Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto celebrates Pokémon anniversary with exciting new events and shinies

Category : News Views: 974 Reading Time: 7 Minutes

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To celebrate Pokémon’s anniversary, Niantic has announced a global, virtual, ticketed event in Pokémon GO.

Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto experience will be available to all players, while some features will only be accessible to ticketholders. Read on to find out about all the exciting features that the new event brings on February 20, 2021.

The event will run on Saturday, February 20, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. your local time.

Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto features

Like the original games, in the ticketed version of the Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto event, trainers will be able to choose between the Red Version or Green Version of the event experience, each featuring version-exclusive Pokémon.

Collecting all 150 original Pokémon in one day will be a major part of the challenge. To achieve this goal, trading with a friend will be a huge part of the experience. Since your decision to go with either Red or Green version will affect the spawns around you, to complete the original Kanto Pokédex, you will need the help of your friends.

With the Kanto event, all 150 Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region will be available as Shiny Pokémon. While some Pokémon have had their Shiny versions out in the game for a while, others, including a fan favorite Snorlax will get their Shiny forms for the first time ever in Pokémon GO. Pokémon who will have their Shiny version available in Pokémon GO for the first time ever, include Spearow, Fearow, Paras, Parasect, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, Ditto, Snorlax, and Mew. Niantic points out that once the Shiny variants are released, they will remain in the game after the event is over, too.

Trainers who complete the Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto Special Research, will receive a second event-exclusive Special Research line awarding players with a Shiny Mew. According to Niantic, getting your hands on a Shiny Mew will require “overcoming difficult challenges and daunting tasks”.

Tickets for Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto are available in the in-app shop now. Purchasing the ticket early comes with additional perks. Those who purchase the Kanto ticket early will also get tickets for the Special Research stories for the January and February Community Day events.

If you’re not planning on purchasing the ticket for the Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto, no worries, you will still get access to some of the features of the event.

Nonticketed features of Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto

In the duration of the event, all trainers will enjoy some of the original 150 Kanto spawns. Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, and Mewtwo will be returning to Legendary raids with exclusive attacks:

·         Articuno caught during the event will know Hurricane.

·         Zapdos caught during the event will know Thunder Shock.

·         Moltres caught during the event will know Sky Attack.

·         Mewtwo caught during the event will know Psystrike.

Additionally, all trainers will have access to the event-exclusive Timed Research, and to the trade range increase to 40 km.

Ticketed features of Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto

For the ticketholders, all 150 Kanto Pokémon will be appearing in the wild, in raids, in encounters after research tasks, will be attracted to Incense, or will be obtainable via Evolution.

Niantic challenges trainers to “try to collect the first 150 Pokémon originally discovered in Kanto to earn rewards and bragging rights!” The progress on catching all original Pokémon can be tracked in the Today View.

Depending on the version you choose – Red or Green, you will be more likely to encounter certain Shiny Pokémon in the wild.

Trainers who complete the first Special Research line will be able to access a second event-exclusive Special Research story, that they can complete over a long period of time, in which you get rewarded with a Shiny Mew.

Red Version or Green Version? Which one should you choose?

Different versions of the main series games have been a part of the Pokémon franchise since its inception in 1996. This aspect of the Pokémon games phenomenon hasn’t yet been implemented in Pokémon GO, until now.

As mentioned, Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto ticketholders will get the opportunity to choose which version of the event they want – Red or Green. Much like the main series games, you will have to trade with your friends who have the other version to complete the Pokédex in one day.

During the event, version-exclusive Pokémon will be attracted to Incense. Additionally, you’ll have a greater chance of encountering certain Shiny Pokémon depending on which version you choose.

Version-exclusive Pokémon and increased chances of Shiny Pokémon for each version

Red Version

Red Version–Exclusive Pokémon: Ekans, Oddish, Mankey, Growlithe, Scyther, and Electabuzz will be attracted to Incense.

You’ll have an increased chance of encountering these Shiny Pokémon: Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Pidgey, Ekans, Pikachu, Nidoran ♀, Oddish, Diglett, Mankey, Growlithe, Ponyta, Shellder, Drowzee, Krabby, Hitmonlee, Lickitung, Scyther, Electabuzz, Eevee, Kabuto, and Dratini.

Green Version

Green Version–Exclusive Pokémon: Sandshrew, Vulpix, Meowth, Bellsprout, Magmar, and Pinsir will be attracted to Incense.

You’ll have an increased chance of encountering these Shiny Pokémon: Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Pidgey, Pikachu, Sandshrew, Nidoran ♂, Vulpix, Meowth, Psyduck, Bellsprout, Geodude, Exeggcute, Hitmonchan, Koffing, Tangela, Horsea, Magmar, Pinsir, Eevee, Omanyte, and Dratini.

Become a featured Trainer character during Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto

As a part of the celebration, Pokémon GO is holding a contest for players to become featured Trainers during the event.

On February 20, you’ll be able to find and battle Trainer characters regardless of whether you have a ticket for the Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto event. Additionally, according to Niantic, there will even be special Timed Research that rewards you for battling these Trainers.

To be considered for the contest, you can enter by posting your entry on Twitter by January 11, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. PST.

Your submission should include:

1. A screenshot of your Trainer profile that includes your Trainer name and shows off your avatar’s outfit. 2. A list of three Pokémon that would make up your team. These Pokémon must be among those originally discovered in the Kanto region and cannot include Ditto, or any Legendary or Mythical Pokémon. 3. The hashtag #PokemonGOTourContest.

According to Niantic, trainers will be judged based on the creativity of the avatar outfit, general theme, and Pokémon team composition.

To see the official rules, terms, and conditions of the contest, visit the official Pokémon GO blog.

Countdown events to Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto

To count down to Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto, Pokémon GO will celebrate the various regions of the Pokémon world.

A few weeks ago, Kalos region Pokémon made their debut in Pokémon GO with a Kalos celebration event. Currently, the Unova Celebration event is underway, with Pokémon from this region appearing more frequently in the wild, hatching from eggs, and appearing in raids.

The Unova Celebration debuted a new Shiny – Snivy. Trainers expected this Pokémon to get its very own Community Day with boosted shiny rates, however, Niantic opted to release it as a part of the celebration event. The other two starters – Tepig and Oshawott don’t have their Shiny variants available in-game yet.

Genesect holding a Burn Drive also made its debut for the Unova event. Until now, only the Normal version was available in Pokémon GO. There are also three other versions of Genesect that will become available at a later date.

The event also debuted the Unova Collection Challenge in the Today View. Trainers were challenged to collect certain Pokémon first discovered in the Unova region. This feature is likely to be utilized for the other Celebration events and the Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto event as well.

Next up will be the Sinnoh region as a part of the countdown celebration.

From January 12, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. to January 17, 2021, at 8:00 p.m. local time, Pokémon first discovered in the Sinnoh region will be appearing more frequently in the wild, hatching from eggs and appearing in raids.

Much like the Unova event, Sinnoh-themed Collection Challenge will also be available for Trainers to complete and earn Stardust, a Magnetic Lure, and 15 Ultra Balls.

As a part of the Sinnoh celebration, Shiny Buizel will make its debut in Pokémon GO and Heatran will be returning to Legendary Raids.

After Sinnoh, Hoenn celebration will come to Pokémon GO, followed by Johto, before we finally get to the Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto event.

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