The real-world celebration of Chinese New Year happens every February in countries all over the world. This 15-day event is a big part of popular culture, and even video game teams and developers find ways to incorporate the annual festivities into games. Niantic's mobile app Pokemon GO celebrates every Lunar New Year with special events and research.
2022's Lunar New Year marks it as the year of the tiger. That's why Pokemon GO is spotlighting several Pokemon with cat-based designs in homage to the 12-year Chinese zodiac calendar. Beyond increased wild encounters with specifics Pokemon, players can experience increased shiny rates, special Pokemon raids, temporary research quests, and more.
The Year of the Tiger Pokemon
For Pokemon GO's 2022 Lunar New Year celebration, Litleo is the headlining character. This wild little cat is a fire type and evolves into Pyroar, which has different male and female forms. This celebration brings shiny Litleo into the game for the first time with a unique sprite that is visually lighter than its non-shiny variation. Shiny encounter rates will be boosted for Litleo, and players can catch the Kalos region Pokemon in wild encounters, earn them in one-star raids, hatch them from eggs, or get them from completing timed research.
Litleo isn't the only cat Pokemon taking center stage for this event. Several other Pokemon with tiger-like designs will appear in the wild, in eggs, and in research rewards. Players can be on the lookout for Meowth and Growlithe in the wild; Shinx, Espurr, Flareon, and Delcatty in raids; and Galarian and Alolan Meowth and Espurr in research rewards. Aside from Delcatty and Flareon, these Pokemon all have shiny forms that players might be lucky enough to catch. Other additional Pokemon will also be appearing more frequently, including Electabuzz, Hisuian Voltorb, Darumaka, and more.
Pokemon Trainer Event Bonuses
Beyond special Pokemon spawns and raids, trainers will also experience special perks during the Lunar New Year event. An increased chance for a lucky Pokemon in trades can boost Pokemon's stats essentially for free. Increased chance to become Lucky Friends with another trainer means that there are more opportunities for guaranteed lucky trades. Double Stardust from opening gifts gives players more Stardust for trades, evolutions, and powering up Pokemon CP. One extra special trade per day also allows trainers to receive multiple Pokemon they don't already have in their Pokedex in a given day.
There will also be special Pokemon GO research quests available during the Lunar New Year event. While many of the standard research quests are the same prompts as usual, the Pokemon rewards are customized to the event, giving players Litleo, Espurr, Daramuka, Magikarp, or Meowth. Some quests will award players with up to 25 Mega Gyarados energy. There are two special timed quests that become unavailable once the event ends. These quests' tasks require players to catch Pokemon, trade Pokemon, and send gifts to other trainers. Completing these timed quests will reward players with Stardust, Espurr, and Litleo, and these two Pokemon also have an increased shiny rate.
Pokemon trainers ready to get in on the action can get on Pokemon GO and catch a shiny Litleo from Tuesday, February 1, until Monday, February 7. Litleo and Pyroar's shiny forms are new to the game and will remain in Pokemon GO after the event is over, but trainers will likely want to take advantage of the increased shiny rates during the special event. Players who are ready to tackle the year of the tiger can start this Lunar New Year strong with the 2022 Pokemon GO event.
Pokemon GO is available now for iOS and Android devices.