Gone are the days of researching the past, and in is a new season of welcoming the unknown with Pokemon GO's World of Wonders season. Starting March 1, the mobile title will undergo massive seasonal changes, not only altering the spawns of Pokemon that inhabit the overworld and Raids, but also bringing new mysteries for players to uncover — including one surrounding a small, curious, purple creature.
As with every other season, World of Wonders will include a handful of new and returning events that add new Pokemon to the game, such as those that first debuted in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Team Go Rocket's schemes are back in full swing as well, with some popular Legendary Pokemon once more awaiting to be rescued from their control.
This season will last until June 1, resulting in yet another overhaul to spawns, bonuses, and events, though players have ample time to take part in all of what the World of Wonders has to offer. Here's a look at everything this season of Pokemon GO will include, from the Pokemon that will regularly appear to the exciting events players can look forward to.
Pokemon GO World of Wonders Seasonal Research and Bonuses
Seasonal Special Research, akin to that which coincided with Pokemon GO's Season of Light, is returning with the World of Wonders season. As the season continues, more steps to the research will become available for players to complete, all of which will remain accessible for players to complete after the season ends—as long as they logged in to start it.
This time around, players will embark on a journey with the mysterious Ultra Beast Poipole, who players first discovered in Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. However, it seems that this curious Pokemon may be accompanied by a few others based on the abundance of Ultra Wormholes that appear in the season overview trailer, possibly leading to even more wondrous encounters as the season continues.
Seasonal timed research will be available for purchase from the in-game shop in the form of the "Wonder Ticket," possessing three parts that unlock as the season continues that reward players with a Poipole-themed hat and encounters with a handful of Pokemon. This research will disappear when the World of Wonders season ends.
Additionally, the Mythical Pokemon Zarude will be returning to Pokemon GO through paid ticketed research through an event in late March for both those that have encountered it previously and those that missed their chance. This will be the first time that players can discover Zarude in the mobile title since the event celebrating Zarude's appearance in the movie Pokemon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle.
Players will also be encouraged to partake in all types of Raids throughout the season, as bonuses will be provided to the damage players deal in Raids when with friends, as well as increased experience from completing one and three-star Raids. All players can even earn an additional free Raid Pass simply for spinning a Gym Photo Disc each day.
Pokemon GO World of Wonders Seasonal Spawn Changes
A number of rare Pokemon will be added to the spawn pools of different biomes around the world, ranging from cities to bodies of water—with some even differing depending on what hemisphere players are located in. Many of these Pokemon were previously very elusive outside of specific events, which should encourage players to go out and explore to see what new Pokemon they can add to their collections.
- In cities: Togetic, Gardevoir, Delcatty, Gulpin, Stunky, Purrlion, Scraggy, and more will spawn
- In forests: Jumpluff, Absol, Elgyem, Phantump, Dewpider, Fomantis, Pawmi, and more will spawn
- In mountainous regions: Magcargo, Phanpy, Nosepass, Medicham, Duskull, Carbink, Noibat, and more will spawn
- On beaches and near water: Quagsire, Shuckle, Surskit, Clamperl, Inkay, Clauncher, Tadbulb, and more will spawn
- In the Northern Hemisphere: Hisuian Growlithe, Mawile, Bagon, Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott, Litleo, and more will spawn
- In the Southern Hemisphere: Hisuian Voltorb, Chikorita, Totodile, Skarmory, Larvitar, Elektrike, and more will spawn
On top of the uncommon Pokemon now appearing more regularly in the overworld, Niantic is further rewarding players that complete Research Breakthroughs—attained by completing Field Research everyday for a week—with Pokemon that are rare even in events they appear in. Only one of these Pokemon will appear in a single Research Breakthrough, so it's important to make good use of each week until the season ends.
Research Breakthroughs: Hisuian Sneasel, Furfrou, Goomy, Sandygast, Jangmo-o, Dubwool
Pokemon Go World of Wonders Seasonal Egg Pool Changes
In yet another overhaul to the Egg pool, players will now be able to hatch a Pokemon that many have regarded as one of the rarest in the game—Larvesta—out of more than just 10km Eggs. This season's Egg pool will also mark the debut of Charcadet, a Fire Type Pokemon from the Paldea region, in Pokemon GO, currently being the only way to obtain this Pokemon. Using Adventure Sync, which tracks the player's movement even when the game is closed, grows these Egg pools further, so make sure to always have an Egg incubating.
However, players should note that most events alter the Egg pool for a short period, so if they're looking to hatch Pokemon that have joined the pool for the World of Wonders season, they should obtain those Eggs outside of event periods. As of now, it only appears that the standard Egg pools are changing for this season, while 12km Eggs obtained from Team Go Rocket are being untouched. Possible hatches from Eggs can be seen by selecting an Egg and scrolling down.
2km Eggs: Togepi, Gothita, Solosis, Larvesta, Fletchling, etc.
5km Eggs: Lickitung, Sableye, Roggenrola, Larvesta, Skrelp, etc.
- With Adventure Sync: Gligar, Mantyke, Tirtouga, Archen, Phantump, etc.
7km Eggs: Alolan Vulpix, Galarian Slowpoke, Galarian Farfetch'd, Paldean Wooper, Galarian Stunfisk, etc.
- With Adventure Sync: Hisuian Growlithe, Paldean Wooper, Hisuian Sneasel, Pawniard, Vullaby, etc.
10km Eggs: Larvesta, Goomy, Turtonator, Charcadet, Frigibax, etc.
- With Adventure Sync: Dratini, Deino, Goomy, Turtonator, Jangmo-o, etc.
Pokemon GO World of Wonders Seasonal Shadow Raids
Team Go Rocket refuses to give up its nefarious plans of controlling the hearts and minds of Pokemon, thus requiring players to work with Professor Willow and the Team Leaders to rescue them. Players can do so by defeating Team Go Rocket grunts and leaders, or by joining Shadow Raids, of which one and three-star variations will be available each day.
Raikou, Entei, and Suicune will be joining five-star Shadow Raids every Saturday and Sunday for the duration of the World of Wonders season, possessing the same mechanics that other Shadow Raids have, including only being accessible in-person and requiring the use of Purified Gems to weaken the bosses. These Legendary Shadow Pokemon will also have a small chance of appearing Shiny.
Pokemon GO World of Wonders Seasonal Events
This looks to be one of the busiest seasons of Pokemon GO yet, as just the first month of World of Wonders is packed with events—some weeks having more than one at a time. Some of these events are returning from previous years, while others are being added to the game for the first time, such as one celebrating the global release of Pokemon Horizons: The Series.
More months will be added to this event calendar as events are revealed.
