Pokemon Go contest gives you the chance to become an in-game character

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Pokemon Trainer characters are coming to Pokemon Go, and you could be one of them

Pokemon Go
(Image credit: Niantic)

A new Pokemon Go contest is giving players the chance to appear in-game as Trainer characters for the upcoming Pokemon Go Tour: Kanto event.

Niantic announced today that as part of the event, players will be able to battle with Trainer NPCs around the map, regardless of whether they have a ticket or not. There will also be some special Timed Research tasks for everyone to complete during the event. The addition of Trainer characters, Niantic hopes, "will help recreate the original Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green gameplay experiences."

  • A screenshot of your Trainer profile that includes your Trainer name and shows off your avatar's outfit.
  • A list of three Pokémon that would make up your team. These Pokémon must be among those originally discovered in the Kanto region and cannot include Ditto, or any Legendary or Mythical Pokémon.
  • The hashtag #PokemonGOTourContest.

Before you submit your entry, it's a good idea to think about which Pokemon you want on your team and give your avatar a themed makeover. Niantic says it's judging entries for "Creativity of avatar outfit," "General theme," and "Pokémon team composition." 

"Try giving yourself a theme, like a cool and dynamic Electric-type Trainer or a fluid and powerful Water-type Trainer. Maybe you want to show off that you're on Team Instinct, Team Mystic, or Team Valor? The possibilities are endless—this is your chance to make your mark on Pokémon GO, so have fun with your Trainer character's design," Niantic says.

Here are some essential Pokemon Go tips for being the very best like no one ever was.

Jordan Gerblick
Jordan Gerblick

After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.