Pokemon GO Spotlight Hours Are Returning With a Vengeance

Pokemon GO players who were upset to discover that Spotlight Hours were going away will likely be happy to know that they’re coming back with a vengeance. Not only will Pokemon GO trainers be able to find select Pokemon species during the hour as usual, but the opportunity will occur more frequently than it was before.

Everyone has their own style of playing Pokemon GO, but Spotlight Hours can be a big benefit to players hunting specific Pokemon or their associated Candy. Typically, these Spotlight Hours are announced in advance by the developer, but players noticed a total absence of Spotlight Hours set for March, which wasn’t a popular change. While there are still changes happening, some might find they’re for the better.

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Pokemon GO Introduces Even More Spotlight Hours

Pokemon GO has announced a new event focused on Electric types, and with it, the return of Spotlight Hours. However, instead of being held for one hour per week, typically on Tuesdays, the event is being held for one hour every day starting on March 31. Players will be able to encounter Mareep, Pikachu, Magnemite, Chinchou, Pawmi, Dedenne, and Joltik across the course of the week, and there’s a chance for them to appear as shinies, as well. The event will begin on March 31 at 10 am local trainer time, and will end the following Monday, April 6 at 8 pm.

Spotlight Hour Schedule

6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time

March 31: Mareep
April 1: Pikachu
April 2: Magnemite
April 3: Chinchou
April 4: Pawmi
April 5: Dedenne
April 6: Joltik

Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.

Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)

So far, many players have said that they’re happy to see Spotlight Hours back in some form, though not everyone prefers having them held daily over the course of an event. A few notable comments have expressed concerns that the new version of Spotlight Hours make no mention of bonuses that have traditionally been attached to the opportunity, like extra Catch Stardust, Candy, or XP. Some haven’t been particularly thrilled about the chosen Spotlight Hour Pokemon, but if this is the plan the developer has for Pokemon GO going forward, there will be more opportunities for future Spotlight Hours to feature more Pokemon players are excited for.

In addition to the triumphant return of Spotlight Hours, there are quite a few things to look forward to during the duration of this event. Pikachu, Chinchou, and Dedenne encountered throughout will have an increased rate of being shiny. Pikachu, Chinchou, Dedenne, Pawmi, “and more” will appear in the wild, with each having a chance of being shiny. Players can also potentially encounter the same list of Pokemon through Field Research task encounters, with an added rare chance of encountering Alolan Raichu.

A new Pokemon GO Pass: A Shockingly Good Time will automatically be unlocked on March 31 at 10 am, with no daily limit on how many points players can earn between April 4 at midnight and April 6 at 7:59 pm. Completed pass tasks can lead to encounters with Raichu, Chinchou, Dedenne, and Pawmi, plus Ultra Balls and Candy. Those who spend $4.99 to upgrade to the GO Pass Deluxe will be able to get an avatar item, extra encounters with more Electric-type Pokemon, and Rare Candy XL. Completing Major Milestones on either pass will double the duration of Incense at Tier 1, double the catch candy awarded for Tier 2, and for GO Pass Deluxe buyers, 2x Catch Stardust.

While not every player is excited about these changes, the new version of Spotlight Hours should provide more variety and opportunities for trainers looking to fill out their Pokedexes in Pokemon GO. It will be interesting to see how future events incorporate Spotlight Hours.