Pokémon Go marks anniversary with new Pikachu costumes

Niantic will run a Special Anniversary Pikachu Celebration in Pokémon Go from July 13 to July 20. The event will feature rotating waves of costumed Pikachu appearing in wild encounters and one-star raids across the app worldwide.

The week is divided into three overlapping celebration windows that swap different Pikachu costumes in both wild spawns and raid pools. Niantic has not published a full public schedule for each rotation, so players should check the in-game event information to see which wave is active on a given day.

Wild encounters during the celebration will include Pikachu wearing a Tricks & Treats costume, a Winter Carnival outfit, and a summer-themed costume. One-star raids will feature additional past costumes, including Dapper Pikachu in three color variants, Pikachu with a safari hat, a Pikachu in a varsity jacket, an amethyst crown variant, and World Championships Pikachu costumes from 2022 through 2024. Most of these costume variants will be available in shiny form.

The Go Pass will be active for the entire event. The free Go Pass track grants double candy for transfers at rank 10 and double Stardust for catches at rank 20. The Deluxe Go Pass increases those bonuses to triple candy and triple Stardust; pricing for the Deluxe track starts at $4.99, with an alternative that begins at rank seven priced at $6.99. A web store edition of the Go Pass will also be offered with additional in-game items.

Field Research tasks that award Pikachu encounters will run throughout the week. Players unlock specific tasks and rewards by spinning PokéStops and completing the listed objectives. Niantic has not released a complete list of Field Research tasks before the event, so available tasks will appear in-game as players interact with PokéStops.

Niantic has held themed Pikachu events for nearly a decade and regularly rotates new and returning costumes for the franchise mascot. The Special Anniversary Pikachu Celebration collects several past costume variants and seasonal outfits, giving players opportunities to encounter multiple looks and shiny versions across wild spawns and raids.