Pokémon GO’s 8th Anniversary Celebration is here, and Niantic is marking the occasion with a few collectible twists. Chief among them is the first-ever appearance of Shiny Gimmighoul in its Roaming Form, available exclusively through Coin Bags opened during the event.
The party doesn’t stop there. This year’s anniversary event is packed with daily shifting features, including changing wild spawns, featured Pokémon wearing party hats, and a handful of temporary bonuses that rotate every 24 hours.
Shiny Gimmighoul makes its debut in Coin Bags
For collectors and Shiny hunters, the big news is the addition of Shiny Gimmighoul. It’s available in Roaming Form, but only if you activate a Coin Bag during the event window. Gimmighoul itself still doesn’t appear in the wild like other Pokémon, so Coin Bags remain the only method of encounter.
The odds are boosted compared to regular Shiny rates, but not guaranteed. And the twist this time is that Gimmighoul shows up wearing a special party hat costume, meaning this is a one-time visual variant for those paying attention to exclusivity.
Coin Bags still require the same mechanics as before: connect Pokémon GO to Pokémon Scarlet or Violet on Switch, transfer a postcard, and the bag activates.
Rotating bonuses change gameplay each day
One of the more active parts of this year’s celebration is how the event shifts daily. Each day from July 6 through July 10 features its own bonus set and targeted Pokémon spawns. For example, some days focus on starters like Bulbasaur and Torchic, while others bring in Pikachu, Eevee, and other core favorites with party hats.
The rotating bonuses affect gameplay systems, not just encounters. One day may boost XP from catching, while another boosts Stardust or decreases Egg hatch distance. It encourages checking in daily rather than playing once and logging off.
It’s a structure that’s popped up in other events recently, but here it fits the anniversary format. Daily variation keeps things fresh across the five-day span, even if the core content—costumed Pokémon and limited Shinies—remains familiar.
Costumed Pokémon return with visual flair
Party Hat Pokémon are a recurring event trend in GO, and this anniversary adds more to the collection. Wartortle and Charmeleon can now evolve while wearing party hats, which is a first. Until now, many costume-wearing Pokémon were stuck in their base forms due to limitations on evolution.
Pikachu with a cake-themed hat also appears again, alongside returning party-costumed favorites. These Pokémon aren’t functionally different in battle, but they remain collectible due to their event-limited availability and the way costumes aren’t transferable through Home.
The decision to let Wartortle and Charmeleon evolve while keeping their hats might seem small, but for collectors who value visual rarity, it’s a subtle yet meaningful change.
Event runs July 6–10 with limited-time availability
The 8th Anniversary Celebration kicks off on July 6 and wraps up July 10. That gives a short window to grab costumed evolutions, Shiny Gimmighoul, and take advantage of the rotating bonuses.
This is one of the smaller-scale anniversary events compared to years past, but the structure shows Niantic leaning more into time-gated features and player-driven scheduling. The content may not break new ground, but for longtime players chasing exclusives, there’s enough here to keep things moving without stretching the format too far.
Mobile Game Addict & Casual Gaming Critic
She’s played more mobile games than most people have downloaded. TAPTAPTAP is fast, fierce, and funny — reviewing the latest hypercasual hits, idle clickers, and gacha grinds with real talk and zero fluff.
