'Pokémon Go' Announces May Events With New Shiny Pokémon and Galarian Forms

As May approaches, Niantic has announced what Pokémon Go players can expect in the next month.

In a lengthy message on the official Pokémon Go blog, the mobile game team revealed that there will be a month-long challenge for trainers to complete. The Throwback Challenge has players complete different challenges based on a different region in the Pokémon world, starting with Kanto and ending with Sinnoh. Each week will feature new tasks and in-game goodies to collect.

Players who complete all of the challenges in May will be able to take the final special challenge that will reward trainers with rare items and Galarian Pokémon.

Here's the schedule for the upcoming Pokémon Go events:

• Throwback Challenge 2020: Kanto Timed Research: Friday, May 1, 2020, at 1 p.m. to Friday, May 8, 2020, at 1 p.m. local time
• Throwback Challenge 2020: Johto Timed Research: Friday, May 8, 2020, at 1 p.m. to Friday, May 15, 2020, at 1 p.m. local time
• Throwback Challenge 2020: Hoenn Timed Research: Friday, May 15, 2020, at 1 p.m. to Friday, May 22, 2020, at 1 p.m. local time
• Throwback Challenge 2020: Sinnoh Timed Research: Friday, May 22, 2020, at 1 p.m. to Friday, May 29, 2020, at 1 p.m. local time
• Throwback Challenge Champion 2020 Special Research unlock and event- Wednesday, June 3, 2020, at 1 p.m. to Monday, June 8, 2020, at 1 p.m. local time

Each timed event will feature increased spawns of certain Pokémon and the debuts of certain Shinies. Egg pools and Raid bosses will change, and increased experience and event-exclusive research tasks will pop up during these times.

To honor the "Pokémon of the Year" for each region, players will be able to catch Pikachu wearing hats based on the winners.

Here's a quick rundown of what each event will give trainers:

The Kanto event will see the debuts of Shiny Venonat and Pikachu wearing a Charizard hat in the mobile game. Mewtwo knowing Psystrike will be the reward encounter for completing the tasks.

Johto will see the debuts of Shiny Dunsparce and Pikachu wearing an Umbreon hat. Ho-Oh knowing the exclusive move Earthquake will be available as a reward encounter.

The Hoenn event will see the debuts of Shiny Skitty and Pikachu wearing a Rayquaza hat. Groudon knowing Fire Punch will be the reward encounter for completing this event's tasks.

Sinnoh will have the debuts of Shiny Glameow and Pikachu wearing a Lucario hat. Cresselia knowing Grass Knot will be the event-exclusive reward for completing the tasks.

And finally, the special event in June will see the Pokémon Go debuts of Galarian Stunfisk, Meowth, Zigzagoon and Darumaka. Trainers will also be able to evolve them into their Galarian evolved forms.

Pokémon from the Unova region will spawn more frequently during this event as well.

Are you excited for the upcoming challenges in May? Which of the Galarian Pokémon are you hoping to catch? Let us know in the comments section.