Pokemon GO trainers are in store for an action-packed July this year. As play-at-home bonuses and rewards continue through the summer months, Niantic is rolling out a ton of events and special features to keep players engaged in the weeks leading up to this year's big anniversary event.
Each summer Pokemon GO hosts a massive GO Fest event and, although it is now being held remotely, that isn't stopping this year. As if the massive two-day GO Fest 2020 event wasn't going to be exciting enough, Pokemon GO players are also in for non-stop events throughout every week of July.
Things have already kicked off with the appearance of a new July Research Breakthrough (though some players aren't happy with it) and the first week of challenges leading up to GO Fest is also live. For players who want to keep track of exactly what is coming to the game over the next few weeks, Game Rant has a full outline of everything so trainers can start marking their calendars now...
July Research Breakthrough
Dates: July 1 - August 1
Rewards: Larvitar
Event Description: From Wednesday, July 1, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Saturday, August 1, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7), Larvitar, the Rock Skin Pokémon, will be available as a Research Breakthrough encounter. If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny Larvitar!
GO Fest Weekly Challenge - Week 1: Skill
Dates: July 3 - July 8
Event Features:
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.
Legendary Raid Rotation
Date: July 7
Event Description: First came Reshiram, then Zekrom—now, Kyurem is coming to Pokémon GO! Starting Tuesday, July 7, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7), Kyurem, the Boundary Pokémon, will be waiting for you to challenge it in five-star raids. In addition, there will be Raid Hour events featuring Kyurem every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. local time while it’s in five-star raids.
GO Fest Weekly Challenge - Week 2: Battle
Dates: July 10 - July 15
Event Features:
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.
GO Fest Weekly Challenge - Week 3: Friendship
Dates: July 17 - July 22
Event Features:
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!
July Community Day
Date: Sunday, July 19, from 11 AM - 5 PM local time
Event Description: Which Pokémon has a body that is mostly made of gas? It’s Gastly, the runner-up in our recent Community Day poll and July’s featured Community Day Pokémon! Read on for more details about the upcoming Community Day event.
Pokemon GO Fest 2020
Dates: July 25 - July 26
Event Description: Pokémon GO Fest 2020 will take place over two days. Each day will provide a unique experience as well as a different Special Research story to enjoy. Trainers will be able to participate in both days of the event with one ticket.
July Spotlight Hours
Tuesday, July 7, 2020: Taillow will be in the spotlight, and you’ll earn twice the Candy for transferring Pokémon.
Tuesday, July 14, 2020: Zubat will be in the spotlight, and you’ll earn twice the XP for evolving Pokémon.
Tuesday, July 21, 2020: Oddish will be in the spotlight, and you’ll earn twice the Stardust for catching Pokémon.
Tuesday, July 28, 2020: Buizel will be in the spotlight, and you’ll earn twice the XP for catching Pokémon.
There's clearly a ton going on during July, so PoGO players will want to bookmark this page and also make good use of their Today View in the mobile app to make sure they aren't missing any of the crucial ongoing bonuses or features that are live. Also, keep in mind that a ticket purchase will be necessary to take full advantage of the GO Fest activities, so be sure to buy one of those (and maybe some other GO Fest swag) before the event kicks off later this month.
As trainers continue working through all of these amazing events, they may want to keep hunting down the best Unova Pokemon in the game if improving their Battle Raid rosters and completing their Pokedex is their primary goal. Be sure to check back in the near future for more Pokemon GO strategy guides, news, and updates. Until then, good luck out there, trainers!
Pokemon GO is available now in select regions on Android and iOS devices.
Source: Pokemon GO Live