Pokemon GO Unveils 2025 Lunar New Year Celebration

Niantic has unveiled the exciting details for the Pokemon GO Lunar New Year 2025 event, set to take place from January 29 to February 2. During this festive period, players will have the chance to encounter a variety of Pokemon more frequently in the wild, including Shiny versions of Ekans, Onix, and Snivy. The event promises an array of rewards, including Stardust, XP, and encounters with event-themed Pokemon through completing Lunar New Year-themed Field Research tasks. Additionally, for those looking to enhance their experience, a Paid Timed Research option is available for $2, offering even more enticing rewards such as two Lucky Eggs and an incubator.

As Pokemon GO celebrates its ninth anniversary in 2025, the game is gearing up for a series of new events and updates. Before the much-anticipated Pokemon GO Tour: Unova in Los Angeles and New Taipei City from February 21 to 23, and its global version in March, the Lunar New Year event provides players with a fantastic opportunity to expand their Pokemon collections.

The Pokemon GO Lunar New Year event will run from Wednesday, January 29, at 10:00 a.m. to Sunday, February 2, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. local time. During this time, players can look forward to increased chances of obtaining Lucky Pokemon through trades and becoming Lucky Friends, enhancing the odds of encountering Lucky Pokemon. The wild will be bustling with more frequent appearances of Ekans, Onix, Snivy, Darumaka, Dunsparce, Gyarados, and Dratini, with a heightened chance to find their Shiny variants. Moreover, 2 km Eggs will hatch into Makuhita, Nosepass, Meditite, Duskull, and Skorupi during the event.

Alongside the wild encounters, players can engage in Lunar New Year-themed Field Research and Timed Research tasks, as well as Routes, to earn Stardust, XP, Zygarde Cells, and encounters with event-themed Pokemon. Those opting for the Paid Timed Research will receive additional rewards, including two Lucky Eggs and an incubator, along with encounters with Ekans and Nosepass. All rewards from Field Research and Timed Research must be claimed by February 2 at 8:00 p.m. local time, so players should be prompt in redeeming them after completing their tasks.

Participants can also showcase their Lunar New Year Pokemon in PokeStop Showcases for a chance to win item bundles based on their performance. Niantic has also announced an event-themed Collection Challenge, where completing it will grant additional Stardust for trading, making the event particularly beneficial for frequent traders.