October is here, and Niantic has a healthy serving of holiday activities and events planned. From haunted happenstances to Halloween treats, here’s everything you can expect during October 2021.
There’s a lot happening this month: Pokémon will be wearing costumes, a tie in event with the new Pokémon movie, Special research, and more Pokémon spotlights and themed encounters than we can shake a stick at. Let’s break it down one at a time.
Research Breakthroughs
During the entire month of October, players can encounter Yamask, a mask-carrying ghost-type Pokémon, during research breakthrough encounters.
Four 1-Coin PokéCoin Bundles
Every Monday in October, there will be a one-time purchase option in the store. This bundle will contain a variety of items, including a Remote Raid Pass. Best of all, it’ll only cost a single PokéCoin.
Featured Pokémon/Spotlight Hours
There’s a BUNCH of these this month. So to make it more understandable, we’ve simplified it into this list.
Five-Star Raid Battles
- Oct 1 – Oct 12: Genesect Holding Douse Drive (no shiny)
- Oct 12 – Oct 22: Altered Forme Giratina (possibly shiny)
- Oct 22 – Nov 5: Darkrai with Sludge Bomb (possibly shiny)
Mega Raids
- Oct 1 – Oct 22: Mega Gengar
- Oct 22 – Nov 5: Mega Absol
Guaranteed Raid Hour
This is always a Wednesday from 6pm-7pm Local Time.
- Oct 6: Genesect holding a Douse Drive
- October 13: Altered Forme Giratina
- October 20: Altered Forme Giratina
- October 27: Darkrai that knows the attack Sludge Bomb
Pokémon Spotlight Hours
This is always a Tuesday from 6pm-7pm Local Time. Each will feature a Pokémon and a double earnings bonus.
- Oct 5: Drifloon. Double XP for evolving Pokémon.
- Oct 12: Gastly. Double Stardust for catching Pokémon.
- Oct 19: Gothita. Double XP for catching Pokémon.
- Oct 26: Murkrow. Double XP for evolving Pokémon.
October Community Day: Duskull
On Saturday, October 9, from 11am until 5pm local time, players will encounter a higher volume of Duskull in the wild. Evolving a dusclops into a Dusknoir during (or up to 2 hours after) the event will grant it the Shadow Ball charge attack. As usual, there’s an increased chance of finding a shiny Duskull during the event.
Secrets of the Jungle Movie Tie-in Event
In case you haven’t heard, Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle is a new franchise film releasing in theaters on Oct 8. To celebrate this, Pokémon GO is having a tie in event from Oct 1 until Oct 10.
The event will focus (and introduce!) the Mystical Pokémon Zarude. Players can encounter one for themselves by completing a free Special Research story. There will be a variety of other special in-game content, including the return of Team Rocket’s Jesse and James.
Niantic’s Birthday
That’s right. The dev studio’s birthday is this month, too. If you log into Pokémon GO on Oct 6 between 11am and 5pm on that day, you can receive a free gift box.
Pokémon GO Halloween
Like before, a special event will take place from Oct 15 until Oct 31. During this time, Pokémon in the wild will be seen wearing special Halloween costumes and a new Special Research story will be available.
That’s everything. We hope you don’t have too much else planned this month, because this will be a busy time for trainers of all ages and experience levels.