‘Pokemon Go’: Here’s what to keep an eye on for January 2022

Niantic is easing “Pokemon Go” into the new year with a January that looks to generate buzz through its events rather than the Rraids, Research Breakthroughs and Spotlight Hours. Those elements aren’t nearly as attractive as they were in December, which featured plenty of dragons.

January’s legendary raids features Kyurem until Jan. 7. It then moves to Heatran from Jan. 7 to 15, Genesect with Shock Drive Jan. 15 to 24, and Regice from Jan. 24 to Feb. 1. Of those raids, Genesect is the one that veterans will go for early on despite not being shiny. That special move will fill out a space in the collection though that legendary raid may not have long legs. The other five-star raids have Pokemon will be desirable because of the shiny chances and it can also fill out a variant collection for some.

The Mega Raids are more interesting with Mega Abomasnow around until Jan. 7 and Mega Aerodactyl making its debut. It will be around from Jan. 7 to Feb. 1 and should be attractive players because of the shiny chances and its Mega form boosts Rock-type Pokemon just in case there’s a Community Day. Mega-evolved Pokemon offer players bonus candy for creatures caught of the same typing. It could dovetail nicely with some of the January events.

The research breakthrough is Onix with the chance of the Rock Snake Pokemon being shiny. It’s not the sexiest pocket monster and perhaps that’s why Niantic is adding the Steelix Mega Energy as a bonus via Timed Research.

As for the Spotlight Hours, players should pay attention to Jan. 4, Jan. 11 and Jan. 25. Interestingly enough, this month has two double transfer candy events. That happens with Solosis on Jan. 4 and Minun on Jan. 25. If players are still looking for space after the 5,500 storage cap, this is the time to cull Pokemon by “sending” them to Professor Willow.

If players are shiny hunting, they should prioritize Diglett on Jan. 11, Plusle on Jan. 18 and Minun. None of those Pokemon are great, but they are good for collectors. The only issue is that shiny Plusle is hard to discern from regular Plusle so players should keep an eye on the variant symbols next to the name.

A LOOK AT EVENTS
With that in mind, the events powering the “Pokemon Go” hype train will be the New Year’s Event, Mountains of Power, Spheal Community Day and Kanto Power Plant-themed celebration.

Running from 10 p.m. Dec. 31 to 8 p.m. Jan. 4, the Pokemon Go New Years 2022 features a bevy of costumed pocket monsters to mark the occasion. Players can catch the following:
Party Hat Bulbasaur (shiny available)
Party Hat Charmander (shiny available)
Party Hat Squirtle (shiny available)
Party Hat Raticate (shiny available)
Party Hat Nidorino (shiny available)
New Year Hat Pichu (shiny available)
New Year Hat Pikachu (shiny available)
New Year Hat Raichu
2020 Glasses Slowpoke (shiny available)
2021 Glasses Slowbro (shiny available)
2022 Glasses Slowking
Party Hat Gengar (shiny available)
New Year’s Hat Hoothoot (shiny available)
Party Hat Wurmple (shiny available)
Party Hat Wobbuffet (shiny available)

What’s notable about these is that Hoothoot will be shiny for the first time and it’s shiny form will be available after the event ends sans hat. Party Hat Pokemon also make their return. They were last seen during the celebration marking Pokemon Day in 2020, using Gengar and Nidorino. The two Pokemon were shown in the introduction to the original. This time around, the party hat is on the Kanto starters. This is a great time for collectors as most of these Pokemon appear just once a year.

Players can get the Pikachu, Slowpoke, Hoothoot and Wurmple in the wild. In addition, players can find Seel and Stantler, which both can be shiny. Loudred and Fearow are also available but they’re not shiny and not all that great.

The One-Star Raid situation is more attractive with a Slowpoke, Hoothoot, Wobbuffet and Mawile in the mix. They can all be shiny and all but Mawile will have costumes. They’re a good alternative if players are tired of raiding Kyurem. Three-Star raiders should focus on Raticate, Nidirono and Gengar if they want to complete a set of shiny costumed Pokemon. That’s an opportunity to get one.

The Field Research tasks will reward players with Slowpoke and Hoothoot. Those are valuable for shiny hunters. The harder tasks to find will be the ones that reward players with encounters for the Party Hat Kanto starters.

The hardest shinies to get will come via 7km eggs. Obtained via gifts, these eggs will reward players with the Party Hat Kanto starters, Slowpoke, Hoothoot or Wurmple but the real prize is New Year Hat Pichu, which will be the rarest of the bunch.