Splash into Pokémon Go’s Water Festival: Beach Week, where timed research unlocks rare aquatic encounters and sandy shores teem with shiny surprises.
Notably, the sand castle ghost-type Pokémon Sandygast has been added to the game as part of this event. Clauncher is also available shiny for the first time.

The event features Timed Research, specific spawns, event Field Research, and specialized raid targets, which we’ve listed out below.
Water Festival: Beach Week Timed Research
The Water Festival: Beach Week Timed Research in Pokémon Go offers players a limited-time opportunity to complete themed tasks centered on Water-type Pokémon. Trainers can expect challenges such as catching specific species, making curveball throws, and exploring coastal habitats to earn items like Poké Balls, Stardust, and Rare Candy. Completing all stages rewards encounters with event-featured Pokémon and special bonuses that tie into the beach-themed celebration.
Step 1 of 2
- Catch 10 water-type Pokémon (1,000 Stardust)
- Make 5 nice throws (10 Poké Balls)
- Transfer 5 Pokémon (5 Great Balls)
- Use 5 berries to help catch Pokémon (10 Razz Berries)
Rewards: 1,000 Stardust, Clauncher encounter, 1,000 XP
Step 2 of 2
- Catch 15 water-type Pokémon (1,000 Stardust)
- Make 5 great throws (15 Poké Balls)
- Transfer 10 Pokémon (10 Great Balls)
- Use 10 berries to help catch Pokémon (5 Pinap Berries)
Rewards: Surfer avatar pose, Sandygast encounter
Pokémon Go Water Festival Beach Week event Field Research and rewards
During the Water Festival: Beach Week event, players can complete special Field Research tasks that reward encounters with Water-type Pokémon such as Finneon, Horsea, and Shellder. Some challenges also give items like Stardust, Poké Balls, and Mega Energy for selected species. Completing all available tasks contributes to progress in the Timed Research, which offers larger prizes including encounters with rare Pokémon and bonus experience points.
Task |
Reward |
|---|---|
| Water Festival: Catch 5 water-type Pokémon | 10 Poké Balls |
| Water Festival: Catch 15 water-type Pokémon | Frililsh encounter |
| Water Festival: Catch 25 water-type Pokémon | Sandygast encounter |
| Water Festival: Hatch an egg | Lapras (scarf) encounter |
| Water Festival: Make 5 nice throws | Clauncher encounter |
| Water Festival: Make 10 great throws | 30 Blastoise or Swampert Mega Energy |
Water Festival: Beach Week Pokémon spawn increases
During the Water Festival: Beach Week, Pokémon with ties to the sea appear more frequently, making it easier to encounter species like Finizen, Frillish, and Horsea along coastal areas and waterways. Players can expect boosted spawn rates for both common and rare aquatic Pokémon, with some new debut appearances also joining the rotation. Using Incense or Lure Modules near water locations further increases the variety and frequency of spawns during the event period.
- Tentacol
- Shellder
- Krabby
- Alolan Exeggutor
- Horsea
- Staryu
- Marill
- Mantine
- Wingull
- Wailmer
- Spheal
- Finneon
- Dwebble
- Frillish
- Clauncher
- Popplio
Water Festival: Beach Week raid targets
Trainers can expect an exciting lineup of raid targets during the Water Festival: Beach Week event. Mega Slowbro headlines the raids, offering a solid choice for both collectors and battlers. Other featured raid bosses include water-themed Pokémon such as Lapras, Clamperl, and Mantyke, giving players a chance to complete their Pokédex or chase shiny variants. Coordinating with friends for higher-tier raids can yield valuable rewards and make progress on event challenges more enjoyable.
- Alolan Diglett
- Hisuian Qwilfish
- Carvanha
- Feebas
- Sandygast
- Blastoise
- Gyarados
- Lapras (scarf)
- Alomomola
- Uxie/Mesprit/Azelf
How do I complete each Timed Research task quickly
Complete the Water Festival: Beach Week Timed Research tasks during the event when Water-type spawns are boosted for faster catches. Use high-density PokéStop areas to chain spins while catching and throwing, stacking similar tasks across research sets. Master quick catch techniques and aim for Excellent Curveball Throws to knock out multiple objectives simultaneously.
Step 1 Tasks
Focus on Water-type heavy zones like beaches or rainy weather to catch 10 quickly-prioritize common spawns like Magikarp or Tentacool, using quick catches (tap during spin animation then back out). Spin stops for Nice Throws (aim low arc) and transfer junk Pokémon from catches; feed Razz Berries to anything nearby. This step takes 10-15 minutes in optimal spots.
Step 2 Tasks
Boost catches to 15 Water-types by continuing in spawn-rich areas, upgrading to Great Throws (add spin, medium-high arc). Transfer more from your growing collection post-catch frenzy and feed Pinap Berries to hoard candy. Practice Curveballs on low-CP foes for reliability, finishing in another 15-20 minutes.
Quick Tips
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Trash unrelated Field Research for open slots before spins.
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Walk with a fast buddy and incubate 2km eggs if bonuses align.
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Events double progress on matching tasks-grind during Spotlight Hours.
Best route planning for rapid PokéStop spins
Plan routes around dense PokéStop clusters like parks, beaches, or urban areas with 10+ stops within a 1km loop to minimize walking and maximize spins every 5 minutes. Use apps like Routesneo or PogoMap for live maps to identify hotspots and chain stops efficiently during events like Water Festival. Loop back to the start to reuse paths without dead ends.
Key Strategies
Target areas with natural GPS drift, such as near windows or high-movement spots, to spin stops passively if walking isn’t feasible. Create multiple overlapping loops (3-5 routes of 500m each) starting from one central stop for quick chaining. Spin while moving at walking speed (under 10km/h) to avoid warnings, and preload modules before spins.
Tools and Apps
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PokeHunter or Nearby Finder: Scan for densest clusters in your area.
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Google Maps overlay: Plot 15-20 minute loops with 20+ stops.
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In-game Nearby tab: Follow player-submitted routes during events.
Execution Tips
Walk briskly in figure-8 patterns to hit stops from multiple angles, activating lures on every third spin for bonus spawns. Time sessions for 30-60 minutes during rain or events when Water-types boost Timed Research progress. Alternate routes daily to sustain high-volume grinding without burnout.
