Seven Bold Predictions For Pokemon GO Fest 2021

Yesterday, Niantic confirmed that Pokemon GO Fest will of course be returning later this year.

Following the success of last year's "play at home" event, GO Fest 2021 will be following a similar format.

Currently, details are sparse about the event, so, as I like to do - I'm going to make seven (likely very bad) predictions For Pokemon GO Fest 2021.

Pokemon GO Fest 2020 - DualShockers' Review

Huge Collection Challenges

Collection challenges seem to be one of Niantic's new favourite additions to Pokemon GO. It sees players tasked with catching a set range of Pokemon in return for a badge and some rewards.

Back in February, this was taken to the extreme as part of the brand new Pokemon GO Tour: Kanto event, as players had to catch all 151 Pokemon as part of the challenge.

While it's not crazy to suggest these challenges will be coming back in some way, I can see them playing a major part in GO Fest 2021.

Meloetta

This one is a little bit less of a prediction and more common sense and a nudge from Reddit.

Every GO Fest so far, Niantic has had a featured Legendary or Mythical Pokemon. Last year we had Victini, 2020 introduced Shadow versions of Mewtwo, Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres and before that we both Celebi and Lugia.

This time out, it's looking like Meloetta is going to be the big draw for the event. Meloetta is known as the "Melody Pokemon" and in Niantic's preview image, they have music notes around the event's logo and tell players to "stay tuned".

It's also been pointed out all over the internet that the ribbon around the logo is the same colour as Meloetta's hair, blue spots included.

Generation-based hours

At last year's GO Fest, and many before it, the game was split into "habitat" related hours. This meant, for example, one hour there was Fire-type Pokemon spawning, the next Grass, then Water and so on.

I think after the success of the Kanto Tour, Niantic could look to split it into generation-based hours. For the first hour we get Pokemon from Kanto, then Johto, Hoenn etc.

I think this could offer a really cool alternative to a format that worked so well last year and is something Niantic could be considering.

The other option that is probably slightly more likely is simply switching up the habitats. Last year there was Fire, Water, Grass, Friendship and Battle, meaning there are still tons of options. Ghost, Steel, Dark, Fairy, Dragon etc, as well as other alternatives to Friendship and Battle.

This is extra likely should Niantic be considering individual event tours for each region.

Lots of New Shiny Pokemon

Last year, we got one or two new Shiny Pokemon per habitat, including Tangela, Unown, Durant and Heatmor and this year will likely be no exception.

I'm going to stick my neck out, assume we have six rotations based on regions and am going to guess which Shiny Pokemon I think we'll get from each region. Oh dear.

Kanto - Dressed up Ekans and Koffing
Johto - Slugma/Magcargo
Hoenn - Whismur/Loudred/Exploud
Sinnoh - Rotom
Unova - Throh/Sawk
Kalos - Litleo/Pyroar

Rotating Regional Pokemon

You may have noticed that I put Throh and Sawk as my shiny choices for the Unova region.

The reason being, I feel as though, like Durant and Heatmor last year, Throh and Sawk will be available in both regions for the first time, before remaining that way after the event.

New Mega Evolutions

If Niantic really wants to pack this event, they will release a bunch of new Mega Evolutions (and hopefully also announce a change to the way they work).

This is the first ever GO Fest where Mega Evolutions have been in the game, so it's an opportunity to hook players with this feature.

Some Pokemon I can see making their Mega debuts are: