Niantic has announced that a Special Raid Weekend will be held from Friday, February 22nd, 2019 until Monday, February 25th, 2019 where players of Pokémon GO will be able to battle the Legendary Pokémon Latias.

Challenge Latias in this Special Raid Weekend!

Trainers, Are you ready for a challenge? From Friday, February 22, to Monday, February 25, there will be a Special Raid Weekend! The Legendary Pokémon Latias will be available in Raid Battles! Take a look at the details below:

Date + Time

• Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, at 1 p.m. PST (GMT −8) to Monday, Feb. 25, 2019, at 1 p.m. PST (GMT −8)

Features

• The Legendary Pokémon Latias will be joining Raid Battles!
If you’re lucky, you may encounter a Shiny Latias!

Looking for Latios? Fear not, Trainer! Latios will appear during its own Special Raid Weekend at a later date!

Do you have what it takes to take on Latias? Get ready to GO, Trainer—and best of luck!

Source: https://www.pokemongolive.com/post/weekendraid2019-latias/

Niantic has announced that on February 23rd/24th, 2019, players of Pokémon GO will be able to conduct Limited Research on the Water-type Pokémon Clamperl.

Discover more with Limited Research, featuring Clamperl!

Trainers, It’s time to put your research skills to the test! Professor Willow is looking to conduct Limited Research on the Water-type Pokémon Clamperl. Spin the Photo Disc at nearby PokéStops to obtain Field Research tasks that lead to encounters with this tough-shelled Bivalve Pokémon. While you’re completing research, keep an eye out for other Water-type Pokémon, such as Krabby and Wailmer! See more details below:

Event Date + Time

• Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India: Feb. 23, 2019, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. UTC (GMT +0)
• The Americas and Greenland: Feb. 23, 2019, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. PST (GMT −8)
• Asia-Pacific: Feb. 24, 2019, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. JST (GMT +9)

Features

• Receive 2× Catch Stardust for Water-type Pokémon during the three-hour window.
• Water-type Pokémon will appear more frequently in the wild during the event.
• Limited Research tasks will be available when you spin Photo Discs at PokéStops.
• Completing the Limited Research tasks will award you encounters with Clamperl.

Clamperl might clam up during Limited Research, so exploring is key! As long as you’ve collected the Limited Research during the event window, you can complete it at any time. Don’t forget—you’ll need to venture onward to many PokéStops in order to get new Field Research tasks and encounter as many Clamperl as possible!

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/post/fieldresearch-feb2019

Niantic has announced that there will be some upcoming changes to Pokémon GO starting during Swinub Community Day on February 16th, 2019 and a major change is Stat Boosts. Full details are in the notes below.

Community Note: Upcoming Changes to Pokémon GO

Trainers, We’re excited to announce a major update to Trainer Battles in Pokémon GO—stat boosts! Starting this Saturday during Swinub Community Day, certain Charge Attacks will have a chance to trigger stat boosts in Trainer Battles. These stat boosts will persist on the affected Pokémon until they either faint or are switched out of battle. The first moves this update will impact are below.

• Ancient Power: Chance to raise the user’s Attack and Defense
• Ominous Wind: Chance to raise the user’s Attack and Defense
• Silver Wind: Chance to raise the user’s Attack and Defense

This is just the first of many updates to come, so stay tuned for more communications about Trainer Battles. As a reminder, Piloswine evolved into Mamoswine during Community Day event hours will learn the move Ancient Power, so don’t miss out!

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/en/post/statbooststrainerbattles2019/

Niantic has announced the Valentine’s Day event for Pokémon GO which begins on February 13th, 2019 and goes until February 21st, 2019. Pink Pokémon will appear more often in the game.

Pokémon GO Valentine’s Day Celebration returns with pink-colored Pokémon!

Trainers, Gather up Poké Balls and turn on Adventure Sync—the Pokémon GO Valentine’s Day Celebration features Pokémon that are pink! Beginning February 13 at 1 p.m. PST, Pokémon such as Clefairy, Hoppip, and Luvdisc will appear more frequently in the wild. Check out more details below:

Date + Time

• Feb. 13, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. PST (GMT -8) to Feb. 21, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. PST (GMT -8)

Features

• Pink Pokémon such as Clefairy, Hoppip, and Luvdisc will appear more frequently in the wild!
• Certain pink Pokémon will hatch more frequently from 7 km Eggs!
• Pink Pokémon such as Chansey and Porygon will appear more frequently in Raid Battles!

Bonuses

• Lure Modules will last six hours for the duration of the event.
• 2× Catch Candy

Let’s spread the love and enjoy special Valentine’s Day Celebration bonuses! Stay safe, and happy exploring!

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/en/post/valentinesday2019/

Niantic has announced a new feature for Pokémon Go called GO Snapshot which allows players to take a photo of any Pokémon they have in their Pokémon Storage.

Snap off the lens cap on your inner photographer!

Trainers, We’ve been inspired by the photos you’ve taken with our AR+ feature. From the smallest Wurmple to the tallest Alolan Exeggutor, Trainers have taken amazing photos that show off Pokémon in their natural habitats. Today, we’re happy to announce that a brand-new feature will arrive soon—one that’s sure to make capturing the charms of your favorite Pokémon easier than ever!

Introducing GO Snapshot—an easy way to take a photo of any Pokémon you have in your Pokémon Storage! You can find the feature when looking at a specific Pokémon or accessing the camera in your Bag of items.

It’s simple to use. Select a Pokémon and tap on the screen to throw its Poké Ball to that spot. Once your Pokémon is situated in the ideal spot, you can then move around it to find the best angle for your photo. Is your Pokémon distracted or looking the wrong way? Brush across it to get its attention, and it will be sure to face you.

Take as many photos as you like during your session. Once you’re finished, all photos are saved to your device automatically! It’s also easier than ever to share your favorite photo via social media. Just select the linked social channel you want to share with, and you can show your friends your masterpiece with a couple of quick taps.

We can’t wait to see the amazing photos you’ll take of your Pokémon! Don’t forget to send us your works of art with #GOsnapshot, so we can show them off, too! Let’s grab our cameras and GO!

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/post/go-snapshot-announce

Niantic has announced that a Friendship Weekend will take place from February 8th, 2019 until February 11th, 2019 where players of Pokémon GO will be provided extra bonuses.

Make new friends during this special weekend!

Trainers, Friendships are special, and this weekend, they’ll provide extra bonuses! Be sure to make a new friend this weekend, and treat your current friends with some special Gift and trading bonuses! Check out the details below:

Date + Time

• Feb. 8, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. PST to Feb. 11, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. PST (GMT -8)

Bonuses

• Friendship increases twice as fast all weekend!
• Double Candy received for each trade!
• Trades need only half the regular amount of Stardust!

Celebrate the joys of friendship during this special event. Stay safe, and happy exploring!

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/en/post/makefriends2019/

South America’s First Pokémon GO Safari Zone event in Porto Alegre, Brazil from Friday, January 25th, 2019 to Sunday, January 27th, 2019. Niantic created a recap video of the event with some interviews of some of the gamers and staff that attended the event.

YouTube Clip - Pokémon GO - Safari Zone Porto Alegre 2019

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= ac759bvSBzs

Celebrating South America’s First Pokémon GO Safari Zone!

Trainers, Thank you so much for visiting the Porto Alegre Safari Zone throughout the three-day event last weekend! We are astounded by the Trainers who journeyed from around the world to enjoy our very first Safari Zone in Brazil.

Throughout the weekend, tens of thousands of Trainers visited the recently revitalized Guaíba riverbank in Porto Alegre. Trainers from all over the world socialized and played together in Team Lounges while enjoying refreshing river breezes in the warm summer weather.

Whether relaxing while grabbing a bite to eat from local food vendors near the Gasômetro or hatching Eggs around the Marinha do Brasil park, Trainers caught Relicanth and Unown as they explored the Porto Alegre Safari Zone. Psyduck, Bagon, Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup appeared more often, too—not only in the Safari Zone but also all over Brazil in celebration of this special event! Over the weekend, Shiny Psyduck appeared around the world, allowing our global Trainers to join in the fun.

Along with being our premier Safari Zone in Brazil, this was also our very first time hosting a Pokémon GO Safari Zone in South America. We are so delighted that Trainers were able to enjoy this momentous event with us.

Stay tuned for details about our upcoming events—we’re excited for what’s to come, and we’d love for you to join us on the journey ahead! Until then, let’s GO!

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/en/post/safarizone-portoalegre-wrapup/

Niantic has announced that Shiny Meltan will be available for a limited time in Mystery Boxes from February 5th, 2019 at 1 p.m. PST until March 4th, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Players have a chance to get a Shiny Meltan and then put it in their GO Park or evolve it into Shiny Melmetal.

Shiny Meltan will appear for a limited time!

Trainers, We have exciting news! The Shiny version of the Mythical Pokémon Meltan has been discovered! Just in time to celebrate the Lunar New Year, the Shiny version of Meltan will appear for a limited time.

A Mythical Pokémon, the mysterious and rare Meltan only appears when a Mystery Box is opened. If you’re lucky, you may encounter Shiny Meltan when you open the Mystery Box from February 5 at 1 p.m. PST until March 4 at 11:59 p.m. PST. During this special event, the time that you have to wait before you can open the Mystery Box again will be reduced to three days. Be careful, Trainer! If you open the Mystery Box before this event starts, you will have to wait the usual time period before you can open it again.

Date & Time

• Feb. 5, 2019, at 1 p.m. PST (GMT -8) to Mar. 4, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. PST (GMT -8)

Features

• When you open the Mystery Box, you may encounter the Shiny version of the Mythical Pokémon Meltan!
• The time you have to wait before you can open the Mystery Box again will be reduced.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to bring Shiny Meltan into your GO Park or evolve it into Shiny Melmetal! Best of luck in discovering a rare form of this recently discovered Mythical Pokémon.

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/en/post/shinymeltan/

Niantic has revealed a Lunar New Year event for Pokémon GO which takes place from February 4th, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. PST until February 13th, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. PST. Various bonuses and Pokémon appear more frequently in the wild during the event.

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with Pokémon GO!

Trainers, Happy Year of the Pig! The Pokémon GO Lunar New Year event is happening once again, spotlighting 12 Pokémon and beginning February 4 at 1 p.m. PST. Take a look at the details below:

Event Date + Time

• Feb. 4, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. PST (GMT −8) to Feb. 13, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. PST (GMT −8)M

Features

• Rattata, Ekans, Mankey, Ponyta, Electabuzz, Dratini, Mareep, Miltank, Torchic, Poochyena, Spoink, and Buneary will appear more frequently in the wild!
• If you’re lucky, you may encounter a Shiny Spoink!

Bonuses

• 2× Catch XP
• 2× XP when evolving Pokémon
• When you trade a Pokémon, there is an increased chance it will become a Lucky Pokémon!

Wishing you health, wealth, and luck during the Lunar New Year! Stay safe, and happy exploring!

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/en/post/lunar-2019/

Players of Pokémon GO will be able to use a Sinnoh Stone to evolve Lickitung into Lickilicky, Tangela into Tangrowth, and more starting as of January 31st, 2019.

Evolved forms discovered in the Sinnoh region emerge in Pokémon GO!!

Trainers, Did you know that some Pokémon originally discovered in the Sinnoh region evolve from Pokémon previously discovered in other regions? Starting today, you’ll be able to use a Sinnoh Stone to evolve Lickitung into Lickilicky, Tangela into Tangrowth, and more!

Plus, more Pokémon originally discovered in the Sinnoh region, such as Cranidos and Shieldon, will appear in the wild for the first time! You may also see more Pokémon originally discovered in the Sinnoh region appearing in Eggs.

There are also some big changes coming! You may notice that Pokémon that appear in Raid Battles are more powerful and sturdy when you challenge them. Plus, some moves that certain Pokémon know may be stronger or weaker when used in battle. Finally, certain Pokémon may be able to learn new moves via TM that will help them perform in battle, such as Machamp now being able to know the Rock-type move Rock Slide!

Source: https://pokemongolive.com/post/sinnoh-evolutions