Pokemon GO, Niantic's augmented-reality take on the popular series, has recently entered its third year since release. While things have calmed down from the days of local parks being swarmed by Trainers rushing about after rare finds, the game still retains a strong user base. Part of the reason for this is Niantic's commitment to keeping up a steady stream of new Pokemon GO content and seasonal events, the latest of which has just arrived.
The Pokemon GO 2019 Halloween Event is a chance for players to catch some rare and unique Pokemon, as well as earn some valuable rewards. Spawn rates for Dark and Ghost Pokemon have been increased, new Shinies are out in the wild, and Raid Bosses have been updated. On top of this, the new Field Research Tasks give players challenges to complete, allowing them to earn rare Pokemon Encounters and special items. Here's how to catch them all.
- Catch 5 Gastly or Shuppet - Sneasel Encounter
- Evolve 3 Drifloon or Stunky - Rare Candy
- Make 3 Excellent throws in a row - Golett Encounter
- Defeat a Team Go Rocket Grunt - Yamask Encounter
- Take 5 Snapshots of Ghost-type Pokemon - Sableye Encounter
- Catch 10 Ghost-type Pokemon - 1000 Stardust
Earn Pokemon
There are four challenges which give Halloween-themed Pokemon as their reward. The first is to catch 5 Gastlys or Shuppets, both low-level Ghost Pokemon that should be fairly easy to track down, unlocking the Dark/Ice Sneasel on completion. The second challenge is equally straightforward, players just need to find and defeat a Team GO Rocket Grunt to earn themselves a Yamask, another rare Ghost Pokemon.
To complete the third challenge players need to make 3 Excellent throws in a row, this can be done by making sure the Poke Ball hits the Pokemon inside the center ring when it's at its smallest. This grants bonus XP, and if players can pull it off three times in a row they'll earn a Ground-Ghost Golett. The final challenge that gives Pokemon as a reward is to take 5 snapshots of Ghost-type Pokemon, this should be fairly easy to accomplish with the higher spawn rates, and will allow players to earn a Sableye, a Dark-Ghost Pokemon.
Earn Items
Two of the Halloween event Research Tasks give items as their reward instead of Pokemon. The first, and most valuable, is to evolve 3 Drifloon or Stunky Pokemon. Doing so will reward players with a Rare Candy, which can be transformed into a Candy for any Pokemon. The second item-rewarding challenge is perhaps the simplest of them all, if the most time consuming, and players who catch 10 Ghost-type normal or Shiny Pokemon will be rewarded with 1000 Stardust, which can be used to level-up their team.
Pokemon GO is out now in select regions for Android and iOS devices.