On the second day of Pokémon GO Fest 2021 on July 18, every Legendary Pokémon will be available in raids, developer Niantic has announced. While players won't need a GO Fest ticket to participate, they will have to have to join five-star raids at specific times to encounter Legendaries they're aiming for.
Pokémon GO Fest starts July 17, with optional tickets costing $5 as an in-app purchase. The event is sponsored by Google Play. Some highlights on the first day will include rotating habitats with Collection Challenges, and bonuses in the Global Challenge Arena. Players will even be able to choose Pokémon to star in a musical show, and - if they live in the U.S. or Canada - buy a one-off t-shirt. Fest perks that do require a ticket include things like the Collection Challenges and extra Raid Passes.
Access to Legendary Pokémon is being split into four blocks, Niantic explains. The Wind Hour block - from 10 AM to 11 AM local time, as well as 2 PM to 3 PM - will offer chances at Mewtwo, Ho-Oh, Latias, Latios, Regigigas, Altered Forme Giratina, Cresselia, Virizion, and Therian Forme Tornadus. Lava Hour (11 AM to 2 PM and 3 PM to 4 PM) will open up Moltres, Entei, Regirock, Groudon, Heatran, Reshiram, Terrakion, Therian Forme Landorus, and Yveltal. Frost Hour (12 to 1 PM and 4 to 5 PM) is serving up Articuno, Suicune, Lugia, Regice, Kyogre, Palkia, and Kyurem, as well as Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf in their usual regions. Lastly, Thunder Hour (1 to 2 PM and 5 to 6 PM) will host Zapdos, Raikou, Registeel, Rayquaza, Dialga, Cobalion, Therian Forme Thundurus, Zekrom, and Xerneas.
Mythical Pokémon won't be in any of the five-star raids. Ticket holders, meanwhile, will have a definite advantage - this includes an extra 10,000 XP points for winning each Raid Battle, an optional event bundle with three Remote Raid Passes, and the ability to earn up to eight such Passes by completing Timed Research. As many as 10 Raid Passes can be earned by spinning Gym Photo Discs. Significantly, Remote passes are required to play raids from home.
Niantic has come under fire in recent days for reversing some of Pokémon GO's pandemic-oriented gameplay changes, meant to discourage people from clustering together and spreading COVID-19. While vaccines are beginning to get the disease under control in England and the U.S., other countries are still dealing with new waves. As an AR game, Pokémon GO revolves around getting players out in public, particularly since some in-game locations are sponsored. With a new event centered around catching legendary Pokémon, it's likely that many players are going to get back out to catching Pokémon, so hopefully, Niantic is taking steps to make sure players remain safe.
Pokémon GO is available now on iOS and Android.
Source: Niantic