Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 5/29/2023

This month in the events for Pokémon Go, the events are unique in that they became linked with a raid of some sort. It's true that the raids themselves may be considered (and have become) full-fledged events, but for this month, it is just as apt to consider them as part of the events rather than as events of their own. Furthermore, this month is also the last month of this season, the Season of Rising Heroes, so it has to tie up the loose ends, and that becomes evident in some ways through the events and what they featured.

Since last month brought about the season's first "signature event" featuring Blanche, it is natural to follow it up with the other two team leaders. That happened this month starting with "An Instinctive Hero" featuring Spark, from May 2 to 8. The running theme for the event was hatching Eggs, so for this event, the Special Research set dealt with doing that and rewarded a special Elekid with a band. Also hatching anew were the Larvesta family in regular (2 km, 5 km, and 10 km) Eggs onwards, as well as Shiny Mantyke from 7 km Eggs; the process came with increased Shiny chance and double Stardust and XP. Field Research also brought about some of the "grown" baby Pokémon. It was also during this event that the first special raids occurred, as the Kleavor Raid Day on May 6. As has been the recent norm, Kleavor (with increased Shiny chance appeared in all Gyms twice over from 11 AM to 2 PM and additional free raid passes were given, and for this event, remote raid limits were temporarily raised. Kleavor seems to be a fine choice to suit the Spark event, even if it was totally coincidental.

Afterwards, that just left the "signature event" featuring Candela, which would be "A Valorous Hero" from May 11 to 17. Candela specializes in (has a knack for) battling, and so the associated Special Research set dealt with battling and rewarded a special Ponyta with a necklace. This event also featured a handful of characteristic regional Pokémon in raids, the debut of Mega Pinsir in Mega Raids, as well as doubled Candy capture, Candy XL chance, daily free raid passes, and Mysterious Components; special Timed Research and Field Research tasks were also available. For this event, the special raids took the form of repeated Regidrago Elite Raids on May 13 as a second take because the first one back in March was riddled with problems for many around the world. Technically, it wasn't a scheduled part of the event, but it still makes sense to include it as such, with all the other battles that went on.

Meanwhile, Team Go Rocket prepared their time in the spotlight, and that came with the Rising Shadows event from May 22 to 28. It was also during this event that Shadow Raids and its related aspects came about, starting with one-star and three-star raids, and this culminated with raids for Shadow Mewtwo for only two days, on May 27 and 28. Other features of the event were more frequent Grunts in PokéStops and balloons, a handful of shady Pokémon in the wild, Field Research tasks rewarding Stardust and Mysterious Components, and a special avatar pose available for purchase. With that, Team Go Rocket really did have some time in the spotlight, as has been Professor Willow's teams and their leaders.

If anything, the few events of this month in Pokémon Go had a lot going for them (including the raid aspect), being that the month concludes the season. After all that has happened during it, it can be said that everyone and their Pokémon really rose up in some ways, and at least some of that should be considered fittingly heroic.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 5/29/2022

Two years ago: The State of Nominations, Part 10

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 5/29/2020

Four years ago: Lure Modules Evolve

Five years ago: The "Attractors"

Six years ago: A Hero Looks to the Sky