Discover the eerie allure of Greavard, the Ghost Dog Pokémon from Paldea, making its haunting debut in Pokémon Go during the 2023 Halloween event. Learn how to catch this spectral canine through timed research, raids, and special tasks-and gather the 50 candies needed to evolve it into the formidable Houndstone. Whether you’re a seasoned trainer or a newcomer, this guide unlocks the secrets to adding these spooky new additions to your collection just in time for the season of shadows.
How to get Greavard in Pokémon Go
Greavard was introduced in Pokémon Go during the Halloween 2023 event, starting October 19, 2023. The most reliable way to get Greavard is by completing the Halloween Timed Research quest, which guarantees encounters with it throughout the event. Additionally, Greavard can be found in three-star raids during the first part of the Halloween event and through event-exclusive field research tasks in the second part. Using Nice, Great, or Excellent Throws along with Pinap Berries can help maximize candy gain when catching Greavard. Outside of events, Greavard has not been consistently available in the wild, but it may return during future Halloween or special events.
Making its first appearance in 2023’s “Halloween Part 1” event, Greavard can be caught from the following sources:
- “Halloween Timed Research” reward (three encounters)
- “Eerie Echoes” Timed Research reward (one encounter)
- Three-star raids
- Field Research (during “Halloween Part 2” between Oct. 26 and Oct. 31)
To summarize, Greavard does not appear in the wild or in eggs, meaning beyond Timed Research rewards, you need to find three-star raids, or wait until it appears in Field Research during the second half of the Halloween event.
Due to Greavard’s rarity and seasonal nature, after Oct. 31 it will likely disappear from the game until 2024’s Halloween festivities, so catch one while you can. (On the bright side, it’s more common than Spiritomb!)
How to get Houndstone in Pokémon Go
To get Houndstone in Pokémon Go, you need to evolve Greavard by using 50 Greavard Candy. Greavard was introduced during the Halloween 2023 event, and you can earn candy by catching multiple Greavard, ideally using Pinap Berries to double the candy gained per catch. Additional candy can be collected by setting Greavard as your Buddy Pokémon or using Rare Candy. Once you have accumulated 50 candies, simply select Greavard in your collection and tap the evolve button to obtain Houndstone.
To get Houndstone in Pokémon Go, you must evolve Greavard with 50 Candy.
Even if you use a Pinap Berry on the three “Halloween Timed Research” rewards alongside an active Mega Evolution to bulk it out further, you’ll still be some Candy short. This means you have to seek out Greavard in three-star raids, have Greavard as your buddy Pokémon, or spend Rare Candy, to make up the difference.
Can Greavard be shiny in in Pokémon Go?
Greavard can indeed be shiny in Pokémon Go. It was introduced with its shiny variant during the Halloween 2023 event, where players had the chance to encounter and catch both regular and shiny Greavard in raids and special research tasks. The shiny form of Greavard features a distinctive golden fur color, which many players find visually appealing compared to its normal appearance. This shiny variant adds an exciting collectible aspect for fans of the ghost-type dog Pokémon in the game.
On its debut, Greavard cannot be shiny in Pokémon Go. Our best guess is you’ll have to wait at least one year until the next Halloween event in 2024 – though it’s possible developer Niantic may keep us waiting longer than that.
Want to know the best way to catch Greavard during Halloween events
The best way to catch Greavard during the Halloween 2023 event in Pokémon Go is through the Halloween Timed Research questline, which offers multiple guaranteed encounters with Greavard as you complete steps involving catching and photographing Ghost-type Pokémon. This method is available throughout the event and is considered the easiest way to obtain Greavard.
Additionally, Greavard appears in three-star raids during the first part of the Halloween event (until October 26, 2023, 10 AM local time). Defeating Greavard in these raids gives you a chance to catch it, and using strong Dark-type counters like Tyranitar, Hydreigon, or Darkrai can help you win the battle efficiently. However, if you’re not confident in soloing the raid, teaming up with other players or using Remote Raid Passes is recommended.
From October 26 to October 31, Greavard can also be caught via event-exclusive field research tasks, which rotate daily at PokéStops. Finding these tasks may require community help or joining local Pokémon Go groups.
To maximize candy gain for evolving Greavard into Houndstone, aim for Nice, Great, or Excellent throws and use Pinap or Silver Pinap Berries when catching Greavard. Having Greavard as your buddy and using Rare Candy can also help accumulate candy faster.
In summary, prioritize completing the Halloween Timed Research for guaranteed encounters, participate in three-star raids while available, and keep an eye out for special field research tasks in the event’s second phase to catch Greavard most effectively.
What’s the most effective strategy to catch Greavard during Halloween event quests
The most effective strategy to catch Greavard during the Halloween event quests in Pokémon Go is to focus on completing the Halloween Timed Research questline. This questline is available throughout the event and guarantees multiple Greavard encounters as you progress through its steps, which involve catching and photographing Ghost-type Pokémon-making it the easiest and most reliable method.
Specifically, the quest has three steps, each rewarding a Greavard encounter upon completion of tasks such as catching 5 to 25 Ghost-type Pokémon and taking snapshots of Ghost-types. This method provides three guaranteed Greavard encounters without needing to rely on raids or field research tasks.
If you want to catch additional Greavard or aim for better IVs, participating in three-star raids featuring Greavard during the first part of the event (until October 26) is a good option. For these raids, use strong Dark-type counters like Tyranitar, Hydreigon, or Darkrai to defeat Greavard efficiently. Soloing is possible if your counters are sufficiently powered up to level 35, but teaming up or using Remote Raid Passes is advisable for less experienced players.
After October 26, Greavard can also be caught through event-exclusive field research tasks, but these are less predictable and may require community help to locate the right PokéStops.
To maximize your catch rate during quests and raids, use Golden Razz or Pinap Berries and aim for Great or Excellent throws, ideally with the Circle Lock technique to increase your chances of success.
In summary, prioritize the Halloween Timed Research questline for guaranteed Greavard encounters, supplement with three-star raids for extra candy and potential better IVs, and use field research tasks in the event’s second phase if desired.
