Ultra Unlock 10th Anniversary Event: 10× Catch XP & Starter Bonanza
The Pokémon GO Ultra Unlock 10th Anniversary Edition is shaping up to be the most XP‑rich event the game has ever seen. Running from July 21 10:00 a.m. to July 27 8:00 p.m., the celebration is split into three escalating phases, each delivering higher catch‑XP multipliers and a fresh roster of starter Pokémon. Whether you’re chasing level 80, hunting shiny Shaymin, or stocking up on mega‑evolution candy, this guide breaks down everything you need to know.
Event Schedule & XP Multipliers
| Phase | Dates & Times | Catch‑XP Bonus | Wild Starters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | July 21 10:00 a.m. – July 23 10:00 a.m. | 6× | Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile, Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip |
| Phase 2 | July 23 10:00 a.m. – July 25 10:00 a.m. | 8× | Turtwig, Chimchar, Piplup, Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott, Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie |
| Phase 3 | July 25 10:00 a.m. – July 27 8:00 p.m. | 10× | Rowlet, Litten, Popplio, Grookey, Scorbunny, Sobble, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Quaxly |
All starters can appear with the special team‑background matching your current team (Instinct, Mystic, Valor).
How the XP Math Works
- Base excellent‑throw catch = 1,000 XP.
- With a Lucky Egg → 2,000 XP.
- Apply the event multiplier:
- 6× = 12,000 XP per excellent catch.
- 8× = 16,000 XP.
- 10× = 20,000 XP (equivalent to a Legendary Raid).
Reaching level 80 requires ~176 million XP. At 10× with a Lucky Egg, you’d need roughly 1,300 excellent throws per day across the seven‑day window—an ambitious but theoretically possible grind for dedicated players.
Tips for Landing Excellent Throws
- Ice‑Burn Adventure Effect – slows the catch ring and adds a catch multiplier.
- Free Shock Adventure Effect – prevents the Pokémon from jumping and adds a catch multiplier.
- Use Pinap or Silver Pinap berries to double (or 2.34×) candy while you’re at it.
Featured Starter Pokémon & Why They Matter
| Starter | Final Evolution | Mega / Special Form | Current Meta Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treecko → Sceptile | Mega Sceptile (Bullet Seed + Frenzy Plant) | #1 Grass attacker | |
| Grookey → Rillaboom | G‑Max Rillaboom (returns Aug 1) | #11 Grass attacker | |
| Charmander → Charizard | Mega Charizard Y | #2 Fire attacker | |
| Torchic → Blaziken | Mega Blaziken | #3 Fire & #3 Fighting attacker | |
| Mudkip → Swampert | Mega Swampert | #2 Water attacker | |
| Sobble → Inteleon | – | #12 Water attacker | |
| Beldum (Lure) → Metagross | Mega Metagross (Bullet Punch + Meteor Mash) | #4 Steel attacker; #3 Master League | |
| Gible (Lure) → Garchomp | Mega Garchomp | #3 Dragon, #2 Ground attacker; #23 Master League | |
| Venusaur (Lure) → Venusaur | Mega Venusaur | #2 Grass attacker | |
| Chespin → Chesnaught | Future Mega Chesnaught | Projected #3 Grass attacker | |
| Squirtle → Blastoise | Mega Blastoise | #4 Water attacker; Great/Ultra League relevance | |
| Totodile → Feraligatr | Future Mega Feraligatr | Projected #2 Water attacker | |
| Piplup → Empoleon | – | #5 Great League, #9 Master League | |
| Froakie → Greninja | Future Mega Greninja (Water Shuriken + Hydro Cannon) | Projected #3 Water attacker | |
| Chikorita → Meganium | Future Mega Meganium | Projected #1 Grass attacker | |
| Tepig → Emboar | Future Mega Emboar | Projected #8 Fire attacker | |
| Fennekin → Delphox | Future Mega Delphox | Projected #1 Fire attacker |
All grass, fire, and water starters gain their Community‑Day legacy moves (Frenzy Plant, Blast Burn, Hydro Cannon) when evolved during the event.
Raid Bosses & Mega Raids
| Tier | Bosses (Party‑Hat Variants) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1‑Star | Grimer (party hat) | – |
| 3‑Star | Raticate, Nidorino, Gengar, Wobbuffet (all party hats) | – |
| 5‑Star | Kyogre → Solgaleo (shiny now available) | Solgaleo can be fused with Cosmog for Dusk Mane Necrozma; keep shiny Solgaleo unfused. |
| Mega | Mega Sceptile → Mega Salamence | Mega Sceptile = #1 Grass attacker; Mega Salamence = #4 Dragon / #6 Dark attacker. |
| Shadow 5‑Star | Shadow Palkia | – |
Special Research & Free Rewards
- Shiny Shaymin Masterwork Research – $5 USD (one‑time purchase). Complete the research to encounter shiny Shaymin.
- Professor Willow Mini‑Event (July 21 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.) – Debut of Professor Willow’s Assistant Pikachu in raids, timed research (Pikachu encounter, Lucky Egg, Star Piece), and field research yielding PokéCoins, Lucky Eggs, and Pikachu encounters.
- Free Go Fest 10th Anniversary Track – Rank 10: 2× catch candy; Rank 20: ↑ XL‑candy chance + 10th‑Anniversary Tee + Golden Lure Module.
- Deluxe Track ($5) – Rank 10: 3× catch candy; extra Golden Lure Module + more encounters.
Lure Spawns & Pseudo‑Legendaries
Purple Lure Modules attract Beldum, Gible, Dreepy plus “and more” – expect pseudo‑legendaries such as Dratini, Larvitar, Jangmo‑o, Frigibax, etc.
Trading & Candy‑XL Strategies
- Trade for extra candy – each trade yields 1 candy; >100 km distance guarantees 1 XL candy + 2 regular candies.
- Friendship Fridays (every Friday) – trades cost 20 % less Stardust, allow 2 extra special trades, grant 2 guaranteed XL candies per trade, and boost lucky‑trade odds.
- July Go Pass Rank 1+ – +1 candy per trade.
- Mega‑evolve Primal Groudon during the event for +2 candy & extra XL candy on grass‑ and fire‑type catches (covers two of the three starter types).
Weekly Bonus Events Inside the Ultra Unlock
| Day | Event | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Showcase Tuesday | Up to 5 showcases → Lures, Lucky Eggs, Star Pieces, Egg Incubators. |
| Wednesday | Solgaleo Raid Hour (July 22, 6‑7 p.m.) | All raids = Solgaleo (shiny hunt). |
| Thursday | Go Battle Thursday | 50 battles, 4× win rewards (Stardust, rank progress). |
| Thursday | Eevee Spotlight Hour (6‑7 p.m.) | 2× catch XP (may not stack with event multiplier). |
Pro tip: Activate Lucky Eggs via Party Play – sharing a Lucky Egg with three friends gives each participant 4 hours of double XP.
Go Fest Makeup Day (July 26)
For players affected by Day 2 technical issues (Asia‑Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Europe up to UTC +0), a raid‑only repeat runs 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
- 9 free raid passes.
- 5‑star & Mega raids have a chance at a special background.
- Premier Balls get a higher catch rate.
- Deluxe Road‑to‑Legends bonuses carry over.
- No remote‑raid limit from July 25 1:00 p.m. to July 26 12:00 p.m., allowing anyone to remote‑raid into the makeup day.
Why this is important and Why you must play it
The Ultra Unlock 10th Anniversary Edition delivers an unprecedented XP surge, a full roster of every starter line, and a treasure trove of raid, research, and trading opportunities. Whether you’re aiming for level 80, hunting shiny Shaymin, or prepping mega‑evolutions for the next meta, the next seven days are your golden window.
Ready to maximize your gains?
- Stock up on Lucky Eggs and Pinap Berries.
- Set your Adventure Effects (Ice‑Burn, Free Shock) before each session.
- Coordinate Party Play with friends for shared Lucky Eggs.
- Schedule trades on Friday for XL‑candy bursts.
- Join the Solgaleo Raid Hour and Showcase Tuesday for free premium items.
Jump in, catch those starters, and let the XP flood in—this event won’t be repeated anytime soon!