'Pokémon Go' Update: Alola Forms Coming Soon
A new update for Pokémon Go will include a feature from the Alola Region. Niantic announced that Alola Forms of Kanto Pokémon will begin to appear in the popular mobile game.
The official Pokémon Go site doesn't offer much information about the update, but does confirm players will be able to capture these variant Pokémon in the future. Here's the text from the Pokémon Go team regarding the Alola Form update.
"Sunny days are ahead! Whether your forecast calls for rain or shine, we're celebrating all around the world by introducing some special Pokémon from the tropical Alola region to Pokémon GO . Get ready for some of the Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region to appear in their Alolan forms! These unique variants were first seen in the Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon video games, and they will make their way to Pokémon GO in the coming weeks. Keep an eye out for news related to this exciting change—and don't forget to tell your friends! Stay safe, and happy exploring!"
Unfortunately, Niantic did not provide a date for the Alola Form Pokémon Go update, but we can infer from past events how the mobile game will implement this new feature.
For those not familiar with Alola Forms in Pokémon, they are variants of existing Pokémon acclimate to new environments and gain new typings. Some are not very different, like the Meowth line turning from Normal to Dark-type. Others change drastically, like Vulpix turning from Ice to a Fire-type.
Similar to type-only events, like the Rock-type Adventure Event, Alola Forms will likely show up with an increased spawn rate. It's likely that types coinciding with the weather won't matter, so players looking for Alola Vulpix or Sandshrew—both are Ice-types—won't have to worry that it's not snowing outside to catch them.
There are 18 Alolan Forms based on Kanto Pokémon. Some evolution lines start off in their Alola Forms, like Rattata, Meowth and Diglett while others don't turn into their variant forms until they evolve. Kanto Pokémon that evolve into Alola Pokémon include: Pikachu, Exeggcute and Cubone.
Similar to Pokémon Go Community Day, where certain Pokémon learn an exclusive move during the event window, Pokémon evolved during the event will transform into their Alola Forms, not their usual Kanto counterparts.
What do you think of Alola Forms coming into Pokémon Go? Do you hope this is a timed event or a permanent part of the game? Let us know in the comments section below.
