Pokémon GO’s Season of Precious Paths’ Pinch Perfect event guide

For Pokémon GO’s Pinch Perfect event, crustacean Pokémon and some additional Rock- and Water-type Pokémon will be featured. Notably, there are two new debuts happening during this event. Klawf, the Ambush Pokémon from Paldea, will now be available to catch in Pokémon GO. And as for Dhelmise, it’s shiny version will now be possible to obtain. Just have to be lucky with your encounters!

Now, check out what’s happening during the Pinch Perfect event with our guide below:

 

Pokémon GO’s Season of Precious Paths – Pinch Perfect

Begins: Tuesday, January 6th, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time.

Ends: Sunday, January 11th, 2026 at 8 p.m. your local time.

 

Pokémon debuts – Klwaf and Shiny Dhelmise

 

 

Two Pokémon are debuting during Pinch Perfect – Klawf and Shiny Dhelmise. You can find these two Pokémon in the following ways:

• Klawf: Timed Research reward encounter, Premium Timed Research reward encounter, and Field Research task encounter.
• Shiny Dhelmise: 3-Star Raids, Premium Timed Research reward encounter, and Field Research task encounter.

 

Event Bonuses

• 2× XP for catching Pokémon
• Increased chance of encountering Shiny Corphish, Shiny Dwebble, and Shiny Clauncher

 

Plus, the following Season of Precious Paths bonuses will be in effect:

• One additional Special Trade per day
• Increased Stardust for the first catch of the day
• Increased friendship bonus damage dealt by Pokémon in Raids

 

And if Trainers reach specific ranks in the GO Pass and/or GO Pass Deluxe, then the following bonuses will also be active until Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 at 9 a.m. your local time:

• Tier 1 (Rank 25): 
  • Open up to 40 Gifts per day
  • Receive up to 125 Gifts per day from spinning PokéStop and Gym Photo Discs
  • Hold up to 10 additional Gifts in your Item Bag
• Tier 2 (Rank 50):
  • 2× Daily Adventure Incense duration
• Tier 3 (Rank 75):
  • Additional rewards for completing in-person Raids and Max Battles

If GO Pass Deluxe is purchased, then the following bonuses will also be active when Rank 25 is reached, until Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 at 9 a.m. your local time:

• Tier 1 (Rank 25):
  • Open up to 50 Gifts per day
  • Receive up to 150 Gifts per day from spinning PokéStop and Gym Photo Discs
  • Hold up to 20 additional Gifts in your Item Bag

 

Event Boxes

If any special event boxes or bundles are released during the event, they’ll be listed here once the event is live. Daily bundles are also available and can be viewed online via the Pokémon GO Web Store.

• Pinch Perfect Ultra Ticket Box (US$1.99, purchase limit 1, Pokémon GO Web Store only): 1 Ticket (for event’s Premium Timed Research), 5 Ultra Balls, and 24 Reward Points.

 

Wild Encounters

• The following Pokémon will appear more frequently in the wild: Sandshrew*, Tentacool*, Onix*, Rhyhorn*, Magikarp*, Trapinch*, Corphish*, Drilbur*, Dwebble*, Biancle*, and Clauncher*.
  • If you’re lucky, you might encounter the following Pokémon: Tirtouga* and Archen*.

 

Notes:

• Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”
• Dwebble*, Corphish*, and Clauncher* will appear more frequently in the wild during their associated Timed Research quests:
  • Dwebble*: Tuesday, January 6th, 2026 at 10 a.m. to Thursday, January 8th, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time.
  • Corphish*: Thursday, January 8th, 2026 at 10 a.m. to Saturday, January 10th, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time.
  • Clauncher*: Saturday, January 10th, 2026 at 10 a.m. to Sunday, January 11th, 2026 at 8 p.m. your local time.

 

Raids

Standard and Shadow Raids will be active during the event.

 

Standard Raids

The following Pokémon will be appearing in Raids:

• One-Star Raids: Corphish*, Dwebble*, and Clauncher*.
• Three-Star Raids: Dhelmise* and Dondozo*.
• Five-Star Raids: Genesect (Burn Drive)* and Genesect (Chill Drive)* (See Additional Notes).
• Mega Raids: Mega Blaziken* (See Additional Notes).

 

Shadow Raids

The following Pokémon will be appearing in Shadow Raids:

• One-Star Shadow Raids: Shadow Drowzee*, Shadow Ralts*, Shadow Bagon*, and Shadow Snover.
• Three-Star Shadow Raids: Shadow Scyther*, Shadow Aerodactyl*, and Shadow Sableye*.
• Five-Star Shadow Raids: Shadow Cresselia* (See Additional Notes).

 

Additional Notes:

• Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”
• Standard Raids:
  • Genesect (Burn Drive)* and Genesect (Chill Drive)* will be available after the event (in Five-Star Raids), until Friday, January 16th, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time.
  • Mega Blaziken* will be available after the event (in Mega Raids), until Friday, January 16th, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time.
• Shadow Raids:
  • One- and Three-Star Shadow Raids will be available daily.
  • Five-Star Shadow Raids will be available on weekends (Saturday and Sunday), unless otherwise stated by Niantic.

 

Max Battles

Max Battles will be active during the event.

• One-Star Max Battles: Dynamax Bulbasaur*, Dynamax Charmander*, Dynamax Squirtle*, Dynamax Caterpie*,Dynamax Abra*, Dynamax Gastly*, Dynamax Krabby*, Dynamax Omanyte*, Dynamax Kabut0*, Dynamax Ralts*, Dynamax Spheal*, Dynamax Pidove*, Dynamax Woobat*, Dynamax Drilbur*, Dynamax Trubbish*, Dynamax Inkay*, Dynamax Bounsweet*, Dynamax Grookey, Dynamax Scorbunny, Dynamax Sobble, Dynamax Skwovet*, Dynamax Rookiedee*, Dynamax Wooloo*, and Dynamax Hatenna.
• Two-Star Max Battles: Dynamax Machop*, Dynamax Eevee*, Dynamax Shuckle*, Dynamax Wailmer*, and Dynamax Darumaka*.
• Three-Star Max Battles: Dynamax Chansey*, Dynamax Sableye*, Dynamax Beldum*, Dynamax Cryogonal*, Dynamax Passimian*, Dynamax Drampa*, and Dynamax Falinks*.

 

Additional Notes:

• Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”
• Max Battles require Max Particles (MP):
  • One-Star Max Battles cost 250 MP.
  • Two-Star Max Battles cost 400 MP.
  • Three-Star Max Battles cost 400 MP.
  • Six-Star Max Battles cost 800 MP.

 

Timed Research – Pinch Perfect Dwebble, Corphish, and Clauncher Timed Research

Three Timed Research quests will be issued in waves throughout the even:

• Pinch Perfect: Dwebble Timed Research
  • Active from: Tuesday, January 6th, 2026 at 10 a.m. to Thursday, January 8th, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time
• Pinch Perfect: Corphish Timed Research
  • Active from: Thursday, January 8th, 2026 at 10 a.m. to Saturday, January 10th, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time
• Pinch Perfect: Clauncher Timed Research
  • Active from: Saturday, January 10th, 2026 at 10 a.m. to Sunday, January 11th, 2026 at 8 p.m. your local time

A complete list of tasks and the rewards will be shared here once the event is live.

 

Pinch Perfect: Dwebble Timed Research

• Task: Catch 5 Pokémon
  • Reward: Dwebble* encounter
• Task: Catch 10 Pokémon
  • Reward: Dwebble* encounter
• Task: Catch 15 Pokémon
  • Reward: Dwebble* encounter
• Task: Catch 20 Pokémon
  • Reward: Dwebble* encounter
• Task: Catch 25 Pokémon
  • Reward: Dwebble* encounter
• Completion Rewards: Klawf encounter, 950 XP, and 950 Stardust

 

Pinch Perfect: Corphish Timed Research

• Task: Catch 5 Pokémon
  • Reward: Corphish* encounter
• Task: Catch 10 Pokémon
  • Reward: Corphish* encounter
• Task: Catch 15 Pokémon
  • Reward: Corphish* encounter
• Task: Catch 20 Pokémon
  • Reward: Corphish* encounter
• Task: Catch 25 Pokémon
  • Reward: Corphish* encounter
• Completion Rewards: Klawf encounter, 950 XP, and 950 Stardust

 

Pinch Perfect: Clauncher Timed Research

• Task: Catch 5 Pokémon
  • Reward: Clauncher* encounter
• Task: Catch 10 Pokémon
  • Reward: Clauncher* encounter
• Task: Catch 15 Pokémon
  • Reward: Clauncher* encounter
• Task: Catch 20 Pokémon
  • Reward: Clauncher* encounter
• Task: Catch 25 Pokémon
  • Reward: Clauncher* encounter
• Completion Rewards: Klawf encounter, 950 XP, and 950 Stardust

 

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: Corphish*, Dwebble*, Clauncher*, Dhelmise*, and Klawf. 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 Pokémon
  • Reward: Corphish* encounter OR Dwebble* encounter OR Clauncher* encounter
• Task: Catch 10 Pokémon
  • Reward: 10 Poké Balls OR 5 Great Balls OR 3 Ultra Balls
• Task: Catch 15 Pokémon
  • Reward: 1,500 Stardust
• Task: Win a Raid
  • Reward: Dhelmise* encounter OR Klawf encounter

 

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

 

PokéStop Showcase

During the event, PokéStop Showcases will be active. The theme of these contests is to submit the biggest Pokémon being requested. This section will be updated once the PokéStop Showcases are active.

• Monday, January 5th, 2026 at 10 a.m. to Wednesday, January 7th, 2026 at 8 p.m. your local time: Grass-type and Water-type Pokémon
• Saturday, January 10th, 2026 at 10 a.m. to Sunday, January 11th, 2026 at 8 p.m. your local time: ???

 

Paid Ticket – Pinch Perfect Premium Timed Research

During the Pinch Perfect event, Trainers can purchase a ticket to access an event-themed Timed Research. For US$1.99 OR US$2.00 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency), you’ll get the Pinch Perfect Premium Timed Research which rewards Trainers with the following (if tasks are completed within the time limit): Dwebble*, Corphish*, Clauncher*, Dhelmise*, and Klawf encounters plus 2 Premium Battles Passes and XP.

According to the fine print, “[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 Pinch Perfect Premium Timed Research and claim all rewards before Sunday, January 11th, 2026 at 8 p.m. your local time.

 

Step 1/2

• Task: Catch 5 Pokémon
  • Reward: Dwebble* encounter
• Task: Catch 5 Pokémon
  • Reward: Corphish* encounter
• Task: Catch 5 Pokémon
  • Reward: Clauncher* encounter
• Task: Catch 10 Pokémon
  • Reward: Dhelmise* encounter
• Completion Rewards: Klawf encounter, 1 Premium Battle Pass, and 9,500 XP

 

Step 2/2

• Task: Catch 5 Pokémon
  • Reward: Dwebble* encounter
• Task: Catch 5 Pokémon
  • Reward: Corphish* encounter
• Task: Catch 5 Pokémon
  • Reward: Clauncher* encounter
• Task: Catch 10 Pokémon
  • Reward: Dhelmise* encounter
• Completion Rewards: Klawf encounter, 1 Premium Battle Pass, and 9,500 XP

 

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

 

 

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