For a few days, the Pokemon Go Rocket Retreat Event will give have the opportunity to defeat Team Go Rocket and save the Shadow Pokemon on their teams. There’s plenty to do and we’ve come up with this guide to help trainers make the most out of this new event.
Shadow Pokemon are a unique gimmick in Pokemon Go where trainers save these special ‘mon from Team Go Rocket, where they have the decision to purify them or not.
Of course, Team Go Rocket has been the bane of trainers’ existence for quite some time but now they are launching a new attack in the Season of Alola. The Rocket Retreat event will see the return of the nefarious group with brand new Shadow Pokemon at their possession including the Legendary, Latias.
Pokemon Go Rocket Retreat Event Start Time
The Rocket Retreat event in Pokemon Go begins Sunday, April 3 at 12 a.m. local time and ends Thursday, April 7 at 11:59 p.m. local time.
How to get Salandit and Salazzle in Pokemon Go
Salandit and its evolution Salazzle are making their debut in Pokemon Go with this Rocket Retreat event. The Poison and Fire types from the Alola region don’t just have unique typings but can be powerful in their own rights.
To get both Pokemon, trainers will first need to obtain a Salandit. But instead of catching these Pokemon in the overworld or saving them from Team Go Rocket, trainers will have to hatch them from 12 km Eggs.
Trainers can grab 12 km Eggs by defeating one of the Team Go Rocket Leaders while having a spot available in their Egg pocket.
Salazzle, the evolution of Salandit, is unique in that only female Salandit can evolve. By using 50 Salandit candy on female Salandit, the Pokemon will evolve into Salazzle.
Shadow Latias and New Shadow Pokemon
Team Go Rocket will appear more frequently in their balloons and at PokeStops during the event. To mark the occasion, the group will have six new Shadow Pokemon that they have on their teams.
Alolan Rattata, Alolan Sandshrew, Alolan Exeggutor, Sudowoodo, Girafarig and Numel will be on Team Go Rocket teams in their Shadow forms. Trainers can evolve Alolan Rattata, Alolan Sandshrew and Numel into their evolved forms if you want them in their Shadow forms.
One in-game bonus that trainers can take advantage of during this event is changing the move Frustrated, learned by Shadow Pokemon, using Charged TMs. Normally, Frustrated can’t be replaced, but it can during this event. So if you have a Shadow Pokemon that you want to beef up with a better move, this will be the time to do it.
As for Shadow Latias, trainers will have to defeat the Team Go Rocket Boss, Giovanni to save it. By defeating all three Rocket Leaders and obtaining the Super Rocket Radar, trainers will have a battle with him. Defeating Giovanni will allow trainers will try and catch the Shadow Latias in his possession.
Here are the teams the Rocket Leaders and Giovanni goes into battle use:
- Arlo: Exeggcute, Salamence/Exeggutor/Dragonite, Gardevoir/Scizor/Steelix
- Sierra: Drowzee, Blaziken/Lapras/Sharpedo, Houndoom/Nidoqueen/Shiftry
- Cliff: Cubone, Luxray/Electivire/Omastar, Tyranitar/Charizard/Swampert
- Giovanni: Persian, Honchrow/Gyarados/Rhyperior and Latias
Pokemon Go Rocket Retreat Field Research Tasks
Trainers can spin PokeStops during the Rocket Retreat event to get event-exclusive Field Research tasks.
Here’s the list of Field Research Tasks trainers can get during the Rocket Retreat event.
| Task | Reward |
|---|---|
| Catch 3 Shadow Pokemon | Catch 3 Shadow Pokemon |
| Desert a GO Rocket leader | Scraggy |
| Defeat 2 GO Rocket Grunts | Hyper Potion (x2) or Revive (x2) |
| Purify 3 Shadow Pokemon | Sneasel |
In addition, there will be a Special Research quest that gives trainers chances at more Pokemon encounters and items. Here’s the complete list of Special Research Tasks trainers can complete during the Rocket Retreat event.
| Task | Reward |
|---|---|
| Win a Raid | Breloom |
| Defeat 3 Team Go Rocket Grunts | Super Potion (x3) |
| Catch 1 Shadow Pokemon | Revive (x1) |
- Completion Reward - 1000xp, Poke Ball (x15), Rare Candy (x3)
| Task | Reward |
|---|---|
| Catch 5 Shadow Pokemon | Pinap Berry (x10) |
| Make 3 Nice Curveball Throws in a row | Razz Berry (x10) |
| Defeat 5 Team Go Rocket Grunts | Nanab Berry (x10) |
- Completion Reward - 1000xp, Stardust (x1000), Great Ball (x10)
| Task | Reward |
|---|---|
| Purify 5 Shadow Pokemon | 1000xp |
| Defeat 5 Team Go Rocket Grunts | 1000xp |
| Earn 3 Candies walking with your buddy | 1000xp |
- Completion Reward - 2000xp, Great Ball (x15), Rocket Radar (x15)
| Task | Reward |
|---|---|
| Defeat Rocket Leder Arlo | 1500xp |
| Defeat Rocket Leader Cliff | 1500xp |
| Defeat Rocket Leader Sierra | 1500xp |
- Completion Reward - 2500xp, Stardust (x1000), Super Rocket Radar
| Task | Reward |
|---|---|
| Find the Team Go Rocket Boss | Max Potion (x5) |
| Battle the Team Go Rocket Boss | Ultra Ball (x20) |
| Defeat the Team Go Rocket Boss | 1500xp |
- Completion Reward - 3000xp, Lucky Egg (x1), Golden Razz Berry (x2)
| Task | Reward |
|---|---|
| Claim Reward | 2500xp |
| Claim Reward | 2500xp |
| Claim Reward | 2500xp |
- Completion Reward - Charged TM (x1), Fast TM (x1), Silver Pinap Berry (x2)
Pokemon Go tips | Pokemon Go Eevee evolutions | Pokemon Go Great League best team | Pokemon Go Master League best team | Pokemon Go Ultra League best team | Pokemon Go Giovanni counters | Pokemon Go Cliff counters | Pokemon Go Sierra counters | Pokemon Go Arlo counters | Pokemon Go Ditto | Pokemon Go evolution items | Pokemon Go 41-50 level guide | Pokemon Go Unova Stones | Pokemon Go A Thousand-Year Slumber | Pokemon Go shiny list | Pokemon Go XL Candy | Pokemon Go Mega Energy
