It may be getting cold outside, but Pokémon GO is heating up with plenty of exciting events during the month of December! Look for the appearance of Cubchoo, Cryogonal, and Virizion, and cross your fingers you’ll encounter a Shiny Snover. Plus, Team GO Rocket has more Shadow Pokémon, like Delibird and the Legendary Pokémon Zapdos. There are plenty of other special events and bonuses happening during the month, too. Check them out below so you don’t miss a single moment of fun.
A Challenging Development
Until the end of December 2019
Be on the lookout for A Challenging Development, new Special Research that is designed to help take down Team GO Rocket. This will give you another chance to battle Giovanni, and you’ll have the opportunity to rescue the Legendary Shadow Pokémon Zapdos. Just make sure you complete the Special Research before the end of December for your chance to get Shadow Zapdos.
All Scrambled Up
Starting Monday, December 16, 2019
Keep your eyes open the next time you hatch an Egg. You’ll find that different Pokémon will begin appearing in Eggs, so stock up on Incubators and see what you get!
Virizion Appears in Raids
Tuesday, December 17, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. PST to Tuesday, January 7, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PST
Head into a five-star Raid Battle to encounter Virizion, the Grassland Pokémon. Defeat this Grass- and Fighting-type Legendary Pokémon for a chance to add it to your team.
Lugia and Ho-Oh Special Raid Weekend
Friday, December 20, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. PST to Monday, December 23, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. PST
A pair of powerful Legendary Pokémon are returning to five-star raids for a weekend-long event. You’ll find the Psychic- and Flying-type Lugia and the Fire- and Flying-type Ho-Oh in raids, so gather up a strong team to take them on.
Pokémon GO Holidays 2019
Tuesday morning, December 24, 2019, at 12:00 a.m. PST to Wednesday, January 1, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. PST
There’s a lot happening during this year’s Pokémon GO Holidays event! Pokémon are dressing up for the season, and you can add them to your team if you catch them. Look for Pichu, Pikachu, and Raichu wearing beanies and Stantler wearing bells. Ice-type Pokémon, like Sneasel, Delibird, Snorunt, and others, will appear more frequently in the wild, and look for the Pokémon GO debut of Cubchoo, the Chill Pokémon.
Alolan Sandshrew, Alolan Vulpix, Pichu wearing beanies, and Stantler wearing bells will be hatching from 7 km Eggs. Meanwhile, Raichu wearing beanies and Stantler wearing bells will also be available to challenge in two-star raids. If you use a Glacial Lure Module at a PokéStop, you’ll have a chance of encountering Cryogonal, the Crystallizing Pokémon, making its first appearance in Pokémon GO.
There will be special Field Research tasks that will reward you with the chance to encounter Pikachu wearing beanies, and there are more Shadow Pokémon, like Delibird, being held by the villainous Team GO Rocket. If you’re lucky while you’re out exploring, you might even encounter a Shiny Snover. And you can deck out your avatar for the holiday season by visiting the shop to pick up a Stantler Sweater, a Stantler Headband, or a Beanie Hat.
And just in case all that wasn’t enough, there are a few more limited bonuses occurring during the Pokémon GO Holidays 2019 event.
Double the Daily Gifts
Tuesday morning, December 24, 2019, at 12:00 a.m. to Wednesday, January 1, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. in your local time zone
You’ll be able to open twice the number of daily Gifts and carry twice as many Gifts in your inventory. You’ll also receive a single-use Incubator once per day by spinning a Photo Disc at a PokéStop.
Double the Candy
Tuesday morning, December 24, 2019, at 12:00 a.m. to Wednesday, December 25, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. in your local time zone
You’ll earn twice as much Candy for catching and transferring Pokémon.
Double the Stardust
Thursday morning, December 26, 2019, at 12:00 a.m. to Friday, December 27, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. in your local time zone
You’ll earn twice as much Stardust for catching Pokémon.
Double the XP
Saturday morning, December 28, 2019, at 12:00 a.m. to Sunday, December 29, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. in your local time zone
You’ll earn twice as much XP for catching Pokémon.
Half the Distance to Hatch
Monday morning, December 30, 2019, at 12:00 a.m. to Wednesday, January 1, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. in your local time zone
Eggs placed into Incubators during this time period will require half the usual distance to hatch.
Winter Weekend Event
Saturday, December 28, 2019, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in your local time zone
During the final Saturday of 2019, there’ll be a special eight-hour event that’s filled with bonuses. Glacial Lure Modules will last for two hours during this event, and Pokémon such as Lapras, Delibird, Cubchoo, and more will be drawn to Glacial Lure Modules during this time. If you use a Glacial Lure Module to evolve Eevee into Glaceon during the event, it will know the Charged Attack Last Resort.
The Legendary Pokémon Regice will return to raids during this event as well. If you missed out on catching the Iceberg Pokémon before, this will be a great chance to add it to your team. You’ll also be able to receive up to two additional Raid Passes when you spin a Photo Disc at a Gym. Remember that you can’t hold more than one Raid Pass at once, and these Raid Passes won’t be available after the event period is over.
Yes indeed, there is plenty to do in Pokémon GO this December! Gather your friends and family, bundle up in some warm winter clothes, and set out for a holiday adventure. Have fun, Trainers!
