Leave a Comment / July 23rd, 2020 / Jennifer Burch

Pokémon GO: Weekly challenge results, Team GO Rocket plans, Battle League news, more

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We’re so close! Pokémon GO Fest is just days away. With some finishing touches, soon we’ll be catching Pokémon, participating in challenges, and probably defeat Team GO Rocket and their party-crashing ways. 

 

TEAM GO ROCKET’S PLANS FOR VICTORY 

The hot air balloons that Team GO Rocket has commandeered have been keeping Trainers busy over the last few weeks. Team GO Rocket’s debut of their newest toy didn’t go too smoothly though. Initially, schematics and operational plans concerning these balloons were leaked thanks to a probably now former Team GO Rocket Grunt via a massive “send all” e-mail to all Pokémon GO Trainers. Due to this, the organization has been pretty quiet and not revealing their hand concerning this weekend.

That’s changing thanks to a tweet from the official Pokémon GO Twitter account. Obtained by someone (Professor Willow and/or any of the Team Leaders), new and incomplete schematics have been shared.

 

 
Who’s that Pokémon? Certainly not Pikachu. Victini, the Mythical Pokémon of Unova, is the focus of Team GO Rocket’s next attack. This isn’t good at all! Victini is said to bring victory, and Giovanni desires domination at all costs. Don’t be too shocked if we’re called upon to thwart this mission during GO Fest.

 

POKÉMON GO FEST WEEKLY CHALLENGE RESULTS

Leading up to Pokémon GO Fest 2020, we had three rounds of GO Fest Weekly Challenge timed research tasks. Niantic heightened the stakes by throwing an incentive to complete these tasks. For each team that completed each weekly Timed Research, a specific Pokémon would be spawning during GO Fest.  Thanks to Team Mystic, Valor, and Instinct the “one million trainers from each team completing Timed Research” challenges were smashed. This weekend, you’ll spot the following Pokémon spawning more often in-game: Chimecho, Alomomola, Chansey, Ferroseed, Alolan Grimer, Alolan Marowak, Togetic, Dratini, and Litwick. 

 

POST POKÉMON GO FEST – GO BATTLE LEAGUE SEASON 3

After Pokémon GO Fest 2020, a different celebration will kick off. Season 3 of GO Battle League begins! Niantic outlined all the details on the official Pokémon GO blog:

Once Season 3 begins on Monday, July 27, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7), your end-of-season rewards for Season 2 will be available on the Battle screen! You can expect similar end-of-season rewards for Season 2, except that you’ll receive an Elite Fast TM instead of Elite Charged TM if you reached rank 7 or higher! Season 3 will follow the same league rotation as Season 2, as noted in the schedule below, with a notable addition: the Premier Cup is now coming to Ultra League, too!

  • The Great League will run from Monday, July 27, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Monday, August 10, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7).
  • The Ultra League and its Premier Cup will run from Monday, August 10, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Monday, August 24, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7). This Premier Cup will have a 2500 CP limit.
  • The Master League and its Premier Cup will run from Monday, August 24, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Monday, September 7, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7). This Premier Cup will have no CP limit.
  • All three leagues and the Premier Cup (no CP limit) will be available from Monday, September 7, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Monday, September 14, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7).
  • Season 4 will begin Monday, September 14, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7).

These dates are tentative, and we’ll be sure to update you if anything changes.

Expect the following to stay the same in Season 3:

  • There will not be a walking requirement in order to battle in the GO Battle League.
  • The Friendship level requirement for battling remotely will remain at Good Friends throughout Season 3. Remember that you can scan another Trainer’s QR code to battle them, no matter where they are.
  • The avatar items inspired by Pikachu Libre will continue to be rank 7 rewards.
  • The battles, wins, and ratings required to reach ranks will remain the same.

What’s new in Season 3?

There’ll be a few changes coming to the GO Battle League and Trainer Battles for Season 3.

  • More cups will be added! In addition to the Ultra League Premier Cup, we’re introducing the Flying Cup, where only Flying-type Pokémon will be allowed! The Flying Cup will be available during an upcoming event—more details to come!
  • Based on Trainer feedback, we’ve decided to remove the Battle Until You Win feature for Season 3.
  • Your guaranteed reward encounters will be a bit different for Season 3. At each listed rank, you’ll encounter these Pokémon:
  • Pidgeot starting at rank 1
  • Galarian Zigzagoon starting at rank 4
  • Galarian Farfetch’d starting at rank 7
  • Rufflet starting at rank 8
  • Scraggy starting at rank 9
  • Pikachu Libre starting at rank 10
  • If you reach rank 10, you’ll earn a brand-new avatar pose and avatar item!
  • For the premium rewards track, you’ll now earn Rare Candies after your fourth win. The number of Rare Candies rewarded will be reduced from eight to six.
  • Trainers who finish Season 3 at rank 7 or higher will receive an Elite Charged TM rather than an Elite Fast TM. Besides that change, end-of-season rewards will stay the same as in Season 2.

Additionally, we have two GO Battle League–themed events lined up for Season 3! Stay on the lookout for updates regarding these events on the Pokémon GO blog and social media.

The following existing attacks have been updated for Trainer Battles.

  • Drill Peck: This Flying-type Charged Attack now deals more damage.
  • Brave Bird: This Flying-type Charged Attack now deals more damage. It also severely lowers the user’s Defense.
  • Infestation: This Bug-type Fast Attack now generates energy more quickly.
  • Hex: This Ghost-type Fast Attack now generates energy more quickly.
  • Powder Snow: This Ice-type Fast Attack now deals more damage.
  • Blizzard: This Ice-type Charged Attack now deals more damage.
  • Flash Cannon: This Steel-type Charged Attack now requires more energy.
  • Focus Blast: This Fighting-type Charged Attack now deals less damage.
  • Moonblast: This Fairy-Type Charged Attack now has a decreased chance of lowering your opponent’s Attack.

The following existing attacks have been updated for Gym battles and raids.

  • Drill Peck: This Flying-type Charged Attack now deals more damage.
  • Brave Bird: This Flying-type Charged Attack now deals more damage.
  • Hex: This Ghost-type Fast Attack now generates energy more quickly.

Along with these updates to existing attacks, the following Pokémon can learn an attack they couldn’t before.

  • Braviary and Close Combat: Braviary can use this attack to make opposing Rock- and Steel-type Pokémon more dependent on Protect Shields.
  • Abomasnow and Ice-type Weather Ball: This Ice-type Charged Attack is fitting for a Pokémon that appears when it’s snowy.
  • Pelipper and Water-type Weather Ball: This Water-type Charged Attack is fitting for a Pokémon that appears when it’s rainy.
  • Empoleon and Drill Peck: Empoleon can use this attack to make Fighting-type Pokémon more dependent on Protect Shields.

 

Phew! Pokémon GO is certainly keeping up with new events and content. Now it’s time to prepare for this weekend’s big event and start plotting a new team that’s battle-ready for GO Battle League. Good luck, Trainers! And remember to have some fun with your Pokébuddy too!

 

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Jennifer Burch

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?)