Pokemon GO Team GO Rocket Takeover Event January 2026: Start Date, Bonuses, and More

Pokemon GO Team GO Rocket Takeover events are rare, as we get them once every three to four months. In this event, most of the PokeStops are occupied by Team GO Rocket grunts, and each of them will use a new set of Shadow Pokemon.

This is a perfect time to hunt for some of the strongest shadow Pokemon and get your desired moveset on them. In this guide, we have listed all the information regarding the ongoing Team GO Rocket Takeover event in Pokemon GO.

Pokemon GO Team GO Rocket Takeover Event Start and End Date

The Team GO Rocket Takeover event in Pokemon GO was released on Friday, January 23, 2026, and is available for 3 days. We have listed the start and the end times below.

• Start Date and Time: Friday, January 23, 2026, at 12 AM local time
• End Date and Time: Sunday, January 25, 2026, at 8 PM local time

Once this Pokemon GO event ends, you will no longer be able to take part and obtain the rewards.

Pokemon GO Team GO Rocket Takeover Event Bonuses

The Team GO Rocket Takeover event features bonuses related to Shadow Pokemon. Here’s a list of them:

• Team GO Rocket Grunts will appear more frequently at PokeStops and in balloons.
• You can use a Charged TM to help a Shadow Pokémon forget the Charged Attack Frustration.
• Pokemon caught from one-star and three-star Shadow Raids during the event will have a higher Attack, Defense, and HP.

Make sure to stock up on Charged TMS, and defeat as many GO Rocket grunts as possible to catch their Shadow Pokemon. Don’t forget to participate in Shadow Legendary Raids as they’ll have much better stats during the event.

Featured Shadow Pokemon

Note:

Shadow Pokemon marked with a * can be shiny

A new shadow Legendary Pokemon is added to Giovanni’s lineup. Along with that, the first Pokemon for Cliff, Arlo, and Sierra will be changed as well. Here’s a list of the Pokemon to be featured in the lineup of the Rocket Boss and Rocket Leaders:

Pokemon	Type	GO Rocket NPC
Thundurus (Incarnate)	Electric / Flying	Giovanni
Hoppip*	Grass / Flying	Sierra
Magikarp*	Water	Cliff
Mawile*	Steel / Fairy	Arlo
Fennekin	Fire	Rocket Grunt
Froakie	Water	Rocket Grunt
Chespin	Grass	Rocket Grunt

Shadow Raids

New shadow raids were added in the current Pokemon GO Raid Boss Schedule. Here’s a list of them:

Raid	Tier
Dratini*	1-Star
Gligar*	1-Star
Cacnea*	1-Star
Joltik	1-Star
Alolan Marowak	3-Star
Lapras*	3-Star
Stantler*	3-Star

Special Research Tasks and Rewards

Players can complete new field research tasks during the Team GO Rocket Takeover event and earn Fast TMs, Charged TMs, and Mysterious Components. A new Special Research is now unlocked at the beginning of this event, which rewards you with a Super Rocket Radar to hunt Giovanni. You can claim this Special Research until March 3, 2026, at 9:59 AM local time.

Here’s a list of all the tasks and rewards:

• Precious Pals Taken Over (1/5)
  • Catch 15 Pokémon: Pinap Berry ×5
  • Purify 2 Shadow Pokémon: Poké Ball ×10
  • Defeat 3 Team GO Rocket Grunts: Mysterious Component ×1
  • Completion Rewards: 1500 XP, Stardust ×500, Female Nidoran
• Precious Pals Taken Over (2/5)
  • Catch 20 Pokémon: Pinap Berry ×5
  • Purify 5 Shadow Pokémon: Great Ball ×10
  • Defeat 6 Team GO Rocket Grunts: Mysterious Component ×3
  • Completion Rewards: 2000 XP, Stardust ×1000, Male Nidoran
• Precious Pals Taken Over (3/5)
  • Defeat Team GO Rocket Leader Arlo: 2500 XP
  • Defeat Team GO Rocket Leader Cliff: 2500 XP
  • Defeat Team GO Rocket Leader Sierra: 2500 XP
  • Completion Rewards: 2500 XP bonus, Stardust ×1500, Radar ×1
• Precious Pals Taken Over (4/5)
  • Find the Team GO Rocket Boss: Hyper Potion ×10
  • Battle the Team GO Rocket Boss: Ultra Ball ×10
  • Defeat the Team GO Rocket Boss: Max Revive ×6
  • Completion Rewards: 3000 XP, Stardust ×2000, Vulpix
• Precious Pals Taken Over (5/5)
  • Stardust ×1500
  • Stardust ×1500
  • Stardust ×1500
  • Completion Rewards: 6000 XP, Stardust ×5000, Charged TM ×3

Field Research Tasks

Players can complete new field research tasks during the GO Rocket Takeover event and get various items. Here’s a list of them:

Task	Reward
Defeat a Team GO Rocket Grunt	Mysterious Component ×1
Purify 3 Shadow Pokémon	Fast TM ×1
Purify 3 Shadow Pokémon	Charged TM ×1

Collection Challenge

Alongside defeating grunts, you can take part in a collection challenge, which requires you to catch Shadow Chespin, Froakie, and Fennekin. Doing so will reward you with 6000 Stardust, 6000 XP, and one Rocket Radar.

That’s everything about the Pokemon GO Team GO Rocket Takeover Event for January 2026. Are you excited about the shadow Kalos starters? Let us know in the comments.