Pokemon GO Guide - The Kanto Tour Event

Pokemon GO is celebrating 25 years of Pokemon with the Kanto Tour event. This event is filled with things to do, Pokemon to catch, bonuses, challenges, and much more, all starting at 9 AM sharp (local time) on Saturday, February 20. There is a ton of information coming at us from Niantic, the makers of Pokemon GO, so here’s a handy guide to everything you’ll need to know.

Kanto Tour Collection Challenge: Habitats

The main aspect of the Kanto Tour is a classic Pokemon GO Collection Challenge, which you’ll have until February 28 at 7:59 PM to complete. You’ll need to catch every single one of the original 150 Pokemon from the Kanto region. Luckily, they’ll be split up into groups to help keep you organized. There are eight total groups of Pokemon to collect, split up into hourly spawn groups called “habitats” and three other catch methods, which will be explained below.

From 9 AM to 10 AM, Pokemon found near Pallet Town will be spawning. This includes the following: Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Caterpie, Weedle, Pidgey, Rattata, Spearow, Pikachu, and Zubat.

From 10 AM to 11 AM, Pokemon found near Pewter City will spawn: Nidoran♀, Nidoran♂, Clefairy, Paras, Diglett, Geodude, Magnemite, Onix, Voltorb, and Rhyhorn.

Cerulean City is in focus from 11 AM to noon, with the following spawns: Jigglypuff, Psyduck, Poliwag, Tentacool, Shellder, Krabby, Horsea, Goldeen, Staryu, and Magikarp.

Look to Fuchsia City for the spawns from noon to 1 PM: Venonat, Abra, Ponyta, Grimer, Gastly, Drowzee, Exeggcute, Koffing, Omanyte, and Kabuto.

Finally, the Pokemon League habitat will occupy the block from 1 PM to 2 PM, with the following spawns: Machop, Slowpoke, Doduo, Seel, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, Jynx, Eevee, Porygon, and Dratini.

At 2 p.m., the habitats will repeat. Pallet Town will be from 2 PM to 3 PM, Pewter City will be from 3 PM to 4 PM, and so on until 7 PM Then, from 7 to 9, all of the previous habitat Pokemon will spawn.

It’s also important to note that Shadow Pokemon and hatches don’t count toward these Collection Challenges.

Kanto Tour Collection Challenge: Raids, Research, and Evolution

Three other methods will be used as categories in the Kanto Tour Collection Challenge: Evolve, Research, and Raid.

“Evolve” is the most straightforward. This section contains every evolution of the base stages that you catch in the wild (Charmeleon and Charizard for Charmander, Starmie for Staryu, and so on).

“Raid” includes the Pokemon that will only be appearing during raid battles. These are the regional Pokemon and Legendaries: Farfetch’d, Kangaskhan, Mr. Mime, Tauros, Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, and Mewtwo.

“Research” includes the few Pokemon that are not spawning as part of the habitats nor appearing in raid battles. This includes Lickitung, Chansey, Tangela, Lapras, Ditto, Snorlax, Aerodactyl, and Cubone, all of whom will be appearing as research reward encounters. Lickitung, Chansey, Tangela, Lapras, and Aerodactyl will also appear in the wild all day, though rarely.

Version Selection: Red or Green

After purchasing your ticket, you’ll need to choose between Red Version and Green Version. The versions determine two things: exclusive spawns and shiny chances. Different Pokemon will be attracted to your incense depending on which version you select. Additionally, your chances of finding certain Pokemon as shinies will be different depending on the version you choose.

Players who choose Red will have the following Pokemon attracted to their incense: Ekans, Oddish, Mankey, Growlithe, Scyther, and Electabuzz. You’ll also have better shiny odds for Ekans, Nidoran♀, Oddish, Diglett, Mankey, Growlithe, Ponyta, Shellder, Drowzee, Krabby, Hitmonlee, Lickitung, Scyther, Electabuzz, and Kabuto.

Players who choose Green will have the following exclusive incense spawns: Sandshrew, Meowth, Vulpix, Bellsprout, Magmar, and Pinsir. They’ll have better shiny odds for these Pokemon: Sandshrew, Nidoran♂, Vulpix, Meowth, Psyduck, Bellsprout, Geodude, Exeggcute, Hitmonchan, Koffing, Tangela, Horsea, Magmar, Pinsir, and Omanyte.

Both versions will have increased shiny odds for the Starter Pokemon, Pikachu, Eevee, and Dratini.

In order to obtain every Pokemon for the Collection Challenges, you’ll need to trade with someone who has the opposite version. Luckily, trade costs are being reduced and trade distance is being increased to 40 km for the duration of the event.

Special Research and Shiny Ditto

As part of the Kanto Tour event, you’ll be given some Special Research to complete. As long as you’ve opened the game and seen the research, you’ll have as long as you want to complete it — it doesn’t expire when the event ends.

This Special Research has eight steps (though the last steps are just rewards to collect). One of the rewards in the seventh section of tasks will reward players with an encounter with shiny Ditto. TMs, Lure Modules, and more are all among the possible rewards along the way.

Masterwork Research and Shiny Mew

After you complete the Kanto Tour special research, you’ll be given access to “Masterwork Research.”

This is a tough questline that is intended to take quite a long time to complete. So far, we don’t know the steps after the first quests. However, the first three include earning your Platinum Kanto Medal, sending 151 gifts to friends, and making 151 great throws.

At the end of this special line of quests, you’ll earn an encounter with shiny Mew.

Timed Research

Part of the Kanto Tour will also include Timed Research. You must complete this questline by 9 p.m., 12 hours after the event starts, or you’ll lose access to it. This Timed Research requires players to defeat challengers that won a contest and will have their avatars appearing at PokeStops. Encounters with Pokemon, TMs, Stardust, XP, and items are all among the rewards for this questline.

Paid vs Free

Most of the features of this event will require players to purchase a ticket. But, those who don’t will have access to some of the event as well. The following portions of the event will be available to players without a ticket: the Timed Research questline, increased trade distance, the hourly event spawns, and event raids.

Extra Stuff

There is a whole host of other bonuses and things to note about the Kanto Tour event in Pokemon GO, too. Those interested in changing up their avatar’s wardrobe can check out the in-game shop for a set of new clothing items, including face masks and jackets themed around the Kanto Starter Pokemon.

Our Other Pokemon Guides

Certain Pokemon will also have access to special moves. Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise will all learn their Community Day moves (Frenzy Plant, Blast Burn, and Hydro Cannon, respectively) when evolved from their pre-evolutions. The Legendary Pokemon will also have special moves when you catch them. Articuno will know Hurricane, Zapdos will know Thunder Shock, Moltres will know Sky Attack, and Mewtwo will know Psystrike.

To catch these raid-specific Pokemon, there will be certain bonuses in effect. You’ll be able to earn up to nine raid passes by spinning gyms during the event window on Saturday. However, you will only be able to hold one at a time. Additionally, the in-game shop will have a free bundle that includes 200 Poke Balls and three remote raid passes.

Opening gifts will also reward you with event-exclusive stickers. This includes a Pokemon GO Tour sticker, a Mew sticker, and a Mewtwo sticker.

Take an AR photo and you’ll see a Snorlax photobomb. Snorlax will then appear on the overworld map.

Pokemon that you catch will also yield more candies. Base stages will give four candies, first-evolutions will yield five candies, and second-evolutions will give 13 candies. Additionally, Magikarp that you catch will come with a whopping 40 candies.

Those looking for a more social aspect can also use the hashtag #PokemonGOTour when sharing their photos, and they may appear in-app during the event window.

It’s important to note that the makers of Pokemon GO intend for the entire event to be completable from home. However, you may find you need to venture outside for some portions of it. Follow all lockdown restrictions and guidelines from your local health agencies, as the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing. Wear a mask, keep your distance from others, and be safe at all times.

Note: This guide previously said Magikarp would yield 80 candies when caught. It is actually 40 candies. The author apologizes for the error.