Pokemon GO trainers trying to hatch a certain Pokemon during the holiday season may be in for some bad news. With the newest update, Niantic has mixed up the pool of Pokemon that can be obtained through eggs which has dropped many different species from previous generations.
In-game, trainers can obtain four types of Pokemon eggs: 2 km, 5 km, 7 km, and 10 km. All of these eggs can be hatched by using an incubator and walking the required distance, with rarer Pokemon corresponding to increased distance. Though previous updates have streamlined the Pokemon that can be hatched, this is the first time there has been a mass purge of this size from the egg pool.
In the latest December update, Pokemon GO has dropped nearly one-hundred different Pokemon from the egg pool, which includes many different starters and fan-favorites. Although new Pokemon were added to the pool in the process, dozens of species from previous generations were removed. The species dropped from the list were Pokemon available in-game since launch as well as familiar faces from the generations two through five.
- 2 km egg group removals: Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Abra, Machop, Shellder, Gastly, Krabby, Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile, Pichu, Cleffa, Igglybuff, Togepi, Misdreavus, Swinub, Smoochum, Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip, Poochyena, Makuhita, Aron, Meditite, Spoink, Kricketot, Bonsly, Pidove.
- 5 km egg group removals: Sandshrew, Psyduck, Growlithe, Magnemite, Seel, Onix, Lickitung, Rhyhorn, Tangela, Horsea, Omanyte, Kabuto, Mareep, Yanma, Murkrow, Pineco, Shuckle, Sneasel, Houndour, Tyrogue, Smoochum, Elekid, Magby, Nosepass, Trapinch, Cacnea, Shuppet, Duskull, Wynaut, Snorunt, Budew, Combee, Drifloon, Buneary, Glameow, Stunky, Bronzor, Hippopotas, Finneon, Mantyke, Snover, Blitzle, Drilbur, Foongus, Lotad, Azurill
- 10 km egg group removals: Lapras, Porygon, Aerodactyl, Dratini, Larvitar, Ralts, Slakoth, Nincada, Sableye, Bagon, Beldum, Chingling, Happiny, Munchlax, Riolu
But despite the removal of so many Pokemon from the main egg pool, those species are still available in-game through other methods. Much like previous purges, some Pokemon can still be found and caught in the wild if trainers know where to look. Additionally, other Pokemon like Beldum and Bagon were shifted to the Adventure Sync egg pool which will further motivate trainers to complete their weekly fitness goals and claim the rewards. Finally, baby Pokemon such as Riolu are still available in 7 km eggs, which can only be found through friend gifts.
However, Niantic's choice to remove this many Pokemon from the general egg pool is understandable. Going into 2020, the number of species currently available has grown to over five-hundred compared to launch day when there were only Kanto region Pokemon. Furthermore, many of the Pokemon removed were ones that trainers likely already caught in their adventures, saving the frustration of hatchling a duplicate then transferring it away.
In the end, some trainers are bound to be frustrated that their favorite Pokemon are being removed from the main egg pool in Pokemon GO. But this change is better for the overall health of the game, especially since it has finally caught up to the main series in Generation 8.
Pokemon GO is now available on Android and iOS.
Source: Silph Road