The main event of the week, 'Pokémon Go Tour Kalos Global', has arrived after a lengthy build-up with 'Road to Kalos'. It's been a very long week before we even got to this point - though maybe you only feel that way if you decided to launch a new Pokémon publication at the same time.
There's a lot to dig into. A rotating schedule, new shiny debuts, ticketed research, codes, and much more which we'll explore below, including the biggest opportunities to take advantage of over the next couple of days.
Update (March 1st): Added details of Sunday's post-event raid event to the schedule section.
'Go Tour Kalos Global' schedule
First, the schedule. As with all global events, it will cycle through various habitats with different spawns, and alongside it for 'Go Tour Kalos Global' will be rotating Mega Evolutions in Raids.
All times below are in your local time.
Saturday 28th February schedule
As well as the above, Saturday also sees:
- One-star raids: Pikachu wearing Calem’s hat, Pikachu wearing Serena’s hat (new debuts this weekend), Honedge
- Five-star raids: Xerneas, Yveltal
- Super Mega Raids: Mega Victreebel, Mega Dragonite (new debuts this weekend)
- Shadow Raids: Shadow Regigigas
- Snapshots: Latias (ticketed players only)
Sunday 1st March schedule
As well as the above, Sunday also sees:
- One-star raids: Pikachu wearing Calem’s hat, Pikachu wearing Serena’s hat, Honedge
- Five-star raids: Xerneas, Yveltal
- Super Mega Raids: Mega Malamar (new debut today), Mega Dragonite
- Shadow Raids: Shadow Regigigas
- Snapshots: Latios (ticketed players only)
- After 6pm, all 'Road to Kalos' Legendary Raids return
Credit to GO_FRIEND_APP on reddit for confirming the post-6pm raid appearances.
Habitat spawns
There are three unique habitats with different spawns, which rotate throughout event hours, alongside an hour where all spawns will appear together. The timings are in the schedule above, and the spawns you can expect are below:
'Go Tour Kalos Global' Special Research
If you've purchased a paid ticket, you get three bonus Timed Research and Special Research tasks:
- 'An X-ceptional Yarn' (Special Research, available right away)
- 'Poodle Caboodle' (Timed Research, available right away)
- 'Sparkle and Shine' (Masterwork Research for shiny Diancie, available after completing 'An X-ceptional Yarn')
Aside from 'Poodle Caboodle', there is no urgency to complete these - they'll remain in your inventory until they're done.
'Go Tour Kalos Global' Special Backgrounds
Special Backgrounds have a chance of appearing on Pokémon caught in Raids. They are:
- Pokémon X background: Pikachu wearing Calem’s hat, Pikachu wearing Serena’s hat, Honedge, Xerneas
- Pokémon Y background: Pikachu wearing Calem’s hat, Pikachu wearing Serena’s hat, Honedge, Yveltal
- Mega Evolution background: All Mega Raid Pokémon
Remember, there's only a chance of getting these. The likelihood of getting one of these Special Backgrounds with a shiny is low - so best to go in with the mindset you probably won't get that combination this weekend. Your wallet will also thank you for it.
Opportunities this weekend
With all the above in mind, what opportunities are there?
- Pikachu forms with Calem’s hat and Serena’s hat are new debuts this weekend. Find them in the wild, or in one-star raids (the latter has a chance of having a Special Background).
- Besides completing ticketed research (if you purchased a ticket), shiny hunting is something to focus on all weekend. I recommend making a note of what you want from the habitat rotations, and try and find as many as you can within those hours. Otherwise, highlights and increased rates include:
- Shiny debuts: Honedge (in Raids), regionals Hawlucha and Klefki (in 10km Eggs - remember there's a 1/2 distance bonus this week to help)
- “Increase chance” of shinies for all players: Costumed Pikachu, Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie in the wild, Honedge in raids, and Pokémon across the board in 2km and 10km eggs
- Paid Go Tour: Kalos ticket holders also get an “increased chance” of shinies in general
- In Raids, there are Super Mega Evolutions (I'll get used to this name eventually) where you can encounter Mega Victreebel, Mega Malamar, and Mega Dragonite, which are all new debuts. It's worth getting enough Mega Energy to Mega Evolve one of these for your Pokédex, and from there, you can then Mega Evolve them in your own time to continue levelling them up.
- Though Go Tour Kalos Global is a great opportunity to get lots of Mega Energy to boost your way to Super Max Level, there will be many more chances in future to raid them, so don't feel you need to burn through passes this weekend. You can always walk these Pokémon as a Buddy for extra Mega Energy drops in the meantime, too.
- Something also to factor in is none of these three Megas are particularly meta relevant, even at Super Max Level, and are surpassed by others in their respective types.
- A few other reminders:
- Don't forget to have a Mega Evolution active throughout the weekend. To keep things simple, I'd recommend Mega Rayquaza since it's a great counter for Mega Dragonite and Mega Victreebel, and also gives Candy bonuses for multiple types, and not just the one.
- Have an Incense active at all times - they spawn Unown forms K, A, L, O, and S - and remember you can stack these to have them running all day so you don't forget to have one going. During event hours, these run for two hours per Incense.
- If you purchased a paid ticket with the 'Poodle Caboodle' Timed Research and regional Furfrou Trim of your choice, know that while the Timed Research expires at 6pm on Sunday, the unlocked Trim will be available until midnight that day. These are perfect trading fodder, so get as many as you can before Monday rolls around.
- Finally, be aware that if you have the 'Road to Kalos' Go Pass levelled, you'll also get the following bonuses (if you haven't purchased this ticket yet, I'd say it's probably not worth the money at this point, but consider them a handy extra if you did):
New promo codes this week
Finally, in case you missed them, there were five promo codes released this week. Links to the official code redemption site are below to help you redeem them quickly.
These are all Timed Research that will expire soon (everything but GOTOURKALOS will expire by Sunday night), so the sooner you redeem them, the better.
- Very Fairy Timed Research (code: TH4NKY0UF41RYMUCH)
- Unown X Timed Research (code: QFWM3SRJPVRY5)
- Unown Y Timed Research (code: 6K343X373BDQM)
- Unown Z & A Timed Research (code: 2PKXPAT2RJXKL)
- A Beautiful Day to Celebrate! Timed Research (code: GOTOURKALOS)
Before you set out the door, a few reminders...
Remember to pack the essentials, including:
- Your Go Plus+ device
- Charging packs and cables
- Water and snacks
- Comfortable footwear and appropriate clothing - a hat, raincoat, brolly, etc
- A planned route so you can factor in regular stops (if you can situate yourself near a café as you go, all the better)
These are all things I remind myself before a long day's play as it's very easy to get carried away. The rotating habitats repeat so you get multiple opportunities at specific spawns, and you can always Remote Raid in the evening to other regions if you missed out on something in particular.
And remember, if you don't get the Pokémon you're after, there is almost always another opportunity at a future event (and if not, that's what trading is for). Ultimately, pacing yourself on days like today is more important.
Phew! Very best of luck with the event this weekend. I hope you get the shinies you're after.
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