Pokémon GO's Halloween Part I is live from October 27 at 10:00 a.m. until November 1 at 10:00 a.m. local time. Players can tap spooky surprises found in the wild for a chance at themed encounters or Candy. There is also free Timed Research with six Rare Candies and an encounter with Pikachu wearing a hat and capelet.
The official announcement gives the research and Part I the same deadline. The Halloween GO Pass runs beyond it, so there are two different dates to keep in mind.
What can the spooky surprises give?
During Part I, you may find surprises left by mischievous Pokémon in the wild. Tap one to see what it gives. The official notice lists event-themed encounters, Pikachu Candy, Zubat Candy, Sinistea Candy and, if you are lucky, Rare Candy as possible outcomes.
The notice does not publish a map of fixed surprise locations or promise a particular result from each tap. Check what appears around you rather than relying on a claimed route. An encounter and a specific type of Candy are possibilities, not rewards guaranteed every time.
The event also introduces three costumed Pokémon: Pikachu in a hat and capelet, Zubat in a top hat and Sinistea wearing a bow. Each can be Shiny, but finding a Shiny is not guaranteed. Zubat in a top hat is among the wild encounters listed for the event.
The official Pokémon GO account shared a look at the Halloween costumes:
Claim the free Timed Research
The free Timed Research tasks complete automatically for Trainers, according to the announcement. Its listed rewards are six Rare Candies and an encounter with the costumed Pikachu. The encounter may be Shiny.
Automatic task completion does not mean you should leave the rewards unclaimed. Open the research screen and collect the rewards before November 1 at 10:00 a.m. local time. After that deadline the Timed Research expires. The deadline follows your local time, so a player in another time zone may reach it earlier or later than you.
Field Research tasks during the event can also give themed encounters. The official post does not list every task and encounter pairing, so check each task in the game before deciding which ones to keep.
Where to find the costumed Pokémon
The announcement lists costumed Zubat in the wild, alongside Pokémon including Duskull and Piplup in a Halloween Mischief costume. Costumed Drifblim is a possible encounter as well. The list is not a promise that any one Pokémon will appear on a particular walk.
Pikachu wearing the hat and capelet and Sinistea wearing a bow appear in one-star raids. The free research gives another listed route to the Pikachu encounter. If a raid is the route you choose, check the raid screen for its remaining time and requirements.
For a different Halloween event on Nintendo Switch, our Pokopia Pumpkaboo guide covers its own dates and activities. Its rewards are separate from Pokémon GO.
GO Pass bonuses and the later deadline
The Halloween GO Pass is a free progression track that Trainers receive automatically. Earn GO Points through pass tasks to increase your rank. At rank 10, the Part I announcement lists double Candy for catching Pokémon; at rank 20 it lists double catch Stardust. The optional paid Deluxe track strengthens those bonuses to triple Candy and triple Stardust respectively.
The pass is available through November 5 at 8:00 p.m. local time. Its unlocked rewards expire November 7 at 8:00 p.m. local time. That is later than the Part I research deadline, so collect the research first and check the pass separately.
Deluxe is listed at US$7.99, with a US$9.99 version that includes enough points to reach rank 11. Regional pricing and availability can vary. The Part II announcement repeats the same pass dates and explains that the pass continues into the next part of Halloween.
The official Pokémon GO channel also has the Lavender Town remix linked from the announcement. The music is a seasonal feature, not a requirement for earning rewards.
Frequently asked questions
What can trick-or-treat surprises give?
The possible rewards include themed encounters, Candy for Pikachu, Zubat or Sinistea, and a chance of Rare Candy.
When does the free Timed Research expire?
Claim its rewards before November 1, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. local time.
Is the Halloween GO Pass free?
The standard GO Pass is free and granted automatically. Deluxe is an optional paid upgrade.
When do Halloween GO Pass rewards expire?
Unlocked rewards expire November 7, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. local time.
