Pokemon GO Reveals Electric-Type Global Challenge Event

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Pokemon GO is hosting a new event called the High Zaptitude Global Challenge! Players will get a chance to catch the rare, shiny Tadbulb. Plus, the event introduces Wattrel and its evolved form, Kilowattrel, which are new Pokemon from the Paldea region.

Wattrel, also called the Storm Petrel Pokemon, was introduced in the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet games. Both Wattrel and its evolved form, Kilowattrel, are Electric/Flying types known for their powerful special attacks and speed. These Pokemon are commonly found near the coasts and sandy areas of the Paldea region. Although they can learn strong moves like Volt Switch, Hurricane, and Air Slash, Wattrel and Kilowattrel are considered to be offensively powerful but defensively weak – meaning they aren’t among the most durable Electric-type Pokemon. While many Pokemon from Paldea have already been added to Pokemon GO, Wattrel and Kilowattrel will make their first appearance in the mobile game with an upcoming event.

High Zaptitude Event Introduces Wattrel and Kilowattrel to Pokemon GO This January

Once the current Pinch Perfect event ends in Pokemon GO, a new challenge called High Zaptitude will begin as part of the Precious Paths season. It starts on Tuesday, January 13th at 10:00 AM and runs until Sunday, January 18th at 8:00 PM (both times are local). During the event, you’ll have a better chance of hatching a Shiny Tadbulb from any Pokemon egg, even those that require 2 kilometers of walking. There will also be Global Challenges with bonus rewards for completing tasks. As a first reward, you’ll earn double experience points for catching Pokemon!

Image via Pokemon GO

During the Level 2 rewards phase, trainers will earn twice as much Stardust and have the opportunity to find Wattrel and Kilowattrel in the wild and through Field Research. The High Zaptitude event introduces Wattrel to Pokemon GO for the first time. Once you catch a Wattrel, you’ll need 50 Wattrel Candies to evolve it into Kilowattrel. Level 3 rewards will also double the experience points and Stardust earned from hatching Eggs.

Pokemon GO High Zaptitude Global Challenge Rewards (January 13 to 18, 2026)

Level 1

  • 2x XP for Catching Pokemon

Level 2

  • 2x XP Stardust for Catching Pokemon
  • Wattrel and Kilowattrel Field Research and Wild Encounters

Level 3

  • 2x XP for Hatching Pokemon
  • 2x Stardust for Hatching Pokemon

During the High Zaptitude event, you’ll have a better chance of finding Shiny Tadbulb, along with other Electric-type Pokémon like Chinchou, Shinx, and Helioptile appearing more often in the wild. Every Electric-type Pokémon found in the wild will also have a higher chance of being Shiny! When you hatch 2 km eggs, you might get Pichu, Elekid, or Toxel – and these Pokémon can be Shiny too. A special Timed Research will be available for $1.99 to speed up egg hatching. Plus, there will be Field Research tasks to complete during the event. This event runs alongside the January 2026 Pokémon GO Pass event, which gives you a chance to catch a Shiny Dialga and earn rewards like the Lucky Trinket.

Pokemon with Increased Shiny Odds During High Zaptitude

2 km Eggs

  • Tadbulb
  • Pichu
  • Elekid
  • Toxel

Wild Encounters

  • Shinx
  • Tadbulb
  • Chinchou
  • Helioptile

The upcoming High Zaptitude event in Pokemon GO is a great opportunity for players to catch more Shiny Pokemon, starting January 13th. Even though Pokemon GO is nearing the point of having completed its Pokedex, the Pokemon Day celebrations might give players a preview of what’s coming next for the game. With both the 10th anniversary of Pokemon GO and the 30th anniversary of the Pokemon franchise happening in 2026, we can expect special events to celebrate these milestones.

With the game’s anniversary coming up and the possibility of new Pokémon being added later this year, Pokémon GO players are hoping Scopely will introduce some improvements to enhance the overall experience. Now that 2026 is here, it remains to be seen what The Pokémon Company and Scopely have planned for the future of Pokémon GO.

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2026-01-06 02:04