To kick off the summer vibes for the Northern Hemisphere, the Water Festival event returns in Pokémon GO! This year’s version of the event is embracing a beachy theme due to the debut of Sandygast and Palossand (everyone’s favorite haunted sand castles from the Alola region). We’ll also see a shiny debut and the return of Lapras wearing a scarf (affectionately referred to as Drip Lapras). (For more details about the Season of Hidden Gems, you can check out our overall Season of Hidden Gems guide hub.)
Now, check out what’s happening during the Water Festival: Beach Week event with our guide below:
Pokémon GO’s Season of Hidden Gems – Water Festival: Beach Week
Begins: Tuesday, June 6th, 2023 at 10 a.m. your local time.
Ends: Monday, June 12th, 2023 at 8 p.m. your local time.
Pokémon debuts – Sandygast, Palossand, and Shiny Clauncher
The following Pokémon are debuting in Pokémon GO at the start of this event:
- Sandygast and Palossand: The Sand Heap and Sand Castle Pokémon are here to put a dent in your Alola Pokédex!
- Sandygast can be found in One-Star Raids and as reward catch encounters in specific Field Research tasks.
- Palossand can only be obtained from evolving a Sandygast with 50 Sandygast Candies.
- Shiny Clauncher: For the first time, Clauncher’s shiny version will be available. You can find Clauncher in the wild, during a special Spotlight Hour on Tuesday, June 6th, 2023 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time, and as reward catch encounters in specific Field Research tasks.
Plus, the following Costumed Pokémon is returning to Pokémon GO during this event:
- Lapras wearing a scarf: Debuting during 2022’s Water Festival (during the Season of Alola), Lapras wearing a scarf returns for Water Festival’s 2023 edition. You can find this Lapras in Three-Star Raids and as reward catch encounters in specific Field Research tasks.
- Going forward, this stylish Lapras will be referred to as Costumed Lapras rather than the exact outfit they are wearing.
Event Bonuses
- 4× Rainy Lure duration (2 hours instead of 30 minutes).
Event Boxes
If any special event boxes or bundles are released during the event, they’ll be listed here once the event is live.
Wild Encounters
- The following Pokémon will appear more frequently in the wild: Tentacool*, Shellder*, Krabby*, Alolan Exeggutor*, Horsea*, Staryu*, Marill*, Wingull*, Wailmer*, Spheal*, Finneon*, Dwebble*, Frillish* (female shown), and Clauncher*.
- If you’re lucky, you might encounter the following Pokémon: Mantine* and Popplio.
Note: Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”
Raids
Standard and Shadow Raids will be active during the event.
Standard Raids
The following Pokémon will be appearing in Raids:
- One-Star Raids: Alolan Diglett*, Hisuian Qwilfish, Carvanha*, Feebas*, Sandygast.
- Three-Star Raids: Blastoise*, Gyarados*, Costumed Lapras*, and Alomomola.
- Five-Star Raids: Uxie*, Mesprit*, or Azelf* (See Additional Notes).
- Mega Raids: Mega Swampert* (See Additional Notes).
Shadow Raids
The following Pokémon will be appearing in Raids:
- One-Star Shadow Raids: Growlithe*, Abra, Mareep, and Starly.
- Three-Star Shadow Raids: Gligar*, Sneasel*, Throh (See Additional Notes), and Swak (See Additional Notes).
- Five-Star Shadow Raids: Shadow Articuno* (See Additional Notes).
Additional Notes:
- Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”
- Standard Raids:
- Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf:
- Uxie is only available in Five-Star Raids that take place in Asia-Pacific.
- Mesprit is only available in Five-Star Raids that take place in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India.
- Azelf is only available in Five-Star Raids that take place in the Americas and Greenland.
- Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf* will be available after the event (in Five-Star Raids), until Thursday, June 15th, 2023 at 10 a.m. your local time.
- Mega Swampert* will be available after the event (in Mega Raids), until Thursday, June 15th, 2023 at 10 a.m. your local time.
- Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf:
- Shadow Raids:
- Throh is a region exclusive appearing in the Americas and Africa.
- Swak is a region exclusive appearing in Europe, Asia, and Australia.
- One- and Three-Star Shadow Raids will be available daily.
- Five-Star Shadow Raids featuring Shadow Articuno* will be available on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) in June, unless otherwise stated by Niantic.
- For this event, that would be Saturday, June 10th, and Sunday, June 11th.
Spotlight Hour – Water Festival: Beach Week edition
Pokémon GO’s weekly Spotlight Hour event is getting a special edition during the Water Festival: Beach Week event. On Tuesday, June 6th, 2023 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. your local time, Spotlight Hour will feature multiple Pokémon and have an increased bonus.
- Pokémon appearing: Krabby*, Kabuto*, Corphish*, Clauncher*, and Crabrawler.
- Active bonus: 3× XP for catching any Pokémon
Note: Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”
Field Research Tasks
There will be event-exclusive Field Research Tasks available and the rewards include the following Pokémon encounters: Costumed Lapras*, Frillish* (female shown), Binacle*, Clauncher*, and Sandygast. Blastoise and Swampert Mega Energy will also be rewarded when completing specific tasks. These Field Research Tasks can be found when spinning PokéStops (and acquired if you have an open slot in your Field Research menu) when the event is active.
A complete list of tasks and rewards will be shared here once the event is live.
- Task: Catch 5 Water-type Pokémon
- Reward: 10 Poké Balls OR 5 Great Balls
- Task: Catch 15 Water-type Pokémon
- Reward: Frillish* (female shown) Encounter
- Task: Catch 25 Water-type Pokémon
- Reward: Sandygast Encounter
- Task: Make 5 Nice Throws
- Reward: Clauncher* Encounter
- Task: Make 5 Great Throws
- Reward: Binacle* Encounter
- Task: Make 10 Great Throws
- Reward: 30 Swampert Mega Energy OR 30 Blastoise Mega Energy
- Task: Hatch an Egg
- Reward: Costumed Lapras* Encounter
Note: Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”
Global Challenge – Water Festival: Beach Week Challenge
A special, event-exclusive Global Challenge will be available. According to Niantic, this Global Challenge will reward Trainers with in-game bonuses that’ll remain active until the end of the event.
- Global Challenge goal: 300 million Nice Throws
- Global Challenge bonuses (if the goal is met):
- Increased Candy for Nice, Great, and Excellent Throws.
- Increased chance for Trainers level 31 and up to receive Candy XL for successfully catching Pokémon with Nice, Great, and Excellent Throws.
Avatar Items
New avatar items themed after Sandygast and Mudkip’s evolution line will be released during this event. They will be available for purchase (with PokéCoins) via the in-game shop. These avatar items will still be available to purchase after the conclusion of this event.
The new avatar items are the following: Sandygast Hat (200 PokéCoins), Diver Outfit (350 PokéCoins), and Diver Goggles (350 PokéCoins).
Paid Ticket – Water Festival: Timed Research
During the Water Festival: Beach Week event, Trainers can purchase a ticket to access an event-themed Timed Research. For US$4.99 OR US$5.00 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency), you’ll get the Water Festival: Timed Research which rewards Trainers with the following (if tasks are completed within the time limit): a surfing-themed Avatar pose and catch encounters with event-themed Pokémon.
A GIF of the surfing-themed Avatar Pose.
Sales for this Timed Research will go live on Tuesday, June 6th, 2023 at 10 a.m. your local time (and sales will end on Sunday, June 11th, 2023 at 8 p.m. your local time). But, the ticket was launched globally on Monday, June 5th, 2023 around 2 p.m. PT | 5 p.m. ET. According to Niantic, “[t]ickets are nonrefundable (subject to applicable law and the exceptions set forth in the Terms of Service).” Tickets can also be gifted to Trainers you’re friends with provided that you have a Friendship level of Great Friends or higher with them. This can be done via the in-game shop and by selecting the “Gift” button instead of the “Buy” button. Tickets purchased for friends are nonrefundable as well.
Please keep in mind that Timed Research quests have deadlines. Trainers must complete this Water Festival: Beach Week Timed Research by Monday, June 12th, 2023 at 8 p.m. your local time.
| Water Festival: Timed Research | |
|---|---|
| Step 1/2 | Reward |
| Catch 10 Water-type Pokémon | 1,000 Stardust |
| Make 5 Nice Throws | 10 Poké Balls |
| Transfer 5 Pokémon | 5 Great Balls |
| Use 5 Berries to help catch Pokémon | 10 Razz Berries |
| Completion Rewards | 1,000 Stardust, 1 Clauncher* Encounter, and 1,000 XP |
| Step 2/2 | Reward |
| Catch 15 Water-type Pokémon | 1,000 Stardust |
| Make 5 Great Throws | 15 Poké Balls |
| Transfer 10 Pokémon | 10 Great Balls |
| Use 10 Berries to help catch Pokémon | 5 Pinap Berries |
| Completion Rewards | Surfing Avatar Pose (Male and Female) and Sandygast |
More Pokémon GO guides
Looking for more help with Pokémon GO? Check out our other guides!
Pokémon GO’s Season of World of Wonders’ 2024 Pokémon Europe International Championships event guide
Leave a Comment
Written by Jennifer Burch
Illustrator, designer, writer and big Nintendo geek, you can find Jennifer with an N3DS within reach 24/7. As the oldest of three, she has survived many Mario Party, Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart sessions intact in addition to getting her brothers hooked on some really weird games. (Cubivore anyone?)
