Snag the Varsity Jacket Pikachu — Pokémon Go’s 2025 World Championships Event Adds Quadruple PvP Stardust, Timed Research & More

The Pokémon World Championships are in Anaheim this year, and Pokémon Go is running a companion event from Aug. 15–17. During the event you can encounter a Pikachu wearing a varsity jacket, complete paid Timed Research, pick up Field Research tasks, and enjoy Go Battle Weekend bonuses that affect PvP play.

Quick links to sections in this guide.
Event overview and key dates.
Timed Research (paid) and free Go Battle Weekend Timed Research.
Field Research tasks and rewards.
Boosted spawns and raid schedule.

Pokémon Go ‘2025 World Championships Celebration’ event Timed Research and reward

Pokémon Go ‘2025 World Championships Celebration’ event Field Research and rewards

Pokémon Go ‘2025 World Championships Celebration’ event boosted spawns

Pokémon Go ‘2025 World Championships Celebration’ event raid targets

Event overview

The event runs from Aug. 15–17, coinciding with the physical World Championships in Anaheim. Players can encounter a Pikachu wearing a varsity jacket, complete up to five special trades per day, and get increased PvP-related encounters when they win battles.

Additionally, some Pokémon will have or learn legacy moves when caught or evolved during the event: Lapras caught during the event will know Ice Beam; evolved Primeape and Annihilape will know Rage Fist; and evolved Clodsire will learn Megahorn.

Because the event runs alongside the current Go Battle Weekend, the PvP bonuses for this season apply as well. Specifically, you get quadrupled Stardust from PvP and can play up to 100 Go Battle League matches per day (up from 25).

Timed Research and reward

There is a paid Timed Research pack available for $4.99. It focuses on PvP-relevant Pokémon and includes a small item set; however, note that the non-research item value is limited to a single Premium Battle Pass, so it is most valuable to players who care about PvP content.

Pokémon Go ‘2025 Worlds Premium Timed Research’ (one-step)

Power up Pokémon 5 times — Claydol encounter
Power up Pokémon 10 times — Azumarill encounter
Use 5 supereffective charged attacks — Sableye encounter
Use 10 supereffective charged attacks — Swalot encounter
Win a raid — Carbink encounter
Win 2 raids — Lokix encounter
Battle in the Go Battle League — Lickitung encounter
Battle in the Go Battle League 5 times — Lapras encounter

Rewards: Guzzlord encounter, 25,000 Stardust, 1 Premium Battle Pass.

Pokémon Go ‘Go Battle Weekend’ Timed Research (one-step)

Battle in the Go Battle League 5 times — 7,500 XP
Battle in the Go Battle League 10 times — 7,500 XP
Use 10 supereffective charged attacks — 7,500 XP
Power up Pokémon 10 times — 7,500 XP

Rewards: 3 Rare Candy, 1 Elite Charged TM, Battle Tower Leon-style Boots cosmetic.

Field Research and rewards

Spinning PokéStops during the event can yield Field Research tasks. These tasks include PvP activity and encounter rewards, and they may grant the varsity jacket Pikachu.

Battle in the Go Battle League — Marill or Paldean Wooper encounter, or 1 Charged TM
Battle in the Go Battle League 5 times — Pikachu (varsity jacket) encounter
Power up Pokémon 15 times — Pikachu (varsity jacket) encounter
Spin 5 PokéStops or gyms — 5 Poké Balls, 2 Revives, or 3 Super Potions
Win a raid — Pikachu (varsity jacket) or Honedge encounter