G2G Media
Niantic has just announced a MASSIVE, multi-part, Throwback Challenge! The Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh regions will each have a week-long, 8-part, Timed Research, all with region themed tasks. There’s more: after you complete all four of them, you will gain access to the Throwback Challenge Champion Special Research. There’s a lot to take in on this one, so let’s get started!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
TC 2020: Kanto Throwback:
Fri., May 1 @ 1:00pm – Fri., May 8, 2020, @ 1:00pm local time
TC 2020: Johto Throwback:
Fri., May 8 @ 1:00pm – Fri., May 15, 2020, @ 1:00pm local time
TC 2020: Hoenn Throwback:
Fri., May 15 @ 1:00pm – Fri., May 22, 2020, @ 1:00pm local time
TC 2020: Sinnoh Throwback:
Fri., May 22 @ 1:00pm – Fri., May 29, 2020, @ 1:00pm local time
TC Champion 2020 Throwback Unlock & Event
Wed., Jun. 3 @ 1:00pm – Mon. Jun. 8, 2020, @ 1:00pm local time
| EVENT DATE/ TIME: | Fri., May 1, 2020, @ 1:00pm to Fri., May 8, 2020, @ 1:00pm (local time) | ||||
| FEATURES: | CHALLENGE REWARD: Mewtwo w/Psystrike & 10 Rare Candy | ||||
| COSTUME PIKA: Pikachu wearing Charizard hats appearing in the wild | |||||
| WILD: Venonat, Chansey, Charizard Hat Pikachu, and other Kanto Pokémon | |||||
| RAIDS: Kanto Pokémon | |||||
| 7KM EGGS: Venonat, Machop, Onix, Lickitung, Tangela, Scyther, Pinsir, Lapras, and Eevee | |||||
| SHINY: Venonat, Chansey, and other Kanto Pokémon | |||||
| FIELD RESEARCH: Event-exclusive Field Research tasks will reward encounters with Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region | |||||
| BONUSES: | 2x Catch XP | ||||
| 2x Raid XP | |||||
| 2x Hatch XP | |||||
| OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT | |||||
The reward for completing all 8 sets of tasks in this timed research is an old friend. Along with 10 Rare Candy, Trainers will receive and encounter with Mewtwo that has the Exclusive Move Psystrike!
Charizard was chosen as the number-one Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region. In honor of that, Pikachu wearing Charizard hats will be appearing in the wild.
| FEATURED KANTO SPAWNS | ||
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
| Shiny Debut: Venonat* | Chansey* | Charizard Hat Pikachu |
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!
| EVENT DATE/ TIME: | Fri., May 8, 2020, @ 1:00pm to Fri., May 15, 2020, @ 1:00pm (local time) | ||||
| FEATURES: | CHALLENGE REWARD: Ho-Oh w/Earthquake & 10 Rare Candy | ||||
| COSTUME PIKA: Pikachu wearing Umbreon hats appearing in the wild | |||||
| WILD: Dunsparce, Skarmory, Umbreon Hat Pikachu, and other Johto Pokémon | |||||
| RAIDS: Johto Pokémon | |||||
| 7KM EGGS: Chinchou, Yanma, Girafarig, Pineco, Dunsparce, Gligar, Shuckle, Skarmory, and Phanpy | |||||
| SHINY: Dunsparce, Skarmory, and other Johto Pokémon | |||||
| FIELD RESEARCH: Event-exclusive Field Research tasks will reward encounters with Pokémon originally discovered in the Johto region | |||||
| BONUSES: | 2x Catch Stardust | ||||
| 2x Raid Stardust | |||||
| OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT | |||||
The reward for completing all 8 sets of tasks in this timed research is the Ho-Oh! And not just any Ho-Oh, one that knows the event-exclusive move, Earthquake, and 10 Rare Candy!
Umbreon was chosen as the number-one Pokémon originally discovered in the Johto region. In honor of that, Pikachu wearing Umbreon hats will be appearing in the wild.
| FEATURED JOHTO SPAWNS | ||
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| Shiny Debut: Dunsparce* | Skarmory* | Umbreon Hat Pikachu |
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!
| EVENT DATE/ TIME: | Fri., May 15, 2020, @ 1:00pm to Fri., May 22, 2020, @ 1:00pm (local time) | ||||
| FEATURES: | CHALLENGE REWARD: Groudon w/ Fire Puch & 10 Rare Candy | ||||
| COSTUME PIKA: Pikachu wearing Rayquaza hats appearing in the wild | |||||
| WILD: Skitty, Zangoose, Seviper, Rayquaza Pikachu, and other Hoenn Pokémon | |||||
| RAIDS: Hoenn Pokémon | |||||
| 7KM EGGS: Lotad, Slakoth, Nincada, Skitty, Sableye, Mawile, Trapinch, Feebas, and Clamperl | |||||
| SHINY: Skitty, Nincada, and other Hoenn Pokémon | |||||
| FIELD RESEARCH: Event-exclusive Field Research tasks will reward encounters with Pokémon originally discovered in the Hoenn region | |||||
| BONUSES: | 1/2 Hatch distance | ||||
| 1/2 Buddy candy distance | |||||
| OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT | |||||
The reward for completing all 8 sets of tasks in this timed research is none other than Groudon, and it will know the event-exclusive move Fire Punch, and comes with 10 Rare Candy!
Rayquaza was chosen as the number-one Pokémon originally discovered in the Hoenn region. In honor of that, Pikachu wearing Rayquaza hats will be appearing in the wild. *QUEUE MT FREAKING OUT
| FEATURED HOENN SPAWNS | ||
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
| Shiny Debut: Skitty* | Zangoose* | Seviper* |
| ||
| Rayquaza Hat Pikachu | ||
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!
| EVENT DATE/ TIME: | Fri., May 22, 2020, @ 1:00pm to Fri., May 29, 2020, @ 1:00pm (local time) | ||||
| FEATURES: | CHALLENGE REWARD: Cresselia w/ Grass Knot & 10 Rare Candy | ||||
| COSTUME PIKA: Pikachu wearing Lucario hats appearing in the wild | |||||
| WILD: Cherubi, Glameow, and other Sinnoh Pokémon | |||||
| RAIDS: Sinnoh Pokémon | |||||
| 7KM EGGS: Cranidos, Shieldon, Glameow, Chingling, Bonsly, Happiny, Gible, Munchlax, Riolu, and Mantyke | |||||
| SHINY: Glameow, Riolu, and other Hoenn Pokémon | |||||
| FIELD RESEARCH: Event-exclusive Field Research tasks will reward encounters with Pokémon originally discovered in the Hoenn region | |||||
| BONUSES: | 1-hour Starpiece duration | ||||
| 1-hour Incense duration | |||||
| 1-hour Lucky Egg duration | |||||
| OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT | |||||
The reward for completing all 8 sets of tasks in this timed research is the MoonDuck, Cresselia. It will know the event-exclusive move Grass Knot, and comes with 10 rare candy!
Lucario was chosen as the number-one Pokémon originally discovered in the Sinnoh region. In honor of that, Pikachu wearing Lucario hats will be appearing in the wild.
| FEATURED SINNOH SPAWNS | ||
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
| Shiny Debut: Glameow* | Cherubi | Lucario Hat Pikachu* |
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!
| EVENT DATE/ TIME: | Wed., June 3, 2020, @ 1:00pm to Mon., June 8, 2020, @ 1:00pm (local time) | ||||
FEATURES: | CHALLENGE REWARD: Encounters with Galarian Meowth, Galarian Stunfisk, and Genesect; and Professor Willow’s glasses as an exclusive avatar item | ||||
| DEBUT IN THE WILD: Galarian Stunfisk | |||||
| DEBUTS IN 7KM EGGS: The following Pokémon from the Galar Region: Meowth, Zigzagoon, Darumaka, and Stunfisk! you will be able to evolve these Pokémon into their Galarian evolved forms | |||||
| WILD: Unova region Pokémon | |||||
| OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT | |||||
The rewards for completing all 4 sets of research are encounters with Galarian Meowth, Galarian Stunfisk, and GENESECT! Also awarded will be an exclusive avatar item: Professor Willow’s glasses.
The following Pokémon from the Galar Region will be debuting in 7km Eggs: Galarian Meowth and Stunfisk, Zigzagoon and Darumaka! You will also be able to evolve Galarian Meowth, Zigzagoon, and Darumaka into Galarian Persian, Linoone, and Darmanitan!
| GALARIAN POKÉMON | ||
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
| Galarian Meowth | Galarian Stunfisk | Galarian Zigzagoon |
 | ||
| Galarian Darumaka | ||
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.
THROWBACK TIME
Wow! Y’all still with us? Niantic continues to surprise with another huge announcement, and it’s an exciting one for sure! Are you as thrilled as we for the Throwback Challenge? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!
Be on the lookout for our Region-specific Infopedia for each week of the event coming soon! We promise you they will be full of important info, useful graphics, and everything you need to enjoy the Throwback Challenge!
