Ultra Unlock: 10th Anniversary Edition offered starter collection and unusually high catch XP in July 2026. Its final block granted 10× catch XP, or 20× the normal baseline with an active Lucky Egg. These event windows have ended.
10th Anniversary Schedule and Encounters
The event ran July 21, 2026, 10:00 a.m.–July 27, 8:00 p.m. local time, including those clock hours at North American play locations.
| Local-time block in July 2026 | Catch XP multiplier | Featured wild first partners |
|---|---|---|
| July 21, 10:00 a.m.–July 23, 10:00 a.m. | 6× | Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile, Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip |
| July 23, 10:00 a.m.–July 25, 10:00 a.m. | 8× | Turtwig, Chimchar, Piplup, Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott, Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie |
| July 25, 10:00 a.m.–July 27, 8:00 p.m. | 10× | Rowlet, Litten, Popplio, Grookey, Scorbunny, Sobble, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Quaxly |
A Lucky Egg made those applicable catch-XP multipliers 12×, 16×, and 20× respectively. The original XP plan prioritized the final block, provided you could actually play and catch consistently then.
Eligible first partners could have a team-specific Special Background, determined by the team at encounter start. Trainers without a team could not receive that team-background outcome.
Special Moves and Evolution Priorities
Eligible final starter Evolutions during the event could receive the following Charged Attacks. This list records that window; evolving today does not automatically grant those moves.
| Move | Eligible final Evolutions |
|---|---|
| Frenzy Plant | Venusaur, Meganium, Sceptile, Torterra, Serperior, Chesnaught, Decidueye, Rillaboom, Meowscarada |
| Blast Burn | Charizard, Typhlosion, Blaziken, Infernape, Emboar, Delphox, Incineroar, Cinderace, Skeledirge |
| Hydro Cannon | Blastoise, Feraligatr, Swampert, Empoleon, Samurott, Greninja, Primarina, Inteleon, Quaquaval |
The source's suggested evolution order was:
| Priority | Pokémon | Intended role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swampert | Raids, eligible PvP, Mega preparation |
| 2 | Charizard | Raids and Mega preparation |
| 3 | Greninja | Raids and eligible PvP |
| 4 | Empoleon | An intended PvP format |
| 5 | Venusaur | Raids, eligible PvP, Mega preparation |
| 6 | Blaziken, Sceptile, Blastoise | Mega projects where available |
A Shadow Pokémon retaining Frustration cannot simply receive the featured evolution Charged Attack in its occupied first slot. Plan an announced Frustration-removal opportunity before the special evolution window; adding a second slot is not a workaround for that event acquisition.
Regular Lures and Raids
Regular Lures could attract Beldum, Gible, Dreepy, and other event Pokémon. Accessible stop clusters offered a way to combine catch XP with selected Candy goals, without guaranteeing any particular lure encounter.
The announced raid features included:
| Raid tier | Costume encounters |
|---|---|
| One star | Grimer wearing a party hat |
| Three stars | Raticate, Nidorino, Gengar, and Wobbuffet wearing party hats |
Those encounters could be Shiny or have team-specific Special Backgrounds if you were lucky. They were mainly collection opportunities in the source's plan rather than essential battle upgrades.
Willow's Birthday and Assistant Pikachu
Willow's Birthday Research ran July 21, 2026, 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. local time, a shorter window than the full anniversary event.
Professor Willow's assistant Pikachu appeared through the announced routes:
- Field Research
- Timed Research
- GO Snapshot surprises
- One-star raids
A Shiny or team-specific background was possible. Its one-star raid availability continued until July 27, 8:00 p.m. local time, so free birthday activities and later raid attempts were different opportunities.
Shaymin Masterwork Research and GO Pass
| Content | Recorded feature |
|---|---|
| Masterwork Research: Glimmers of Gratitude | US$4.99 or equivalent local pricing tier; a Shiny Shaymin encounter through the research |
| GO Pass Rank 10 | 2× catch Candy |
| GO Pass Rank 20 | Increased chance of Candy XL |
| Deluxe Rank 10 | 3× catch Candy instead of the free-track multiplier |
Accounts that had already obtained Glimmers of Gratitude could not buy it again. Eligible ticket holders needed to log in during the stated acquisition window to receive the research; once received, the Masterwork story could be completed later without a deadline. That differs from expired event Timed Research and does not reopen ticket sales now.
The free anniversary GO Pass began July 21 at 10:00 a.m. local time. The uncapped daily GO Point period was July 25, midnight–July 27, 7:59 p.m.; earning otherwise ended with the event, and unlocked rewards expired July 29 at 7:59 p.m. These were separate deadlines.
The Original Event Checklist
- Use a Lucky Egg for a planned final-block catch session if the timing fits.
- Complete intended Swampert, Charizard, Greninja, or Empoleon Evolutions in the confirmed move window.
- Handle Frustration before evolving a Shadow Charged Attack project.
- Collect relevant Beldum, Gible, or Dreepy Candy.
- Complete the July 21 birthday activities within their own window.
- Check the announced assistant Pikachu routes.
- Unlock the relevant GO Pass Rank 10 and 20 milestones.
- Claim unlocked pass rewards before July 29, 7:59 p.m. local time.
The source favored catch XP, starter special moves, Candy, and backgrounds over indiscriminate raiding. Its evolution order was strategic guidance, not a current verified battle ranking or a guarantee of a collection result.
Regional and version notes
English localization reviewed October 23, 2026. Global schedules marked local time follow your play location, including North America. Ended event, ticket, and reward windows are historical. Counter choices, upgrade order, and efficiency suggestions are editorial guidance, not guaranteed wins, catches, or a current measured performance ranking. The July birthday day, assistant Pikachu raid cutoff, and GO Pass reward expiry are different. Masterwork Research already received can continue later, unlike expired Timed Research; this does not reopen its purchase window. Frustration blocks the event evolution Charged Attack route until properly removed. Some illustrations are retained from the Korean edition and may include Korean labels. Use the English article text for instructions.
Localization sources checked October 23, 2026 (Korea time):