Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.
Pokémon Go update: Professor Willow's Global Challenge kicks off tomorrow
Welcome to our Pokémon Go update and news hub! Here we’ll be collecting all news, updates, and event info for the Niantic’s hit AR mobile game.
If you’re a hardcore Pokémon trainer, be sure to bookmark this page to stay up-to-date on the latest limited time events, community days, and new Pokémon released into the game. Below you’ll find the most recent news, followed by previous Pokémon Go news and updates.
Catch some of our other Pokémon Go content!
Pokémon Go updates: The Latest
Professor Willow’s Global Challenge celebrates Pokémon Go Fests around the world
Release date: June 12, 2019.
To kick off the start of the first of three Pokémon Go Fests around the world, you can now work together with other trainers from your team in Professor Willow’s Global Challenge. The initial event runs for the duration of the Pokémon Go Fest Chicago, from June 13-16.
Event attendees are challenged to complete 1 million research tasks to get special rewards. Those not attending can pool their efforts with the rest of their team globally to try to complete 15 million research tasks. This will be no easy feat, but if successful each team will earn special rewards for the following week. Check out the full details below.
Pokémon Go event patch notes
Spark’s Candy Research Challenge
Challenge Date + Time
Thursday, June 13, 2019, at 9 a.m. to Sunday, June 16, 2019, at 5 p.m. PDT (GMT −7)
- This challenge lasts from start to finish of Pokémon GO Fest Chicago.
Challenge Research Tasks
- Pokémon GO Fest Chicago event attendees—Complete 1 million research tasks to unlock 2× Catch Candy
- Team Instinct—Complete 15 million research tasks globally to unlock guaranteed 1 Rare Candy per raid
- Team Valor—Complete 15 million research tasks globally to unlock 1/2 Hatch Distance
- Team Mystic—Complete 15 million research tasks globally to unlock 2× Hatch Candy
Reward Bonus Date + Time
- All successfully unlocked bonuses will run from Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at 1 p.m. until Tuesday, June 25, 2019, at 1 p.m. PDT.
- Unlock all the above bonuses, and Raikou will be available in raids for a short period of time (date and time to be announced later). If you’re lucky, you might encounter Shiny Raikou!
Candela’s XP Research Challenge
Challenge Date + Time
Thursday, July 4, 2019, at 1 a.m. to Sunday, July 7, 2019, at 9 a.m. PDT (GMT −7)
- This challenge lasts from start to finish of Pokémon GO Fest Dortmund.
Challenge Research Tasks
- Pokémon GO Fest Dortmund event attendees—Complete 1 million research tasks to unlock 3× Catch XP
- Team Instinct—Complete 15 million research tasks globally to unlock 1-hour Lucky Eggs
- Team Valor—Complete 15 million research tasks globally to unlock 3× Hatch XP
- Team Mystic—Complete 15 million research tasks globally to unlock 2× Raid XP
Reward Bonus Date + Time
- All successfully unlocked bonuses will run from Tuesday, July 9, 2019, at 1 p.m. until Tuesday, July 16, 2019, at 1 p.m. PDT.
- Unlock all the above bonuses, and Entei will be available in raids Sunday, July 14, 2019 (time to be announced later). If you’re lucky, you might encounter Shiny Entei!
Blanche’s Stardust Research Challenge
Challenge Date + Time
Monday, August 5, 2019, at 6 p.m. to Monday, August 12, 2019, at 1 a.m. PDT (GMT −7)
- This challenge lasts from start to finish of Pokémon GO Fest Yokohama.
Challenge Research Tasks
- Pokémon GO Fest Yokohama event attendees—Complete 2 million research tasks to unlock 3× Catch Stardust
- Team Instinct—Complete 25 million research tasks globally to unlock guaranteed 3,000 Stardust per raid
- Team Valor—Complete 25 million research tasks globally to unlock 3× Hatch Stardust
- Team Mystic—Complete 25 million research tasks globally to unlock 1-hour Star Pieces
Reward Bonus Date + Time
- All successfully unlocked bonuses will run from Tuesday, August 13, 2019, at 1 p.m. until Tuesday, August 20, 2019, at 1 p.m. PDT.
- Unlock all the above bonuses, and Suicune will be available in raids on Saturday, August 17, 2019 (time to be announced later). If you’re lucky, you might encounter Shiny Suicune!
Previous Pokémon Go updates
Rock-type Pokémon galore in upcoming Adventure Week
Release date: May 31, 2019.
Next week another Adventure Week kicks off, and this one is going to be rocky. Rock-type Pokémon like Geodude, Rhyhorn, and Omanyte. You’ll also be able to snag special rock-type Pokémon from eggs, so get walking!
Throughout the event players will gain four times as much buddy candy, so make sure you have adventure sync enabled. Walking 50km will also earn 50,000 Stardust and 15 Rare Candies.
Pokémon Go update patch notes
Date + Time
- Tuesday, June 4, 2019, at 1 p.m. to Tuesday, June 11, 2019, at 1 p.m. PDT (GMT −7)
Features
- Rock-type Pokémon like Geodude, Rhyhorn, Omanyte, Aron, Lileep, Anorith, and many others will appear more frequently in the wild.
- Hatch Rock-type Pokémon such as Onix, Larvitar, Lileep, Anorith, and Shieldon from 2 m Eggs.
- Challenge Onix, the Rock Snake Pokémon, and other Rock-type Pokémon in raids.
- You may encounter a Shiny Onix, Lileep, or Anorith if you’re lucky!
Bonuses
- Earn 4× Buddy Candy (Tip: Turn on Adventure Sync to make every step count!).
- Visit new PokéStops and earn 10× XP on your first spin of each Photo Disc.
- Trainers who have Adventure Sync activated and walk 50 km will earn 50,000 Stardust and 15 Rare Candies!
Field Research
- Specially themed Field Research tasks will be available for a limited time during this event.
Sleeping Snorlax appear throughout the world to celebrate Pokémon Sleep
Release date: May 29, 2019.
The Pokémon 2019 Press Conference is finished, and with it came a number of exciting Pokémon announcements. One of the new titles announced is Pokémon Sleep, and who better to celebrate with than the original sleeping Pokémon, Snorlax!
Sleeping Snorlax Pokémon will spawn randomly in the wild, although they will wake up and work as normal Snorlax once caught. However, they will have the exclusive event move Yawn. Check out the full patch notes below.
Pokémon Go update patch notes
Date + Time
- Tuesday, May 28, 2019, at 6 p.m. to Monday, June 3, 2019, at 1 p.m. PDT (GMT −7).
Features
- Trainers will have the chance to encounter Snorlax snoozing in the wild.
- Once caught, Snorlax will be awake and ready for battle as usual.
- Remember to take a photo during your encounter as Snorlax will only be asleep during your encounter!
Move
- Snorlax caught during the event will know the exclusive event move Yawn.
Three legendary Pokémon make a return for a limited time only
Release date: May 24, 2019.
The legendary Pokémon Kyogre, Groudon, and Cresselia are back! They can only be found in five-star raids, but there is a small chance of encountering a shiny version of each Pokémon.
Only one of these legendary Pokémon will be available at a time, starting with Cresselia on May 27. After that it’s Kyogre, then Groudon, but be quick because the two Pokémon introduced in Ruby and Sapphire are available for just over a week each.
Pokémon Go update patch notes
Cresselia
This Psychic-type Legendary Pokémon is said to represent the crescent moon, but don’t let its graceful exterior lull you during battle. Psychic-type Pokémon are weak against Bug-, Ghost-, and Dark-type Pokémon, so be sure to have those ready!
Date + Time
- Monday, May 27, 2019, at 1 p.m. to Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at 1 p.m. PDT (GMT −7).
Features
- If the workings of the cosmos are in your favor, you may encounter a Shiny Cresselia!
Kyogre
The Sea Basin Pokémon is said to have widened the seas and waged battle with Groudon. This Water-type Pokémon is weak against Grass- and Electric-type Pokémon. Can you earn this powerful creature’s trust and convince it to battle alongside you?
Date + Time
- Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at 1 p.m. to Thursday, June 27, 2019, at 1 p.m. PDT (GMT −7).
Features
- Fortune favors the bold—you may encounter a Shiny Kyogre!
Groudon
Groudon is said to have dueled titanically with Kyogre before falling into a deep slumber. It’s a Ground-type Pokémon, so, Trainers, this means Water-, Grass-, and Ice-type Pokémon are your best bets for defeating this powerful opponent!
Date + Time
- Thursday, June 27, 2019, at 1 p.m. to Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at 1 p.m. PDT (GMT −7).
Features
- Keep persevering, Trainer—you may encounter a Shiny Groudon!
More Sinnoh region Pokémon and new lure modules make their way into Pokémon Go
Release date: May 17, 2019.
New Pokémon have been added to Pokémon Go! They include Cherubi, Gible, Hippopotas, and others from the Sinnoh region. They’re available both in the wild and in eggs, so be on the lookout and pad your Pokédex!
To make catching these new Pokémon easier, three new lure modules are now available. They not only increase the amount of Pokémon found nearby, they also create a special habitat that attracts specific types of Pokémon. These habitats even have the ability to evolve certain Pokémon.
Pokémon Go update patch notes
- Additional Sinnoh Pokémon are now available to catch in the wild and hatch from Eggs.
- Earth Power is a powerful Ground-type Charged Attack that could lower your opponent’s defense in Trainer Battles.
- Certain Pokémon recently arrived from the Sinnoh region will know Earth Power.
- Other Pokémon that could know Earth Power include Nidoqueen, Nidoking, Aerodactyl, Camerupt, and Claydol.
- Glacial Lure Modules, Mossy Lure Modules, and Magnetic Lure Modules can be obtained in the in-game shop and will be available later this season as rewards for completing new Special Research tasks.
- These Lure Modules attract local Pokémon as well as bonus Pokémon based on the type of lure.
- Glacial Lure Modules attract certain Pokémon that love the cold, such as Water- and Ice-Type Pokémon.
- Mossy Lure Modules attract certain Pokémon that love to frolic among the leaves, such as Bug-, Grass-, and Poison-Type Pokémon.
- Magnetic Lure Modules attract certain Pokémon that are drawn to electromagnetic forces, such as some Electric-, Steel-, and Rock-type Pokémon.
- When Trainers are within range of a PokéStop with an active lure of the appropriate type, and they can successfully spin its Photo Disc, Evolution of Magneton and Nosepass will be enabled, as well as certain Evolutions of Eevee.
- You can choose whether or not to proceed with these special Evolutions on the Pokémon’s detail screen.
Extraordinary Raid Week event doubles raid rewards
Event dates: May 21 – May 28, 2019
With the Detective Pikachu event coming to a close, it’s time for a different Pokémon Go event to take over. The Extraordinary Raid Week will require you to put together your strongest teams to attempt to take down Tyranitar, Metagross, and others. Check out the patch notes below for the full details.
Pokémon Go update patch notes
Extraordinary Raid Week
Date + Time
- Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at 1 p.m. to Tuesday, May 28, 2019, at 1 p.m. PDT (GMT −7)
Raids
- ★: Machop, Slakoth, Shinx, Bronzor.
- ★★: Misdreavus, Kirlia, Mawile, Feebas, Clamperl, Bibarel.
- ★★★: Alolan Raichu, Chansey, Scyther, Aerodactyl, Floatzel.
- ★★★★: Alolan Marowak, Dragonite, Tyranitar, Absol, Metagross.
Features
- If you’re lucky, you may encounter a Shiny Bronzor!
Bonuses
- 2× Raid Stardust.
- 2× Raid XP.
Raid Hour
Date + Time
- Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. (local time).
Features
- The number of raids of all levels will increase during the event hour.
Lapras Raid Day
Date + Time
- The Americas, Greenland, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India: Saturday, May 25, 2019, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (local time).
- Asia-Pacific: Sunday, May 26, 2019, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (local time).
Features
- The Transport Pokémon, Lapras, will be joining Raid Battles for this event.
- Receive up to five Raid Passes from Gyms at no cost.
- If you’re lucky, you may encounter a Shiny Lapras!
Detective Pikachu event brings new Pokémon and Field Research tasks
Event dates: May 7 – May 17, 2019
To celebrate the release of Detective Pikachu later this week, Pokémon Go will feature a special event until May 17. In it, Pokémon from the movie (including a detective hat-wearing Pikachu) will appear in the wild and in raids. Catching them or any other Pokémon during the event will also net twice the experience as normal.
On top of that, there are themed Field Research tasks, one of which can result in the appearance of a Ditto. Make sure to check them out before the event finishes!
Pokémon Go update patch notes
Features
- Select Pokémon featured in the movie will appear in raids.
- Pokémon that appear in the movie will show up more frequently in the wild.
- If you’re lucky, you could be photobombed by a Pikachu in a detective hat—with a chance to catch one of your very own!
Bonus
- Double XP for catching Pokémon
Field Research
- Specially themed Field Research will be available for a limited time during this event.
Avatar Items
- Themed avatar items will be available in the Style Shop.
Legendary Lake Trio Azelf, Uxie, and Mesprit added as rare, regional spawns and raid targets
Event dates: May 2, 2019 – May 27, 2019
We hope you like walks on the beach, because the Legendary Lake Trio Pokémon Azelf, Uxie, and Mesprit have been added to Pokémon Go as rare spawns. True to their Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl origins, they will only appear near water. Search for them near lakes, rivers, and other large bodies of water.
Niantic also announced that spawns are regional, meaning that only one Legendary Pokémon will appear in each region. Here’s where you can find Azelf, Uxie, and Mesprit:
- Azelf — Americas and Greenland.
- Uxie — Asia-Pacific.
- Mesprit — Europe, Middle East, Africa, India.
On top of that, the three Legendary Pokémon will appear in raid challenges in their respective regions from May 2 to May 27. However, they will continue to spawn in the wild after the event is over. There’s no telling how long they’ll be available, so get out there and start searching!
Pokémon Go update: Research Breakthrough and Egg changes coming to Pokémon Go
Release date: May 1, 2019
There are just a few days left to pick up the Legendary dog Pokémon, since the next Pokémon Go update is switching them out for the Legendary bird Pokémon Lugia and Ho-Oh, and the Dragon duo of Latias and Latios. As of May 1 they will be available in Research Breakthrough encounters.
Niantic also announced that the pool of Pokémon available in eggs has changed as of April 26. Time to load up the incubators and get walking!
Pokémon Go update patch notes
Research Breakthroughs
- Lugia, Ho-Oh, Latias, and Latios will be Research Breakthrough encounters starting May 1, 2019, at 1PM PT (GMT −7) through the end of June.
Eggs
- Different Pokémon will hatch from Eggs starting April 26, 2019, at 1PM. PT (GMT −7)
- Trainers can expect 2 km Eggs to hatch Turtwig, Chimchar, Piplup, Bonsly, and many more.
- Trainers can expect 5 km Eggs to hatch Cubone, Combee, Buizel, Glameow, Bronzor, Skorupi, Croagunk, and many more.
- Trainers can expect 10 km Eggs to hatch Mawile, Absol, Shinx, Cranidos, Shieldon, Riolu, and many more.
Pokémon Go event: Shiny Meltan is back for a limited time!
Event dates: April 24 – May 5, 2019
Good news for those of you who weren’t able to grab a shiny Meltan in the February’s Pokémon Go event! Starting April 24, you will have the chance to get a shiny version of the hexagonal mythical Pokémon once again. It is still only available in Mystery Boxes, which are obtained by sending Pokémon to the Nintendo Switch titles Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Pokemon: Let’s Go, Eevee!
On top of that, Mystery Boxes are becoming easier to open. Starting April 24 the delay between opening them is being reduced from 7 days to just 3 days, meaning you can open more than twice as many boxes. Even better, the change will persist after the event finishes on May 5!
Pokémon Go update patch notes
New event: Shiny Meltan
- Wednesday, Apr. 24, at 1PM PT until Sunday, May 5, at 1PM PT.
- When you open the Mystery Box, you may encounter the Shiny version of the Mythical Pokémon Meltan!
- Trainers will now be able to open the Mystery Box every three days, even after the event ends.
What would you like to see in future Pokémon Go updates? Let us know in the comments.