Tag Archives: Pokemon GO

Event

Pokémon GO Ultra Unlock: Water Festival — Three New Debuts Start 18 August

Leave a comment

Arrokuda, Barraskewda and Cramorant are diving into Pokémon GO for the first time later this month — and Mega Starmie makes its debut the same week. If you are in Singapore, you also get an exclusive Tatsugiri form that players in Europe and the Americas cannot encounter without trading.

What Is Ultra Unlock: Water Festival?

The Ultra Unlock: Water Festival is a bonus event earned by Trainers who participated in Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Global. It runs from Tuesday, 18 August at 10:00 a.m. local time through Monday, 24 August at 8:00 p.m. local time — for Singapore that is 10:00 SGT to 20:00 SGT. No ticket is required to join in: anyone can catch the wild spawns and progress through the free GO Pass track. Check out our upcoming events guide for more Pokémon GO event coverage.

Three Galarian Pokémon Make Their Pokémon GO Debut

All three newcomers are from the Galar region (Pokémon Sword and Shield) and none were in the game before this event. Collect 50 Arrokuda Candy to evolve it into Barraskewda — Barraskewda does not spawn on its own.

Arrokuda official Pokémon art — the Galarian barracuda making its Pokémon GO debut in the Water Festival
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company
  • Arrokuda (Water) — appears in the wild, via Field Research task rewards, and through Rainy Lure Modules. This is your main candy source for the Barraskewda evolution.
  • Barraskewda (Water) — evolve from Arrokuda; does not appear in the wild.
  • Cramorant (Flying/Water) — hatches from Eggs, available through GO Pass rewards, and can appear as a GO Battle League encounter at Rank 16 and above. Note: Cramorant is not eligible for the Competitors Cup.

What Is Spawning in the Wild

Wild encounters during the event include Psyduck in a Swim Ring costume (shiny available), Goldeen, Mareanie, Wimpod and Ducklett — with Ducklett and Dewpider both enjoying a boosted shiny rate. Rarer encounters include Feebas and Clamperl (both shiny-eligible). Wiglett appears more often near coastal and beach biomes.

Singapore Gets Tatsugiri Stretchy Form — Europe and the Americas Do Not

Tatsugiri appears in 1-Star Raids throughout the Water Festival, but its form is region-locked:

Cramorant official Pokémon art — the Flying/Water-type Galarian bird making its debut in Pokémon GO Water Festival 2026
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company
  • Asia-Pacific (including Singapore): Tatsugiri Stretchy Form
  • Europe / Middle East / Africa: Tatsugiri Curly Form
  • Americas: Tatsugiri Droopy Form

All three are the same species and share the same move pool, but the forms are cosmetically distinct and region-locked — the only way to get all three on one account is via trading. If the Stretchy Form matters to your collection, grind those 1-Star Raids while you can.

The GO Pass: Free Rewards and Paid Upgrades

Every Trainer automatically receives the GO Pass: Water Festival on 18 August at 10:00 a.m. local time — no purchase required. Earn GO Points to level up through ranks: Rank 10 unlocks 2× Catch Candy, and Rank 20 unlocks half Egg Hatch Distance. Free rewards along the track include Arrokuda encounters, a Rainy Lure Module, Golden Razz Berries and Rare Candy. All GO Pass rewards expire on 26 August at 8:00 p.m. local time, so use them before then.

Two paid tiers are available: GO Pass Deluxe at US$4.99 for upgraded rewards and faster rank progression, or GO Pass Deluxe + 6 Bonus Ranks at US$6.99 for an immediate head start. Deluxe holders get extra Arrokuda and Cramorant encounters, Silver Pinap Berries, Rare Candy XL and an event-exclusive avatar cosmetic.

Mega Starmie Raid Day on 22 August — Make It Count

Pokémon GO Ultra Unlock Starmie Super Mega Raid Day 2026 — Mega Starmie making its first appearance in Pokémon GO
Image courtesy of Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Overlapping with the Water Festival is the Ultra Unlock: Starmie Super Mega Raid Day on Saturday, 22 August, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time. This is Mega Starmie’s first-ever appearance in Pokémon GO. Free bonuses available to everyone include:

  • +5,000 XP from all raids
  • Up to 6 free Raid Passes from spinning Gym Photo Discs
  • Increased Shiny Starmie encounter rate after raids
  • Increased Rare Candy XL drop rate
  • All caught Starmie auto-unlock Mega Level 1
  • Remote Raid Pass limit raised to 20 (from Friday 21 August 2:00 p.m. PDT through Saturday 22 August 8:00 p.m. PDT)

A premium event ticket (US$4.99) upgrades that to 14 Raid Passes from gyms, stacks an additional +5,000 XP, and grants guaranteed Rare Candy XL with each Starmie caught post-raid. A Timed Research track rewards a Scizor encounter plus a Premium Battle Pass.

Best Days to Play: The Bonuses Escalate

Catch XP and Stardust bonuses increase as the event progresses, making the final two days the most valuable farming window:

Window (local time) Catch XP Catch Stardust
18 Aug 10 a.m. – 20 Aug 2× 3×
20 Aug – 22 Aug 3× 4×
22 Aug – 24 Aug 8 p.m. 4× 5×

22 August is your single best day to play: the final tier of 4× Catch XP and 5× Catch Stardust runs simultaneously with Mega Starmie’s debut Raid Day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you can only clear your schedule for one day this week, make it that Saturday. Full event details are on the official Pokémon GO website.

Event

Pokémon RUN 30 Singapore: Everything You Need to Know

Leave a comment

A 4km Pokémon adventure run through a gym obstacle course, Pikachu meet-and-greets, a free festival zone open to the public, and a runner’s kit loaded with exclusive merch including a TCG 30th Celebration Booster Pack — Pokémon RUN 30 Singapore Edition is landing at Stadium Roar, The Kallang, on 7 and 8 November 2026, and registration is open right now.

What Is Pokémon RUN 30?

To mark the franchise’s 30th anniversary, The Pokémon Company is taking a themed interactive fun run across eight cities in Asia — Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Hong Kong — between October 2026 and January 2027. Every stop follows the same format: you step into the role of a Pokémon trainer, pick a starter type, and work your way through an interactive 4km course packed with franchise touchpoints. The Philippines edition has already sold out, so don’t assume Singapore will be different.

Participants crossing the start arch at a Pokémon RUN event
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

How the 4km Run Works

Before the race, each participant chooses a starter type — Grass, Fire, or Water — which determines the colour of their race bib and the lenticular card they receive. The route features a Pokémon Gym with obstacle challenges and Pokémon Center hydration stations along the way. Carry the Pokédex Run Search Sheet and collect stickers at each stop to earn Gym Badges and lenticular cards featuring the Kanto starters.

Race slots run from 7am to 11:30am on both days in staggered 30-minute intervals. Both days share the same format.

What’s in the Runner’s Kit

Pokémon RUN 30 Runner's Kit flat lay showing jersey, bag, bib, lenticular cards and Pikachu medal
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Every registered runner receives an exclusive kit on race day:

  • Limited-edition Dry-Fit race jersey
  • Pokémon-themed drawstring bag
  • Type-themed race bib (Grass / Fire / Water)
  • Pokédex Run Search Sheet and Gym Badge lenticular cards featuring the Kanto starters
  • Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Booster Pack
  • Pikachu-design finisher medal
Pokémon RUN 30 promotional graphic: TCG 30th Celebration Booster Pack and special edition Pikachu plushie add-on
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

For S$22 more, add a special edition Pikachu shoulder plushie at checkout — limited to three per participant.

The Free Festival Zone — No Ticket Required

Families celebrating at the finish of a Pokémon RUN event
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Non-runners are welcome too. The Pokémon Festival Zone is free and open to the public from 8am to 2pm on both days — no registration needed, just show up at The Kallang. What’s inside:

  • Pokémon Center pop-up store — exclusive merchandise on sale
  • Pokémon Time Tunnel — a walk-through celebrating 30 years of Pokémon across the main series games, TCG, and anime
  • Character photo spots and themed installations
  • Pikachu meet-and-greet parade
  • Nintendo Switch 2 game demo stations
  • Pokémon GO and Pokémon TCG activity zones

Families with younger fans can head straight to the Festival Zone for a full morning of Pokémon content without needing to register for the run.

Pokémon GO Bonuses on Event Day

Pokémon GO trainers get in-game perks while at The Kallang: doubled Incense duration, enhanced XP for PokéStop spins, reduced Egg hatching distances, and two free Timed Research tasks yielding Pokémon encounters — including Pikachu — plus Stardust and Poké Balls. Keep the app running as you explore the festival grounds.

Tickets and How to Register

Early bird slots (S$118) are sold out. Current pricing:

  • Normal Entry: S$138
  • Late Entry: S$158

Register at Race Roster. Choose your preferred day (7 or 8 November), your starter type, and whether to add the plushie. Given how quickly the Philippines edition filled up, waiting for a better price isn’t a great strategy.

Singapore sits mid-tour among the Asia-Pacific stops, followed by Malaysia (21–22 November), Indonesia (12–13 December), Thailand (9–10 January 2027), and Hong Kong (23–24 January 2027). For more events Singapore gamers and pop-culture fans won’t want to miss, check our events archive.

Game News

Pokémon GO: Venom and Vines Is Live — Nickit Community Day This Sunday

Leave a comment

Two back-to-back Pokémon GO events land this week in Singapore, and if you only have time for one session, make it Sunday: Nickit’s Community Day falls right inside the Choose Your Path: Venom and Vines event window, giving you a double-dip of bonuses without having to juggle two separate calendars.

Forever Forward Season announcement — via Pokémon GO on YouTube

Choose Your Path: Venom and Vines (11–17 August)

Pokémon GO Forever Forward Season key art featuring Pikachu, Raichu and Magnezone
Image courtesy of Niantic / Pokémon GO

The event runs from Monday 11 August at 10:00 local time through Monday 17 August at 20:00 local time (Singapore time). The “Choose Your Path” mechanic puts you in control: pick Poison-type or Grass-type encounters, and the game adjusts the wild spawn pool around your choice throughout the week.

Key highlights for the event window:

  • Poison path: boosted spawns include Ekans, Nidoran♀, Nidoran♂, Grimer, Gulpin, Croagunk, and Skrelp
  • Grass path: boosted spawns include Bulbasaur, Oddish, Bellsprout, Chikorita, Treecko, Turtwig, and Snivy
  • Event raids: Poison- and Grass-type Pokémon appear in 1-star and 3-star raids across the event period
  • Field Research: event-specific tasks rewarding encounters and Stardust
  • Timed Research: a story-driven paid or free research track tied to the Venom and Vines theme

Both paths feed into the same weekly bonus structure, so you aren’t locked out of anything by your choice — you just see more of the Pokémon relevant to the type you selected.

Nickit Community Day — Sunday 16 August

Pokémon GO Nickit Community Day August 2026 official banner
Image courtesy of Niantic / Pokémon GO

Community Day falls on Sunday 16 August from 14:00 to 17:00 local time. Nickit — the Sly Pokémon introduced in Sword and Shield — takes the spotlight, with its shiny form available for the first time. Evolved to Thievul during or shortly after the event window, it will learn the exclusive Community Day move.

Standard Community Day perks apply:

  • 3× Catch XP
  • 2× Catch Stardust
  • 2× chance of Trainers finding their Buddy Pokémon to bring extra presents
  • Incense and Lure Modules active for 3 hours
  • Special 1-star Raid Eggs featuring Nickit after the main window (16:00–17:00), with the Shiny rate elevated in Raid encounters

For Singapore players: head to Marina Bay Sands Promenade, East Coast Park, or any of the other high-density PokéStop clusters for the best spawn density during the three-hour window. Nickit’s Dark-type evolution Thievul is a solid pick for PVP in the Great League, so banking Candy XL ahead of the event is worth doing now.

Planning Your Week

The Venom and Vines event gives you seven days of bonus spawns, while Community Day is a tight three-hour window on Sunday. The practical play: run your path choice early in the week to farm Candy and Stardust, then go hard on Nickit on Sunday while the event bonuses are still active. The overlap means your Sunday Stardust catch bonus stacks on top of the Community Day 2× multiplier.

Check the official Pokémon GO app for the exact local start times and any last-minute updates to the event bonuses. For more game news on GameTrader, see our latest coverage.

Guides, Singapore Gaming Scene

Uxie Raids Return to Asia-Pacific — Singapore Guide (Aug 5–11)

Leave a comment

Uxie, the Lake Guardian of knowledge, is returning to Asia-Pacific 5-star Raid Battles starting tomorrow, 5 August. Singapore trainers have a full week — 5 to 11 August — to chase this regional exclusive, and Shiny Uxie is on the table for every trainer who clears the raid. If you haven’t got one yet, this is your window.

Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf in Pokemon GO raid battles
Image courtesy of Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Event Dates and How to Join

Uxie appears in local 5-star Gym eggs from Wednesday 5 August at 6:00 AM until Tuesday 11 August at 10:00 PM (both in your local Singapore time). You’ll spot it by the 5-star egg tier on any Gym — tap in, fill your lobby, and battle. As part of the ongoing Summer Marathon: Arctic Embers event, there’s already solid raid activity across the city, so finding lobbies at popular stops should be straightforward.

Region Map — Who Gets Which Lake Guardian?

The three Lake Guardians split by region every time they rotate in, and the split for 5–11 August is:

  • Asia-Pacific (including Singapore): Uxie
  • Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India: Mesprit
  • The Americas and Greenland: Azelf

This matters because these three are genuine regional exclusives — you cannot encounter Uxie outside Asia-Pacific during a standard rotation. If you want Mesprit or Azelf, you’ll need to raid remotely with a friend in those regions.

How to Beat Uxie — Weaknesses and Best Counters

Uxie is a pure Psychic-type, which gives it three clear weaknesses: Bug, Dark, and Ghost. It resists Fighting and Psychic moves, so avoid those. Its unusually high Defence stat means Uxie hits harder on the clock than its Attack suggests — bring 3 to 4 trainers for a comfortable clear.

Best counters for Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf in Pokemon GO
Image courtesy of Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Top picks for your Uxie raid team:

  • Necrozma (Dawn Wings) — Snarl + Shadow Ball
  • Mega Mewtwo Y — Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball
  • Mega Tyranitar — Bite + Brutal Swing
  • Shadow Hydreigon — Bite + Brutal Swing
  • Darkrai — Snarl + Shadow Ball
  • Chandelure — Hex + Shadow Ball
  • Shadow Tyranitar — Bite + Brutal Swing
  • Mega Absol — Snarl + Dark Pulse

Dark- and Ghost-type attackers are your best DPS. If you’re running a smaller group of 2–3, stack your top shadows and Megas. Windy weather boosts Uxie’s Psychic moves — plan accordingly.

Raid Hour: Wednesday 5 August, 6–7 PM

The Raid Hour on Wednesday 5 August from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM SGT is the single best window of the week. During that hour, Gyms across Singapore will have a significantly higher number of 5-star Raid eggs — Uxie in every one of them. Completing in-person raids during Raid Hour also earns you Rare Candy XL, which is worth stacking if you’re building out a powered-up Uxie for PvP. Coordinate a raid group at a busy Pokestop cluster (Orchard, Marina Bay, Dhoby Ghaut) for the easiest lobbies.

Can You Get a Shiny Uxie?

Shiny Uxie in Pokemon GO — golden yellow appearance
Image courtesy of Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Yes — Shiny Uxie is available from every eligible raid encounter. Normal Uxie has a pale cream-and-blue colour palette; the Shiny form swaps that out for a warm golden-yellow body, which makes it immediately recognisable on the catch screen. The shiny rate on Legendary raids is roughly 1 in 20, so running multiple raids over the week gives you a realistic shot. Raid Hour is your best single opportunity to burn through several in one go.

What CP Is a Perfect Uxie?

After the raid, watch for these catch CPs to identify a high-IV Uxie:

  • 1,442 CP — perfect 100% IV at standard Level 20 encounter
  • 1,803 CP — 100% IV weather-boosted (Level 25, triggered by Windy weather)

Use a Golden Razz Berry and throw a Curveball for the best catch rate. Because Uxie’s IV floor from raids is 10/10/10, any catch already has decent stats — but if you’re targeting the Great League, be aware you may want to trade to reroll IVs, since raid catches are locked above the 1,500 CP cap without powering down very far.

The full Singapore Pokemon GO event schedule for the week is covered in our Summer Marathon: Arctic Embers guide. For more raid guides and Singapore Pokemon GO coverage, check out our Guides section.

Game Industry News, News

Shiny Snom Debuts in Pokémon GO Summer Marathon: Arctic Embers (Aug 4–10)

Leave a comment

Trainers in Singapore, mark Tuesday in your calendar: Shiny Snom is finally arriving in Pokémon GO, and it’s bringing a whole week of fire-and-ice themed spawns with it. The Summer Marathon: Arctic Embers event runs from 4 August (10:00 a.m.) to 10 August (8:00 p.m.) local time and is the next chapter of the 2026 Summer Marathon series.

Pokémon GO Summer Marathon Arctic Embers event banner
Image courtesy of Pokémon GO

Shiny Snom: Pokémon GO World Debut

This is the headline. Shiny Snom has never been available anywhere in Pokémon GO until now. The tiny Ice/Bug Pokémon from Galar’s Circhester Bay becomes available in its shiny form for the very first time during Arctic Embers — and its shiny is a gorgeous pale gold rather than its usual icy blue.

Snom is also hatching from 5 km eggs throughout the event alongside Sneasel, Darumaka, Galarian Darumaka, and Sizzlipede, all with shiny variants possible. If you’re hunting Shiny Snom, eggs are your most reliable route given the random wild encounter rates.

Snom official Pokémon artwork
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Wild Spawns: Fire and Ice Rotation

True to the “Arctic Embers” name, the event splits its wild spawn pool between fire and ice types, with a clever alternating daily mechanic:

  • Throughout the event: Vulpix, Alolan Vulpix, Growlithe, Swinub, and Snorunt appear in the wild
  • Even-numbered days (4, 6, 8, 10): Ponyta and Snover join the spawn pool
  • Odd-numbered days (5, 7, 9): Slugma and Vanillite take the stage instead

Boosted shiny odds are in play for Ponyta, Slugma, Snover, and Vanillite on their respective rotation days — so plan your grind days accordingly.

Free Timed Research + No. 10 Jersey Avatar

Two freebies this week. First, completing the free Timed Research grants 16,800 XP and an encounter with a marathon-visor-wearing Pikachu — a clean event variant worth adding to your collection. Second, a No. 10 Jersey avatar item is available free in the in-game shop for the duration of the event, no purchases required.

Pokémon GO No. 10 Jersey free avatar item
Image courtesy of Pokémon GO

GO Pass Bonuses

The August GO Pass (which runs until 8 September) is active during Arctic Embers and layers on extra bonuses based on your pass rank:

  • Rank 10+ (Free GO Pass): 2× XP for PokéStop spins
  • Rank 10+ (Deluxe GO Pass): 3× XP for PokéStop spins
  • Rank 20+ (Free GO Pass): Half egg hatch distance
  • Rank 20+ (Deluxe GO Pass): Quarter egg hatch distance — making those Snom eggs much easier to crack open

The Deluxe GO Pass runs at US$4.99 or US$6.99 (with an advance rank unlock). The August pass’s featured Legendary is Latias, which appears as a GO Pass encounter reward throughout the month. Check the in-app store for local SGD pricing.

The full event details are live on the official Pokémon GO news page. For more Pokémon GO events, community days, and Singapore gaming news, check our Game Industry News section.

Game News

Shiny Shadow Giratina Debuts in Pokémon GO — Shadow Raids From 5 August

Leave a comment

Shadow Giratina (Altered Forme) is making its Shadow Raid debut in Pokémon GO this weekend — and for the first time ever, you have a shot at catching the shiny version. Raids go live from Wednesday, 5 August at 6:00 AM local time and run every weekend right through to Tuesday, 8 September at 10:00 PM local time. If you’ve been waiting to add a Shadow Giratina to your roster, this is your window.

What Are Shadow Raids — and Why You Need a Local Group

Shadow Raids are a special raid tier in Pokémon GO that works differently from standard five-star Legendary raids. The most important difference for Singapore trainers: Remote Raid Passes do not work in Shadow Raids. You must be physically present at the Gym to participate. That means you’ll need to gather a local group of trainers to take down this Level 5 Shadow boss.

Shiny Giratina Altered Forme official artwork — making its Shadow Raid debut in Pokemon GO
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Shadow Giratina also enrages mid-raid — its attacks hit harder and it becomes harder to catch once enraged. To counter this, use Purified Gems (collected from defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts and Leaders) during the raid to temporarily calm it down. Stock up before the weekend.

Shiny Shadow Giratina — A Brand-New Debut

This is the first time Shiny Shadow Giratina (Altered Forme) has appeared in Pokémon GO. Regular (non-Shadow) Shiny Giratina has been available for years, but the Shadow variant — with its distinctive dark aura and shifted colour palette — is brand new. According to Leek Duck, trainers may encounter Shiny Shadow Giratina (Altered Forme) for the first time during this event window, making every successful raid worth attempting if you’re hunting the debut Shiny.

Giratina (Altered Forme) is a Dragon/Ghost-type Legendary from the Sinnoh region. Its Shadow form carries the same typing but hits noticeably harder in battle, making it a strong pick for Ghost- and Dragon-type raid attacker roles in GO Battle League and future Legendary raids.

Best Counters for Shadow Giratina (Altered Forme)

Shadow Giratina is weak to Ice, Ghost, Dragon, Dark, and Fairy-type attacks. Dragon is the most widely available counter type with the highest raw DPS at most power levels.

Eternatus — the top counter for Shadow Giratina Altered in Pokemon GO
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Top counters (with recommended movesets):

  • Eternatus — Dragon Tail / Dynamax Cannon
  • Mega Rayquaza — Dragon Tail / Breaking Swipe
  • Kyurem (Black) — Dragon Tail / Freeze Shock
  • Mega Garchomp — Dragon Tail / Breaking Swipe

If you’re working with a more accessible lineup, Baxcalibur, Haxorus, and Garchomp are solid budget picks that don’t require Mega Energy or rare Legendaries. Counter data sourced from Dittobase.

Rayquaza — Mega Rayquaza is one of the best counters for Shadow Giratina Altered Forme
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Coordinating Raids in Singapore

Because Shadow Raids require in-person attendance, you’ll want to organise a local group before each weekend. Singapore’s compact layout and MRT network make this far easier than most cities — trainers can quickly meet up at popular Gym hotspots across the island. Check local Singapore Pokémon GO Discord servers and Facebook community groups to arrange meetups ahead of each raid weekend.

Shadow Giratina (Altered Forme) Shadow Raids run on weekends only between 5 August and 8 September 2026 (event window closes at 10:00 PM local time on 8 September). For more Pokémon GO event coverage, visit our Game News section.

Game News, Singapore Gaming Scene

Pokémon Worlds 2026: SEA Players, Free Stream Guide and PokémonXP

Leave a comment

The 2026 Pokémon World Championships arrive in San Francisco from 28 to 30 August — and for the first time ever, they run alongside PokémonXP, an all-new official fan convention celebrating 30 years of the franchise. Whether you are a competitive player tracking your region’s qualifiers or a fan who simply wants to watch the world’s best trainers battle it out, here is everything Singapore and Southeast Asia fans need to know.

Exhibitor Reveal | PokémonXP & 2026 Pokémon World Championships — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel

Four Formats, One Stage — Including Pokémon Champions’ Debut

This year’s championship features four competitive formats. The big addition is Pokémon Champions, The Pokémon Company’s new video game title, which makes its debut at Worlds 2026 for the VGC format. Alongside it, the Pokémon Trading Card Game runs on the 2026-27 Standard format, Pokémon GO uses Great League rules, and Pokémon UNITE brings team-based MOBA competition to the stage.

Preliminary rounds and Swiss matches take place at the Moscone Center on 28–29 August. Championship Sunday on 30 August is the Grand Finals — and for the first time at Worlds, the VGC and TCG finals move to the Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors, for a proper arena experience.

Incineroar faces off against Arceus in Pokémon Champions
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company
Pokémon Champions | World Overview Trailer — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel

Southeast Asia at Pokémon Worlds 2026

Southeast Asia is well represented this year. In Pokémon UNITE, the Singapore and Malaysia combined qualifier sent TeamMYS (Malaysia) through to San Francisco. Other SEA teams making the trip include Team Nemesis from the Philippines, Strong Basketball Player 1 from Thailand, and ONIC Rise and Tryhard from Indonesia.

For Pokémon GO, Singapore players competed through the Pokémon GO Asia Championship Series 2026 Great League qualifier, which covered Singapore as part of the APAC bracket; top-ranked players from that series earned a Day 1 spot at Worlds. For VGC and TCG, SEA players earned Championship Points through sanctioned live tournaments across the 2025-26 season to qualify individually.

PokémonXP and World Championships 2026 logos
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

PokémonXP — Pokémon’s First Fan Convention Alongside Worlds

New this year: PokémonXP, an official fan event running concurrently with the championships at the Moscone Center and the adjacent Yerba Buena Gardens. It is Pokémon’s first dedicated convention experience tied to a World Championships, and it is open to fans who are not competing — you do not need to be a qualified competitor to attend.

The programming spans panels with TCG illustrators and franchise creators, a hands-on Workshop Zone where attendees can make their own Pokémon crafts, a PlayLab for beginners, an Autograph Room with special guests, and cosplay showcases. There is also a pop-up Pokémon Center store selling exclusive merchandise and the Worlds 2026 Champion Line.

2026 Pokémon World Championships Competitor Welcome Kit including backpack, Pikachu plush, cap, and more
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Qualified competitors receive a Welcome Kit on-site that includes a San Francisco 2026 backpack, a Crown Pikachu plush, a lanyard, a Competitor cap, a Pokémon TCG deck box, a playmat, and a t-shirt. The kit also includes an exclusive promo TCG card: Paradise Resort, a Trainer Stadium card illustrated by Naoki Saito that reduces Psyduck retreat costs — and already looks like a must-have collectible.

Paradise Resort TCG Trainer Stadium card included in the 2026 Worlds Competitor Welcome Kit
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

How to Watch Pokémon Worlds 2026 Free from Singapore

All four formats are streamed live and free. Tune in at the Play! Pokémon Broadcast Hub, on the Official Pokémon YouTube channel, or on the Official Pokémon Twitch channel. A Japanese-language stream also runs on YouTube and Niconico.

Be prepared for late nights: preliminary rounds begin at roughly 9am PDT (midnight–1am SGT) each day, with matches running through to late afternoon PDT. Championship Sunday on 30 August starts with Pokémon UNITE, followed by Pokémon GO, the TCG final, and finally the VGC Grand Final — the last match could run into the early hours of 31 August SGT.

The upside: Twitch Drops are active. Watch via a linked Twitch account during the live streams to earn a battle-ready Blastoise in Pokémon Champions, special illustration rare cards in Pokémon TCG Live, and more in-game rewards. Details are on the Pokémon Championship Series site.

Heading to San Francisco? The pre-event Pokémon Worlds Night at Oracle Park with the San Francisco Giants takes place on 27 August — the night before Worlds opens — with a limited Pikachu jersey giveaway and a post-game drone show. Ticket info is available through the Giants’ official site.

More details and the full daily schedule are available at worlds.pokemon.com and pokemonxp.com. For more Pokémon coverage, check out our game news section.

Game Industry News, Guides

Pokémon GO August Community Day: Catch Shiny Nickit on 16 August

Leave a comment

Pokémon GO trainers in Singapore, mark 16 August on your calendar. Nickit — the sly, Dark-type Fox Pokémon from the Galar region — is headlining the August 2026 Community Day, and its Shiny form is making its global debut. The event window is Sunday, 16 August from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM SGT, with several bonuses extending all the way to 9:00 PM.

Nickit Community Day reveal — via Pokémon GO on YouTube

Meet Nickit — the Galar Fox Who Sneaks Into Your Pokédex

Nickit is a Dark-type Pokémon introduced in Pokémon Sword and Shield (Generation 8), designed around a sly, sneaking fox that pilfers food and moves without a sound. In Pokémon GO, it evolves into Thievul using 50 Candy. Neither Nickit nor Thievul has had a Shiny variant available in GO until now.

Nickit and Thievul — the evolution line in Pokémon GO
Image courtesy of Niantic / Pokémon GO

Community Day Bonuses: August 16 at a Glance

During the core event window (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM SGT), you get the following stacked bonuses:

  • 3× Catch Stardust — the biggest draw; make the most of every throw
  • 2× Catch Candy — builds your Nickit Candy fast for evolutions and power-ups
  • 2× Candy XL chance (for Trainers Level 31 and above)
  • 3-hour Incense duration
  • 5 Photobomb Encounters during snapshots

The extended bonus window continues from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM SGT. During this extended period, Lure Modules last one hour and still attract Nickit with increased Shiny odds; you can also make up to 2 Special Trades (one extra beyond the usual daily limit) with 50% less trade Stardust. Field Research tasks are also available — spin PokéStops to earn encounters with Nickit that may appear with a Special Background.

Shiny Nickit Debuts — Here’s What to Expect

Shiny Nickit swaps its burnt-orange coat for a desaturated grey-silver tone, giving it an even stealthier look. Shiny Thievul follows with a cool blue-accented slate palette. Shiny odds during Community Day run at the boosted rate of approximately 1 in 20 (5%), so most trainers should encounter at least a handful over the three-hour window with some active playing.

Nickit and Shiny Nickit in Pokémon GO
Image courtesy of Niantic / Pokémon GO

Icy Wind Thievul — The Exclusive Community Day Move

Evolve Nickit into Thievul during the event or within four hours after the core window ends (i.e. by 9:00 PM SGT on 16 August) to get a Thievul that knows Icy Wind, an Ice-type Charged Attack. Thievul isn’t currently a top-tier raider, but Ice coverage adds meaningful flexibility in the GO Battle League — useful against Dragon, Flying, and Ground-type opponents. At minimum, save a high-IV Nickit for evolving on the day so you have an Icy Wind Thievul in the bank.

Thievul and Shiny Thievul in Pokémon GO
Image courtesy of Niantic / Pokémon GO

Special Research, Tickets and Shop Extras

A paid Community Day Special Research story is available for US$1.99 (check the in-app shop for SGD pricing). Rewards include extra encounters with Special Background Nickit, a Premium Battle Pass, and Rare Candy XL. Tickets are giftable to any Trainer on your Great Friends list or higher, making it easy to share ahead of the event. A Community Day Ultra Box at the same price tier bundles Ultra Balls with the event ticket.

Singapore trainers looking for a solid Sunday afternoon session should plan around Nickit-dense areas — parks with multiple PokéStops like East Coast Park, Gardens by the Bay, or any MRT-adjacent neighbourhood with dense Stops are reliable picks for racking up those 3× Stardust catches. Good luck out there, trainers.

Full event details on the official Pokémon GO website. See more Pokémon GO news on GameTrader.

Game News, Guides

Gigantamax Rillaboom Max Battle Day This Saturday — Shiny Debuts in Pokémon GO

Leave a comment

Singapore Pokémon GO trainers, your weekend is getting a big visitor — Gigantamax Rillaboom is stomping back into six-star Max Battles this Saturday, and this time the colossal Grass-type drummer is bringing its shiny form to Pokémon GO for the very first time.

What Is the Gigantamax Rillaboom Max Battle Day?

Max Battle Days are Pokémon GO’s flagship weekend events — a focused three-hour window where a single Gigantamax Pokémon takes over every active Power Spot across the entire map. On Saturday, 1 August 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM local time (2–5 PM SGT for Singapore trainers), every Power Spot will host six-star Gigantamax Rillaboom battles.

If you’re new to Max Battles: round up two to four friends at a Power Spot, spend your Max Particles powering up G-Max moves, and work through Rillaboom’s massive HP pool before time runs out. Beat it and you get a catch encounter — and this Saturday, every single encounter is a fresh roll for the shiny.

Shiny Gigantamax Rillaboom Debuts This Weekend

Shiny Rillaboom official artwork showing its distinctive lime-green and lighter-brown palette
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

The real headliner here is the shiny debut. Standard Rillaboom has deep green foliage and dark brown wood; shiny Rillaboom flips to a vivid lime-green and noticeably lighter brown — a clean, easy-to-read difference the moment you reach the catch screen. Since the shiny check runs at the catch encounter rather than the start of the battle, every successful fight is its own independent roll. Volume is the strategy — which is exactly what Max Battle Day is designed for.

Every Event Bonus on 1 August

Standard Rillaboom official artwork — the deep green and brown form you're hunting to upgrade with the shiny palette
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

During the event window (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM local time):

  • Max Particle collection limit raised to 1,600 (default: 1,000)
  • All Power Spots host Gigantamax Rillaboom six-star Max Battles
  • Power Spots refresh more frequently with extra locations active
  • 8× Max Particles from Power Spots
  • Up to three Special Trades for the day
  • Remote Raid limit temporarily raised from 10 to 20 (31 July 5:00 PM PDT through 1 August 8:00 PM PDT)

Starting midnight through to 5:00 PM local time:

  • 2× Max Particles from exploring
  • Only ¼ the usual Adventure distance needed to collect Max Particles while walking

Best Counters for Gigantamax Rillaboom

Gigantamax Rillaboom is a pure Grass type, giving it five weaknesses: Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, and Bug. Fire-type Max attackers are by far the strongest play right now:

  • Gigantamax Cinderace — G-Max Fireball delivers the highest Fire-type Max damage currently available
  • Gigantamax Charizard — G-Max Wildfire is widely held and hits exceptionally hard
  • Darmanitan (Standard Mode) — the top non-Gigantamax Fire-type Max attacker and a solid pick if you’re still building your Gigantamax roster

For move sets, Grass Knot + Earth Power is the toughest Rillaboom roll to face. Earth Power threatens Poison-type Pokémon you might bring for coverage, so check your roster before heading out. Tanky picks like Vespiquen and Corviknight lead survivability rankings if you’re grinding high volume across the full three hours.

Gigantamax Rillaboom rates SS for Grass-type attack and tops the chart for damage output against Water-type bosses. If your Max roster is missing a solid Grass attacker, Saturday is the right time to fix that — shiny or not. Head to your nearest Power Spots well before the 2 PM SGT start, stock up on Max Particles overnight, and check our events section for more Pokémon GO events in Singapore.

Is the Optional Event Ticket Worth Buying?

An optional paid ticket is available in the Pokémon GO Shop for US$4.99 (or the local currency equivalent — check the in-game shop for SGD pricing). The ticket is not purchasable with PokéCoins and is non-refundable. Buying it unlocks exclusive Timed Research with rewards of 1 Max Mushroom, 25,000 XP, 6,400 Max Particles, and 2× XP from Max Battles for the entire event window.

Worth it? If you’re planning a serious shiny grind across the full three hours, the extra 6,400 Max Particles alone justify the cost. For casual trainers doing a handful of battles with friends, the free event delivers plenty of value on its own.