Pokémon Go is celebrating its fourth anniversary, having initially released on July 6, 2016. To commemorate the occasion and leading up to Pokémon Go Fest 2020, developer Niantic will have three weeks of unique challenges for trainers to diverse rewards and Timed Research. If one million trainers from the three teams in-game complete the challenge before the end of the week, a new Pokémon will make an appearance during the upcoming Pokémon Go Fest 2020 for trainers to capture. We have the challenge week dates, rewards, and additional features happening at the same time.
The weekly challenges start on July 3.
Week 1
The first challenge week releases on July 3 at 8 am and goes until July 8 at 10 pm local time. The week’s theme will focus on trainer’s skills and how they have developed them over the years since Pokémon Go first launched. Flying Pikachu will be available during this week, and trainers have the chance to catch a shiny version of it.
GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Skill
- Complete all three sets of tasks in the GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Skill Timed Research to earn an encounter with Ducklett, an encounter with Flying Pikachu, a Star Piece, and more!
- If the following numbers of Trainers from the same team complete this Timed Research, the corresponding Pokémon will appear during Pokémon GO Fest 2020.
- One million Team Instinct Trainers: Chimecho
- One million Team Mystic Trainers: Alomomola
- One million Team Valor Trainers: Chansey
- If you complete the GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Skill Timed Research, you’ll earn access to the GO Fest Elite Skill Challenge, a set of difficult tasks that you can complete to earn personal bragging rights! You don’t need to complete these tasks for your Timed Research to count toward the Pokémon GO Fest 2020 unlock goals.
Fourth-anniversary event features
- Flying-type Pokémon and Pokémon wearing party hats will be appearing in the wild, hatching from Eggs, and appearing in raids. If you’re lucky, you might find a Shiny Pidove!
- Ducklett will be making its Pokémon GO debut! It’ll be appearing in the wild and hatching from 5 km Eggs.
- Flying Pikachu will be appearing in the wild and in raids. If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!
- The Jump-Start Special Research will also be available this week for any Trainers who missed out on it during last year’s anniversary celebration, so be sure to open the app during this period to claim it. This Special Research is designed to help you catch up with other Trainers, with a ton of Stardust and XP rewards, as well as some exciting Pokémon encounters.
- Be sure to take a snapshot during this event for a surprise.
Ho-Oh Special Raid Weekend
Ho-Oh will be joining in on the festivities! You can challenge it in five-star raids from Friday, July 3, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. to Monday, July 6, 2020, at 10:00 p.m. local time. Be sure to have your Remote Raid Passes stocked—you can purchase them in the shop.
Week 2
The second challenge week will release on July 10 at 8 am and goes until July 15 at 10 pm local time. The theme for the week focuses on a trainer’s battling skill, so you can expect to jump into the battle league to complete these weekly tasks.
GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Battle
- Complete all three sets of tasks in the GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Battle Timed Research to earn an encounter with Hitmonlee, an encounter with Absol, a Super Rocket Radar, and more!
- If the following numbers of Trainers from the same team complete their Timed Research this week, the corresponding Pokémon will appear during Pokémon GO Fest 2020.
- One million Team Instinct Trainers: Ferroseed
- One million Team Mystic Trainers: Alolan Grimer
- One million Team Valor Trainers: Alolan Marowak
- If you complete the GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Battle Timed Research, you’ll earn access to the GO Fest Elite Battle Challenge, a set of difficult tasks that you can complete for personal bragging rights! You don’t need to complete these tasks for your Timed Research to count toward the Pokémon GO Fest 2020 unlock goals.
Battle-themed event
Have your Pokémon ready for battle, Trainers! On Sunday, July 12, 2020, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. local time, there will be a battle-themed event! Hopefully, it won’t take over too much of your time.
Week 3
The third and final challenge week releases on July 17 at 8 am and goes until July 22 at 10 pm local time. The theme for these challenges revolves around friendship, where trainers can appreciate their friends they have played Pokémon Go with and their buddy Pokémon.
GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Friendship
- Complete all three sets of tasks in the GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Friendship Timed Research to earn an encounter with Alolan Raichu, an encounter with Petilil, a Lucky Egg, and more!
- If the following numbers of Trainers from the same team complete their Timed Research this week, the corresponding Pokémon will appear during Pokémon GO Fest 2020.
- One million Team Instinct Trainers: Togetic
- One million Team Mystic Trainers: Dratini
- One million Team Valor Trainers: Litwick
- If you complete the GO Fest Weekly Challenge: Friendship Timed Research, you’ll earn access to the GO Fest Elite Friendship Challenge, a set of difficult tasks that you can complete for personal bragging rights! You don’t need to complete these tasks for your Timed Research to count toward the Pokémon GO Fest 2020 unlock goals!
Summer-themed event features
- Summer-themed Pokémon will be appearing in the wild, hatching from Eggs, and appearing in raids. If you’re lucky, you might find a Shiny Bellsprout!
- Petilil will be making its Pokémon GO debut! It’ll be appearing in the wild when the weather is sunny and hatching from 5 km Eggs.
- Summer Style Pikachu will also be appearing in the wild!
- Be sure to take a snapshot during this event for a surprise.
Trainers from all three teams will have a limited time to complete these weekly challenges. Each of the Timed Research tasks center on Professor Willow discovering a new Mythical Pokémon coming to Pokémon Go Fest 2020 for the first time. Those who participate in Pokémon Go Fest 2020 have the chance to capture it, among various other Pokémon set to show up.
