon as your Buddy, the distance to earn Buddy Candy will be halved.

There’s no need to swim or use a fishing rod to encounter these Pokémon, Trainer. All you have to do is get up and GO!

—The Pokémon GO team