The first thing to get in Pokémon GO Halloween 2026 Part 1 is the free limited-time research costume Pikachu and 6 Rare Candy. Next, check out the gentleman's hat Zubat that you encounter in the wild, and use the raid pass on something you need, like Sinistea with Ribbon or Giratina (Origin Forme).
It would be a shame to see this event as an event that only collects new costumes. Ranking up your free GO Pass unlocks Capture Candy and Stardust bonuses. However, the bonus is not automatically applied when the event starts, so the key is to check your rank first and make a capture plan.
Halloween Part 1 dates and first priorities
Part 1 will be held from 10 a.m. on October 27th to 10 a.m. on November 1st. Times are local to each region. It's good to remember that the end time is in the morning, not at night.
When you log in, check out the free time-limited research. Tasks are completed automatically, but you must receive rewards yourself. You will be given 6 Rare Candy and a chance to meet Pikachu wearing a hat and cape, and if you are lucky, you can also meet Pikachu in Shiny form. It is important that you receive itby 10am on November 1st.
GO Pass lasts longer than this research. The period to increase your rank is until 8 PM on November 5th, and pass rewards already acquired must be received by 8 PM on November 7th. The deadlines for research, pass progress, and pass reward receipt are different, so it's easy to miss it if you remember it as one date.
Where to find costume Pikachu, Zubat, and Sinistea
The new costumes are Pikachu wearing a hat and cape, Zubat wearing a gentleman's hat, and Sinistea wearing a ribbon. All three types may appear in Shiny form. However, saying that it can appear and that the probability of it appearing in a Shiny form has increased are two different things. These three types of probability increases have not been confirmed in the official notice.
Zubat is available in the wild, making it an accessible target. Check encounters along your route while benefiting from catch bonuses. Piplup and Duskull in Halloween Mischief costumes also appear in the wild, with costumed Drifblim available if you are lucky. These are examples rather than the complete wild list.
Pikachu and Sinistea appear in 1-star raids. Pikachu can be encountered once even through free research, so if you want to secure just one, it is better to receive research rewards first. After that, you can consider raiding when Shiny formed appearances or additional objects are your goal. For Sinistea, the 1-star raid is the acquisition path specified in the official notice. Whether you collect both or spend the pass on a raid target that will be used for a longer period of time will depend on your possession status.
It is difficult to judge the value of a costume based on battle performance alone. If your goal is to collect outfits or differently colored appearances for which you're not sure when you'll meet again, that's reason enough in itself. On the other hand, if you are less interested in collecting, it is reasonable to get the free Pikachu first and save the remaining passes.
Check Halloween surprises when they appear
During the event period, you can find surprise gifts placed in the field. If you touch it, you can encounter event Pokémon or get candy for Pikachu, Zubat, and Sinistea, and if you're lucky, you can even get strange candy. What will come out is not decided.
The advantage of this gift is that you can check it while moving without using a raid pass. Rather than a guaranteed way to obtain a specific Pokémon, think of it as an opportunity to earn candy and additional encounters while catching wild Pokémon. If you don't have enough space in your bag, try capturing and organizing items at the same time.
Choosing Origin Forme Giratina or Mega Sableye raids
In Halloween Part 1, in addition to the 1-star costume raid, Giratina (Origin Forme) and Mega Sableye appear in the raid schedule. The two raids have different values. Giratina is worth paying attention to when looking at training a ghost-type attacker, and Mega Sableye is worth paying attention to if you plan to collect mega energy or utilize Sableye.
Giratina (Origin Forme) is a Ghost/Dragon type legendary Pokémon. If you want to gain ghost-type raid power or lack the candy needed to strengthen existing objects, there is a reason to try multiple times. However, actual performance will vary depending on your skill composition, opponent, and other Pokémon you have. Rather than giving priority to strengthening immediately after capture, compare your Ghost type power and required resources.
In the Mega Sableye raid, you can collect the energy needed for mega evolution. If you are interested in Sableye during trainer battles, it is worth looking at the individual value and league suitability of the caught object. However, the use of regular Sableye in battle and the availability of Mega Sableye are separate issues. You must check the participation rules of each league to see if you can use mega-evolved Pokémon.
If you have limited raid passes, first decide how many 1-star raids you want to do for collection purposes. Considering whether you have enough people and time for Giratina, and whether or not you actually need the Mega Energy, can help reduce impulsive passes. Raid bosses are not necessarily replaced at the same time as Part 1 starts, so it is safer to check the eggs and schedule in the game.
Free GO Pass versus Deluxe bonuses
The free GO Pass is automatically provided when the event starts, and you can raise your rank by collecting GO points. When you reach rank 10, you get double the candy you receive when catching a Pokémon, and when you reach rank 20, you get double the Stardust you catch. If you purchase a paid deluxe, the bonus is 3x each.
| Conditions | Free GO Pass | GO Pass Deluxe |
|---|---|---|
| Rank 10 Capture Candy | 2x | 3 times |
| Rank 20 Capture Stardust | 2x | 3 times |
The important thing here is that it is a bonus for capture. It should not be interpreted to a large extent that the same magnification applies when sending it to a doctor or hatching an egg. The free bonus alone increases the more you capture, so if you plan on walking for a long time or doing a lot of raiding, it is efficient to raise your rank first. For example, if you're aiming to capture Giratina, see if you can try it after reaching rank 10.
Deluxe also includes separate rewards such as additional Pokémon encounters, Strange Candy XL, and a premium battle pass. The US dollar price in the official guide is $7.99 for the deluxe and $9.99 for the product with 10 ranks; actual regional prices may vary. Please check the price and components displayed in the game or official store before purchasing.
The criteria for determining Deluxe is how much you will actually play in the remaining period and how much you will use the additional rewards. If you can catch it often and need additional items, it's worth considering, but you'll also get double the candy and Stardust in the free pass, so there's no need to rush and pay just for the multiplier. If you upgrade the rank you have already achieved, you can receive the corresponding deluxe rewards.
What to prioritize with limited time
If you can access it briefly, receive free research rewards first, and check out Zubat and surprise gifts on the go. If you can capture more, aim for GO Pass ranks 10 and 20, and for raids, you can choose whichever you need between collecting Sinistea and training Giratina and Sableye.
The most practical criterion for this event is not to chase every seemingly rare target, but to get free rewards that expire first, unlock catch bonuses, and then spend time on the Pokémon you want. If your goal is to collect costumes, and if your goal is training, focus on candy and raid power, you can select the same event much more clearly.
