Come Friday, March 6th, 2020 at 8 am local time, Trainers who have their volume turned up in Niantic's
Pokémon Go will notice the music change from the normal score to the ominous theme belonging to Team Rocket. In the mobile game this dastardly group is known as Team GO Rocket and is still run by Giovanni -- the leader of the group who doubles as the Gym Leader of the Viridian City Gym in the Kanto Region. Come to think of it, that guy really has a lot on his plate -- maybe that's why he looks so stressed all of the time.
The upcoming event will feature Giovanni and his Team GO Rocket Leaders -- Cliff, Arlo, and Sierra -- all appearing at a much higher rate and taking over more Pokéstops. This means the same for the lower level Team GO Rocket Grunts as well, but what is most exciting is that any Trainers brave enough to challenge the Team GO Leaders will have an opportunity to capture any of the six creatures they have been leaving behind instead of the usual switch-up.
For Shiny Hunters there is good news as Shiny versions of the Pokémon you save are possible to find. This means that you could have Shiny versions of both Shadow and Purified creatures as well. In addition, Shiny Skorupi will be appearing in the wild and hatching from eggs - along with a load of other Poison and Dark-Types.
Check out the full list of features below!
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From Friday, March 6, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. to Monday, March 9, 2020, at 10:00 p.m. local time
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Poison- and Dark-type Pokémon will be appearing more often in the wild, as well as other Pokémon that are related to Team GO Rocket.
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We have reports that Absol is one of the Pokémon that will be appearing in the wild!
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Regardless of how you come across it, any Skorupi you find could be Shiny—if you’re lucky!
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On Saturday, March 7, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time
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We have word that another Team GO Rocket global take-over will happen!
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Team GO Rocket Grunts will be making a push to seize even more PokéStops.
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Sierra, Cliff, Arlo, and even Giovanni himself will also be more active, so you might run into them more easily if you keep your Rocket Radar or Super Rocket Radar equipped.
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We’ve noticed that Shadow Pokémon rescued from the Team GO Rocket Leaders have had a chance of being Shiny.
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While the Team GO Rocket Leaders have switched up their teams since they first appeared, during this take-over, you’ll be able to rescue all six of the Shadow Pokémon that Trainers have seen left behind by the Team GO Rocket Leaders.
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During the take-over, you’ll be able to use a Charged TM to change a Shadow Pokémon’s exclusive attack, Frustration, to other Charged Attacks that that Pokémon can learn normally. Please note that if you purify the Shadow Pokémon afterward, it will still learn Return, replacing the attack learned via the Charged TM.
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Defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts and Leaders will earn you twice the usual Stardust.
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Turn on your in-game music—the Team GO Rocket music will be playing!
What do you guys make of the upcoming Team GO Rocket Event? Is there a specific Shadow Pokémon that you're hoping to find a Shiny version of? Let us know what you think below!
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Pokémon Go is currently available on Android and iOS.