February 9 sees the beginning of a brand new event in Pokemon GO. Pokemon GO Lunar New Year 2021 will see a range of featured Pokemon, new raid bosses, research tasks and more. Here is how the game's latest event will shape up.

Pokemon GO Lunar New Year 2021 start time and duration

Pokemon GO Lunar New Year 2021 is due to kick off on Tuesday, February 9, 2021, at 10 am local time. The event will run until February 14 and will end at 1 pm local time. Things will then switch over to the game's yearly Valentine's Day event.

Pokemon GO Lunar New Year 2021 features

The event will contain lots for players to do over the coming few days.

In the wild, players will encounter a range of "Red Pokemon" more frequently. These Pokemon include Krabby, Goldeen, Magmar, Magikarp, Miltank, Meditite, Tepig and more. Players will also have the rare chance of encountering a wild Red Gyarados, as a nod to Pokemon Gold and Silver.

Special Research tasks will also be available throughout the event. These will reward players with Pokemon encounters, including Alolan Meowth, Galarian Meowth, Miltank and more. There will also be a special Timed Research in celebration of the Year of the Ox, featuring Tauros.

To honour the Lunar New Year, Pokemon based on the Zodiac Animals will be featured in 5KM eggs. These include Rattata (rat), Ekans (snake), Mankey (monkey), Ponyta (horse), Mareep (goat), Houndour (dog), Miltank (ox), Torchic (rooster), Bagon (dragon), Buneary (rabbit), Tepig (pig), and Litleo (lion).

Lunar New Year Raid Bosses

The Lunar New Year event will usher in a host of changes to Pokemon GO Raid bosses.

One-star raids will now feature Meditite, Carvanha, Duskull, Skorupi, and Darumaka. Three-star Raids will include Miltank, Octillery, Blaziken, Camerupt, and Absol and Five-star raids will comprise of Latios and Latias.

There will also be a shakeup in Mega Raids. For the first time ever, players will have the opportunity to battle and earn Mega Gyarados candy.

These Pokemon will be in raids until February 20, at 9 am local time.

Pokemon GO Lunar New Year Bonuses

Throughout the event, players will be able to take advantage of bonuses relating to friendship and trading. Gifts will contain extra Pokeballs, the Lucky Friendship/Lucky Pokemon rates have been increased and the trade distance has been increased to 40km.