THE GRUNTS RETURN; RALTS ON THE WAY
JUL. 25, 2019
Image Credit: Niantic
NEWS | GO
The Grunts are back and causing more trouble! Team GO Rocket is live once again, and Ralts is about to teleport into the spotlight during the upcoming Community Day.
Team GO Rocket Returns
After Team Rocket started invading PokéStops earlier in the week and abandoning Shadow Pokémon after battles, they mysteriously vanished. They returned earlier today in greater numbers than ever, and with some more difficult-to-defeat Pokémon.
This was the official launch of PokéStop Invasions, as evident by Niantic's first acknowledgement of the feature on their website and the presence of a trailer on the Official Pokémon YouTube Channel. This trailer also hinted at more Team Rocket to come with a briefly-shown silhouette of and quote from Team Rocket's leader: Giovanni.
The re-release of Team GO Rocket and Shadow Pokémon have also come with the release of new Special Research. Titled "A Troubling Situation," this research allows for Trainers to get a few Team Rocket-themed encounters and some other rewards. While it is one of the shorter and more underwhelming quest lines we've had, we've catalogued it here.
Additionally, there are some changes to report from brief launch earlier in the week. The Shadow forms of the Dratini and Mudkip families can be caught. Additionally, Shadow Pokémon are no longer able to be traded until they are purified, in an effort to "maintain game balance."
This was the official launch of PokéStop Invasions, as evident by Niantic's first acknowledgement of the feature on their website and the presence of a trailer on the Official Pokémon YouTube Channel. This trailer also hinted at more Team Rocket to come with a briefly-shown silhouette of and quote from Team Rocket's leader: Giovanni.
The re-release of Team GO Rocket and Shadow Pokémon have also come with the release of new Special Research. Titled "A Troubling Situation," this research allows for Trainers to get a few Team Rocket-themed encounters and some other rewards. While it is one of the shorter and more underwhelming quest lines we've had, we've catalogued it here.
Additionally, there are some changes to report from brief launch earlier in the week. The Shadow forms of the Dratini and Mudkip families can be caught. Additionally, Shadow Pokémon are no longer able to be traded until they are purified, in an effort to "maintain game balance."
Community Day
While we're on the subject of the latest Pokémon GO news, we should mention Community Day. Yesterday, Niantic announced that August's community event will feature the Pokémon Ralts. Three-hour Lures and 25% Egg-hatching distance are the additional bonuses.
At this time, the exclusive move(s) for Gardevoir and Gallade are unknown. It is also unknown if Niantic will guarantee Sinnoh Stones from Trainer Battle rewards like they did during's Swinub's event. The event will use the same time window of 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. (local time).
At this time, the exclusive move(s) for Gardevoir and Gallade are unknown. It is also unknown if Niantic will guarantee Sinnoh Stones from Trainer Battle rewards like they did during's Swinub's event. The event will use the same time window of 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. (local time).
Thanks for reading, Trainers!
SOURCE: Niantic, Community Reports | IMAGE CREDIT: Niantic