The festive season has arrived, and Pokémon GO is celebrating with a two-part Holiday event! While details for Part 2 remain under wraps, Niantic has unveiled the exciting features of Holiday Part 1, running from Tuesday, December 17th at 10:00 a.m. to Sunday, December 22nd at 9:59 a.m. local time. Get ready for returning costumed Pokémon, a brand-new festive friend, and a surprise Shiny debut!
This year’s Holiday event introduces Dedenne wearing adorable holiday attire! This Electric/Fairy-type Pokémon won’t be found in the wild, however. Trainers will need to challenge One-Star Raids for a chance to catch this festive newcomer. One-Star Raids will also feature returning favorites like Pikachu in a Winter Carnival outfit and Psyduck in holiday attire. For a greater challenge, Three-Star Raids will showcase Stantler in a holiday outfit and Glaceon in an Undersea Holiday outfit. Beyond raids, Delibird wearing a holiday ribbon will grace the wild, while 7 km Eggs offer the chance to hatch Spheal wearing a holiday scarf and Cubchoo wearing a holiday ribbon. And the best part? Every single one of these Pokémon, including Dedenne, has a chance to appear as a Shiny!
altDedenne in holiday attire (left) and Sandygast (right) make their festive debut in Pokémon GO.
Holiday Part 1 also marks the exciting Pokémon GO debut of a new Shiny Pokémon: Sandygast! While a Ghost/Ground-type might seem an unusual choice for a holiday celebration, this unique Pokémon offers a surprising twist. Unlike its typical white sand appearance, Shiny Sandygast boasts striking black sand, accented by blue eyes, intricate details, and a shovel with a yellow tip. This dramatic color scheme carries over to its evolved form, Palossand, creating a truly impressive Shiny. During the event, trainers can encounter Sandygast in the wild and in One-Star Raids.
Several in-game bonuses will enhance the Holiday Part 1 experience. Trainers can enjoy double XP on catches, while Eggs placed in Incubators during the event will hatch at half the normal distance. Event-themed Field Research tasks will offer rewards, including encounters with festive Pokémon. The event also overlaps with the upcoming Pokémon GO Community Day, running on Saturday, December 21st, and Sunday, December 22nd. While full details are yet to be revealed, this Community Day promises to be a grand celebration, similar to previous years, featuring Pokémon from past Community Day events throughout the year.
This holiday season, Pokémon GO is delivering a gift-wrapped experience for trainers. From festive costumes and raid challenges to a surprise Shiny debut and exciting bonuses, Holiday Part 1 promises to be a memorable celebration. So, grab your winter gear and get ready to explore the world of Pokémon GO!
