Pokémon Go is launching the Flying Taxi event, which will put the spotlight on Flying-type Pokémon and introduce the debut of Squawkabilly. This event also heralds the return of Team Rocket midway through, with the "Flying Taxi: Taken Over" initiative bringing changes to their lineups and new Shadow Pokémon.
The Flying Taxi event, running until Monday, June 29th at 8 PM local time, offers players the chance to encounter and catch various forms of Squawkabilly. This Gen 9 Pokémon is regionally exclusive, with different color variants spawning in specific hemispheres. Players can catch Blue Squawkabilly in the Western Hemisphere, Green Squawkabilly in the Eastern Hemisphere, and White and Yellow Squawkabilly worldwide.
Exclusive field research tasks are available during the event, rewarding players with encounters. Tasks include catching Flying-type Pokémon to earn opportunities to catch Yellow, Blue, Green, or White Squawkabilly, evolving three Flying-type Pokémon for a chance at Spearow or Wattrel, and powering up Flying-type Pokémon five times for a chance at Hoothoot or Rookidee. Wild encounters will also feature an increased spawn rate for Pokémon such as Pidgey, Spearow, Hoothoot, Pidove, Pikipek, Rookidee, Wattrel, and the regionally exclusive Squawkabilly variants.
Raids will also be updated throughout the event. One-star raids will feature Swablu, Starly, and Vullaby. Three-star raids will include Hisuian Braviary, Corvisquire, Bombirdier, and Celesteela (in the Southern Hemisphere) or Kartana (in the Northern Hemisphere). Five-star raids will feature Necrozma until June 24th, after which it will be replaced by Mega Pidgeot. Mega Scizor will be featured in Mega Raids until June 24th.
Team Rocket Takes Over
Starting Thursday, June 25th at 10 AM local time, the "Flying Taxi: Taken Over" event will commence, lasting until the end of the Flying Taxi event on Monday, June 29th at 8 PM local time. This period will see Team Rocket actively appearing more frequently in PokéStops and Team Rocket balloons. Players will have the opportunity to battle Giovanni by progressing through the "Go Pass: Flying Taxi" special research, which grants a Super Rocket Radar. Upon defeating Giovanni, players can encounter Shadow Reshiram. The event also introduces new Shadow Pokémon, including Shadow Seel, Shadow Hoothoot, Shadow Noibat, Shadow Rookidee, and their evolutions, along with Shadow Dewgong, Shadow Noctowl, Shadow Noivern, Shadow Corvisquire, and Shadow Corviknight.
The "Go Pass: Flying Taxi" is available from Tuesday, June 23rd to Monday, June 29th at 8 PM local time. Players can claim rewards before Wednesday, July 1st at 7:59 PM local time. All players receive a free track of rewards, which includes Mysterious Components and a Super Rocket Radar. An upgraded Deluxe Track is available for purchase and offers additional rewards, including another Super Rocket Radar and more Pokémon encounters.
Bonuses during the "Flying Taxi: Taken Over" event include Team Rocket balloons and PokéStops appearing more frequently. A Charged TM can be used to remove the Frustration attack from Shadow Pokémon. Pokémon caught from one-star and three-star Shadow Raids will have a wider variance in their Attack, Defense, and HP stats. Field research tasks during this period will also be themed around Team Rocket, offering Fast TMs, Charged TMs, and Mysterious Components as rewards.