Throwback Challenge: Celebrate our Pokémon journeys together!

Pokémon GO

Update: During the Hoenn Throwback Timed Research, the 1/2 Hatch Distance bonus will not stack with the currently live 1/2 Hatch Distance bonus. You will continue to have 1/2 Hatch Distance for the week. We apologize if this overlap has caused any confusion.

Update: We apologize that the Johto Throwback Timed Research is only rewarding 5 Rare Candies instead of the planned 10. These 5 Rare Candies will be available to claim on the first page of the Hoenn Throwback Timed Research. Thank you for your understanding.

Trainers,

Do you ever stop and think about how quickly time flies? It feels like it was just yesterday that some of us were faced with the choice between Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle right before starting our journey through the Kanto region. Now, over 20 years later, some of us are still exploring the world of Pokémon in the Galar region. Whether your journey with Pokémon began in 1996 with Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue or in 2016 with Pokémon GO, let’s celebrate our collective Pokémon journeys together throughout the month of May!

From Friday, May 1, 2020, to Friday, May 29, 2020, you’ll unlock Throwback Challenge Timed Research lines. These Timed Research lines will appear in the Today View and will feature a sequence of limited-time tasks that you’ll have access to until a certain date. Each research line will have eight sets of three tasks.

Each week will feature different tasks themed around different regions of the Pokémon world, inspired by the adventures that some might remember from previous Pokémon games. Different Pokémon originally discovered in each region will also be appearing more frequently in the wild to help you complete these tasks. The featured regions will be Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh. If you complete all four of these Timed Research sets, you’ll unlock the Throwback Challenge Champion 2020 Special Research, in which you can earn Rare Candies, reward encounters with Genesect, Galarian Meowth and Galarian Stunfisk, Professor Willow’s glasses as an exclusive avatar item, and more. You’ll be able to complete all these tasks in an individual setting. See the schedule below for when each region will be featured.

Throwback Challenge 2020: Kanto

From Friday, May 1, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Friday, May 8, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. local time, you’ll have access to the Throwback Challenge 2020: Kanto Timed Research.

Let’s look back at the adventures in Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue together! From catching a Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle in memory of one of the most iconic choices Trainers had to make, to taking a snapshot of a Ghost-type Pokémon to celebrate the Ghost-type Pokémon in Lavender Town, there’s much to reminisce about from past adventures through Kanto! Complete all eight sets of tasks in the Kanto Timed Research to earn 10 Rare Candies and a reward encounter with a Mewtwo that knows Psystrike.

While the Throwback Challenge 2020: Kanto Timed Research is available, you can look forward to the following features and bonuses.

Throwback Challenge 2020: Johto

Update: We apologize that the Johto Throwback Timed Research is only rewarding 5 Rare Candies instead of the planned 10. These 5 Rare Candies will be available to claim on the first page of the Hoenn Throwback Timed Research. Thank you for your understanding.

From Friday, May 8, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Friday, May 15, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. local time, you’ll have access to the Throwback Challenge 2020: Johto Timed Research.

Remember the adventures in Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver with us! Make Curveball Throws as a subtle callback to visiting the Whirl Islands, and catch a Water-type Pokémon in memory of the fateful encounter with the Shiny Gyarados at the Lake of Rage! Complete all eight sets of tasks in the Johto Timed Research to earn 10 Rare Candies and a reward encounter with a Ho-Oh that knows the event-exclusive attack Earthquake.

While the Throwback Challenge 2020: Johto Timed Research is available, you can look forward to the following features.

Throwback Challenge 2020: Hoenn

Update: During the Hoenn Throwback Timed Research, the 1/2 Hatch Distance bonus will not stack with the currently live 1/2 Hatch Distance bonus. You will continue to have 1/2 Hatch Distance for the week. We apologize if this overlap has caused any confusion.

From Friday, May 15, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Friday, May 22, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. local time, you’ll have access to the Throwback Challenge 2020: Hoenn Timed Research.

The events of Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire were epic! Catching a Fire-type Pokémon will be like taking a nice, warm soak in the hot springs of Lavaridge Town, while catching a Normal-type Pokémon might remind you of battling against your dad at the Petalburg Gym! Complete all eight sets of tasks in the Hoenn Timed Research to earn 10 Rare Candies and a reward encounter with a Groudon that knows the event-exclusive attack Fire Punch.

While the Throwback Challenge 2020: Hoenn Timed Research is available, you can look forward to the following features.

Throwback Challenge 2020: Sinnoh

From Friday, May 22, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Friday, May 29, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. local time, you’ll have access to the Throwback Challenge 2020: Sinnoh Timed Research.

It’s time to revisit the adventures we had in the Sinnoh region from Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl together! Power up a Pokémon as an homage to the Trainers’ School in Jubilife City, and take a snapshot with a Steel-type Pokémon you caught in remembrance of exploring the mines on Iron Island! Complete all eight sets of tasks in the Sinnoh Timed Research to earn 10 Rare Candies and a reward encounter with a Cresselia that knows the event-exclusive attack Grass Knot.

While the Throwback Challenge 2020: Sinnoh Timed Research is available, you can look forward to the following features.

Throwback Challenge Champion 2020

Complete all four Timed Research lines, and you’ll earn access to the Throwback Challenge Champion 2020 Special Research! Join Professor Willow as you rediscover Pokémon originally found in the Unova region and meet Pokémon originally discovered in the Galar region as they make their Pokémon GO debut. Complete all four sets of tasks in this Special Research to earn five Rare Candies; reward encounters with Galarian Meowth, Galarian Stunfisk, and Genesect; and Professor Willow’s glasses as an exclusive avatar item! Unlike the previous sets of Timed Research, this Special Research isn’t time-limited and can be unlocked and completed at any time.

From Wednesday, June 3, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Monday, June 8, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. local time, all Trainers can look forward to the following features, even if they don’t have access to the Throwback Challenge Champion 2020 Special Research.

Let’s celebrate our Pokémon journeys together!

Please be aware of your surroundings and follow guidelines from local health authorities when playing Pokémon GO. Upcoming events are subject to change. Be sure to follow us on social media, opt in to receiving push notifications, and subscribe to our emails to stay updated.

—The Pokémon GO team