Pokémon Go Lunar New Year 2025 Event Guide Features Bonuses Schedule

Get ready to slither into the Year of the Snake with Pokémon GO’s Lunar New Year 2025 event, running from January 29 to February 2! This limited-time celebration boosts your chances of encountering shiny Ekans and other snake-themed Pokémon, offers daily PokéCoin rewards through special Field Research tasks, and increases the odds of scoring Lucky Pokémon in trades and becoming Lucky Friends. Whether you’re hunting rare shinies or stacking up Stardust and XP, this event promises a rewarding adventure for all Trainers.

There’s also some other unique perks, like an increased shiny rate for Ekans and Nosepass, and daily Field Research that gives PokéCoins.

Below we list all the perks and features of Pokémon Go’s “Lunar New Year 2025” event, including the Timed Research, boosted spawns, and more.

Pokémon Go ’Lunar New Year 2025’ event Timed Research and reward

The Pokémon Go ’Lunar New Year 2025’ event features two sets of Timed Research: a free version and a paid premium version. The free Timed Research, themed around the Year of the Snake, focuses on exploring Routes and rewards players with experience points, Stardust, and up to 10 Zygarde Cells-though you must be under the Zygarde Cell cap to claim them. The premium Timed Research, available for $2, centers on catching Pokémon and offers repeated encounters with Ekans and Nosepass, plus valuable items such as two Lucky Eggs, one Incubator, XP, and additional Stardust. All Timed Research tasks and their rewards must be completed and claimed before the event ends on Sunday, February 2, at 8 PM local time.

There are two research sets for this event, one being free and one being paid. The free one focuses on routes, with the paid one focusing more on featured encounters.

Pokémon Go ’Year of the Snake’ free Timed Research

Step 1 of 1

• Walk 1 km while traveling routes (1 Zygarde Cell)
• Walk 2 km while traveling routes (1 Zygarde Cell)
• Catch 10 Pokémon while following routes (1 Zygarde Cell)
• Follow a route (1 Zygarde Cell)

Rewards: 6 Zygarde CElls, 5,000 XP, 2,000 Stardust

Pokémon Go ’Lunar New Year’ premium Timed Research

This research costs $2. So, is the “Lunar New Year” premium Timed Research worth it?

Two Lucky Eggs and one Incubator costs 310 coins, which is more value than you’d get from just buying $2 worth of coins. (However, this changes if you buy bigger coin packages and take that type of thing into account.) That said, yes, the research is kind of worth it, but you should mainly only buy this if you’re shiny hunting for Ekans and Nosepass.

Step 1 of 2

• Catch 12 Pokémon (Ekans encounter)
• Catch 12 Pokémon (Nosepass encounter)
• Catch 24 Pokémon (Ekans encounter)
• Catch 24 Pokémon (Nosepass encounter)
• Catch 36 Pokémon (Ekans encounter)
• Catch 36 Pokémon (Nosepass encounter)

Rewards: 2 Lucky Eggs, 4,000 XP, 4,000 Stardust

Step 2 of 2

• Catch 12 Pokémon (Ekans encounter)
• Catch 12 Pokémon (Nosepass encounter)
• Catch 24 Pokémon (Ekans encounter)
• Catch 24 Pokémon (Nosepass encounter)
• Catch 36 Pokémon (Ekans encounter)
• Catch 36 Pokémon (Nosepass encounter)

Rewards: 1 Egg Incubator, 8,000 XP, 4,000 Stardust

Pokémon Go ’Lunar New Year 2025’ event Collection Challenges

The Pokémon Go ’Lunar New Year 2025’ event features an exclusive Collection Challenge where players must catch five specific Pokémon: Ekans, Dunsparce, Snivy, Onix, and Darumaka. Completing this challenge rewards players with 6,000 Stardust. These Pokémon can be found in the wild during the event, with some like Ekans having an increased chance to appear shiny. The Collection Challenge is part of a broader event running from January 29 to February 2, 2025, which also includes various research tasks and bonuses such as increased chances for Lucky Pokémon and Lucky Friends.

A Collection Challenge requiring you to catch the following will be live during the event:

• Ekans
• Dunsparce
• Snivy
• Onix
• Darumaka

Reward: 6,000 Stardust

Pokémon Go ’Lunar New Year 2025’ event Field Research and rewards

During the Lunar New Year 2025 event in Pokémon Go, players can complete a variety of Field Research tasks to earn themed rewards. The main Field Research tasks include catching 12 Pokémon (rewarding encounters with Voltorb, Magikarp, Dratini, or Darumaka-all with shiny potential), catching 6 Pokémon while following Routes (rewarding 1,200 Stardust), and exploring 2 km (rewarding 600 Stardust). Additionally, each day during the event, trainers receive a special daily Field Research task that awards 5 PokéCoins, with a rare chance to get a task that gives 25 PokéCoins for catching 25 Pokémon. These tasks are a great way to earn extra Stardust, PokéCoins, and encounters with event-themed Pokémon, making the event especially rewarding for those hunting shiny variants or looking to stock up on in-game resources.

Spinning a PokéStop during the event period may yield one of these tasks:

• Catch 12 Pokémon (Voltorb, Magikarp, Dratini, or Darumaka encounter)
• Catch 6 Pokémon while following routes (1,200 Stardust)
• Explore 2 km (600 Stardust)

Every day after midnight, you’ll also get a bonus Field Research task if you have space for it (you need to have three or less tasks in your queue). This task will reward you with some PokéCoins! The possible tasks are as follows:

• Catch 3 Pokémon (5 PokéCoins)
• Spin 3 PokéStops or gyms (5 PokéCoins)
• Power up Pokémon 3 times (5 PokéCoins)
• Transfer 10 Pokémon (5 PokéCoins)
• Send a gift to a friend (5 PokéCoins)
• Catch 25 Pokémon (25 PokéCoins)

Pokémon Go ’Lunar New Year 2025’ event boosted spawns

During the Pokémon Go ’Lunar New Year 2025’ event, players will encounter a surge in wild spawns of snake-themed and red-colored Pokémon to celebrate the Year of the Snake. Key boosted spawns include Ekans, Onix, Dunsparce, Snivy, and Darumaka, all of which have increased chances of appearing in their shiny forms. Rare Pokémon like Gyarados and Dratini will also make more frequent appearances in the wild, offering trainers a valuable opportunity to catch these sought-after species. In addition, Ekans and Nosepass receive notably boosted shiny rates, with Ekans available in wild encounters and Nosepass obtainable through both 2 km egg hatches and research tasks. This event provides a unique chance for players to expand their shiny collections and catch Pokémon that are typically rare outside of special events.

These Pokémon will spawn more frequently during the event period:

• Ekans*
• Onix
• Gyarados
• Dratini
• Dunsparce
• Snivy
• Darumaka

*There is an “increased chance” of finding this shiny in the wild as part of the event.

Pokémon Go ’Lunar New Year 2025’ event egg hatches

During the Pokémon GO Lunar New Year 2025 event, which runs from January 29 to February 2, specific Pokémon will hatch from 2 km Eggs, replacing the usual rotation. Players can hatch Makuhita, Nosepass, Meditite, Duskull, and Skorupi, with an increased chance of obtaining a Shiny Nosepass. These event-themed hatches offer Trainers a chance to add rare and shiny variants to their collection while celebrating the Year of the Snake.

These Pokémon have a chance to hatch from any 2 km eggs obtained during the event:

• Makuhita
• Nosepass*
• Meditite
• Duskull
• Skorupi

How will the Lunar New Year 2025 event change my Pokémon hunting strategy

How the Lunar New Year 2025 Event Will Change Your Pokémon GO Hunting Strategy

Increased Lucky Trades and Lucky Friends

• Take advantage of the event’s significantly higher odds for obtaining Lucky Pokémon in trades and becoming Lucky Friends with others. This is the best time of year to trade high-IV or rare Pokémon you want to power up cheaply, as Lucky Pokémon require less Stardust to upgrade.

Targeted Shiny Hunting

• Focus your hunting on Ekans and Nosepass, both of which have boosted shiny rates during the event. Ekans is available in the wild and through research, while Nosepass can be found in research encounters and 2 km eggs.

Prioritize Wild Spawns

• Make a plan to catch the featured wild Pokémon, which spawn more frequently: Ekans, Snivy, Onix, Darumaka, Dunsparce, Dratini, and Gyarados. Dratini and Gyarados are especially rare and valuable for PvP and raids, so prioritize areas with high spawn rates or use Incense and Lures to maximize encounters.

Daily Field Research and PokéCoin Tasks

• Complete daily event Field Research tasks for PokéCoins and other rewards. This is a rare opportunity to earn premium currency without spending real money, so make it a daily routine during the event.

Egg Hatching Adjustments

• Focus on hatching 2 km eggs, as the pool is updated with event Pokémon, including shiny-eligible Nosepass, Makuhita, Meditite, Duskull, and Skorupi. Walk as much as possible to maximize your chances for shiny hatches.

Paid Timed Research

• Consider purchasing the $2 timed research ticket if you want extra encounters with Ekans and Nosepass, as well as bonus XP, Stardust, Lucky Eggs, and an Incubator. This can help you quickly build up your collection of event Pokémon and resources.

Collection Challenge

• Complete the event’s Collection Challenge by catching all the required Pokémon (Ekans, Dunsparce, Snivy, Onix, Darumaka) for a large Stardust reward.

Optimize XP and Stardust Gains

• Save your Lucky Eggs for moments when you’re about to complete multiple research tasks or level up friendships, maximizing your XP gain. Clear out your Pokémon storage before the event starts to avoid interruptions while catching.

Summary Table: Strategic Adjustments

By focusing on these event-specific changes, you can maximize your shiny odds, earn more premium currency, and build a stronger Pokémon roster during the Lunar New Year 2025 event.

How can I maximize my chances of catching shiny Ekans during the event

Maximizing Your Chances of Catching Shiny Ekans During the Lunar New Year 2025 Event

1. Prioritize Wild Encounters

• Shiny Ekans has a boosted appearance rate in the wild during the event, making wild encounters your best bet. The more Ekans you encounter, the higher your odds-so focus on areas with high spawn density and use Incense and Lures to attract more Pokémon to your location.

2. Hatch 2 km Eggs

• Ekans can also be obtained from 2 km eggs collected during the event. Walking and hatching as many of these eggs as possible increases your encounter pool and, therefore, your shiny chances.

3. Complete Event Research Tasks

• Participate in event-exclusive Field Research tasks, which may reward you with Ekans encounters. These research encounters often have higher shiny odds compared to standard wild spawns, so prioritize completing as many as possible.

4. Use the Quick Catch Method

• To maximize the number of encounters per hour, use the quick catch technique, which skips the catch animation and lets you check more Pokémon in less time. The more Ekans you can check, the better your shiny odds.

5. Play During Peak Event Hours

• Shiny rates are highest during special events, so make the most of the event window by playing as much as possible, especially in areas with many PokéStops or known Ekans nests.

6. Stack Bonuses

• Combine Incense, Lures, and weather boosts to increase Ekans spawns. Playing in weather conditions that boost Poison-type Pokémon will further increase Ekans’ wild spawn rate.

Summary Table: Shiny Ekans Hunting Tips

By combining these strategies, you’ll dramatically improve your odds of catching a shiny Ekans during the Lunar New Year 2025 event.