Pokemon GO April Events 2021: Legendary Raids, Team GO Rocket Special Research, Spotlight Hours, Breakthrough Encounters, Community Day, And Everything You Need To Know

April is almost here, and that means it’s time for even more Pokemon GO events.

Niantic announced all the happenings, both new and rotated, we can expect from Pokemon GO’s April events, including new Mega Pokemon, Raids, Shadow Zapdos, and more.

Pokemon GO’s April events also add a new Research Breakthrough, and while the reward isn’t quite as Legendary as past Breakthrough rewards, it’s still a rare and useful Pokemon that can find a home on any team.

There’s the usual monthly Spotlights to look forward to, bonus XP, and plenty more in store.

Read more: The forecast is wet in Pokemon GO’s first weather week

Pokemon GO April Events 2021

April Research Breakthrough

April’s Pokemon GO Research Breakthrough reward is Frillish. 

You’ll run into Frillish during Research Breakthrough encounters from Thursday, April 1, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. to Saturday, May 1, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. PDT.

Team GO Rocket Special Research

After obtaining a Rocket Radar from “The Higher They Fly…” Team GO Rocket Special Research or the new Rocket Research task from April 1 through April 8, players can challenge Giovanni and rescue Shadow Zapdos.

5 Star Raids and Mega Raids

The following Legendary Pokémon will be appearing in five-star raids throughout April.

• Therian Forme Tornadus will make its Pokémon GO debut in five-star raids on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. local time and will depart on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. local time.
• Therian Forme Landorus will make its Pokémon GO debut in five-star raids on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. local time and will depart on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. local time.
• Incarnate Forme Tornadus, Incarnate Forme Thundurus, and Incarnate Forme Landorus will be appearing in five-star raids starting on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. local time. Could be Shiny
• Mega Houndoom, Mega Manectric, and Mega Abomasnow will appear in Mega Raids until Sunday, April 4, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. local time.
• On Sunday, April 4, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. local time, a surprise Mega-Evolved Pokémon will be appearing in Mega Raids. It will continue to appear in Mega Raids for the rest of the month.
• Mega Gengar and Mega Manectric will appear in Mega Raids from Monday, April 5, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. to Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. local time.
• Mega Venusaur and Mega Abomasnow will appear in Mega Raids beginning on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. local time.

A Raid Hour will run every Wednesday in April from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. local time and features that week’s Pokemon from five-star Raids.

April Spotlight Hour

In the month of April, Pokémon Spotlight Hour will take place every Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time, and each of these hours will spotlight a different Pokémon and special bonus!

• Tuesday, April 6, 2021: Buneary will be in the spotlight, and you’ll earn twice the Candy for transferring Pokémon.
• Tuesday, April 13, 2021: Mankey will be in the spotlight, and you’ll earn twice the XP for evolving Pokémon.
• Tuesday, April 20, 2021: Grimer will be in the spotlight, and you’ll earn twice the Stardust for catching Pokémon.
• Tuesday, April 27, 2021: Finneon will be in the spotlight, and you’ll earn twice the XP for catching Pokémon.

Read more: Pokemon GO April Community Day features Snivy