Highlights
- Pikachu, Ph.D. which was added to the game in celebration of competitive spirit, is only attainable after completing PokeStop Showcase challenges.
- The new Pokemon GO season offers exciting updates like Poipole and Shadow Raids for collectors.
Amid all the Pokemon news that came out of the February 27 Pokemon Presents, a special Pikachu variant named Pikachu, Ph.D. has been added to Pokemon GO. This variant comes alongside the start of a season of Pokemon GO. Titled World of Wonders, it will last until June 1 at 10:00 a.m. local time. World of Wonders has plenty of new updates scheduled, including the addition of Poipole, the poison-pin Pokemon.
During Pokemon Go: World of Wonders, players will be able to complete special research to gain access to Poipole and Shadow Raids, which are scheduled to take place on weekends. During these Shadow Raids, special Shadow versions of Suicune, Entei, and Raikou will be possible to catch, including possible shiny versions. This plethora of new content may be especially appealing to fans who love the collection aspect of the game. While these legendary Pokemon can have shiny versions, there does not seem to be a shiny version of Pikachu, Ph.D.
Pokemon GO Field Research Breakthrough Swaps in 3 New Pokemon
Pokemon GO kicks off the new World of Wonders season by shaking up various aspects of the game, including the Field Research Breakthrough rewards.
Pikachu, Ph.D.’s release is separate from World of Wonders, and it is one of the many new things happening in Pokemon GO. This Showcase update was released in celebration of the Pokemon GO “community’s competitive spirit,” a day ahead of the March update. In order to obtain Pikachu, Ph.D., players will need to make their way to their nearest PokeStops and participate in Showcases. Players who win 100 PokeStop Showcases will then be given the chance to encounter Pikachu, Ph.D.
PokeStop Showcase Challenge Rewards
- Bronze Medal (10 Wins): Headband
- Silver Medal (25 Wins): Glasses
- Gold Medal (50 Wins): Pikachu Ph.D. pose
- Platinum Medal (100 Wins): Pikachu Ph.D. Encounter Unlocked
It seems that getting a hold of Pikachu, Ph.D. will be no easy feat for Pokemon trainers, as even after the encounter is enabled, catching the special Pikachu is not a certainty. There will be encouragement along the way though, as participation in Pokestop Showcases will be rewarded with themed avatar items. The more Showcase medals a trainer collects from this event, the more Pikachu, Ph.D. apparel they will acquire. The bronze medal for 10 wins gets players a headband, with 25 wins and a silver medal: glasses, the 50-win gold medal gets Pikachu Ph.D.’s pose, and the 100-win platinum medal enables the encounter.
The new season and updates arrive with the introduction of improved PokeStop Showcases, which now allow different Pokemon types to participate. Pokemon GO developer Niantic seems like it has plenty more planned. Nearly a decade after its launch, the service is still going strong with regular updates. It will be interesting to see if these updates come with clues to the content that may be part of Pokemon Legends Z-A, as its 2025 release approaches.
Pokémon GO
After a test run via an April Fools’ joke on Google Maps, Pokemon GO was released to the public in the summer of 2016. The AR mobile app saw unparalleled success and continues to be one of the largest mobile games in the world, pulling in billions for developer Niantic.
