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 December 2021, a new Season has begun and it’s called the Season of Heritage.
What is the Season of Heritage?
The Season of Heritage is Pokémon GO’s 5th in-game Season and started on Wednesday, December 1st, 2021. During this Season, Professor Willow has discovered a “historical cave site” that has a “giant door equipped with a set of strange unlocking mechanisms!” Trainers will be assisting Professor Willow with this discovery and uncovering its secrets along with the leaders of Team Mystic, Valor, and Instinct.
Beyond this task, the Season of Heritage is all about reflecting on the past. This is shown within the Season’s logo, as it spotlights the Johto region and features Mt. Silver and the Burned Tower. Mt. Silver is known as the location of battling Red (also viewed as the Trainer you played as in the previous Kanto-based games) in Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, Heart Gold, and Soul Silver. As for the Burned Tower, it was once home to the legendary Pokémon Lugia (back when the tower was known as the Brass Tower) and the origin story for the three legendary beasts — Raikou, Entei, and Suicune.
When is the Season of Heritage?
The Season of Heritage takes place over three months — starting on Wednesday, December 1st, 2021 at 10 a.m. and ending on Tuesday, March 1st, 2022 at 10 a.m. your local time.
What are the bonuses for the Season of Heritage?
The following bonuses will be active during the entire Season of Heritage:
- Increased effectiveness of Incense while stationary
- Added increased Incense effectiveness while moving
- Increased damage for Pokémon participating in raids remotely
- Guaranteed Gifts from PokéStop spins
- One extra Pokémon Candy when trading Pokémon
- Guaranteed Candy XL when trading Pokémon
In addition to the season-long bonuses, there are special monthly bonuses associated with each Timed Research challenge. They are the following bonuses:
- December 2021: 2× Stardust for the first catch of each day
- January 2022: 2× XP for the first catch of each day
- February 2022: Increased Candy XL from hatching Eggs & 2× XP from hatching Eggs
What Seasonal Pokémon will be appearing in the wild and where?
During the Season of Heritage, the following Pokémon will be appearing more often in the wild in the following areas:
- Cities: Porygon, Snubbull, Glameow, Bronzor, Lillipup, Trubbish, Solosis, and many more.
- Forests: Caterpie, Taillow, Croagunk, Joltik, Ferroseed, Karrablast, Shelmet, and many more.
- Mountains: Clefairy, Aerodactyl, Teddiursa, Meditite, Numel, Hippopotas, Munna, and many more.
- Bodies of Water: Psyduck, Lapras, Wingull, Barboach, Finneon, Feebas, Bidoof, and many more.
- Northern Hemisphere: Delibird, Turtwig, Chimchar, Piplup, Cottonee, Vanillite, Winter Form Deerling, and many more.
- Southern Hemisphere: Tangela, Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip, Carvanha, Combee, Summer Form Deerling, and many more.
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 Heritage will contain the following Egg pools:
- 2km Eggs: Poliwag, Bellsprout, Swinub, Meditite, Barboach, Swablu, Bunnelby, and more.
- 5km Eggs: Onix, Azurill, Happiny, Munchlax, Snover, Froakie, Hippopotas, and more.
- 10km Eggs: Audino, Darumaka, Mienfoo, Rufflet, Espurr, Goomy, Noibat, and more.
- 5km Eggs from Adventure Sync Rewards: Cranidos, Shieldon, Frillish, Skrelp, Clauncher, and Dedenne.
- 10km Eggs from Adventure Sync Rewards: Dratini, Bagon, Beldum, Riolu, Deino, and Noibat.
What events are happening in December 2021?
Click or tap an event name below to read our full guide on it!
- Wednesday, December 1st, 2021 at 10 a.m. to Sunday, December 31st, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. your local time – Stardust Challenge (Timed Research): Professor Willow recruits Blanche to help investigate the mysterious door’s mechanisms. After some analysis of the faded symbols adorning the door, Blanche determines that the first of the door’s mechanisms requires Stardust. A 15-step challenge to collect 120,000 Stardust is available and comes with a variety of rewards, including a Deino Hat for your avatar!
- Wednesday, December 1st, 2021 at 1 p.m. PT | 4 p.m. ET (GMT −8) until Saturday, January 1st, 2022 at 1 p.m. PT | 4 p.m. ET (GMT −8) – December Research Breakthrough: Deino
- Wednesday, December 1st, 2021 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Reshiram & Zekrom
- Sunday, December 5th, 2021 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. your local time – Swinub Incense Day: Upon further research, Team Mystic leader Blanche notes that Ice- and Ground-type Pokémon can help activate the first of the door’s mechanisms. In order to continue their research on the door, Professor Willow and Blanche begin to modify Incense to specifically attract Ice- and Ground-type Pokémon like Swinub for a short period of time.
- Tuesday, December 7th, 2021 to Sunday, December 12th, 2021 – Dragonspiral Descent: An event inspired by the Unova region’s Dragonspiral Tower.
- Tuesday, December 7th, 2021 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Electabuzz
- Wednesday, December 8th, 2021 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Reshiram & Zekrom
- Tuesday, December 14th, 2021 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Magmar
- Wednesday, December 15th, 2021 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Reshiram & Zekrom
- Thursday, December 16th, 2021 to Friday, December 31st, 2021 – Pokémon GO Holidays Part 1 and Part 2: The Pokémon GO Holidays event returns! Look forward to costumed Pokémon, Ice-type Pokémon appearing more frequently in the wild, event-exclusive Field Research, winter-themed avatar items, and a bonanza of bonuses!
- Saturday, December 18th to Sunday, December 19th, 2021 – December Community Day: Our final Community Day event for 2021! During the event, Pokémon featured throughout 2021’s Community Day events will be appearing more frequently in the wild. Additionally, Pokémon featured in 2020’s Community Day events will be hatching from Eggs and appearing in raids. December Community Day will be an awesome opportunity to catch any featured Pokémon you may have missed!
- Tuesday, December 21st, 2021 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Snover
- Wednesday, December 22nd, 2021 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Kyurem
- Tuesday, December 28th, 2021 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Cubchoo
- Wednesday, December 29th, 2021 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Kyurem
What events are happening in January 2022?
All events for January 2022 have yet to be announced. Based on currently available information, here’s what’ll be happening in January 2022:
- Friday, December 31st, 2021 at 10 p.m. to Tuesday, January 4th, 2022 at 8 p.m. your local time – Pokémon GO New Years 2022: Ring in 2022 with a costumed Pokémon bash! Slowpoke returns with 2020 glasses and Slowbro with their 2021 shades, yet are now joined by Slowking wearing a pair of 2022 spectacles! You’ll also find Hoothoot wearing a New Year’s Hat and the return of Pichu, Pikachu, and Raichu wearing a purple version of this top hat. To really ring in the New Year, Niantic is also bringing back even more Pokémon that have donned Party Hats in the past – Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Raticate, Nidorino, Gengar, Wurmple, and Wobbuffet! Enjoy these appearances, bonuses, new Avatar items, and more!
- Saturday, January 1st, 2022 at 10 a.m. to Monday, January 31st, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. your local time – XP Challenge (Timed Research): Team Instinct leader Spark aids Professor Willow in his quest to unlock the mysterious door. The result is a month-long Timed Research that’ll have Trainers collecting XP. A 15-step XP Challenge will task Trainers to collect 240,000 XP and reward them with items, Pokémon encounters, and a Goomy Hat for your Avatar! Note: This Timed Research will only be available to Trainers who pre-purchase a ticket for Pokémon GO Tour: Johto prior to Monday, January 10th, 2022.
- Saturday, January 1st, 2022 at 1 p.m. PT | 4 p.m. ET (GMT −8) until Tuesday, February 1st, 2022 at 1 p.m. PT | 4 p.m. ET (GMT −8) – January Research Breakthrough: Onix
- Tuesday, January 4th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Solosis
- Wednesday, January 5th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Kyurem
- Friday, January 7th, 2022 at 10 a.m. to Thursday, January 13th, 2022 at 8 p.m. your local time – Mountains of Power: An event where Trainers will “work with Spark to activate the second part of the mysterious door by journeying through terrain reminiscent of the mountains found in regions like Johto and Sinnoh.” Features Rock- and Steel-type Pokémon as well as the debut of Shiny Slugma and Mega Aerodactyl.
- Tuesday, January 11th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Diglett
- Wednesday, January 12th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Heatran
- Sunday, January 16th, 2022 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. your local time – January Community Day featuring Spheal: The first Community Day of 2022!
- Tuesday, January 18th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Plusle
- Wednesday, January 19th, 2022 at 10 a.m. to Tuesday, February 1st, 2022 at 10 a.m. your local time – Power Plant Event: Trainers will “continue working with Spark to gather up some electrifying Pokémon to activate the final part of the mysterious door. It seems that some nefarious forces have also caught wind of the door and the power it may contain…”. This is the event debut of Helioptile and Heliolisk.
- Wednesday, January 19th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Genesect (Shock Drive)
- Saturday, January 22nd, 2022 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. your local time – Community Day Classic: Back to Bulbasaur: Relive March 2018’s Community Day in 2022!
- Tuesday, January 25th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Minun
- Wednesday, January 26th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Regice
What events are happening in February 2022?
All events for February 2022 have yet to be announced. Based on currently available information, here’s what’ll be happening in February 2022:
- Tuesday, February 1st, 2022 at 10 a.m. to Monday, February 28th, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. your local time – Catch Challenge (Timed Research): Next up to aid Professor Willow is Team Valor leader Candela! She’ll task Trainers with her own 15-step Catch Challenge. Catch a total of 600 Pokémon during the challenge and Trainers will get items, Pokémon encounters, and a Noibat Hat for their Avatar! Note: This Timed Research will only be available to Trainers who pre-purchase a ticket for Pokémon GO Tour: Johto prior to Thursday, February 10th, 2022.
- Tuesday, February 1st, 2022 at 10 a.m. your local time to Monday, February 7th, 2022 at 8 p.m. your local time – Lunar New Year event: “Ring in the Lunar New Year from Tuesday, February 1, 2022, to Monday, February 7, 2022!”
- Tuesday, February 1st, 2022 at 1 p.m. PT | 4 p.m. ET (GMT −8) until Tuesday, March 1st, 2022 at 1 p.m. PT | 4 p.m. ET (GMT −8) – February Research Breakthrough: Espurr
- Tuesday, February 1st, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Litleo
- Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Regirock
- Tuesday, February 8th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Spritzee
- Wednesday, February 9th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Registeel
- Thursday, February 10th, 2022 at 10 a.m. your local time to Monday, February 14th, 2022 at 8 p.m. your local time– Valentine’s Day event: “On Thursday, February 10, 2022, to Monday, February 14, 2022, Trainers can celebrate Valentine’s Day with in-game events and activities. An Evolutionary line of Fairy-type Pokémon will even make its Pokémon GO debut!”
- Saturday, February 12th, 2022 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. your local time – February Community Day featuring Hoppip: Niantic can’t wait for Spring, so Hoppip is here! The cottonweed Pokémon will be appearing more often in the wild (and its Shiny form too).
- Tuesday, February 15th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Koffing
- Wednesday, February 16th, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Deoxys (Normal Forme)
- Friday, February 18th, 2022 at 10 a.m. your local time to Friday, February 25th, 2022 at 8 p.m. your local time – GO Tour Poké Ball Prep Rally event: “From Friday, February 18, 2022, to Friday, February 25, 2022, get ready for Pokémon GO Tour: Johto with a Poké Ball–focused event!”
- Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Spotlight Hour: Voltorb
- Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time – Raid Hour: Deoxys (Defense Forme)
- Saturday, February 26th from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. your local time – Pokémon GO Tour: Johto: End the season with a two-day paid ticket event! The Pokémon GO Tour returns, this time focusing on the Johto region. Stay tuned for more details.
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