October has been a busy month for Pokémon GO trainers, with events and new arrivals keeping the game fresh. But for collectors, few things are as exciting as a brand-new Pokémon making its debut. The latest addition, Minior, is here—but only for a limited time. If you haven't added it to your Pokédex yet, you'll want to act fast before the weekend wraps up.
Minior's first appearance in Pokémon GO is tied to the Orionids meteor shower, a fitting theme for a Pokémon that's literally a meteor. The event kicked off on October 19 and runs until Saturday, October 24, at 11:59 p.m. local time. That's your window to encounter Minior in the wild in its Meteor Form. After that, it disappears until the next meteor shower event.
When to Catch Minior
During the event, your best chances to find Minior are between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. local time each day. That's when shooting stars light up the in-game sky, and Minior's spawn rate gets a boost. Don't confuse this daily window with the event's overall end time—the 9 p.m. cutoff is just for the boosted hours, while the event itself runs until Saturday night.
There's also a nice incentive to keep catching after you've registered Minior in your Pokédex. Each Minior you catch awards 1,000 Stardust, and the event's free Timed Research offers even more Stardust rewards. Just remember to complete all research tasks and claim your rewards before the event ends—any unclaimed rewards will be lost once the clock strikes 11:59 p.m. on Saturday.
Shiny Hunters, Take Note
If you're hoping for a Shiny Minior, you'll have to wait. Shiny Minior is not available during the Orionids event, and Niantic hasn't announced when it will debut. So this weekend is all about securing the standard Green Core Minior and stacking up on Stardust.
Missing Saturday doesn't mean you'll never see Minior again. The game's schedule includes the Leonids event starting November 14 at 5 p.m. local time and running until November 19 at 11:59 p.m., followed by the Geminids in December and more showers in 2027. But here's the catch: Minior comes in seven different core colors, and each meteor shower event will feature a different one. The Orionids event is your only chance to get the Green Core version for now. November's Leonids will likely feature a different color, so if you want the green one, you need to make time this weekend.
For more Pokémon GO coverage, check out our article on Bramblin's debut in the Fall Marathon Buddy Trek. And if you're curious about other franchise updates, we've got you covered with Ice Age's Netflix success and Taika Waititi's Star Wars movie being shelved.
So, trainers, mark your calendars and set those alarms. Saturday night is your final chance to catch Green Core Minior before it vanishes—until the next meteor shower, that is. Happy hunting!
