Quick Links

The Team Go Rocket Takeover Event is back, an in-game Pokemon Go that is centered around the game's main antagonists, Team Go Rocket. Historically, this event is a fan-favorite, offering several desirable bonuses throughout its duration.

Related
Pokemon Go: How To Nominate A Pokestop
Check out this guide if you need more Pokestops in your area!

There will be many event-exclusive bonuses offered during this time period that you will want to take advantage of while you can, assumed to be unavailable in the future until this event returns next year.

Updated on October 24, 2023, by Christian Pellegrino: It's time for another Pokemon Go Team Rocket Takeover Event, offering new features and bonuses to those who participate. Read on to learn everything about this brief in-game event, including which new shadow Pokemon will be available. This PoGo Team Rocket event will be taking place from Thursday, October 26, 2023, at 10am local time to Tuesday, October 31, 2023, at 8pm local time.

Event Special Research Story

Shadow Lugia and Shadow Regigigas with Giovanni standing between them

A brand-new Special Research Story will come with this Team Go Rocket Takeover Event.

This Special Research Story will be centered around defeating members of Team Go Rocket, concluding with a battle against Giovanni, the Leader of Team Rocket.

After completing various tasks for this Special Research Story, you will obtain a Super Rocket Radar, a rare item required to initiate the battle with Giovanni.

This will give you the opportunity to encounter and catch Shadow Regigigas, a brand-new, powerful Shadow Legendary Pokemon.

You can obtain this Special Research Story until the end of the current Pokemon Go Season, Season 12: Adventures Abound, which concludes on December 1, 2023, at 10am local time.

Shadow Raids

Image of Shadow Apex Lugia flying in the dark sky using Aeroblast

There will be several Shadow Pokemon found in Shadow Raids during this Team Go Rocket Takeover Event, only available to those who are participating locally.

This includes Shadow Lugia, appearing in Shadow Raids for the first time ever in Pokemon Go. Unlike the other Shadow Pokemon appearing in Shadow Raids throughout this event, Shadow Lugia will only be found in Raids from Saturday, October 28, at 10am local time to Sunday, October 29, at 8pm local time.

In addition to making its debut in Shadow Raids, you will have a chance of encountering Shiny Shadow Lugia for the first time in Pokemon Go.

In addition to Shadow Lugia, there will be other Shadow Pokemon found in lower-tiered Shadow Raids during this event. Each of these Shadow Pokemon can be found below with the specific type of Raid that they will be found in.

Raid Pokemon

Shadow Raid Tier

Shadow Gastly

One-Star

Shadow Grimer

One-Star

Shadow Misdreavus

One-Star

Shadow Litwick

One-Star

Shadow Nidorina

Three-Star

Shadow Nidorino

Three-Star

Shadow Golbat

Three-Star

Event Bonuses

Team Go Rocket Leaders Cliff, Sierra, and Arlo with the Pokemon Go logo in the bottom-right corner

There will be two different bonuses available to all players throughout the course of this event. First, it will be much easier to find and battle Team Go Rocket members during this event.

You can expect to encounter them more throughout this event, found in both Team Go Rocket Balloons and at various PokeStops.

With this bonus, obtaining Mysterious Components during this event will be far easier.

The second bonus will be the ability to use Charged TMs on Shadow Pokemon, used to replace the Charged Attack, Frustration.

You cannot do this outside this event, so make sure you're taking advantage of this rare opportunity.

Shadow Pokemon are more powerful than their standard counterparts, but having the Charged Attack Frustration typically holds them back. Being able to replace this with the Pokemon's standard Charged Attacks furthers their viability, making them top-tier choices for both PvE and PvP encounters.

Additionally, although it is not a bonus, you will have the opportunity to earn additional Mysterious Components through event Field Research Tasks. Spin different PokeStops throughout this event to obtain and complete these limited-time field research tasks.

Related
Pokemon Go: Darkrai Raid Guide
Here's how to defeat the Mythical, "Pitch-Black" Pokemon.

New Shadow Pokemon

Two Team Go Rocket Grunts standing next to Shadow Snorlax and a PokeStop

With this event will come a change in the Shadow Pokemon that are typically used by Team Go Rocket. After finding them, you can expect to see these new Pokemon as part of their team, followed by a chance to catch one of them.

First, the three Team Go Rocket Leaders, Sierra, Arlo, and Cliff, will possess a new selection of Shadow Pokemon. At this point in time, the Pokemon that they will be using has yet to be revealed.

Additionally, Team Go Rocket Grunts will be using Pokemon that have never been Shadow Pokemon before. Below you can find some of the new Shadow Pokemon that you can expect to see in these PvE encounters.

  • Shadow Gastly
  • Shadow Rhyhorn
  • Shadow Drilbur
  • Shadow Barboach
  • Shadow Cranidos
  • Shadow Shieldon
  • Shadow Litwick

Eggs

Several Eggs and Incubators from Pokemon Go with the Pokemon Go logo above them

There will be a change in the Pokemon that hatch from 12km Eggs during this event, only able to be obtained through the defeat of Team Go Rocket Leaders. Hatching these Eggs acquired during the Team Go Rocket Takeover Event will provide you with one of the following Pokemon.

Event Egg Pokemon

Deino

Pawniard

Vullaby

Sandile

Salandit

Larvitar

Pancham

Next: Pokemon Go: Spotlight Hour Guide