Pokemon Go hosts the Pokemon Go Tour annually, an event that takes place both in-person for ticket holders and remotely for everyone around the globe. This year, the Pokemon Go Tour will be featuring the Hoenn region, including several Pokemon that were first found and introduced here.

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Although they are both part of the Pokemon Go Tour, the in-person and global events are separate when it comes to their bonuses and when they are taking place. With that in mind, we have compiled a complete guide for this event, including specifics for both portions.

Updated April 22, 2023 by Christian Pellegrino: To keep you up to date on all things Pokemon Go, we've updated this article for formatting and readability to ensure you can easily get all of the Pokemon Go Hoenn Tour information you need to complete the event. As the Pokemon Go Hoenn tour is a global event, you can benefit from it no matter where you are.

Event Dates And Times

The in-person, Las Vegas part of the Pokemon Go Tour will occur first, on both Saturday, February 18 and Sunday, February 19.

Following this, all Pokemon Go players can participate in the global portion of this event, providing similar bonuses as the in-person event. The global event will be taking place on both Saturday, February 25, and Sunday, February 26, available from 10am to 6pm local time on both of these days.

Event Special Research

Team Go Rocket Special Research

This Special Research Story will only be available to Pokemon Go Tour - Hoenn ticket-holders, taking place during the in-person portion of this event in Las Vegas.

This Special Research Story will center around teaming up with Team Go Rocket, typically the game's main antagonists.

Special Research: Chasing Legends

This Special Research will be available to all players, both those with and without Pokemon Go Tour - Hoenn tickets.

This Special Research will have to do with Pokemon's Hoenn region, specifically connecting to Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre, two Pokemon that will be making their first appearances for this event.

Masterwork Research: Wish Granted

This Research will be available to purchase for $5 USD from Monday, February 20 at 10am PST to Monday, March 20 at 10am PST.

This Research will include specific tasks having to do with Jirachi, providing you with an encounter with Shiny Jirachi as a reward for completing them.

Related: Pokemon Go: April Raid Guide

In-Person Event Bonuses

The following bonuses will be available to all ticket-holding players who take part in the in-person portion of this event taking place in Las Vegas.

These bonuses are more valuable than those of other previous events, so make sure to take advantage of them if they're available to you.

• A total of six Special Trades can be made when you are inside the event park
• Half the Stardust cost for Trades made inside the event park
• Higher chances of encountering Shiny Pokemon
• Halved Egg Hatch Distance
• Nine additional Raid Passes by visiting and spinning Gym Photo Discs
• Increased chances of encountering Unown and costumed Pokemon from Incense

Additionally, there will be features that are only available to ticket-holding participants, mainly having to do with in-game research and taking snapshots. Each of these exclusive experiences can be found below.

• Timed Research: Go for a Spin, rewarding you with Spinda encounters
• Field Research rewards you with Mega Energy and Ghost-type Pokemon encounters
• Chance of surprise snapshot appearances from Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip
• Take a snapshot of Latias or Latios in the wild for an additional encounter with that Pokemon

New Avatar Items And Stickers

There will be brand-new avatar items available to purchase at the in-game shop for this event.

The following avatar items can be purchased during either the in-person or the global portion of the Pokemon Go Tour, all themed around the Hoenn region.

• Pokemon Go Tour: Hoenn T-Shirt
• Hoenn Set
• Kyogre Tracksuit
• Groudon Tracksuit
• Kecleon Bag

Additionally, there will be event-themed Stickers available to purchase at the in-game shop from Friday, February 17 to Sunday, February 26.

These Stickers can also be obtained from either PokeStops or Gifts from Friday, February 17, to Saturday, February 18, and from Wednesday, February 22, to Sunday, February 26.

Event Raids

There will be different event-themed Pokemon appearing in Raids during both the in-person and global versions of this event. Each of these Pokemon can be found below with the tier of Raid that they will be defending.

Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip will only appear in Raids during the global portion of the Pokemon Go Tour - Hoenn event.

Related: Pokemon Go: Primal Reversion Complete Guide

Event Egg Pokemon

Eggs acquired and hatched during the two Pokemon Go Tour - Hoenn events will provide you with different event-themed Pokemon.

Make sure to obtain and hatch these eggs during the event window for a chance to get one of the following Pokemon.

Event Wild Encounters

There will be a change in the Pokemon found in the wild during this event, mainly those that were originally found in the Hoenn region of Pokemon.

The Pokemon that you encounter will vary depending on which habitat you are playing the game in, including the Blistering Sands habitat, Eerie Mists habitat, Verdant Earth habitat, and Ancient Shores habitat.

Additionally, there will be a Ruby vs. Sapphire Challenge taking place throughout this event, requiring those who participate to choose either Team Ruby or Team Sapphire.

As a result of this, there will either be Ruby or Sapphire-themed Pokemon encounters in the wild, changing each hour depending on which team completes more Field Research tasks.

Both the Team Ruby and Team Sapphire wild Pokemon encounters can be found below.

Two new costumed variations of Pikachu will also be available for the Pokemon Go Tour - Hoenn event.

One costumed Pikachu will be wearing Brendan's Hat, and the other will be wearing May's Bow, both inspired by characters in Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald.

Make sure to participate in this event while it is available for a chance to encounter and catch these exclusive event-themed costumed Pokemon.

Should You Choose Ruby Or Sapphire?

Following the completion of the Primal Rumblings Special Research Story, you will be tasked with choosing either Team Ruby or Team Sapphire, impacting what takes place during this year's Pokemon Go Tour.

After making this decision, you will receive either a Ruby or a Sapphire badge, determining which team you will be working with throughout the course of this event.

As a result, you will have access to special event Field Research Tasks, completed to help support your specific team.

Depending on which team has completed more of these Field Research Tasks each hour, you will encounter either Ruby Pokemon Spawns or Sapphire Pokemon Spawns.

Additionally, you will see a change in the Primal Raids each hour depending on which team has completed more Field Research Tasks.

If Team Ruby has completed more, there will be more Primal Groudon Raids, or if Team Sapphire has completed more, there will be more Primal Kyogre Raids.

Lastly, you will have the opportunity to encounter either Latios or Latias in the wild, determined by whichever team you have selected.

If you opt for Team Ruby, you will have the chance to encounter Latios in the wild, while if you choose Team Sapphire, you will have the chance to encounter Latias in the wild.

During this event, taking a snapshot of either Latios or Latias in the wild will provide you with an additional encounter with that Pokemon.

All in all, there is no concrete answer regarding whether you should choose Ruby or Sapphire, essentially being a matter of preference.

Make your choice based on the Pokemon that are associated with each team, including Wild Pokemon, Primal Pokemon, and Latios or Latias.

Regardless, you can encounter and catch Pokemon from both Team Ruby and Team Sapphire, so don't worry about missing out based on your decision.

That being said, ensure you're completing as many Field Research Tasks for your team, increasing the likelihood of your team emerging victorious each hour.

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