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Pokémon Go Lunar New Year event quest steps, research tasks and spawns explained

It's the year of the tiger!

Lottie Lynn avatar
Guide by Lottie Lynn Guides Editor
Updated on

The Lunar New Year event in Pokémon Go celebrates Litleo as the year of the tiger begins.

There's two Lunar New Year research quests - Catch Challenge and Friendship Challenge - for you to complete and Hisuian Voltorb is still spawning in the wild, so make sure you catch this new regional variant.

You can also collect a variety of Lunar New Year field research tasks by spinning PokéStops for the chance to catch more Pokémon and find Mega Energy.

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Watch as battle Guzzlord - one of the Ultra Beasts in Pokémon GoWatch on YouTube

'Lunar New Year: Catch Challenge' quest steps in Pokémon Go

The Lunar New Year: Catch Challenge is the first of two timed research quests available during this year's Lunar New Year event in Pokémon Go.

This is a timed research quest, so you only have till the end of the Lunar New Year event - Monday, 7th February - to complete it.

If you're avoiding spoilers, we suggest skipping the information below and the next section.

'Lunar New Year: Catch Challenge' Step 1 of 1

  • Catch 10 Pokémon - 10 Poké Balls
  • Catch 25 Pokémon - 15 Great Balls
  • Catch 25 Fire-type Pokémon - 20 Ultra Balls
  • Catch 10 different species of Pokémon - Litleo encounter

Rewards: 1000 Stardust, 1000 XP and a Espurr encounter

'Lunar New Year: Friendship Challenge' quest steps in Pokémon Go

The Lunar New Year: Friendship Challenge is the second timed research quest you can complete during 2022's Lunar New Year event in Pokémon Go.

Like the quest above, the Friendship Challenge is a timed research quest which means, if you want all of the rewards, you must complete it before the end of the Lunar New Year event.

Keep in mind that the details below do contain spoilers, so, if you want to be surprised, we suggest skipping this section.

Thank you to redwineandbeer from reddit for the help with this information.

'Lunar New Year: Friendship Challenge' Step 1 of 1

  • Send 5 Gifts and add a sticker to each - Torchic encounter
  • Trade 3 Pokémon with a friend - Corphish encounter
  • Send 15 Gifts to friends - Darumaka encounter
  • Send Gifts 3 Days in a row - Litleo encounter

Rewards: 1000 Stardust, 1000 XP and a Espurr encounter

The World of Wonders Season is coming to an end in Pokémon Go. Make a start on the Masterwork Research: Catching Wonders quest for a Master Ball, Glitz and Glam quest for a Diancie and catch up on the World of Wonders quest before it ends! Don't forget to try out Routes, Gift Exchange and Party Play while you're hunting down rare Pokémon, fighting in the Go Battle League or competing in PokéStop Showcases.

Lunar New Year field research tasks in Pokémon Go

You can collect field research tasks exclusive to the Lunar New Year event in Pokémon Go by spinning PokéStops or Gyms. These tasks can then be saved and completed at your leisure!

Here are the Lunar New Year field research tasks:

  • Catch 5 Pokémon reward - 25 Gyarados Mega Energy
  • Catch 12 Pokémon reward - Darumaka encounter
  • Win a raid reward - Espurr encounter
  • Hatch an Egg reward - Galarian Meowth or Alolan Meowth encounter
  • Send 3 Gifts reward - Magikarp encounter
  • Send 3 Gifts and add a sticker to each reward - Litleo encounter
  • Trade a Pokémon reward - Espurr encounter

Thank you to SilphScience from reddit for the help with this information.

Lunar New Year spawns and event bonuses in Pokemon Go

The Lunar New Year event has a number of friendship related bonuses, including double Stardust from opening Gifts and an increased chance of becoming Lucky Friends, for you to take advantage of. You can also enjoy an extra special trade per day and an increased chance of receiving Lucky Pokémon from any trade.

2022 is the year of the tiger which means, in Pokémon Go, it's the year of Litleo and, to celebrate, the shiny form of this Pokémon has been released.

Litleo will be appearing more frequently in the wild, which ups your chances of finding this shiny, alongside the following Pokémon:

  • Paras
  • Meowth
  • Growlithe
  • Voltorb
  • Hisuian Voltorb
  • Electabuzz
  • Magikarp
  • Gyarados
  • Torchic
  • Combusken

Litleo will also be appearing in one-star raids as will Magikarp, Shinx, Darkumaka and Espurr. Meanwhile, Charizard, Flareon and Shuckle are joining the current three-star raid for the event and, in five-star raids, Regirock will be available for battle. Mega Houndoom has also returned to Mega Raids!

Finally, the 7km egg pool has changed for the Lunar New Year:

Tier 1

  • Shuckle
  • Slugma
  • Darumaka
  • Scraggy
  • Litleo
Shuckle, Slugma and Scraggy are in the 7km egg pool for the Lunar New Year event.

Lunar New Year event dates and times in Pokémon Go

The Lunar New Year event for 2022 is running from Tuesday, 1st February to Monday, February 7th at 8pm (local time) in Pokémon Go.

It's important to note, however, that the extra special trade per day bonus will be available till Tuesday, 8th February at the following times:

  • UK - 9pm (GMT)
  • Europe - 10pm (CEST)
  • East Coast US - 4pm (EST)
  • West Coast US - 1pm (PST)

Hope you enjoy the Lunar New Year event!

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