Pokemon GO’s Kanto Tour Celebrates the Series’ Roots in 2021

Pokemon GO turns five in 2021, and Niantic is going back to the series’ roots to celebrate with the Pokemon GO Kanto Tour virtual event. 

The Kanto Tour takes place on February 20, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time. During the Tour, all 150 original Pokemon will appear in raids, Eggs, encounters, and evolution, and there’s a high chance any of them will be Shiny. 

But there’s a twist. In true Pokemon style, the Kanto Tour comes in two varieties. Players can purchase a Red Version ticket or a Green Version ticket from the in-app store for $11.99 each, with exclusive Pokemon in each version.

These are the Red Version Kanto Tour exclusive Pokemon:

• Ekans
• Oddish
• Mankey
• Growlithe
• Scyther
• Electabuzz

Red Version players will have increased chances of encountering Shiny versions of:

• Bulbasaur
• Charmander
• Squirtle
• Pidgey
• Ekans
• Pikachu
• Nidoran (female)
• Oddish
• Diglett
• Mankey
• Growlithe
• Ponyta
• Shellder
• Drowzy
• Krabby
• Hitmonlee
• Lickitung
• Scyther
• Electabuzz
• Eevee
• Kabuto
• Dratini

These are the Green Version Kanto Tour exclusive Pokemon:

• Sandshrew
• Magmar
• Meowth
• Vulpix
• Pinsir

Green Version players will have increased chances of encountering Shiny versions of:

• Bulbasaur
• Charmander
• Squirtle
• Pidgey
• Pikachu
• Sandshrew
• Nidoran (male)
• Vulpix
• Meowth
• Psyduck
• Bellsprout
• Geodude
• Exeggcute
• Hitmonchan
• Tangela
• Koffing
• Horsea
• Magmar
• Pinsir 
• Eevee
• Omanyte
• Dratini

Catching all 150 Pokemon before the Tour ends earns players special rewards, though players have until 11:59 p.m. PST on February 27 to catch, evolve, or trade for some Pokemon.

A few Pokemon caught or evolved during the event have special moves they won’t normally learn.

• Venusaur — Frenzy Plant
• Charizard — Blast Burn
• Blastoise — Hydro Cannon
• Articuno — Hurricane
• Zapdos — Thunder Shock
• Moltres — Sky Attack
• Mewtwo — Psystrike

Pokemon GO’s Kanto Tour features two Special Research storylines to follow. Completing the first unlocks an encounter with a special Pokemon, and it also opens the second Special Research. The second Special Research takes longer to complete, but the end goal is Shiny Mew.

Players who purchase a Kanto Tour ticket on or before January 13, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. PST earn a free January Pokemon GO Community Day ticket and a free February Community Day ticket. Those who purchase a Kanto Tour ticket before February 3, 2021, at the same time earn a free ticket for February Community Day.

Those who don’t purchase a Kanto Tour ticket at all still get some of the event’s benefits. The Legendary bird trio return for Legendary raids with their exclusive attacks, some Kanto Pokemon will become more common, trade range is increased to 40km, and everyone gets access to event-exclusive Timed Research.