Pokemon GO Unova Event Guide: Tips and Strategies

The highly anticipated Road to Unova event in Pokemon GO is just around the corner, inviting trainers to dive into the vibrant world of Unova. This unique event is an exciting lead-up to the main attraction of the year—the Pokemon GO Tour: Unova – Global. From February 24 at 10:00 AM to March 1 at 10:00 AM local time, players can enjoy a plethora of activities, including the introduction of rare Pokemon, new exclusive moves, and various engaging features. Read on for a comprehensive guide on maximizing your experience during this event.

Shiny Meloetta Debuts at Road to Unova

At the forefront of the event is the eagerly awaited debut of Shiny Meloetta. Trainers can access this exclusive variant through a special Masterwork Research ticket available for just $4.99. Unlike Timed Research, the tasks associated with this Masterwork Research do not expire, allowing you to complete them at your leisure. This opportunity is particularly enticing for collectors and shiny hunters looking to expand their collections.

Wild Encounters and Spawns During the Unova Event

The Road to Unova event features a curated selection of Pokemon appearing in the wild, especially focusing on the beloved Unova starters and their evolutions:

Pokemon	Image	Shiny Available
Dreams	Yes
Tepig	Yes
Oshawott	Yes
Servine	No
Pignite	No
Dewott	No

Comprehensive Raid Schedule for the Event

Throughout the event, trainers will encounter legendary Pokemon during five distinct raid periods. Below is the complete schedule:

Raid Tier	Pokemon	Available Period	Shiny Available
One-Star	Dreams	Full Event	Yes
One-Star	Tepig	Full Event	Yes
One-Star	Oshawott	Full Event	Yes
Three-Star	Druddigon	Full Event	Yes
Five-Star	All Genesect Forms	Feb 24	Yes
Five-Star	Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion	Feb 25	Yes
Five-Star	Therian Forme Trio	Feb 26	Yes
Five-Star	Reshiram	Feb 27	Yes
Five-Star	Zekrom	Feb 28	Yes

Special Field Research Tasks for the Unova Event

During the Road to Unova event, trainers can access exclusive research tasks at PokeStops. These tasks are designed to help you catch valuable Unova Pokemon, many of which have the potential to be shiny:

Dreams
Tepig
Oshawott
Roggenrola
Timburr
Karrablast
Shelmet

Additionally, a special Timed Research will also be available to all players during the event. Completing the tasks will allow trainers to encounter legendary Pokemon sequentially. It’s important to note that these encounters will not feature the special backgrounds available in raids, so make sure to complete your tasks before the event concludes.

Timed Research Encounters:

Terrakion
Cobalion
Virizion
Therian Forme Tornadus
Therian Form Thundurus
Therian Forme Landorus
Genesect
Genesect (Burn Drive)
Genesect (Douse Drive)
Genesect (Shock Drive)
Genesect (Chill Drive)

Exciting Features and Rewards in Pokemon GO Road to Unova

Become Event Rewards — Image Credit: Pokemon GO (via Niantic)

The Tour Pass system is a hallmark of this event. The basic version is free and functions as a progression track where trainers can accumulate Tour Points to receive rewards. For those seeking enhanced features, a Deluxe version is available for $4.99, offering not only a Victini encounter but also superior rewards and a new item called the Lucky Trinket.

Exclusive Moves Just for You

This event introduces several exclusive moves available by evolving specific Pokemon within the event timeframe. These potent moves are invaluable additions to your Pokemon’s capabilities:

Reshiram: Fusion Flare (90 power in battles, 140 in raids)
Zekrom: Fusion Bolt (90 power in battles, 140 in raids)
Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion: Sacred Sword (60 power in battles, 50 in raids)
Therian Forme Tornadus: Bleakwind Storm (60 power in battles, 150 in raids)
Therian Forme Thundurus: Wildbolt Storm (60 power in battles, 150 in raids)
Therian Forme Landorus: Sandsear Storm (60 power in battles, 150 in raids)
All Genesect forms: Techno Blast (120 power in battles and raids)

Ensure you evolve your Pokemon during this limited-time event to access these exclusive moves, which could significantly enhance your performance in battles.

Special Backgrounds for Captured Pokemon

The event introduces a new feature, Special Backgrounds, which adds a unique visual element to Pokemon caught in raids. Depending on the Pokemon, trainers may receive backgrounds inspired by the Pokemon Black or White versions. Tornadus and Reshiram will have backgrounds reflecting the Black version, while Thundurus and Zekrom will feature the White version aesthetic. This detail not only personalizes your collection but also holds significance for future Pokemon fusion, specifically Kyurem’s forms.

Event Bonuses to Enhance Your Gameplay

The Road to Unova event provides several bonuses for trainers. For starters, eggs will hatch in half the usual distance, making it easier to collect rare Pokemon from 2 km event eggs. From February 24-28, the limit for Remote Raid Passes increases to 20, and from March 1-2, there will be no limits at all. Additional Pokemon spawns will be enhanced across various regions, and trainers will notice a refreshed Pokedex interface to help track their captured Pokemon effectively.

Exciting Hatches Await You

The 2 km eggs available during this event are particularly noteworthy, as they can yield Pokemon such as Roggenrola, Timburr, Karrablast, Shelmet, and Larvesta. Except for Larvesta, all these Pokemon can be shiny, presenting a fantastic opportunity to expand your shiny registry. Make sure to utilize Super Incubators during this event to take full advantage of the half-distance bonus.

Maximize Your Experience with Event Tickets and Research

For trainers looking to elevate their adventure during the Road to Unova event, two distinct ticket options are available:

Road to Unova: Raids Ticket

Raid Bonuses	Details
Raid XP	+5,000 XP per raid
Candy Bonus	+1 Candy from five-star raids
Candy XL	+1 Candy XL from five-star raids (Level 31+)
Stardust	2× from raids
Extra Pass	1 additional daily Raid Pass from Gyms

Costing $4.99, the Raids ticket enhances your raid experience with special bonuses and grants access to specific Timed Research tasks. It’s your ticket to maximizing the legendary Pokemon encounters available throughout the event.

Research Rewards	Amount
Cobalion Candy XL	5
Terrakion Candy XL	5
Virizion Candy XL	5
Tornadus Candy XL	5
Thundurus Candy XL	5
Reshiram Candy	10
Zekrom Candy	10
Landorus Candy XL	5
Genesect Candy XL	25
Avatar Item	Black and White Joggers

Road to Unova: Hatch Ticket

The Hatch ticket focuses on maximizing your egg-hatching potential. Priced at $4.99, it offers double rewards for hatching XP, Candy, and Stardust as well as special Pokemon encounters, making it ideal for trainers who enjoy hatching while exploring.

Hatch Bonuses	Multiplier
Hatch XP	2×
Hatch Candy	2×
Hatch Stardust	2×

Do keep in mind that all Timed Research rewards must be completed and claimed by March 2 at 8:00 PM local time.

Special Encounters	Shiny Available
Maractus	Yes
Sigilyph	Yes
Bouffalant	Yes
Avatar Item	Black and White Hoodie

Essential Tips for Success in Pokemon GO Road to Unova

To truly make the most out of this extraordinary event, strategic planning is key. The raid schedule requires careful management, as each legendary Pokemon is available for just one day. Identify which Pokemon you most need and align your raid strategies accordingly. Take advantage of the raid hours from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM daily for an optimal chance at capturing these powerful Pokemon.

While navigating the Tour Pass system is relatively straightforward, regularly check in with your daily tasks to accumulate Tour Points efficiently. If you’re aiming for the Deluxe version, be prepared for your Victini encounter when the time arrives. It’s also wise to clear out any old eggs before the event starts, especially with the half-distance bonus allowing you to hatch numerous 2 km eggs with proper planning.

Remember that the Road to Unova event concludes on March 1 at 10:00 AM local time. A little foresight will ensure you enjoy everything this event has to offer.

Excited to embark on your Unova adventure? Share your plans for tackling this event in the comments below!

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