Decades of Pokémon games have taken Trainers through amazing regions of the Pokémon world to discover all kinds of awesome Pokémon. Now you can remember those great adventures in Pokémon GO with the Throwback Challenge! Each week in May, you’ll gain access to a Timed Research line, which is a new type of research that is available only for a limited time. Each Timed Research line during this event might remind you of moments from the Pokémon RPGs. During each week, a variety of gameplay features and bonuses also will be in effect, making it more fun to participate in the event! And as a special treat, be on the lookout for Pikachu wearing different hats each week in the style of the top Pokémon originally discovered in each region as voted by fans in the recent Pokémon of the Year poll!

The Throwback Challenge main event will run from Friday, May 1, 2020, to Friday, May 29, 2020, with each week featuring a Timed Research line from a different region: Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and then Sinnoh. After the main event ends, if you completed all four Timed Research lines, you’ll gain access to the Throwback Challenge Champion 2020 Special Research, which revisits adventures in the Unova region and features a reward encounter with Genesect. Not only that, but all Trainers will be able to participate in an event from Wednesday, June 3, 2020, to Monday, June 8, 2020, even if they didn’t gain access to the Special Research. In this event, Galarian Meowth, Galarian Zigzagoon, Galarian Darumaka, and Galarian Stunfisk will be making their Pokémon GO debut!

See below for the full event schedule and the features and bonuses you can enjoy each week. All times are in your local time zone.

Kanto: May 1, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to May 8, 2020, at 1:00 p.m.

Return to where it all began in Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue: the Kanto region! In the Kanto Timed Research, catch a Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle in memory of choosing your first first-partner Pokémon, and take a snapshot of a Ghost-type Pokémon to celebrate the Ghost-type Pokémon of Lavender Town. Complete all eight sets of tasks in the Throwback Challenge: Kanto Timed Research to earn 10 Rare Candies and a reward encounter with a Mewtwo that knows Psystrike.

Features and Bonuses

• Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region, such as Venonat and Chansey, will be appearing more frequently in the wild.

• Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region will also be available to battle in raids.

• The following Pokémon will hatch from 7 km Eggs: Venonat, Machop, Onix, Lickitung, Tangela, Scyther, Pinsir, Lapras, and Eevee.

• If you’re lucky, you might find a Shiny Venonat!

• Pikachu wearing Charizard hats will be appearing in the wild!

• Event-exclusive Field Research tasks will reward Trainers with encounters with Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region.

• 2× Catch XP, 2× Raid XP, and 2× Hatch XP bonuses will be active.

Johto: May 8, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to May 15, 2020, at 1:00 p.m.

Week two takes us to Johto, the home of Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver. In the Johto Timed Research, you can make Curveball Throws to remind yourself of visiting the Whirl Islands. Plus, catch a Water-type Pokémon in memory of encountering the beautiful Gyarados at the Lake of Rage! Complete all eight sets of tasks in the Throwback Challenge: Johto Timed Research to earn 10 Rare Candies and a reward encounter with a Ho-Oh that knows the event-exclusive attack Earthquake.

Features and Bonuses

• Pokémon originally discovered in the Johto region, such as Dunsparce and Skarmory, will be appearing more frequently in the wild.

• Pokémon originally discovered in the Johto region will also be available to battle in raids.

• The following Pokémon will hatch from 7 km Eggs: Chinchou, Yanma, Girafarig, Pineco, Dunsparce, Gligar, Shuckle, Skarmory, and Phanpy.

• If you’re lucky, you might find a Shiny Dunsparce!

• Pikachu wearing Umbreon hats will be appearing in the wild!

• Event-exclusive Field Research tasks will reward Trainers with encounters with Pokémon originally discovered in the Johto region.

• 2× Catch Stardust and 2× Raid Stardust bonuses will be active.

Hoenn: May 15, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to May 22, 2020, at 1:00 p.m.

The action continues in the third week when Trainers recall the Hoenn region, the setting for Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire. In the Hoenn Timed Research, you can catch a Fire-type Pokémon to remind you of the hot springs of Lavaridge Town, and you can catch a Normal-type Pokémon to celebrate the Petalburg Gym. Complete all eight sets of tasks in the Throwback Challenge: Hoenn Timed Research to earn 10 Rare Candies and a reward encounter with a Groudon that knows the event-exclusive attack Fire Punch.

Features and Bonuses

• Pokémon originally discovered in the Hoenn region—such as Skitty, Zangoose, and Seviper—will be appearing more frequently in the wild.

• Pokémon originally discovered in the Hoenn region will also be available to battle in raids.

• The following Pokémon will hatch from 7 km Eggs: Lotad, Slakoth, Nincada, Skitty, Sableye, Mawile, Trapinch, Feebas, and Clamperl.

• If you’re lucky, you might find a Shiny Skitty!

• Pikachu wearing Rayquaza hats will be appearing in the wild!

• Event-exclusive Field Research tasks will reward Trainers with encounters with Pokémon originally discovered in the Hoenn region.

• The distance needed to hatch an Egg once it’s been placed in an Incubator and the distance needed to earn Buddy Candy will be halved.

Sinnoh: May 22, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. to May 29, 2020 at 1:00 p.m.

In the final week of the main event, you’ll have the chance to rediscover iconic moments from the Sinnoh region, first explored in Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl. In the Sinnoh Timed Research, you can power up a Pokémon in tribute to the Trainers’ School and take a snapshot of a Steel-type Pokémon to recall your expedition through the mines of Iron Island. Complete all eight sets of tasks in the Throwback Challenge: Sinnoh Timed Research to earn 10 Rare Candies and a reward encounter with a Cresselia that knows the event-exclusive attack Grass Knot.

Features and Bonuses

• Pokémon originally discovered in the Sinnoh region, such as Cherubi and Glameow, will be appearing more frequently in the wild.

• Pokémon originally discovered in the Sinnoh region will also be available to battle in raids.

• The following Pokémon will hatch from 7 km Eggs: Cranidos, Shieldon, Glameow, Chingling, Bonsly, Happiny, Gible, Munchlax, Riolu, and Mantyke.

• If you’re lucky, you might find a Shiny Glameow!

• Pikachu wearing Lucario hats will be appearing in the wild!

• Event-exclusive Field Research tasks will reward Trainers with encounters with Pokémon originally discovered in the Sinnoh region.

• One-hour Star Piece duration, one-hour Incense duration, and one-hour Lucky Egg duration bonuses will be active.

Throwback Challenge Champion: June 3, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to June 8, 2020, at 1:00 p.m.

If you completed all four Throwback Challenge Timed Research lines, you’ll be invited to participate in the Throwback Challenge Champion 2020 Special Research, which celebrates the Unova region, first featured in Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version. Complete all four sets of tasks in the Special Research to earn 10 Rare Candies and encounters with Galarian Meowth, Galarian Stunfisk, and Genesect! Not only that, but an event will take place in which Trainers will be able to take part, even if they didn’t gain access to the Special Research! During this event, Galarian Meowth, Galarian Zigzagoon, Galarian Darumaka, and Galarian Stunfisk will be hatching from 7 km Eggs, and Galarian Stunfisk will also be appearing in the wild and in raids.

Celebrate the long legacy of Pokémon throughout the month of May and beyond with the Pokémon GO Throwback Challenge. Good luck and have fun, Trainers!