Niantic's Pinch Perfect event in Pokémon Go kicks off 2026 with a crustacean celebration, introducing Klawf to the game and three rotating Timed Research quests alongside event-exclusive tasks. The first Timed Research, Pinch Perfect: Dwebble, runs until Thursday, January 8 at 10:00 a.m. local time; it is followed by Corphish Timed Research through January 10 at 10:00 a.m., and finally Clauncher Timed Research through January 11 at 8:00 p.m. local time. The event also includes Pinch Perfect field research tasks, a shiny Dhelmise, and a bonus mechanic aimed at increasing shiny encounters. Remote Trading has been released, broadening the ways players can trade during the event.
Pinch Perfect: Dwebble Timed Research is a single-step quest where players must catch increasing numbers of Dwebble: five, ten, fifteen, twenty, and finally twenty-five. Completing the sequence rewards 950 XP, 950 Stardust, and a Klawf encounter.
Pinch Perfect field research tasks under Pinch Perfect can yield specific rewards: Catch 5 Pokémon yields 10 Poké Balls, 5 Great Balls, or 3 Ultra Balls; Catch 10 Pokémon yields a Corphish, Dwebble, or Clauncher encounter; Catch 15 Pokémon yields 1,500 Stardust; Win a raid yields a Dhelmise or Klawf encounter. Dhelmise and Klawf can be obtained through event-exclusive research tasks.
Bonuses for the event include the release of shiny Dhelmise, double catch XP, and an increased chance of encountering shiny Corphish, shiny Dwebble, and shiny Clauncher. The Pinch Perfect event also brings Klawf to Pokémon Go; remote trading has been released, enabling more cross-friend exchanges. Other promotional notes mention shiny Keldeo via Masterwork Research: Pony Tales and the Precious Paths Special Research, alongside a broader set of activities like Go Battle League participation, Party Play, PokéStop Showcases, and Gift Exchange routes. Players are advised to monitor these programs for additional opportunities while the Pinch Perfect event runs.
Klawf, the Gen 9 crab Pokémon, makes its debut during Pinch Perfect. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Klawf appeared as a Titan battle, but in Go it appears in a more manageable form; a dedicated guide is available for players who want to add Klawf to their Pokédex.
During the event, wild spawns increase for a variety of Pokémon, including Sandshrew, Tentacool, Onix, Rhyhorn, Magikarp, Trapinch, Corphish, Drilbur, Dwebble, Binacle, Clauncher, Tirtouga, and Archen. Raid activity follows a similar tier pattern: One Star, Three Star, Five Star, Mega variants such as Mega Corphish, Dhelmise, and others, plus rotations for Dwebble, Dondozo, Clauncher.
A pay-to-play Timed Research is also available for a fee of £1.99 / $1.99 (local currency), non-refundable and restricted to Great Friends or higher. It consists of two steps; Step 1 rewards 9,500 XP, a Premium Battle Pass, and a Klawf encounter, while Step 2 offers another 9,500 XP, a Premium Battle Pass, and a Klawf encounter. The paid research must be completed and rewards claimed by Sunday, January 11 at 8:00 p.m. local time.
To maximize results, players should target completing the Dwebble Timed Research early to secure a Klawf encounter, then move through Corphish and Clauncher tasks before the deadlines. Field tasks and raids offer concurrency with the Timed Research, and the event's shiny bonuses can help widen the net for rare shinies beyond Klawf and Dwebble. Remote trading and cross-feature promotions provide additional ways to engage, trade, and complete the broader goals of the Pinch Perfect celebration.