Halloween is one of the best times to open Pokémon GO, especially for those whose favorite Pokémon already look like they belong in a haunted house. The annual celebration gives Ghost types their moment and lets other familiar creatures join in with costumes. Collecting those seasonal outfits can become a project of its own, especially when Shiny versions are involved.
This year’s festivities also give Trainers a reason to keep playing after October 31. Scopely Explore has divided the celebration into two events, with a changeover on the morning after Halloween. That schedule means players should pay attention to which encounters and rewards belong to each half before putting their phones away for the weekend.
New Costumed Pokémon Debut
Pikachu wearing a hat and capelet, Zubat wearing a top hat, and Sinistea wearing a bow have made their Pokémon GO debuts. According to the official event announcement, all three costumes can also be Shiny. Halloween Part I ends Sunday, November 1, at 10 a.m. local time, making that the immediate deadline for its featured wild Zubat encounters and free Pikachu Timed Research. There is an important distinction for anyone planning their remaining catches: Costumed Pikachu and Sinistea will continue appearing in one-star raids during Halloween Part II, which ends November 5 at 8 p.m. local time. Players therefore have additional time for those two raid encounters after the first event concludes.
How to Catch the New Halloween Costumes
For the first half, top-hat Zubat appears in the wild, while Pikachu and Sinistea feature in one-star raids. The free Timed Research also awards six Rare Candies and a costumed Pikachu encounter, with its tasks automatically completed for Trainers. Players still need to claim those rewards before the November 1 morning cutoff, so leaving the research untouched could mean missing an easy addition to the collection. The Halloween GO Pass spans both halves of the celebration. Players can progress through it until November 5 at 8 p.m. local time, with unlocked rewards remaining claimable until November 7 at 8 p.m. Those later dates do not extend the first event’s free Pikachu research deadline, however.
For collectors targeting all three new outfits, Zubat and the free Pikachu encounter deserve attention before Sunday morning. Pikachu and Sinistea raids remain on the calendar through November 5. Check the event tabs before the changeover to avoid leaving a Halloween reward behind.
If you're looking for more spooky entertainment this season, check out our ranking of the best SNL Halloween sketches or see how Edward Scissorhands is cutting into Disney+ top 10. And if you're in the mood for a horror binge, From Season 1-3 is now on Netflix.
