Pokémon GO’s Next Global Event is Going Back to Where it All Started

For those who can remember, Pokémon GO was released back in 2016. That means next year it’s celebrating its 5th year. To celebrate that milestone, Trainers can take part in a new global event scheduled on February 20, 2021. Even better, it’s going to let everyone go back to where it all started: the Kanto region.

Quick Overview

Dubbed as Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto, this upcoming global event is offering Trainers two different experiences: ticketed and non-ticketed. The ticketed version lets Trainers choose between the Red and Green Versions. This should bring that nostalgic factor to fans. It refers to the very first game - Pocket Monsters: Red and Green.

What else can Trainers look forward to? Those who completed the Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto Special Research will get a second event-exclusive Special Research line. The difficulty may be higher than usual. But the reward is worth it because of the chance to discover Shiny Mew.

Non-Ticketed Experience

Not all Trainers may be able to join in the ticketed part of the event. Those without a ticket can take part in certain activities, such as:

• Some Pokémon originally discovered in Kanto appear in the wild and in raids.
• These Pokémon return to Legendary raids and bring with them these exclusive attacks:
  • Articuno caught during the event know Hurricane.
  • Zapdos caught during the event know Thunder Shock.
  • Moltres caught during the event know Sky Attack.
  • Mewtwo caught during the event know Psystrike.
• All Trainers get to access event-exclusive Timed Research.
• Trade range increased to 40 km.

Ticketed Experience

Tickets for the Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto is now available in the in-app shop for $11.99. Note that you can't buy the tickets using PokéCoins. So, why would you go for the ticketed experience then? Well, you get to enjoy these features:

• All Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region:
  • appear in the wild
  • appear in raids
  • appear in encounters after research tasks
  • attracted to Incense
  • obtainable through Evolution during the event
• Get the chance to collect the first 150 Pokémon originally discovered in Kanto and earn rewards along with the bragging rights.
• Choose which experience you want: Red Version or Green Version.
• All 150 Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region become available as Shiny Pokémon, some of them for the first time.
  • Trainers have the chance to encounter certain Shiny Pokémon in the wild depending on the event version selected.
• ​Get to enjoy an event-exclusive Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto Special Research story.
  • Completing this one give Trainers the chance to earn an encounter with a special Pokémon.
• Trainers that complete the first Special Research line get to access a second event-exclusive Special Research story.
  • This can be completed over a long period of time since Trainers need to go on a long and challenging journey in order to discover Shiny Mew.
• ​Earn more Candy for catching Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region.

Which Version Do You Want?

During the event, Incense will attract version-exclusive Pokémon. Trainers need to be careful though since after choosing a version, they won’t be able to change it. Here are the exclusives per version:

• Red Version
  • These Red Version–Exclusive Pokémon are going to be attracted to Incense:
    • Ekans
    • Oddish
    • Mankey
    • Growlithe
    • Scyther
    • Electabuzz
  • Get 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
    • Dratini
• Green Version
  • These Green Version–Exclusive Pokémon get attracted to Incense:
    • Sandshrew
    • Vulpix
    • Meowth
    • Bellsprout
    • Magmar
    • Pinsir
  • Get 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
    • Dratini

Early-purchase Bonus

While the event is still next year, tickets are already available in the in-app store. For early ticket buyers, certain dates mean extra bonuses. These are:

• Buy tickets by January 14, 2021 at 2:59 AM EST.
  • Bonus:
    • Free ticket for the January Community Day Special Research story.
    • Get a ticket for the February Community Day Special Research story.
• Buy tickets by February 3, 2021 at 2:59 AM EST.
  • Bonus:
    • Free ticket for the February Community Day Special Research story.

There’s no question that there’s a lot to digest for this upcoming event. For those who want more details on the event, visit the original blog post by Niantic here.