The BEST Event of the Year is HERE: Pokémon GO Halloween Part Two!
The spookiest event of the year has arrived—Pokémon GO Halloween Part Two! This part of the event is packed with new opportunities, rare spawns, and some seriously exciting bonuses. We’ve got 7 km eggs filled with rare costume Pokémon, and a special raid boss you won’t want to miss: Darkrai. Let’s jump into everything you need to know to make the most of this year’s Halloween celebration.
What’s New in Pokémon GO Halloween Part Two?
Halloween Part Two has introduced a host of special features that players can enjoy. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Darkrai in Raids: This mythical Dark-type Pokémon is back, and it’s only available through raids, so now’s your chance to catch it if you’ve missed it in previous events.
- New Costumed Pokémon: Adorable Pokémon with Halloween-themed costumes are available in the wild and from eggs. You’ll find costume versions of favorites like Pikachu, Vulpix, Rowlet, Froakie, and more.
- Double Candy Bonuses: There’s double candy for catches, plus an increased chance of XL candy—perfect for building up strong Pokémon.
Now, let’s break down each element of this event to make sure you don’t miss out on anything valuable!
Darkrai: The Mythical Dark-Type Pokémon Returns
One of the biggest features of Halloween Part Two is Darkrai’s return to raids. Unlike legendary Pokémon, Darkrai is classified as mythical, which means you can only get it from raids, not from trades. Darkrai tends to appear once or twice a year, usually around Halloween, making this event a prime opportunity to catch one.
Here are some essential tips for tackling Darkrai in raids:
- Use Fighting-Type Pokémon: Darkrai is weak against Fighting, Fairy, and Bug-type Pokémon, with Fighting types generally performing the best. Powerful options include Conkeldurr, Lucario, Terrakion, and Machamp.
- Bring a Mega Evolution: Mega-evolving a Pokémon like Mega Tyranitar will give you a bonus for catching Darkrai, boosting the amount of candy you’ll get. Always a useful bonus, especially when building up powerful Dark-type Pokémon.
- Target the Perfect CP: For Darkrai, the 100% IV CPs to watch for are 2136 (non-weather boosted) and 2671 (boosted by foggy weather).
Special 7 km Eggs: Don’t Miss These Rare Hatches
Halloween Part Two also brings some incredible 7 km eggs packed with exclusive costume Pokémon, including:
- Froakie with a Halloween-themed top hat.
- Rowlet in a costume with a Frankenstein-inspired green tint.
- Pichu with a hat, along with Vulpix and Pikachu in their Halloween costumes.
Only four Pokémon are featured in these eggs, making it easier to hatch specific ones you’re after. For serious collectors and shiny hunters, this egg pool is one of the best we’ve seen in a long time. Try to incubate as many of these as you can during the event to maximize your chances of getting these unique costume Pokémon in their shiny forms.
Special Bonuses on October 31st
If you’re playing on October 31st, you’re in luck! There’s a special bonus available for this one day only:
- Rare Candy and XL Rare Candy: For the first time, there’s a chance to earn rare and XL rare candies by catching costumed Pokémon in the wild. This is huge, as rare candies are typically reserved for raids or high-level achievements, so don’t miss out on this chance to stock up!
Research Tasks and Field Research for Halloween Part Two
The field research tasks for Halloween Part Two offer exclusive rewards, including encounters with Spiritomb and rare costumed Pokémon:
- Complete Three Raids: This task can reward Spiritomb, a Pokémon known for its spooky vibe and limited availability.
- Evolve Three Pokémon: This research can yield costume Rowlet, one of the most sought-after rewards of the event.
- Catch 10 Pokémon: Catching 10 Pokémon in the wild could reward costumed Pikachu, Piplup, or Vulpix.
Some of these tasks, like Spiritomb, are hard to come by, so if you see them at PokéStops, definitely pick them up. Spiritomb doesn’t come around often, and it’s one of the few chances you’ll have to add it to your collection.
Gengar and Gigantamax Raids: Get Ready for October 31st
One of the highlights of Halloween Part Two is the Gigantamax Gengar raid on October 31st. If you’re familiar with Gigantamax forms, you’ll know that Gengar’s transformation is especially exciting, complete with a massive gaping mouth and a unique shadowy design.
To prepare for Gigantamax Gengar raids:
- Use Ghost-Type Pokémon: Gengar is weak to Ghost and Psychic-type moves, so pack Pokémon like Chandelure, Gengar, and Mewtwo with Psychic-type moves for maximum effect.
- Maximize Coordination: Gigantamax raids are challenging and require large teams. If you’re playing solo or in a small group, consider finding a busy location or coordinating with other trainers on social media to improve your chances.
- Get Ready for Rewards: With the Gigantamax form being such a rare occurrence, taking down Gengar in a raid will earn you high rewards and boost your chances of getting XL candy for Gengar.
Extra Candy and XP: Double Up on Rewards
Halloween Part Two is a candy lover’s dream, with several bonuses focused on candy and experience gains:
- Double Catch Candy: Earn twice the candy on every catch, ideal for stocking up on Pokémon you want to power up.
- Increased XL Candy: If you’re over level 31, you’ll get a higher chance of receiving XL candy, which is essential for powering up Pokémon past level 40.
This candy bonus makes it a great time to catch rare Pokémon and stock up for future battles.
Best Pokémon to Catch and Raid
During this event, certain Pokémon are more likely to appear in raids and the wild, including fan favorites like Gengar, Drifblim (with a costume), Umbreon, and Morpeko. Keep an eye out for these special Pokémon in tiered raids:
- Tier 1 Raids: Pikachu, Froakie, Rowlet, all in costumes.
- Tier 3 Raids: Gengar with a costume, Drifblim, and Umbreon.
Raiding Gengar and Drifblim with costumes offers a fun seasonal twist and gives shiny hunters another chance to add unique variants to their collections.
A Final Tip: Watch for Game Glitches
Halloween Part Two is packed with content, but there have been reports of some game glitches, such as raid disconnects and freezing screens. If you’re experiencing issues, restarting the app before beginning a raid or egg hatching can sometimes help stabilize the gameplay. Hopefully, these glitches will be resolved soon, but in the meantime, a little caution can help avoid any in-game frustrations.
Wrapping Up
Pokémon GO’s Halloween Part Two event is here, bringing back Darkrai, introducing a new set of costumed Pokémon, and offering some of the best seasonal bonuses we’ve seen all year. Be sure to stock up on 7 km eggs, use your double candy bonuses to the fullest, and prep your team for the upcoming Gigantamax Gengar raids on October 31st.
There’s plenty to enjoy in this event, and with some rare Pokémon and rewards on the line, it’s definitely worth jumping in. So, get ready, trainers, and enjoy the spookiest part of the Pokémon GO calendar!
How to Get Shiny Galarian Articuno, Zapdos & Moltres in Pokémon GO
Let’s dive into one of the biggest Pokémon GO hunts right now: the Shiny Galarian bird trio—Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. Their Shiny versions were just released, and these rare forms are as exciting to chase as they are tough to catch. If you’re wondering how to boost your odds and save time, this guide is for you. Grab your Daily Adventure Incense, and let’s talk about strategies to help you land one of these elusive birds.
Why the Daily Adventure Incense Is Key
To increase your odds of encountering a Shiny Galarian bird, you’ll need to make the most of your Daily Adventure Incense. This is your best (and really only) tool for getting them to spawn. The Daily Adventure Incense, which runs for 15 minutes, offers the rare chance of encountering Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres—and their Shiny forms are even rarer.
Now, here are some tips to get the most out of each incense run:
- Stay Moving: For the incense to work effectively, you need to keep walking. Find a nice, long route, preferably one with minimal stops or slowdowns. Maintaining a steady pace is crucial to make the most of those 15 minutes, as spawns can stall if you pause too often.
- Mind Your Speed: While you want to keep moving, try to stay below 7 mph (11 kph) to make sure the game registers your movement for spawns. If you move too quickly, the incense might not work as effectively, and you could miss out on possible encounters.
- Choose Open Paths: Parks, open trails, and areas with minimal interference from buildings are ideal. Pokémon GO spawns are sometimes influenced by the environment, so staying in open spaces where spawns aren’t crowded by landmarks may help increase the quality of spawns.
Targeting Weather Conditions to Boost Spawns
Weather in Pokémon GO is more than just cosmetic—it directly affects spawn rates, which can be crucial when hunting rare Pokémon like the Galarian birds. These birds are Flying-types, and their secondary types vary: Articuno is Flying/Psychic, Zapdos is Flying/Fighting, and Moltres is Flying/Dark.
To maximize your chances of spotting one of these Pokémon, try to head out when the weather is favorable for their types:
- Windy: This is the best all-around boost, as it enhances Flying-types, covering all three Galarian birds.
- Cloudy: Good for Zapdos, as it boosts Fighting-types.
- Fog: If you’re looking for Galarian Moltres, this is ideal for boosting Dark-types.
If you don’t have access to these conditions, no worries—the birds can still appear, just with a slightly lower likelihood. However, if you know a change in weather is coming up, it might be worth timing your Daily Adventure Incense to align with it.
Best Times for Using Daily Incense
Timing matters. During in-game events, spawns are often dominated by event-specific Pokémon, meaning you’re more likely to encounter event spawns than Galarian birds. If possible, try to use your Daily Adventure Incense outside of event hours or on days when no events are happening. Event spawns tend to overtake the incense, so going at a quieter time may improve your chances of finding a Galarian bird.
Catching Galarian Birds: Tips and Tricks
Let’s talk about what happens if you do encounter a Galarian bird. First, take a deep breath—they’re notoriously hard to catch, and if you’re lucky enough to find a Shiny one, you’ll want to be prepared:
- Use a Golden Razz Berry: This is the best berry you can use to improve your catch rate, so have one ready just in case.
- Aim for Excellent Throws: Practice your aim for those Excellent and Great throws. Since these are Legendary-tier Pokémon, they’re much harder to catch than average spawns.
- Use Ultra Balls: You’ll want to use your best Poké Balls to increase your odds. Ultra Balls offer a higher catch rate than standard Poké Balls.
A recent game update has introduced an exciting change for Shiny Galarian birds—they reportedly don’t flee once you encounter them. They may jump out of the ball a few times, but they should stick around until you catch them. So, if you’re lucky enough to spot a Shiny, you can feel more confident knowing it won’t disappear. Still, there’s no reason to take unnecessary risks, so keep those throws steady and strong.
Knowing Where to Walk
Some trainers report encountering Galarian birds more frequently in certain locations. For instance, parks, trails, or consistent walking paths seem to be favorable areas for these rare encounters. Pokémon GO’s spawns are sometimes influenced by location, so if you’ve previously encountered a Galarian bird in a certain spot, it’s worth trying your Daily Adventure Incense there again.
Additionally, specific Pokémon GO zones, like areas with bodies of water or tree-lined pathways, can sometimes improve spawn rates for certain types. While there’s no guaranteed effect, staying in familiar areas where you’ve had luck can give you a slight edge.
Additional Tips for Encounter Success
- Device Optimization: Pokémon GO can be demanding on your phone. If you’re running low on battery or experience frequent crashes, it’s worth restarting your app and fully charging your device before starting the incense. Nothing’s worse than encountering a rare bird only to have your phone freeze!
- Watch the Time: The incense works best in the first 15 minutes, so try not to get distracted with non-Daily Incense spawns. Stick to your route, and keep catching efficiently to make the most of each encounter.
- Walk Without Distractions: Avoid sidetracking to catch other Pokémon on your map. To maximize your incense spawns, focus only on what the incense brings you. Event spawns can be tempting, but they’ll still be around after your incense ends.
FAQs: Everything You Should Know About Shiny Galarian Birds
Do Shiny Galarian Birds Flee?
According to recent reports, Shiny Galarian birds will no longer flee when encountered on the Daily Adventure Incense. This is a relief for players, as it gives you more time to secure that catch without worrying about the bird disappearing.
Can the Birds Spawn During Events?
Yes, but event spawns can make Galarian bird encounters rare. For higher chances, use your incense outside of event hours or on days with no active events.
Does Weather Really Boost the Galarian Birds?
Weather boosts absolutely impact Pokémon spawns in Pokémon GO. For the best chances, look for Windy, Cloudy, or Foggy weather conditions when using your Daily Adventure Incense. It’s not a guarantee, but it can give a slight edge for certain types.
Is It Worth Using Rare Candies or Stardust?
If you encounter a Shiny Galarian bird, it may be worth powering it up, especially if it has good stats. However, given their rarity, you may want to wait for the best possible IVs before investing heavily in Stardust or Rare Candies.
Catching a Shiny Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, or Moltres is a rare but thrilling experience in Pokémon GO. By optimizing your Daily Adventure Incense use, keeping an eye on the weather, and being ready with Golden Razz Berries and Ultra Balls, you can maximize your chances of landing one of these elusive Shiny Pokémon. So, keep your phone charged, pick a familiar route, and happy hunting! Here’s hoping your next Daily Adventure Incense brings you a shiny surprise!