Pokemon Go Fest Weekly Challenges, Summer Events Detailed

Pokemon Go Fest 2020 takes place on July 25 and 26, but there will be plenty to do in the game before the big event. In addition to a couple of summer events, Niantic will hold several weeks' worth of limited time challenges in the leadup to Go Fest 2020, and completing these will unlock additional bonuses and Pokemon during Go Fest weekend. Here's the rundown.

Week 1 Challenges

• July 3 (8 AM local) - July 8 (10 PM local)

The first weekly set of challenges will coincide with Pokemon Go's fourth anniversary event, and the theme of this set is skill. Week 1's challenges will revolve around catching Pokemon, so you'll need to throw your Poke Balls precisely to clear the tasks.

If you complete all three sets of Week 1 challenges, you'll earn encounters with Ducklett and Flying Pikachu, the latter of which will be appearing as part of the fourth anniversary event. You'll also earn a Star Piece and other items for completing the challenges. Depending on how many players from each team complete Week 1's set, you'll unlock the following Pokemon during Go Fest weekend as well:

• One million Team Instinct players: Chimecho
• One million Team Mystic players: Alomomola
• One million Team Valor players: Chansey

Fourth Anniversary Event

As previously mentioned, Pokemon Go's fourth anniversary event will be running alongside the Week 1 challenges. Throughout the event, Flying-type and party hat-wearing Pokemon will appear in the wild, raids, and eggs much more frequently than usual. You'll also have a chance to catch shiny versions of Pidove and Flying Pikachu.

Beyond that, Niantic will be bringing back the Jump-Start Special Research questline, which is designed to help newer and lapsed players who are returning to the game catch up with others more quickly. There will also be a special Ho-Oh Raid Weekend from 8 AM local time on July 3 to 10 PM local time on July 6.

Week 2 Challenges

• July 10 (8 AM local) - July 15 (10 PM local)

The second weekly batch of challenges are battle-based. Completing all three sets will net you encounters with Absol and Hitmonlee, as well as a Super Rocket Radar and other items. As before, you'll be able to unlock additional Pokemon during Go Fest weekend if enough members of each team complete the challenges:

• One million Team Instinct players: Ferroseed
• One million Team Mystic players: Alolan Grimer
• One million Team Valor players: Alolan Marowak

In addition to the challenges, Niantic will hold a battle themed event on July 12. The event will run from 11 AM to 2 PM local time, although no other details about it have been revealed yet.

Week 3 Challenges

• July 17 (8 AM local) - July 22 (10 PM local)

The third and final batch of timed weekly challenges will be themed around friendship. If you complete all three sets of tasks, you'll earn encounters with Alolan Raichu and Petilil, as well as a Lucky Egg and more. You can also help unlock the following Pokemon during Pokemon Go Fest 2020 if enough players on each team complete the challenges:

• One million Team Instinct players: Togetic
• One million Team Mystic players: Dratini
• One million Team Valor players: Litwick

Summer Event

Coinciding with the third batch of Weekly Challenges will be a summer event, during which summer-themed Pokemon like the aforementioned Petilil will be appearing in the wild and raids more often than usual. You'll also have a chance to catch shiny Bellsprout as well as a summer style Pikachu. You can read more about the events and challenges on the official Pokemon Go website.

In other Pokemon news, The Pokemon Company recently unveiled a new, MOBA-style spin-off called Pokemon Unite, which is in development for Switch and mobile. The puzzle game Pokemon Cafe Mix is also out now on Switch and mobile.