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POKÉTOON Returns Tonight — Wartortle Stars in New 30th Anniversary Short

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Two brand-new POKÉTOON shorts are arriving on the official Pokémon YouTube channel as part of the ongoing 30th Anniversary celebration — and the first one drops tonight at 9 pm SGT. If you have not yet discovered POKÉTOON, this is a great time to start.

POKÉTOON Wartortle, Mabosstiff and Whimsicott in the two new 30th Anniversary episodes
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

What Is POKÉTOON?

POKÉTOON is an anthology of short animated films produced by The Pokémon Company, each one putting a single Pokémon at the centre of a self-contained story. Episodes run anywhere from a few minutes to roughly fifteen minutes, and each one is drawn in a distinctive visual style — no two look quite the same. Past entries have starred Scraggy & Mimikyu, Gengar, Chansey, and more recently Gardevoir and Altaria. They debut on the official Japanese Pokémon YouTube channel and typically land on the Pokémon South Asia Official channel in English shortly after — so Singapore fans can catch them dubbed as well. It is one of the most charming corners of the Pokémon franchise, and completely free to watch.

Episode 1: Wartortle — Tonight at 9 pm SGT

Wartortle official art
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

The first of the two new episodes is titled Wartortle and the Continuation of Summer (Japanese: カメールと、夏のつづき). Fitting for mid-August, the story follows Wartortle through the waning days of summer — details beyond the title have been kept under wraps, which is part of the fun. It premieres as a YouTube Premiere on Wednesday, 12 August at 10 pm JST / 9 pm SGT / 1 pm UTC. Head to the official Pokémon Kids TV YouTube channel to watch live or catch up on demand.

This is part of a broader wave of anniversary content from The Pokémon Company: POKÉTOON was among several anime strands that have been revived and expanded throughout 2026 to mark the franchise’s 30-year milestone.

Episode 2: Whimsicott vs Mabosstiff — Next Wednesday

Whimsicott official art
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

The second episode, Will Mabosstiff Let the Prankster Whimsicott Off? (Japanese: いたずらエルフーンとさせるかマフィティフ), pairs the mischievous Fairy-type Whimsicott against the no-nonsense Dark-type Mabosstiff for what sounds like a comedic showdown. It premieres one week later on Wednesday, 19 August at 10 pm JST / 9 pm SGT.

Mabosstiff official art
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Mabosstiff made its main series debut in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, where it was Arven’s beloved partner — so seeing it get its own POKÉTOON spotlight should resonate with anyone who played through that game’s story. Whimsicott, meanwhile, is a fan favourite for its impish personality, making the pairing feel tailor-made for comedy.

How to Watch from Singapore

Both episodes are free to watch on YouTube with no regional restrictions. The Japanese original airs on the Pokémon Kids TV channel; English dubbed versions typically follow on the Pokémon South Asia Official channel — the same channel that carried the Snorunt’s Summer Vacation short. Set a reminder for tonight if you want to catch the Wartortle premiere live.

Event

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

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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

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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

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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.

News, Shop and Merchandise

Pokémon’s 30-Year Pokédex Is Out Now in Japan — All 1,025 Species, One Book

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Thirty years, nine console generations, and 1,025 Pokémon later, publisher Overlap has done what fans dreamed about since the days of Red and Green: put every single species in one official book. The Pokémon Official National Pokédex 1996-2026 (ポケモン公式ぜんこく図鑑 1996-2026) went on sale in Japan on 7 August 2026, and if you collect anything Pokémon-related, this one belongs on the shelf.

Pokémon 30th Anniversary Special Movie — via Pokémon Asia ENG on YouTube

What the Pokémon National Pokédex 1996-2026 Contains

This is not a strategy guide. Supervised by The Pokémon Company and produced in cooperation with Game Freak, the 448-page full-colour B5 volume covers all 1,025 species with data current as of March 2026 — meaning it includes the Pokémon introduced in LEGENDS: Z-A. Each entry lists type, classification, height, weight, abilities, hidden abilities, and Pokédex descriptions drawn from the latest games. Every species name appears in both English and Japanese, which makes the book genuinely usable even if you don’t read Japanese.

Evolution chains flow naturally across each spread, and explanatory columns walk readers through mechanics that can trip up casual players — Mega Evolution, Dynamax, Terastallization, and Regional Forms all get their own breakdowns. Navigation is handled by a National Pokédex number index and a 50-syllable (gojuon) alphabetical index. Price: ¥2,750 (tax included). Publisher: Overlap Inc.. ISBN: 978-4-8240-1717-8.

Sample spread showing Pichu, Pikachu and Raichu evolution chain including Alolan Raichu and Mega forms from the Pokémon Official National Pokédex 1996-2026
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / Overlap

Three 30th Anniversary Art Books Land in December

Alongside the Pokédex, Overlap has announced three companion art books, all due 18 December 2026 at ¥5,500 each. They split 30 years of franchise history into three eras:

  • Volume 1: Red/Green through HeartGold/SoulSilver (Generations I–IV)
  • Volume 2: Black/White through Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon (Generations V–VII)
  • Volume 3: Let’s Go through LEGENDS: Z-A Mega Dimension (Generation VIII onwards)

Combined, the three volumes total 1,500 pages of sprites, 3D models, illustrations, and promotional artwork spanning the full run of the franchise. No international release has been announced for any of the four books — so Japan is currently the only source.

Index grid pages showing hundreds of Pokémon thumbnails from No. 739 to No. 954 in the Pokémon Official National Pokédex 1996-2026
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / Overlap

How Singapore Fans Can Get a Copy

The Pokémon Official National Pokédex is available now at Pokémon Center Online Japan and major Japanese booksellers. Amazon Japan ships internationally, and specialist import retailers stock it as well — factor in shipping when comparing prices, since the base ¥2,750 (roughly S$26–28 at current rates) goes up once postage is added. No Singapore retail or local distributor has been confirmed, so import is the route for now.

The good news for non-Japanese readers: with English species names throughout, the Pokédex is a practical reference rather than just a display piece, even if you skip the Japanese descriptions. If you’ve ever wanted a single book that answers “which generation introduced that Pokémon?” or “what’s the English name for that form?”, this is it.

Sample spread featuring Kyogre and Groudon including their Primal Reversion forms from the Pokémon Official National Pokédex 1996-2026
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / Overlap

The December art books are available for pre-order through importers. With the Pokédex and all three art volumes together, Singapore collectors would have a complete visual archive of 30 years of Pokémon — the kind of set that does not come around twice. Keep an eye on our merchandise coverage for updates if an English edition or regional distributor is ever announced.

Game News, News

2026–27 Pokémon Asia Championship Series Starts 1 September — Singapore Registration Is Open Now

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Singapore Pokémon players, a new competitive season is here. The Pokémon Company has officially launched the 2026–27 Pokémon Asia Championship Series alongside a new initiative called Pokémon Game On!, and registration for two of the four league tiers is open right now.

What Is the Pokémon Asia Championship Series?

The Pokémon Asia Championship Series (PACS) is the official regional competitive circuit for seven participating regions: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. The season runs from 1 September 2026, with winners from each region eventually advancing toward the annual Pokémon World Championships.

This year’s series comes with a revamped brand: Pokémon Game On! — an initiative designed to make competitive play accessible to players of every skill level. The new match-start call replaces the existing format; players at participating events will now hear ‘Game On!’ to begin each round.

Four Competition Tiers

2026-27 Pokémon Asia Championship Series Premier Ball League key visual featuring Pikachu, Mew and Mewtwo
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

The 2026–27 PACS uses a four-tier structure:

  • Great Ball League — entry-level events designed for newcomers and casual players. Registration is open now.
  • Ultra Ball League — mid-tier competition for developing players.
  • Premier Ball League — open competitive events where performance points are tracked toward Master Ball. TCG category registration is open now.
  • Master Ball League — the top tier, featuring the region’s most competitive players. Qualification is required.

Each tier runs two competitive categories: the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) and the Video Game Competition (VGC) format, which uses Pokémon Champions as the battle platform.

How Singapore Players Can Join

Pokémon Game On! initiative logo
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Head to the Singapore PACS page at trainers-asia.portal-pokemon.com/sg/2026-27 to register. Premier Ball League TCG registration and Great Ball League registration are listed as active there now. The official Singapore Pokémon TCG Trainers site at asia.pokemon-card.com/sg also shows the current event calendar and participating gym locations.

A special promo card will be distributed at participating Pokémon TCG Gyms starting 1 September, while supplies last — worth checking in ahead of the season opener if you play the card game.

For more competitive Pokémon and game news, browse our Game News section.

Game News, Shop and Merchandise

Pokémon TCG First Partner Series 3 Out Now — All 27 Starters Finally Collected

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The wait is over — Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection Series 3 is out today, 7 August 2026, and it brings the 30th Anniversary trilogy to a close. After Series 1 (Kanto, Sinnoh, Alola) in March and Series 2 (Johto, Unova, Galar) earlier this year, the final wave covers the three regions fans have been waiting for: Hoenn, Kalos and Paldea. All 27 starter Pokémon are now represented across the collection, each immortalised as an Illustration Rare promo card.

What Is the First Partner Illustration Collection?

All three regional boxes for Pokémon TCG First Partner Illustration Collection Series 3 — Hoenn, Kalos and Paldea
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Each box in the First Partner range focuses on one region’s trio of starter Pokémon. Inside every box you get:

  • 1 special promo booster pack containing 3 of 9 Illustration Rare promo cards (randomly drawn from that region’s three starter lines)
  • 2 regular Pokémon TCG booster packs
  • 1 sticker sheet featuring first-partner Pokémon

It’s a tidy package for both collectors and players — the promo cards are the star of the show, and the regular boosters add a little lottery excitement on top.

The Nine Starters of Series 3

Pokémon TCG First Partner Illustration Collection Series 3 banner featuring Hoenn, Kalos and Paldea starters
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Here’s the full lineup for Series 3, card numbers MEP 055–063:

  • Hoenn: Treecko (MEP 055), Torchic (MEP 056), Mudkip (MEP 057)
  • Kalos: Chespin (MEP 058), Fennekin (MEP 059), Froakie (MEP 060)
  • Paldea: Sprigatito (MEP 061), Fuecoco (MEP 062), Quaxly (MEP 063)

All nine cards are illustrated by Saboteri, the same artist behind the Series 1 and 2 promos. The standout feature: within each regional trio, the three cards slot together to form a connected panoramic scene. Collect all three Hoenn starters and they become a single wide illustration — it’s the kind of detail that makes the set genuinely worth chasing rather than just buying one box and calling it done.

What’s Inside Each Promo Pack

Pokémon TCG First Partner Series 3 illustration rare promo packs for all nine starters
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Because each promo pack gives you 3 of the 9 possible starters at random (sorted by region within the box you buy), completionists will likely want all three regional boxes to maximise their chances at the full panoramic sets. The total MSRP is USD $14.99 per collection box — note this is the US price, and Singapore retailers may price slightly higher. For context, Series 1 and 2 were similarly priced at the same USD MSRP and were readily available at local game and TCG shops across Singapore.

Where Singapore Trainers Can Pick It Up

First Partner Illustration Collection Series 3 sticker sheet featuring all the first partner Pokémon
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Series 3 is available globally from today at Pokémon Center and wherever Pokémon TCG products are sold. In Singapore, major game retailers and TCG specialty shops should be stocking this alongside the wave of 30th Anniversary releases — worth calling ahead or checking online listings before heading out, as the series has seen strong demand at launch in previous waves.

If you’ve been collecting the full set since Series 1 back in March, today is the day to complete it. And if you’re jumping in fresh, the good news is all three series are currently in print — you can grab the whole 30th Anniversary starter run together. The other Pokémon 30th Anniversary releases keep coming, with the 30th Celebration TCG expansion set for a simultaneous global drop on 16 September 2026 to look forward to next.

Game News

Mewtwo Is Coming to Pokémon Sleep This September

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The Pokémon Company has officially announced that Mewtwo — the original Legendary — is coming to Pokémon Sleep in a special event this September. It is the first Legendary Pokémon to bring a brand-new gameplay skill to the app, and for long-time researchers in Singapore, that means one thing: start building a Psychic-type team right now.

Mewtwo Heads to Greengrass Isle — What the Pokémon Sleep Event Involves

The Pokémon Sleep Mewtwo event will be held at Greengrass Isle and Greengrass Isle (Expert), with Psychic-type helper Pokémon performing particularly well throughout the encounter window. Mewtwo arrives carrying a brand-new Main Skill called Psystrike (Berry Zone): when it procs, Snorlax gains strength and a Berry Zone is created at your current sleep research location. While that zone is active, Mago Berries collected by Psychic-type helpers generate bonus energy — and the effect persists even after Mewtwo leaves the party, so long as you stay put.

Mewtwo is classed as a Special Pokémon, meaning only one can be active on a team at a time (Latias and Latios are the sole exceptions to this rule). Full event details, including the exact start date within September, will be published in a future update on the official Pokémon Sleep news page.

Pokémon Sleep | Mewtwo Event Coming Soon! — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel on YouTube

Mew Gets a Second Chance — Good News for Newer Researchers

Alongside the Mewtwo announcement, the Pokémon Sleep team confirmed a separate New Moon Day event that will let researchers who have not yet befriended Mew encounter the Mythical Pokémon before the Mewtwo event goes live. The announcement notes that Mew will be assisting in researching Mewtwo’s sleep style, so having Mew on your roster beforehand may well be relevant to the event mechanics. The developers are also exploring a quality-of-life feature to prevent friendship points from being wasted once Mew is finally befriended — a much-requested fix from the community.

How to Prepare in Singapore Before September

Pokémon Sleep is free on iOS and Android worldwide, Singapore included. If you have been away from the app, now is the right time to return: log back in, check which Psychic-type helpers you have accumulated, and start levelling them up. The Psystrike Berry Zone mechanic rewards depth in your Psychic roster — Ralts, Drowzee, Gardevoir, and Espeon are good starting points. More team-building details will follow once the full event guide drops closer to September.

For the exact event date and any bonus mechanics revealed in future patches, follow the official announcement. Check our game news section for the rest of this week’s highlights.

Guides, Singapore Gaming Scene

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

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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.