My understanding is Scopley does this with all the properties they get ahold of so it would not surprise me if they find a way to do it with Go. Adding ads, doubling down on tickets (something Niantic has ALREADY been criticized for), more intrusive monetization "wants" (like always offering pokeballs, potions, etc when youre in the menus), etc etc.
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Pokémon GO
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Certainly not encouraging that the announcement sounds like every other PR statement that a private equity firm puts out after buying a business that they strip for parts and shutter a couple years later.
Hopefully fear of the terrible reputation that would come with being the company that killed the golden Pokemon GOose will deter them from rolling out their more aggressive monetization tactics... at least long enough to get shiny Marshadow masterwork research for a disappointing Alola tour in 2 years*.
(*Yes yes, I know this requires Marshadow getting into LZA and/or Gen 10 and being another dex completion reward, and depends on whether Zeraora is released, etc etc)
https://pokemongolive.com/post/stunning-styles-2025?hl=en
I was stoked to see Marshadow pop up in the image for the newly announced event, and my first thought was "maybe they're giving it Spectral thief please?" before noticing the tauros and then reading that this is just the general free release of Marshadow being bundled with a different event introducing new fighting types to the game.
As expected, Shaymin continues to be the only go fest mythical whose free release lets you catch a new copy even if you already got one from GO fest. I hope they at least add a new Marshadow themed clothing item. All we got from GO fest was the t-shirt, Diancie and Hoopa have headphones, shaymin has a whole hat, give me Raifort's hairpin at least!
I was stoked to see Marshadow pop up in the image for the newly announced event, and my first thought was "maybe they're giving it Spectral thief please?" before noticing the tauros and then reading that this is just the general free release of Marshadow being bundled with a different event introducing new fighting types to the game.
As expected, Shaymin continues to be the only go fest mythical whose free release lets you catch a new copy even if you already got one from GO fest. I hope they at least add a new Marshadow themed clothing item. All we got from GO fest was the t-shirt, Diancie and Hoopa have headphones, shaymin has a whole hat, give me Raifort's hairpin at least!
What a time for an event with an eastern hemisphere/western hemisphere divide. My new flat is in the eastern hemisphere, but I haven't moved in yet so I'm still stuck west of the line. Have a shiny west sea Shellos already but not the east sea one. Best I can hope for is catching a couple of extra west sea shinies to trade.
Anyone know what the trade cost is on those, btw? The below chart is very useful but with different forms it's so inconsistent, I traded for a shiny Pau'u Oricorio the other week and it only cost 800 stardust at best friend level because I've caught the Baile variant. On the other hand, trading a shiny Rain Castform cost me 40k because I'd only caught the ordinary variant in shiny form.
Anyone know what the trade cost is on those, btw? The below chart is very useful but with different forms it's so inconsistent, I traded for a shiny Pau'u Oricorio the other week and it only cost 800 stardust at best friend level because I've caught the Baile variant. On the other hand, trading a shiny Rain Castform cost me 40k because I'd only caught the ordinary variant in shiny form.
My hundo Zacian is ready for me to not get enough crowned sword energy to change its form.
My hundo regular kyurem is preparing the "welcome to the stuck-in-base-form club" banner.
My hundo regular kyurem is preparing the "welcome to the stuck-in-base-form club" banner.
My hundo Zamazenta will appreciate this I suppose, though the adventure effect is definitely the weaker of the two. Just gotta make sure I actually get enough energy for it
Increasing attack for your mons in raids as an adventure effect is definitely gonna be powerful, and it'll be more a boon to players who don't have so much of a reliable community to work with for these kinds of things, so that's definitely something I'm gonna be grateful for. Depends on how much of a boost of course, but literally anything will be at least a little helpful. I doubt it'll be enough of a boost to massively impact what you can or can't solo, but literally anything will likely change some amount of what can be done.
Increasing attack for your mons in raids as an adventure effect is definitely gonna be powerful, and it'll be more a boon to players who don't have so much of a reliable community to work with for these kinds of things, so that's definitely something I'm gonna be grateful for. Depends on how much of a boost of course, but literally anything will be at least a little helpful. I doubt it'll be enough of a boost to massively impact what you can or can't solo, but literally anything will likely change some amount of what can be done.
The general consensus seems to be Zacian for Raids, Zamazenta for Max Battles (where bulk matters mroe to survive to Max Phase).
I have a good Zacian ready, not a great Zamazenta yet, so might have to raid that one harder and just leave Zacian as "get energy and move along" tier.
I have a good Zacian ready, not a great Zamazenta yet, so might have to raid that one harder and just leave Zacian as "get energy and move along" tier.
...apparently Hyper Training in Go is going to become a thing?
Expecting this to be monetised to hell, but still a fantastic upgrade nonetheless. So many great possibilities abound.
Yeah these were first datamined a while ago. I assume they'll be in a similar place to the mentioned Lucky Trinkets as "Rarely available, less rare if you spend on the Battle Passes"
This will go a long way to stuff like Master League, where a lot of players (myself included) have a lot of mons that would be good if only they had 1 more point for ATK or DEF for crucial Breakpoints, on top of the general flair of more accessible "effective" Shundos.
One of May's events got leaked - increased chance for shiny Wimpod is splendid. I was literally just thinking yesterday "when will Toxel be back" as I still don't have one registered. And wild Rookidee too! This is... an actually great-sounding event, bring it on.
Rookidee is great news for PvP experimenters to stock up for Corv candy or a good IV candidate (it's mid atm but move changes could do wonders), and I have a Hundo Wimpod so Shiny odds to hunt Shundos of it is cool for me too. Toxel is whatever since I have a bunch of GMax Toxtricity but obviously still a great value for collectors.
Between this and Tinkaton's debut, I'm in for a string of decently-involved events.
I've been tracking them for a while and I find the 2025 release schedule very interesting compared to 2024 & even 2023
For reference, 2023 released 56 Pokemon
2023 TOTAL: 56
-Jan 7 - 1 (Kecleon)
-Feb 27 - 2 (Gimmighoul line)
-March 1 - 1 (Hawlucha)
-March 8 - 1 (Bruxish)
-March 11 - 1 (Regidrago)
-April 4 - 2 (Cutiefly line)
-April 9 - 1 (Regieleki)
-April 20 - 3 (Bounsweet line)
-May 2 - 2 (Larvesta line)
-May 6 - 1 (Kleavor)
-June 6 - 2 (Sandygast line)
-June 21 - 1 (Carbink)
-June 29 - 1 (Turtonator)
-July 15 - 1 (Komala)
-July 20 - 1 (Zygarde)
-Aug 4 - 1 (Diancie)
-Aug 11 - 1 (Passimian) [23]
-Sep 5 - 11 (Gen 9 starters, Lechonk line)
-Sep 10 - 9 (assorted Gen 9)
-Oct 7 - 2 (Skiddo line)
-Oct 12 - 3 (Smoliv line)
-Oct 19 - 2 (Greavard line)
-Nov 5 - 1 (Clodsire)
-Nov 7 - 2 (Tadbulb line)
-Dec 18 - 2 (Cetoddle line)
-Dec 23 - 1 (Wyrdeer)
To that point the only year that released less Pokemon was 2021 (48). But it's a very nickle & dime release schedule. And yet, a trove of riches compared with 2024 which released 40
2024 TOTAL: 40
-Jan 19 - 1 (Annihilape)
-Jan 27 - 2 (Varoom line)
-Feb 5 - 1 (Drampa)
-Feb 14 - 1 (Enamorus)
-March 1 - 1 (Poipole)
-March 5 - 3 (Charcadet line)
-April 22 - 2 (Wiglett line) [11]
-May 23 - 3 (Naganadel, Stakataka, Blacephalon)
-May 30 - 2 (Necrozma, Marshadow)
-July 17 - 2 (Tandemaus line) [18]
-Sep 3 - 13 (Gen 8 starters, Dreepy line, Stonjourner)
-Sep 18 - 3 (Hatenna line)
-Oct 22 - 1 (Morpeko)
-Nov 16 - 2 (Toxel line)
-Nov 27 - 1 (Cursola)
-Dec 3 - 2 (Sinistea line)
And the bulk of that number comes from the Gen 8 drop. It's very thin otherwise.
Meanwhile 2025 to this point has already released 23 Pokemon (24 counting Volcanion since we know when that's coming)
2025
-Jan 3 - 2 (Fidough line)
-Jan 15 - 2 (Shroodle line)
-Jan 21 - 3 (Rookidee line)
-Feb 11 - 1 (Dhelmise)
-March 5 - 1 (Kubfu [Untransferrable])
-March 19 - 2 (Nickit line)
-March 26 - 2 (Sizzlipede line)
-March 31 - 2 (Mudbray line)
-April 9 - 2 (Gossifleur line)
-April 16 - 3 (Tinkatink line)
-April 24 - 3 (5) (Applin line [Dipplin & Hydrapple Home only])
-Go Fest - 1 (Volcanion)
I added a few points above around july/august showing how many mons had come out respectively; we've blown past July 2024 and are at the same number (exceeding, technically) as August 2023. They've released a new Pokemon almost every week -february was the most barren so far-. It's very peculiar since the drip feed felt very purposeful considering the number of Pokemon they have left to release.
It's possible it's just them reflecting on the drip feed complaints, but the cynic in me wonders if it's just a way to juice revenue for the buy out + trying to keep people on board during the transition to Scopely. I'll be curious if this continues the rest of the year
For reference, 2023 released 56 Pokemon
2023 TOTAL: 56
-Jan 7 - 1 (Kecleon)
-Feb 27 - 2 (Gimmighoul line)
-March 1 - 1 (Hawlucha)
-March 8 - 1 (Bruxish)
-March 11 - 1 (Regidrago)
-April 4 - 2 (Cutiefly line)
-April 9 - 1 (Regieleki)
-April 20 - 3 (Bounsweet line)
-May 2 - 2 (Larvesta line)
-May 6 - 1 (Kleavor)
-June 6 - 2 (Sandygast line)
-June 21 - 1 (Carbink)
-June 29 - 1 (Turtonator)
-July 15 - 1 (Komala)
-July 20 - 1 (Zygarde)
-Aug 4 - 1 (Diancie)
-Aug 11 - 1 (Passimian) [23]
-Sep 5 - 11 (Gen 9 starters, Lechonk line)
-Sep 10 - 9 (assorted Gen 9)
-Oct 7 - 2 (Skiddo line)
-Oct 12 - 3 (Smoliv line)
-Oct 19 - 2 (Greavard line)
-Nov 5 - 1 (Clodsire)
-Nov 7 - 2 (Tadbulb line)
-Dec 18 - 2 (Cetoddle line)
-Dec 23 - 1 (Wyrdeer)
To that point the only year that released less Pokemon was 2021 (48). But it's a very nickle & dime release schedule. And yet, a trove of riches compared with 2024 which released 40
2024 TOTAL: 40
-Jan 19 - 1 (Annihilape)
-Jan 27 - 2 (Varoom line)
-Feb 5 - 1 (Drampa)
-Feb 14 - 1 (Enamorus)
-March 1 - 1 (Poipole)
-March 5 - 3 (Charcadet line)
-April 22 - 2 (Wiglett line) [11]
-May 23 - 3 (Naganadel, Stakataka, Blacephalon)
-May 30 - 2 (Necrozma, Marshadow)
-July 17 - 2 (Tandemaus line) [18]
-Sep 3 - 13 (Gen 8 starters, Dreepy line, Stonjourner)
-Sep 18 - 3 (Hatenna line)
-Oct 22 - 1 (Morpeko)
-Nov 16 - 2 (Toxel line)
-Nov 27 - 1 (Cursola)
-Dec 3 - 2 (Sinistea line)
And the bulk of that number comes from the Gen 8 drop. It's very thin otherwise.
Meanwhile 2025 to this point has already released 23 Pokemon (24 counting Volcanion since we know when that's coming)
2025
-Jan 3 - 2 (Fidough line)
-Jan 15 - 2 (Shroodle line)
-Jan 21 - 3 (Rookidee line)
-Feb 11 - 1 (Dhelmise)
-March 5 - 1 (Kubfu [Untransferrable])
-March 19 - 2 (Nickit line)
-March 26 - 2 (Sizzlipede line)
-March 31 - 2 (Mudbray line)
-April 9 - 2 (Gossifleur line)
-April 16 - 3 (Tinkatink line)
-April 24 - 3 (5) (Applin line [Dipplin & Hydrapple Home only])
-Go Fest - 1 (Volcanion)
I added a few points above around july/august showing how many mons had come out respectively; we've blown past July 2024 and are at the same number (exceeding, technically) as August 2023. They've released a new Pokemon almost every week -february was the most barren so far-. It's very peculiar since the drip feed felt very purposeful considering the number of Pokemon they have left to release.
It's possible it's just them reflecting on the drip feed complaints, but the cynic in me wonders if it's just a way to juice revenue for the buy out + trying to keep people on board during the transition to Scopely. I'll be curious if this continues the rest of the year
Oh I think it's definitely that. The leaked event in May with wild Rookidee, Toxel back in eggs, and worldwide Mime Jr genuinely made me want to buy some incubators (thankfully the madness passed). Then there's another Mega Kangaskhan raid day coming...
And looking at your list, so many of the recent releases have been centred around eggs or lures or raids rather than being standard wild releases.
-Jan 3 - 2 (Fidough line)
-Jan 15 - 2 (Shroodle line) egg exclusive
-Jan 21 - 3 (Rookidee line) egg/lure exclusive
-Feb 11 - 1 (Dhelmise) raid exclusive
-March 5 - 1 (Kubfu [Untransferrable]) free, but another was available via paid research
-March 19 - 2 (Nickit line)
-March 26 - 2 (Sizzlipede line) almost lure/raid exclusive - there was one field research task that didn't require doing a raid
-March 31 - 2 (Mudbray line)
-April 9 - 2 (Gossifleur line)
-April 16 - 3 (Tinkatink line) egg exclusive
-April 24 - 3 (5) (Applin line [Dipplin & Hydrapple Home only])
-Go Fest - 1 (Volcanion)
It's all felt very geared towards being monetised and I'm sure it's working. Unova Tour alone apparently made almost 20 mil.
Should add onto this: mudbray is only available through Safari so that's paid by default, Volcanion is also obviously a paid bonus for Go Fest. It was also real bad last year. Varrom was 12km egg exclusive (really need to underline this because you need radars to grind those in addition to incubators), Drampa was raids, Enamorus was elite raids, Charcadet is (& remains!) eggs, the UBs & related company were raids (even the "free" guaranteed UBs in the lead up to Go Fest still required doing raids), Hatenna was primarily eggs with research tasks, Morpeko was nearly raid exclusive, toxel itself was egg exclusive (10km!) while its evolved forms were raid & dynamax raid exclusive*, Cursola was egg exclusive (for....some reason....?) and Sinistea was raid exclusive (with ~rare form~ to incentivize you to keep raiding).
The thing that really got me thinking about juicing for the buy out was a reddit thread tracking the more general "hey every single event has had 1-2 sometimes 3 separate tickets for you to buy for the last 8 months" a few months ago. Which often includes tickets that guarantee encounters with the new Pokemon. And after that I just kept thinking about player retention after the buy out happened (Though, obviously, most of these would be planned ahead of time, so pulling double duty)
*Weird blessing in disguise because Toxel requires 400 candy. Incidentally Applin will require 200 candy and 20 of a given apple.
https://pokemongolive.com/post/crown-clash-2025?hl=en
Well, maybe I'll register Kingambit in the GO dex in three years when they give it a community day with more reasonable evolution requirements.
Well, maybe I'll register Kingambit in the GO dex in three years when they give it a community day with more reasonable evolution requirements.
They should have done like Charcadet with battles instead of raids. Or Add Dynamax. Or Add Team Rockets, but not only raids :(
If it's defeated specifically rather than caught, Go Fest would be a good time for it as Zacian/Zamazenta in their Crowned forms will be part Steel. Fucking nuts evolution requirement though. I really thought they'd introduce this via a Community Day.
That said, I have a shiny Hisuian Qwilfish I continuously forget to buddy up before raids and still haven't evolved more than a year after Sinnoh Tour. Let's see if I remember.
I'm registered for Pokemon GO, son is doing TCG, for the upcoming Pokemon events, just need to get my travel/accomodations set:
May 23-25 Portland, OR
June 13-15 New Orleans, LA (NAIC)
May 23-25 Portland, OR
June 13-15 New Orleans, LA (NAIC)
Was thinking just now that if I were to get a hundo Applin I'd want to save it for Hydrapple, since I'd rather have a hundo Flapple or Appletun which can Gigantamax. Annoying because Applin is my favourite gen XIII species but this kind of disincentivises me from going too hard for it.
But I'll bet any money they'll make Dipplin a raid-locked species when it debuts, like the Hisuian regional evolutions.
But I'll bet any money they'll make Dipplin a raid-locked species when it debuts, like the Hisuian regional evolutions.
Is Applin is the worst Pokemon to evolve ? 200 candies * 3 forms + 1 evol + 20*3 special items ?
Too soon to say, if it stays relatively common after this event it won't be too hard to accrue candy for it (though it's not particularly common even in this event - I've only found about 6 so far).
Other contenders for worst:
- Kingambit (discussed above)
- Pawmot (I'm not walking that fucking thing 25km, absolutely no way)
- Milotic (annoying specifically to me because I have a hundo Feebas, a shiny Feebas, and a lucky Feebas and I want to evolve them all but I don't want to spend time walking each one)
- Ursaluna (just plain inconvenient)
- anything with a random evolution like Clamperl (you get a shiny or a hundo you want to evolve a certain way, and inevitably you get the wrong one)
- Tyrogue (the thing about this one is that if you get a hundo, the evolution's random - otherwise you need one with imperfect IVs to get the desired Hitmon, which is annoying)
- Pancham (Dark is a relatively rare type so it takes ages unless there's an applicable event or spotlight hour)
- Gimmighoul (you're entirely dependent on other players for this if you don't have a copy of ScVi - I still only have about 700 coins so mine has sat unevolved for almost two years)
- Toxel (400 candy AND a random evolution is just taking the piss)
I think the ones where you have to buddy up and do some XYZ capture or raid goal are annoying but not terrible. like I walk a lot, walking with Pawmo wasn't that big a deal. Swapping to remember to do raids was whatever. The annoying thing there was (1) remembering to do that and (2) having access to the raids.
I think Gimmighoul is the absolute most annoying. With SV it requires catching a lot of the things and your ability to get coins from the captures seems dictated by the same relative rules of XL Candy. So never a guarantee and very piecemeal. Meanwhile the golden lure itself only gives out a random amount while active, takes several irl days to get, and depending on your bag situation will require a lot off micromanaging because gold lures also give a bunch of other rando items.
I think Gimmighoul is the absolute most annoying. With SV it requires catching a lot of the things and your ability to get coins from the captures seems dictated by the same relative rules of XL Candy. So never a guarantee and very piecemeal. Meanwhile the golden lure itself only gives out a random amount while active, takes several irl days to get, and depending on your bag situation will require a lot off micromanaging because gold lures also give a bunch of other rando items.