Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 7/21/2018

I have to make a bit of admission. Things have actually been big (and wild) in Pokémon Go lately, but I haven't covered them directly. At the same time, they're also repetitive and can be considered side effects of bigger things. All things considered, they're worthy of some discussion regardless, which is why it's a perfect time to make one of these rollups to regard what has gone on.

The big thing now is the Pokémon Go Summer Tour, which is a series of three events held in three major locations for Pokémon Go and includes this year's edition of Pokémon Go Fest. The first event was a Safari Zone event in Germany that served Europe. That's big for the ones who can come, but so are the side effects for everyone else. As Trainers around the world and in the event complete Research Tasks, they also unlock experience-related bonuses for an entire week and a special raid event: Articuno Day. After previously appearing as Field Research Breakthroughs for June, the Legendary bird returned to raids... for a three-hour period and in a special manner - ALL Gyms were locked for three hours for Articuno raids. This was the event that initiated the raid marathon two weeks ago, and it really did catch me and my raid group off guard. Even then, it was successful and provided a clue for the next one.

The second event of the Summer Tour was the Go Fest for North America. Similarly, by the completion of Research Tasks all around, bonuses related to Candies and Eggs are unlocked for an entire week, as well as Zapdos Day, which was in fact today. Zapdos likewise was Field Research Breakthroughs in May, so it was another return. The mechanics were exactly the same as Articuno Day with all Gyms locked for raids for three hours. Knowing this, my raid group made plans and routes that would cover as many Gyms as possible for raids. Some were more successful than others, though, and while I caught all of the Zapdos I raided, I was limited by how many Raid Passes I could devote to them, among other things. What was even better was that this raid united new players that recently joined and even reunited me with a friend, who also returned to play Go. The third event has not yet happened, but it will certainly reward Moltres Day... which would be for another event rollup.

Speaking of Field Research Breakthroughs, while April was Moltres (as I mentioned when they first appeared) and May and June were as above, this month is somewhat different: the Breakthrough is for Snorlax with a "legacy move set", including the move Body Slam. This is both questionable because it broke a run of three Legendary Pokémon, and understandable because it does give a break to some extent. I still manage to complete them to reap the rewards while hoping the one for next month will have a more excellent reward.

It really has been big and wild in Pokémon Go, and yet that's not all of it. The wild run will continue for at least the next month, and it may even be wilder still. So before things get too wild, they have to be pinned down for at least the current time. They'll at least be insightful however big and wild things in the game progresses.

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