Step into the world of Pokémon like never before as Pokémon GO celebrates the second season of Pokémon Horizons: The Series with an electrifying week-long event! From April 16 to April 22, 2025, trainers can catch the debuting Paldea region Pokémon Tinkatink, Tinkatuff, and Tinkaton, encounter special costume-wearing Pikachu and Floragato, and enjoy exciting bonuses like half egg hatch distances and more frequent Team GO Rocket balloon appearances. Ready your Poké Balls and get set for an adventure that bridges the anime and the game in thrilling new ways!
The event also has a few neat bonuses: Team Go Rocket balloons will show up more often, halved hatch distance for eggs put into Incubators during the event, and an increased chance to find the special, hat-wearing Pikachu and Floragato shiny.
Tinkatinkand its evolutions are also making their debut with this event, but you’ll need to hatch quite a few eggs to source enough to evolve one into a Tinkaton.
Below we list all the Pokémon Go “Pokémon Horizons: The Series Celebration” event perks, including the free Timed Research, boosted spawns, egg hatches, and more.
Pokémon Go ’Pokémon Horizons: The Series Celebration’ event Timed Research and reward
The Pokémon Go “Pokémon Horizons: The Series Celebration” event features a special Timed Research quest that players can complete from April 16 to April 22, 2025. This free four-step Timed Research involves tasks such as catching Pokémon, taking snapshots with your buddy, defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts, and spinning PokéStops or Gyms. Rewards include Stardust, XP, and encounters with event-themed Pokémon like Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Quaxly, and Pikachu wearing Captain’s hat. Additionally, there is a paid Timed Research option for $4.99 that offers extra tasks and rewards, including encounters with Tinkatink, an Incubator, and an event-themed avatar pose. Completing the free Timed Research grants valuable rewards and special Pokémon encounters tied to the celebration of the Pokémon Horizons anime series.
If you complete this research before the event ends, you’ll get a special reward. The four-step research we list below is the free research. There’s a separate Tinkatink-themed premium research, “Don’t Tinkatink Twice!,” for $4.99 if you’re interested in that, too.
Step 1 of 4
- Catch 10 Pokémon (500 Stardust)
- Take a snapshot with your buddy (500 Stardust)
- Defeat a Team Go Rocket grunt (500 Stardust)
- Spin 5 PokéStops or gyms (500 Stardust)
Rewards: Sprigatito encounter, 1,000 XP, 500 Stardust
Step 2 of 4
- Catch 10 Pokémon (500 Stardust)
- Complete 3 Field Research Tasks (500 Stardust)
- Explore 2 km (500 Stardust)
Rewards: Fuecoco encounter, 1,000 XP, 500 Stardust
Step 3 of 4
- Catch 10 Pokémon (500 Stardust)
- Defeat 2 Team Go Rocket grunts (500 Stardust)
- Spin 10 PokéStops or gyms (500 Stardust)
Rewards: Quaxly encounter, 1,000 XP, 500 Stardust
Step 4 of 4
- Catch 7 different species of Pokémon (1,000 Stardust)
- Complete 5 Field Research tasks (1,000 Stardust)
- Hatch 2 eggs (1,000 Stardust)
Rewards: Pikachu (Captain’s cap) encounter, 4,000 XP, 2,500 Stardust
Pokémon Go ’Pokémon Horizons: The Series Celebration’ event Field Research and rewards
During the Pokémon Go “Pokémon Horizons: The Series Celebration” event, players can obtain special Field Research tasks by spinning PokéStops. These tasks include defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts, exploring 2 km, hatching eggs, and trading Pokémon. Completing these tasks rewards players with Stardust and encounters with event-themed Pokémon such as Pikachu wearing Captain’s Cap. Notably, hatching eggs or trading Pokémon can lead to encounters with this special Pikachu variant. The event also features a Timed Research quest with multiple steps, offering rewards like XP, Stardust, and encounters with the Paldean starters Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Quaxly, and a Cap’s Hat Pikachu upon completion. Players can save these Field Research tasks to complete even after the event ends.
Spinning a PokéStop during the event period may yield one of these tasks:
- Defeat 2 Team Go Rocket members (1,500 Stardust)
- Explore 2 km (1,500 Stardust)
- Hatch an egg (Pikachu [Captain’s cap] encounter)
- Trade a Pokémon (Pikachu [Captain’s cap] encounter)
Pokémon Go ’Pokémon Horizons: The Series Celebration’ event boosted spawns
During the Pokémon Go “Pokémon Horizons: The Series Celebration” event, several Pokémon will have boosted spawn rates, making it easier for players to encounter and catch them in the wild. Notably, Pikachu wearing a Captain’s hat and Floragato with a hat featuring Liko’s pin will appear more frequently, with increased chances of finding their shiny variants. Other Pokémon with increased spawns include Quagsire, Shuckle, Slugma, Nosepass, Snorunt, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Quaxly, and Pawmi. This event also marks the debut of Tinkatink and its evolutions, which can be obtained primarily through hatching 7 km eggs and evolving after collecting enough candy. Additionally, Team GO Rocket balloons will appear more often, and the egg hatch distance is halved, further enhancing the event experience.
These Pokémon will spawn more frequently during the event period:
- Pikachu (Captain’s Cap)*
- Quagsire
- Shuckle
- Slugma
- Nosepass
- Snorunt
- Sprigatito
- Floragato (Hat with Liko’s pin)*
- Fuecoco
- Quaxly
- Pawmi
*There is an “increased chance” of finding this shiny in the wild as part of the event.
Pokémon Go ’Pokémon Horizons: The Series Celebration’ event egg hatches
During the Pokémon Go “Pokémon Horizons: The Series Celebration” event, players can hatch special Pokémon from 7 km Eggs, including Elekid, Hatenna, Charcadet, and the newly introduced Tinkatink and its evolutions. Eggs placed in Incubators during the event will hatch at half the usual distance, making it easier to collect these featured Pokémon. After the event, Tinkatink will continue to hatch from 10 km Eggs, extending the opportunity to obtain this new addition. The event’s egg pool is praised for its focused selection, with roughly equal chances to hatch each featured Pokémon, enhancing the excitement for collectors and fans alike.
These Pokémon have a chance to hatch from any 7 km eggs obtained during the event:
- Elekid
- Hatenna
- Charcadet
- Tinkatink
Pokémon Go ’Pokémon Horizons: The Series Celebration’ event raid targets
The Pokémon Horizons: The Series Celebration event in Pokémon GO features a special raid lineup from April 16 to April 22, 2025. One-star raids include Pikachu wearing Captain’s hat, Chansey, and Rockruff, while three-star raids feature Charizard, Alolan Muk, Metagross, and Floragato wearing a hat with Liko’s pin. Additionally, tier 5 raids include Stakataka in the Eastern Hemisphere and Blacephalon in the Western Hemisphere, with Mega Sceptile appearing in tier 4 raids. These raids offer increased chances to encounter shiny variants of the featured Pokémon, making it a prime opportunity for players to participate and collect unique Pokémon from the anime series.
The following changes to the raid schedule will take place as part of the event:
’Pokémon Horizons: The Series Celebration’ raid line-up
The raid line-up for the Pokémon Horizons: The Series Celebration event in Pokémon GO features a mix of 1-Star and 3-Star raids. In 1-Star raids, players can battle Pikachu wearing Captain’s Cap, Chansey, and Rockruff. The 3-Star raids include Charizard, Alolan Muk, Metagross, and Floragato wearing a hat with Liko’s pin. These raids offer an increased chance to encounter shiny versions of these Pokémon, making it a great opportunity for collectors and battlers alike. Additionally, the event includes recommended counters such as Lucario for Chansey and Rockruff, and Rampardos or Primal Groudon for the 3-Star raid bosses, helping players strategize their battles effectively.
One-star raids |
Three-star raids |
|---|---|
| Pikachu (Captain’s cap)* | Charizard |
| Chansey | Alolan Muk |
| Rockruff | Metagross |
| Floragato (Hat with Liko’s pin)* |
How can I catch the debuting Paldea Pokémon in Pokémon Go
To catch the debuting Paldea Pokémon in Pokémon GO, you should participate in special events like the Ultra Unlock: Paldea event, which ran from September 10 to September 15, 2023, featuring Pokémon first discovered in the Paldea region such as Nymble, Pawmi, Bombirdier, and Frigibax. These Pokémon can be found spawning in the wild, hatched from eggs, or encountered through event-specific research tasks and raids. For example, Frigibax can hatch from 10 km eggs, and evolving certain Paldea Pokémon requires collecting candies and walking with them as buddies. During these events, bonuses such as increased XP, Stardust, and higher shiny rates make catching Paldea Pokémon easier and more rewarding. Additionally, traveling at a faster speed (active walking) can help you catch Paldea Pokémon more quickly. Keep an eye on event announcements and timed research to maximize your chances of adding these new Pokémon to your collection.
What are the best locations to find Paldea Pokémon in Pokémon Go
The best locations to find Paldea Pokémon in Pokémon GO vary depending on the species and their habitat preferences, similar to their in-game counterparts in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet:
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South Province Area Five (Levels 10-20): A great early-game spot with diverse Pokémon including Tinkatink and Vigoroth, ideal for evolving early Paldea Pokémon.
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Tagtree Thicket (Levels 25-40): A forested area rich in Poison, Dark, and Ghost types, suitable for mid-game Paldea Pokémon like Mabosstiff and Grafaiai.
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Porto Marinada (Levels 30-50): A coastal zone abundant with Water-type Pokémon such as Buizel and Chewtle, perfect for training and catching aquatic Paldea species.
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Asado Desert (Levels 25-45): A desert environment hosting Ground and Psychic types, including Tinkatink and Rufflet, useful for grinding and catching diverse Paldea Pokémon.
Additionally, some Paldea Pokémon like Frigibax hatch from 10 km eggs, and others may appear during special events or in specific biomes. Active walking speeds and event participation increase spawn rates and encounter opportunities.
For shiny variants, Pokémon such as Hoppip, Houndour, Buizel, and Fletchling from Paldea can be found during special events or through evolving their pre-evolutions with candies collected by walking with them as buddies.
Overall, exploring varied biomes and participating in Paldea-themed events will maximize your chances of encountering and catching Paldea Pokémon in Pokémon GO.
