The Lunar New Year is just around the corner, and Pokémon GO is celebrating with a special event packed with exciting features. Starting Wednesday, January 29th at 10:00 a.m. and running through Sunday, February 2nd at 8:00 p.m. local time, trainers can look forward to increased Lucky Friend rates, higher chances of receiving Lucky Pokémon in trades, and a focus on serpentine Pokémon.
This event spotlights Pokémon known for their elongated bodies, including some with names that spell “snake” backwards and others described as “rock snakes” in the Pokédex. Keep an eye out for the following Pokémon appearing more frequently in the wild:
- Darumaka
- Dratini
- Dunsparce
- Ekans
- Gyarados
- Onix
- Snivy
One of the highlights of this event is the increased chance of encountering a Shiny Ekans. This rare variant trades Ekans’ typical purple hue for a more realistic olive green, while retaining the yellow accents on its eyes, rattle, and belly. This striking color change makes it a highly sought-after addition to any trainer’s collection.
Shiny Ekans boasts a more natural, olive green coloration.
Niantic is also offering Paid Timed Research for $2.00. This purchase will reward trainers with two Lucky Eggs, an Incubator, and encounters with both Ekans and Nosepass. Note that Paid Timed Research cannot be purchased with PokéCoins. Additional event features include a collection challenge and PokéStop Showcases.
In addition to the Lunar New Year festivities, trainers can participate in a Gigantamax Kingler Max Raid Day on Saturday, February 1st, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time. During this period, Gigantamax Kingler will appear in six-star Max Raids. All Power Spots will host Gigantamax Battles, refreshing more frequently than usual. The Max Particle collection limit will be increased to 1,600, and players will receive 8x the usual amount of Max Particles from Power Spots.
This marks the first appearance of Gigantamax Kingler in Pokémon GO. Gigantamax Battles have presented a formidable challenge since their introduction last season, so trainers should prepare accordingly. Bringing along previously caught Gigantamax Pokémon or utilizing Dynamax strategies is recommended. A powered-up Dynamax Venusaur with Max Overgrowth can be particularly effective. Teams tackling these raids should also consider using the new Max Mushrooms for added support.
This Lunar New Year event offers a variety of activities and opportunities for Pokémon GO players. From catching the elusive Shiny Ekans to challenging the mighty Gigantamax Kingler, there’s something for everyone. The increased Lucky Friend rates and Lucky Pokémon chances also provide excellent incentives for trading and connecting with fellow trainers.
