Pokemon Go has a lot of events lined up for October 2021.
Niantic
October is almost here, and it looks to be another busy month for Pokemon Go. The game has a variety of events and activities lined up for the next few weeks, including new spotlight Pokemon, October’s Community Day, the annual Halloween celebration and even a crossover event with Pokemon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle. On top of that, a handful of spooky legendary and mythical Pokemon are returning to raids next month in time for Halloween. Here are all the biggest events going on in Pokemon Go in October 2021.
Zarude Secrets of the Jungle movie event
Pokemon Go is kicking off October with a crossover event based on Pokemon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle. From Oct. 1-10, Pokemon featured in the film will be appearing more frequently in the game. Team Rocket’s Jessie and James will also return for a limited time, and there will be a new Special Research story that leads to an encounter with Zarude — your first chance to catch the mythical Pokemon in Pokemon Go.
October Research Breakthrough encounter: Yamask
Pokemon Go developer Niantic is refreshing the game’s Field Research tasks and rewards beginning Oct. 1. Along with the new tasks, a new Research Breakthrough encounter will be available next month. Each time you achieve a Research Breakthrough in October, you’ll earn a chance to catch the ghost-type Pokemon Yamask.
To achieve a Research Breakthrough in Pokemon Go, you must first earn seven stamps. You’ll receive one stamp for the first Field Research task you complete each day, so you’ll need to complete tasks over at least seven days to achieve a Research Breakthrough and earn a chance to catch Yamask.
October 2021 Duskull Community Day
Duskull is the featured Pokemon for October’s Community Day
Niantic
Pokemon Go’s October Community Day is set for Saturday, Oct. 9. The star of this month’s event is the ghost-type Pokemon Duskull, which will be spawning more frequently in the game from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time. On top of that, any Dusclops that you evolve into Dusknoir before 7 p.m. local time will learn the ghost-type Charged Attack Shadow Ball, and you’ll receive triple the usual amount of Stardust each time you catch a Pokemon during the event.
October raid rotation
Several spooky legendaries are returning to five-star raids throughout October. Douse Drive Genesect will be available during the first part of the month, marking your first chance to catch this form in Pokemon Go. After it leaves raids, Altered Forme Giratina will make a return from Oct. 12-22. Finally, the dark-type mythical Pokemon Darkrai will close out October, and this time, each one you encounter will know the Charged Attack Sludge Bomb. You can see October’s legendary raid schedule below:
Oct. 1-12
Genesect with Douse Drive
Oct. 12-22
Altered Forme Giratina
Oct. 22 – Nov. 5
Darkrai
In addition to the legendaries, two Mega-Evolved Pokemon will appear in Mega Raids throughout October. Mega Gengar will be the featured raid boss until Oct. 22, after which point will be replaced by Mega Absol. You can check out October’s Mega Raid schedule below:
Oct. 1-22
Mega Gengar
Oct. 22 – Nov. 5
Mega Absol
October Pokemon Spotlight Hours
Pokemon Go holds a weekly Spotlight Hour event every Tuesday evening from 6-7 p.m. local time. During that hour, a certain Pokemon will spawn much more frequently than normal, and a special bonus will be active in the game, netting you additional experience points, candy or Stardust. Here are all of October’s spotlight Pokemon and bonuses:
Oct. 5
Spotlight Pokemon: Drifloon
Spotlight bonus: 2x evolution XP
Oct. 12
Spotlight Pokemon: GastlySpotlight bonus: 2x catch Stardust
Oct. 19
Spotlight Pokemon: GothitaSpotlight bonus: 2x catch XP
Oct. 26
Spotlight Pokemon: MurkrowSpotlight bonus: 2x evolution XP
Halloween event
Pokemon Go’s annual Halloween event returns from Oct. 15-31. Throughout the event, costumed Pokemon will appear in the wild, and there will be a new Halloween-themed Special Research story. Few other details are available, but game developer Niantic says additional information will be shared at a later date.
Safari Zone events
Pokemon Go’s long-delayed Safari Zone events will finally take place in October and November.
Niantic
Pokemon Go’s delayed Safari Zone events, which were originally scheduled to take place in early 2020, will now be held in October and November. Players who purchased a ticket for their respective event will be able to participate either remotely or at the designated venue. However, those interested in joining in-person must first RSVP. The dates and venues of the three Safari Zone events are as follows:
Liverpool Safari Zone in Sefton Park: Oct. 15-17Philadelphia Safari Zone in Fairmount Park: Oct. 29-31St. Louis Safari Zone in Tower Grove Park: Nov. 12-14