All 150 original Pokemon will be shiny in “Pokemon Go” next year thanks to ticketed virtual event called Pokemon Go Tour: Kanto. Set for 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 20, 2021, it’s the first celebration of its kind in an important year for the franchise.
Feb. 26 is the 25th anniversary of the original “Pokemon” debut and 2021 will be the fifth anniversary of the mobile game. Expect the year to be filled with several special events.
With that said, Pokemon Go Tour: Kanto will cost $11.99 and it comes in two flavors just like the original Japanese games. Players will choose a Red or Green version of the event. Each one will feature a different set of Pokemon that will be attracted to a player’s incense for the day.
For the Red version, which is the one I’m picking, the exclusive Pokemon are Ekans, Oddish, Mankey, Growlithe, Scyther and Electabuzz. This edition has an increased chance of encounter shiny version of Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Pidgey, Ekans, Pikachu, female Nidoran, Oddish, Diglett, Mankey, Growlithe, Ponyta, Shellder, Drowzee, Krabby, Hitmonlee, Licktung, Scyther, Electabuzz, Eevee, Kabuto and Dratini.
The Green version’s exclusive Pokemon are Sandshrew, Vulpix, Meowth, Bellsprout, Magmar and Pinsir. They will be attracted to player incense. They also have an increased chance of catching shiny version of Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Pidgey, Pikachu, Sandshrew, male Nidoran, Vulpix, Meowth, Psyduck, Bellsprout, Geodude, Exeggcute, Hitmonchan, Koffing, Tangela, Horsea, Magmar, Pinsir, Eevee, Omanyte and Dratini.
Personally, I’d choose the version that has the most shiny Pokemon you don’t have. Don’t stress out though, that decision will come closer to the event itself. You won’t pick the version right now.
Lastly, everyone who purchases the ticket will get a Special Research and after completing that they will get another quest line that leads to a Shiny Mew. For PvP players this could be a blessing depending on its CP. They may be finally able to use the mythical pocket monster in Great League if they powered up the previous one.
The goal of Pokemon Go Tour: Kanto is for players to collect the original 150 in a day. Players can do that through trading. To facilitate this, Niantic will be expanding the trade range for all players to 40km.
In addition, other perks for players who don’t buy in include a limited set of Kanto Pokemon in the wild and a bevy of legendary raids. Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres and yes, Mewtwo will be available in these battles and they will have their legacy moves.
Articuno will have Hurricane.
Zapdos will have Thunder Shock.
Moltres will know Sky Attack.
Mewtwo will know Psystrike.
But that’s not all for moves. Niantic said certain Pokemon caught or evolved during the event will know exclusive attacks. I’m crossing my fingers and hoping for a Mud Shot Golem even though it’s unlikely. For players who may have missed the 2018 Community Days, the starters will have their legacy moves available. That means
Venusaur caught or evolved during the event will know Frenzy Plant.
Charizard caught or evolved during the event will know Blast Burn.
Blastoise caught or evolved during the event will know Hydro Cannon.
A final perk for the event is that trainers will earn more candy for catching Kanto Pokemon. This could be helpful if you’re trying level up that Charizard above level 40 or trying to max out a Beedrill for the level 47 quest.
Again for those who don’t buy a ticket, they still have access to the event-exclusive Timed Research. Also after the Pokemon Go Tour: Kanto event all the shiny Pokemon released will still be available. Lastly, if you don’t catch all 150 during the event, players still have time to trade and catch for it as some Pokemon will linger until Feb. 27.
I advise that you pick up the Pokemon Go Tour: Kanto tickets early because once you do, you have the bonus of getting January and February Community Day Special Research stories included. They’re normally around $1 and they are the best values for that day netting players stardust, a poffin and other extras.
Looking over the announcments, these are my main goals for the event:
1. Catch all the shiny regionals — Kangaskhan, Mr. Mime, Farfetch’d and Tauros.
2. Catch all the new shiny Pokemon most notably Snorlax, Ditto, Himonlee, Himonchan, Paras, Parasect, Spearow, Fearow
3. Catch exclusive-move Pokemon such as Mewtwo (shiny available) and others.
4. Catch shiny Pokemon I don’t have yet such as Staryu, Goldeen and Chansey.
5. Gather XL Candy for Pokemon such as the starters, Snorlax, Mewtwo and Chansey.