Pokémon GO’s Season of Alola guide: Special Research, events, and more

Every few months, the seasons change into spring, summer, fall, or winter. Inspired by these changes Niantic added Seasons to Pokémon GO back in December 2020. Each Season in the mobile game is three months-long and features special events, certain Pokémon appearing more often in the wild (in certain areas and hemispheres), refreshed Egg pool, and more. Instead of being named after the spring, summer, fall, or winter seasons, each Season in Pokémon GO is named after an idea/theme.

For March 2022, a new Season has begun and it’s called the Season of Alola.

 

What is the Season of Alola?

 

The Season of Alola is Pokémon GO’s 6th in-game Season and started on Tuesday, March 1st, 2022. During this Season, Professor Willow is researching the different islands in the Alola region. Along with this Season-long Special Research, Pokémon that debuted in the Alola region (Pokémon Sun and Moon games) will be appearing in Pokémon GO for the first time!

 

When is the Season of Alola?

 

The Season of Alola takes place over three months – starting on Tuesday, March 1st, 2022 at 10 a.m. and ending on Wednesday, June 1st, 2022 at 10 a.m. your local time.

 

What is the Special Research for the Season of Alola?

 

Similar to the Season of Mischief, the Season of Alola will have its own Special Research. In this Special Research line, Trainers will learn about each of the islands in the Alola region. Each island-themed Special Research will be released in waves on the following dates:

 

• Tuesday, March 1st, 2022: Melemele Island Special Research – A Melemele Adventure
• Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022: Akala Island Special Research – An Akala Adventure
• Tuesday, April 12th, 2022: Ula’ula Island Special Research – An Ula’Ula Adventure
• Tuesday, May 10th, 2022: Poni Island Special Research – A Poni Adventure
• Wednesday, May 25th, 2022: End of the Season Special Research – Alola to Alola (splits into 4 paths)

 

In order to acquire the first Special Research (A Melemele Adventure), Trainers must log in to Pokémon GO between Tuesday, March 1st, 2022 at 10 a.m. your local time and Wednesday, June 1st, 2022 at 9:59 a.m. your local time. The Special Research can be completed at any time, once acquired, but if Trainers complete the entire Special Research by June 1st, 2022, they’ll unlock a bonus Special Research line at the end of the Season. Trainers who are unable to finish the entire Special Research line in time can purchase the bonus Special Research line for $4.99 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency).

 

Season of Alola’s Special Research

 

All steps for the Season of Alola’s Special Research can be found on our dedicated guide page. The first part of the Special Research, referred to in-game as A Melemele Adventure, can be found below:

 

 

What are the bonuses for the Season of Alola?

 

The following bonuses will be active during the entire Season of Alola:

• Increased Incense effectiveness while moving
• Increased damage for Pokémon participating in raids remotely
• Guaranteed Gifts from PokéStop spins
• Up to two free Raid Passes per day by spinning Gym Photo Discs
• Incense will last for 90 minutes

 

What Seasonal Pokémon will be appearing in the wild and where?

 

During the Season of Alola, the following Pokémon will be appearing more often in the wild in the following areas:

• Cities: Alolan Rattata*, Alolan Meowth*, Magnemite*, Alolan Grimer*, Jolteon, Makuhita*, Minccino*, and more!
• Forests: Paras*, Exeggcute*, Aipom*, Pineco*, Electrike*, Rufflet*, Yungoos*, and more!
• Mountains: Cubone*, Alolan Diglett*, Alolan Geodude*, Flareon, Baltoy*, Golett, Archen, and more!
• Beaches + Water: Alolan Exeggutor*, Staryu*, Dratini*, Vaporeon, Tirtouga, Frillish, Corphish, and more!
• Northern Hemisphere: Lotad*, Bagon*, Snivy*, Tepig*, Oshawott*, Spring Deerling, Foongus, and more!
• Southern Hemisphere: Nincada*, Beldum*, Sewaddle, Autumn Deerling, Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie, and more!

 

Note: Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”

 

What Pokémon will be hatching from Eggs this Season?

 

Eggs obtained from PokéStops or through Adventure Sync Rewards (weekly walking milestones that reset each Monday) during the Season of Alola will contain the following Egg pools:

• 2km Eggs: Yungoos*, Pikipek, Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie, Cubone*, Exeggcute*, and more!
• 5km Eggs: Rowlet, Litten, Popplio, Tyrogue*, Skarmory*, Bonsly*, Mantyke, and more!
• 10km Eggs: Rockruff*, Jangmo-o, Alomomola*, Mienfoo, Axew, Noibat, Espurr*, and more!
• 5km Eggs from Adventure Sync Rewards: Phantump, Munchlax, Happiny*, Shieldon*, Dedenne, and Cranidos*.
• 10km Eggs from Adventure Sync Rewards: Dratini*, Riolu*, Bagon*, Beldum*, Deino*, and Goomy.

 

Note: Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”

 

What events are happening in March 2022?

 

Click or tap an event name below to read our full guide on it!

 

• Tuesday, March 1st, 2022 at 1 p.m. PT | 4 p.m. ET (GMT −8) until Friday, April 1st, 2022 at 1 p.m. PT | 4 p.m. ET (GMT −8) – March Research Breakthrough: Alolan Vulpix
• Tuesday, March 1st, 2022 at 10 a.m. until Wednesday, March 9th, 2022 at 8 p.m. your local time – Welcome to Alola: Begin the Season of Alola with the arrival of Pokémon from the Alola region!
• Tuesday, March 1st, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Cubone
• Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Tapu Koko
• Tuesday, March 8th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Exeggcute
• Wednesday, March 9th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Tapu Koko
• Sunday, March 13th, 2022 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. your local time – March Community Day featuring Sandshrew and Alolan Sandshrew: Enjoy March’s Community Day with two Pokémon! Sandshrew and its Alolan counterpart will be found more often in the wild and its evolved form, Sandslash, can learn an exclusive more.
• Tuesday, March 15th, 2022 at 10 a.m. until Sunday, March 20th, 2022 at 8 p.m. your local time – Festival of Colors: An event where Trainers “can experience a fluttering of festive hues”. The four Styles of Oricorio (Baile, Pom-Pom, Pa’u, and Sensu) will debut in-game.
• Tuesday, March 15th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Growlithe
• Wednesday, March 16th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Tornadus (Therian Forme)
• Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022 at 10 a.m. until Tuesday, March 29th, 2022 at 8 p.m. your local time – Lush Jungle event: Trainers, “get ready to brave the jungle during this Alola-inspired adventure!” Fomantis, Lurantis, and Tapu Lele will debut during this event.
• Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Sudowoodo
• Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Tapu Lele
• Saturday, March 26th, 2022 at 10 a.m. until Sunday, March 27th, 2022 at 8 p.m. your local time – Lush Jungle Weekend Park Spotlight (Cottonee): Enjoy a weekend-long spotlight on Cottonee! You’ll find Cottonee appearing more frequently in parks as well as the debut of its Shiny version.
• Tuesday, March 29th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Paras
• Wednesday, March 30th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Tapu Lele

 

What events are happening in April 2022?

 

Click or tap an event name below to read our full guide on it!

 

• Friday, April 1st, 2022 at 1 p.m. PT | 4 p.m. ET (GMT −8) until Sunday, May 1st, 2022 at 1 p.m. PT | 4 p.m. ET (GMT −8) – April Research Breakthrough: Alolan Marowak
• Friday, April 1st, 2022 from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. your local time – April Fools’ 2-Oh?-22: “We’ve heard some odd whisperings that a mysterious event will be happening on” April Fools’ Day. 🙂 Participate in a Ditto invasion!
• Sunday, April 3rd, 2022 at 12 a.m. until Thursday, April 7th, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. your local time – All-Hands Rocket Retreat: It’s time for Team GO Rocket’s company-wide retreat and they’ve brought along Salandit (event debut) and plenty of Shadow Pokémon with them. Battle Team GO Rocket Grunts and Leaders so you can face Giovanni and his new Shadow Latias.
• Tuesday, April 5th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Stunky
• Wednesday, April 6th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Thundurus (Therian Forme)
• Sunday, April 10th, 2022 from 2 p.m to 5 p.m. your local time – April Community Day Classic featuring Mudkip: Relive July 2019’s Community Day in 2022!
• Tuesday, April 12th, 2022 at 10 a.m. until Monday, April 18th, 2022 at 8 p.m. your local time – Spring into Spring: “[G]et ready to jump headfirst into spring with this themed event.” Various Pokémon will be wearing flower crowns. This will also be the debut of Tapu Bulu and the Special Research themed around Ula’ula Island.
• Tuesday, April 12th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Bunnelby
• Wednesday, April 13th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Tapu Bulu
• Saturday, April 16th, 2022 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. your local time – Limited Research day featuring Exeggcute: Limited Research tasks featuring Exeggcute will be available. Trainers can also evolve Exeggcute into an Alolan Exeggcutor that will know Draco Meteor during the event.
• Sunday, April 17th, 2022 from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. your local time – GO Battle Day: Beginner’s Paradise: “With the beginner-friendly Great League and Little Cup active, XP from Timed Research available, and an avatar item up for grabs, there’s never been a better time to try out the GO Battle League!”
• Tuesday, April 19th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Oddish
• Wednesday, April 20th, 2022 at 10 a.m. until Monday, April 25th, 2022 at 8 p.m. your local time – Sustainability Week 2022: “Trainers will be able to reflect on the importance of sustainability while another Pokémon originally discovered in the Alola region makes its Pokémon debut!”
• Wednesday, April 20th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Tapu Bulu
• Saturday, April 23rd, 2022 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. your local time – April Community Day featuring Stufful: This month’s Community Day welcomes Stufful and Bewear to Pokémon GO! This is also the first standard Community Day to revert back to the initial three-hour format.
• Tuesday, April 26th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Cherrim (Sunshine Form)
• Wednesday, April 27th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Landorus (Therian Forme)
• Friday, April 29th, 2022 at 10 a.m. until Sunday, May 1st, 2022 at 8 p.m. your local time – A Mega Moment event: Try out the revamped Mega Evolution feature in Pokémon GO with a Mega Evolution-themed event. Mega Kangaskhan is also debuting in Pokémon GO!
• Sunday, May 1st, 2022 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. your local time – Mega Kangaskhan Raid Day: A Mega Raid day dedicated to the newly added Mega Kangaskhan! Find this regional variant more often in Mega Raids during this event.

 

What events are happening in May 2022?

 

Click or tap an event name below to read our full guide on it!

 

• Sunday, May 1st, 2022 at 1 p.m. PT | 4 p.m. ET (GMT −8) until Wednesday, June 1st, 2022 at 1 p.m. PT | 4 p.m. ET (GMT −8) – May Research Breakthrough: Alolan Grimer
• Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022 at 10 a.m. until Sunday, May 8th, 2022 – Pokémon GO x Pokémon Air Adventures Global Collaboration Event (Pokémon Air Adventures event): The delayed Pokémon Air Adventures campaign is now live and includes Mega Latias and Mega Latios! This global event will also feature Flying Pikachu.
• Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Wingull
• Wednesday, May 4th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Mega Latias and Mega Latios
• Saturday, May 7th, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 8th, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. JST (GMT+9)  – Pokémon Air Adventures Okinawa, Japan event (ticketed, paid): An in-person event of the Pokémon Air Adventures collab. Limited to the Okinawa prefecture in Japan. Includes exclusive Costumed Pikachus (Flying Pikachu variant and Pikachu wearing a button-up shirt), Special Research, and more.
• Tuesday, May 10th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Numel
• Wednesday, May 11th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Tapu Fini
• Thursday, May 12th, 2022 at 10 a.m. until Friday, May 20th, 2022 at 8 p.m. your local time – Water Festival event: Water-type Pokémon are appearing in waves just in time for this year’s Water Festival! For 2022, we’ll see Dewpider and Araquanid join the game as well as a special Costumed Lapras (wearing a scarf).
• Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Magikarp
• Wednesday, May 18th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Tapu Fini
• Saturday, May 21st, 2022 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. your local time – May Community Day featuring Alolan Geodude
• Tuesday, May 24th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Seel
• Wednesday, May 25th, 2022 at 10 a.m. until Tuesday, May 31st, 2022 at 8 p.m. your local time – Alola to Alola event: “[C]elebrate and look back at all the adventures Trainers have had this year with Pokémon found in Alola!”
• Wednesday, May 25th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, and Tapu Fini
• Sunday, May 29th, 2022 from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. your local time – GO Battle Day: Stardust Surprise: Trainers will be able to bring their Mega Evolved Pokémon into GO Battle League’s Master League! Plus, enjoy extra Stardust rewards and an increase in the maximum number of sets you can battle in.
• Tuesday, May 31st, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Pikipek

 

More Pokémon GO guides

 

Looking for more help with Pokémon GO? Check out our other guides!

 

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