Pokémon Go Celebrates Lunar New Year With Red Pokémon

8.5
  • Android
  • iOS
  • Open World
2016-07-06
Time for a celebration.
Time for a celebration. Niantic

The Year of the Rat is almost upon us and it's time once again for Pokémon Go to get in on the celebration. This time around, the hit mobile app is celebrating by honoring red Pokémon along with a Limited Research event that features the Chinchilla Pokémon Minccino.

Welcome A New Pokémon

Who'se going to be celebrating with us? It's none other than Darumaka, who makes its first appearance in the game. This Pokémon is going to be available beginning on January 24 at 4:00 p.m. EST until February 3 at 4:00 p.m. EST.

Additionally, the Lunar New Year celebration includes:

  • Certain red Pokémon are going to be featured.
    • These are:
      • Charmeleon
      • Vulpix
      • Parasect
      • Voltorb
      • Jynx
      • Magmar
      • Magikarp
      • Flareon
      • Slugma
      • Wurmple
      • Corphish
      • Kricketot
      • Foongus
    • All of them are going to appear more frequently in the wild.
  • Gyashaa!
    • For Trainers who are lucky enough, they may spot a Gyarados in the wild.
    • The question is, are you going to be lucky enough to see this coveted red Shiny Gyarados?
  • Darumaka hatches from 7 km Eggs.
    • Some red Pokémon are going to hatch from 7 km Eggs like Shuckle and Foongus.

This being a celebration, there are also bonuses for Trainers to get. Gifts now have a chance at rewarding Trainers with Rare Candies, so make sure to send and open lots of Gifts with your friends. It's also important to trade more often with other Trainers or your friends as the chances of becoming Lucky Friends is increased. Finally, when a Pokémon is traded, the chances of it becoming a Lucky Pokémon is increased.

Limited Research

To celebrate the Year of the Rat, Minccino is going to appear in the game for a special Limited Research event. Professor Willow also revealed that this particularl Pokémon can evolve into Cinccino by using a Unova Stone. The event is scheduled to on February 2 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time.

With this Field Research, Trainers can now encounter Minccino. Meanwhile, Pokémon that fit the celebration's theme will appear more frequently in the wild. These are:

  • Rattata
  • Raticate
  • Pikachu
  • Sandshrew
  • Nidoran♀
  • Nidoran♂
  • Sentret
  • Marill
  • Zigzagoon
  • Plusle
  • Minun
  • Bidoof
  • Patrat

Minccino is going to hatch more frequently from 5 km eggs. Don't worry, though, as even when the event ends, this Pokémon is still going to be available in 5 km Eggs. For those lucky enough, they may even encounter a Shiny Minccino.

Happy Lunar New Year!

REVIEW SUMMARY
Pokémon Go
8.5
A Flawed But Magnificent Experience
Pokémon Go has swept the country but is the mobile game worth an install? Despite its flaws, Pokémon Go really delivers the Pokemon-capture experience.
  • As Close To Living Pokémon Fantasy As It Gets
  • Active And Engaging Experience
  • Lots Of Mon And Events
  • Battles Aren't What Fans Expect
  • Very Grindy
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