Shadowy foxes, volatile space-time anomalies, and quadruple XP-Pokémon Go’s Ultra Unlock: Hisui Celebration pulls trainers into an ancient world from July 8-13, 2025, as the elusive Hisuian Zorua and Zoroark make their electrifying debut alongside rare shinies and time-bending surprises.
During the event, there’s a quadruple multiplier on XP and Stardust obtained from catching Pokémon. Hisuian Zorua and its evolution, Hisuian Zoroark, are making its debut during this event, so keep your eye out for any suspicious Pokémon that look like your buddy Pokémon while exploring – this is actually a Hisuian Zorua in disguise!
During the event, space-time distortions will also take place, bringing out different Pokémon. It appears that each distortion lasts an hour and it starts at the top of the hour, but it’s a little iffy to predict when they’ll show up. If you’re keen on catching Pokémon from the distortions, you’ll want to check your game every now and then.
Below we list out the perks of Pokémon Go’s “Ultra Unlock: Hisui Celebration” event, including the Collection Challenge, boosted spawns, and Field Research.
Pokémon Go ’Ultra Unlock Hisui Celebration’ event Collection Challenges
During the Pokémon Go “Ultra Unlock Hisui Celebration” event, players can participate in several special Collection Challenges that involve catching and evolving specific Pokémon primarily from the Hisui region. These challenges include tasks like catching Magnemite, Rowlet, Cyndaquil, and others in the Space-Time Distortion challenge, and evolving Hisuian forms such as Voltorb into Electrode and Growlithe into Arcanine in the Shock, Flame, and Spike challenge. Completing these challenges rewards players with encounters with rare Hisuian Pokémon like Hisuian Avalugg and Hisuian Zorua, along with significant XP and Stardust bonuses. The event simplifies some evolution tasks and offers boosted chances for shiny variants of featured Pokémon, making the Collection Challenges both rewarding and appealing for trainers looking to expand their Hisui Pokédex entries.
The following Collection Challenges will be live throughout the duration of the event:
’Hisui Celebration Catch Challenge: Space-Time Distortion’
- Catch a Magnemite
- Catch a Rowlet
- Catch a Cyndaquil
- Catch a Oshawott
- Catch a Carnidos
- Catch a Shieldon
Rewards: Hisuian Avalugg encounter, 5,000 XP, 2,500 Stardust
’Hisui Celebration Collection Challenge: Shock, Flame, and Spike’
- Catch a Hisuian Voltorb
- Evolve a Hisuian Voltorb into Hisuian Electrode
- Catch a Hisuian Growlithe
- Evolve a Hisuian Growlithe into Hisuian Arcanine
- Catch a Hisuian Qwilfish
- Evolve a Hisuian Qwilfish into Overqwil
Rewards: Hisuian Zorua encounter, 5,000 XP, 2,500 Stardust
The evolution requirement for Hisuian Qwilfish has been lowered for the duration of this event. Rather than having to win 10 raids with Hisuian Qwilfish as your buddy, you’ll only have to win one raid with it as your buddy.
’Hisui Celebration Collection Challenge: Evolution in Flight’
- Catch a Starly
- Evolve a Starly into Staravia
- Evolve a Staravia into Staraptor
- Catch a Zubat
- Evolve a Zubat into Golbat
- Evolve a Golbat into Crobat
Rewards: Hisuian Zorua encounter, 5,000 XP, 2,500 Stardust
Pokémon Go ’Ultra Unlock Hisui Celebration’ event Field Research and rewards
During the Pokémon Go “Ultra Unlock: Hisui Celebration” event, players can complete various Field Research tasks that primarily involve catching Pokémon to earn rewards such as XP, Stardust, and special encounters. Tasks include catching 5 Pokémon for 500 Stardust or 1000 XP, catching 10 Pokémon to encounter Hisuian Voltorb or Hisuian Qwilfish (both with shiny variants), catching 20 Pokémon to encounter Hisuian Growlithe or Hisuian Sneasel, and following a route to encounter White-Striped Basculin. These tasks provide valuable rewards and opportunities to catch event-specific Pokémon that are rare outside of the event.
Spinning a PokéStop during the event period may yield one of these tasks:
- Catch 5 Pokémon (500 Stardust or 1,000 XP)
- Catch 10 Pokémon (Hisuian Voltorb or Hisuian Qwilfish encounter)
- Catch 20 Pokémon (Hisuian Growlithe or Hisuian Sneasel encounter)
- Follow a Route (Basculin [White Stripe] encounter)
Pokémon Go ’Ultra Unlock Hisui Celebration’ event boosted spawns
The Pokémon GO Ultra Unlock: Hisui Celebration event, held from July 8 to July 13, 2025, featured significantly boosted spawns of several Pokémon, including Zubat, Hisuian Voltorb, Magikarp, Hisuian Qwilfish, Sneasel, Larvitar, Bagon, Starly, Croagunk, Petilil, Hisuian Zorua, Rufflet, and Bergmite. Additionally, special space-time anomalies periodically introduced rare Pokémon such as Magnemite, Gengar, Porygon, Cyndaquil, Scizor, Cranidos, Shieldon, Oshawott, and Rowlet, increasing opportunities for Trainers to encounter diverse and rare species during the event.
These Pokémon will spawn more frequently during the event period:
- Zubat
- Hisuian Voltorb*
- Magikarp
- Hisuian Qwilfish*
- Sneasel
- Larvitar
- Bagon
- Starly
- Croagunk
- Petilil
- Hisuian Zorua
- Rufflet
- Bergmite
These Pokémon will appear during “space-time anomalies,” which take place every few hours for one hour:
- Magnemite
- Gengar
- Porygon
- Cyndaquil
- Scizor
- Cranidos
- Shieldon
- Oshawott
- Rowlet
*There is an “increased chance” of finding this shiny in the wild as part of the event.
Pokémon Go ’Ultra Unlock Hisui Celebration’ event raid targets
During the Pokémon Go ‘Ultra Unlock Hisui Celebration’ event, several raid targets are featured. One-star raids include Hisuian Growlithe, while three-star raids feature Hisuian Braviary, Unown U (with increased shiny chance), Hisuian Avalugg, Hisuian Sneasel, Wyrdeer, and Kleavor. Players have heightened opportunities to encounter shiny variants of them, especially Unown U. These raid targets offer players a chance to catch rare and event-exclusive Pokémon during the event running from July 8 to July 13, 2025.
The following changes to the raid schedule will take place as part of the event:
’Ultra Unlock Hisui Celebration’ raid line-up
During the Ultra Unlock Hisui Celebration in Pokémon Go, trainers can challenge a special set of raid bosses. One-star raids feature Hisuian Growlithe, Unown U (with boosted shiny rates), and Hisuian Sneasel. Three-star raids include Hisuian Braviary, Hisuian Avalugg, Wyrdeer, and Kleavor, each offering a chance for shiny encounters. Notably, these Hisuian forms are only available in raids for the duration of the event, making them prime targets for collectors and shiny hunters.
One-star raids |
Three-star raids |
|---|---|
| Hisuian Growlith | Hisuian Braviary |
| Unown U* | Hisuian Avalugg |
| Hisuian Seansel | Wyrdeer |
| Kleavor |
What strategies can I use to maximize shiny encounters during the Hisui Celebration
To maximize shiny encounters during the Ultra Unlock: Hisui Celebration event in Pokémon Go, prioritize the following strategies:
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Target Pokémon with boosted shiny rates: Hisuian Voltorb, Hisuian Qwilfish, and Unown U have increased shiny odds during the event, especially from raids and space-time anomalies.
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Focus on event Field Research and Collection Challenges: Completing these tasks can award encounters with shiny-eligible Pokémon, notably Hisuian Voltorb and Hisuian Qwilfish for catch-based research, and rewards tied to space-time anomaly Pokémon.
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Use Incense and Lure Modules: These items increase spawn rates, especially in high-PokéStop areas, optimizing the number of encounters and thus more chances for shiny Pokémon.
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Prioritize high-density areas: Play in regions with many PokéStops and spawns, such as parks or city centers, to maximize encounters and collect more research tasks quickly. Discard less relevant tasks in favor of those with shiny-eligible rewards.
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Raid frequently: One-star and three-star raids feature several Hisuian Pokémon with boosted shiny rates, such as Hisuian Growlithe, Unown U, and Hisuian Sneasel. Raid participation is essential for shiny hunting, especially for Unown U, which has significantly enhanced odds.
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Participate during event spotlights and time-limited bonuses: Some Pokémon, like Hisuian Voltorb, benefit from extra shiny boosts during event-specific Spotlight Hours; plan your play sessions around these windows for optimal results.
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Stock up on resources: Ensure you have plenty of Poké Balls, berries, and raid passes ahead of time to avoid missing any encounters during peak play periods or area lures.
Key event bonuses-such as 4× catch XP and Stardust-make the event even more rewarding, but for shiny hunting specifically, maximizing encounter volume through movement, lures, and focused research/raids is paramount.
Caveat: Actual shiny odds are always subject to in-game algorithms and random chance, even when “boosted.” Continuous play and maximizing encounters are the most reliable paths to results. Always check official event announcements for any real-time updates or corrections.
How can I optimize my use of Lucky Eggs and Star Pieces during the event
To optimize your use of Lucky Eggs and Star Pieces during the Ultra Unlock: Hisui Celebration, align their activation with the highest-value activities and event bonuses:
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Batch activities for simultaneous boosts: Stack high-yield XP and Stardust actions so you can use both a Lucky Egg and Star Piece together. For example, plan to hatch as many 10km eggs at once as possible-hatching multiple high-value eggs simultaneously during the event’s bonus period yields significant Stardust (with Star Piece) and some XP (with Lucky Egg).
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Reserve Friendship level-ups and completed research: Save claiming Ultra and Best Friend level-ups, as well as stacked Special or Field Research rewards, until your Lucky Egg is active for double XP gains. Try to coordinate these to claim during your Star Piece for additional Stardust from certain research tasks.
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Focus on mass catching and lured clusters: Use Incense and Lures in dense PokéStop areas during your 30-minute boosts. Catching lots of Pokémon quickly maximizes both XP and Stardust gains. Evolved forms and weather-boosted Pokémon provide more Stardust on catch, further amplified by your Star Piece.
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Egg hatching for maximum Stardust: Prepare a set of 9 eggs (preferably 10km, or whatever highest-kilometer you have) near hatching. Start walking so they all hatch within one Star Piece window. Avoid triggering the hatching reward until both your Star Piece and Lucky Egg are active.
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Time boosts with event multipliers: Activate Lucky Eggs and Star Pieces during bonus windows, such as 4× catch XP or Stardust events, to stack multipliers for exponential gains.
Key tips:
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Do not use Lucky Egg on activities with no XP or Star Piece on activities with no Stardust reward.
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Avoid “wasting” boosts during periods of inactivity-plan your route or hatching in advance.
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Incubate eggs consistently leading up to the event to ensure you have a full set ready for hatching during your Star Piece.
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If low on resources, prioritize Star Piece activations for hatching eggs and catching evolved or rare Pokémon; prioritize Lucky Eggs for mass evolution, large friendship jumps, and research stacks.
With careful planning, you can dramatically increase your XP and Stardust earnings during high-activity event windows.
