Ultra Unlock: 10th Anniversary Edition Is the Biggest XP Window of the Season
The Ultra Unlock: 10th Anniversary Edition runs Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. to Monday, July 27 at 8:00 p.m. local time, and it is the single best catch-XP farming event of the "Forever Forward" season. Unlocked during GO Fest 2026: Global, the event stacks escalating XP multipliers (peaking at 10× catch XP), rotates every starter family with their Community Day moves, and hands out free Golden Lure Modules through the GO Pass. If you only grind one week this summer, make it this one.
Event Bonuses & Escalating XP Schedule
The headline hook is a tiered XP multiplier that climbs every two days, so your biggest mass-catch sessions should land at the very end of the event:
- July 21–23: 6× catch XP
- July 23–25: 8× catch XP
- July 25–27: 10× catch XP
- Starter rotations (all can learn their exclusive Community Day moves):
- July 21–23: Gen 1–3 starters
- July 23–25: Gen 4–6 starters
- July 25–27: Gen 7–9 starters
- Lure Module attractions: Beldum, Gible, Dreepy, and more
- 4× Stardust from GO Battle League win rewards for the whole season
Pair the 10× window with a Lucky Egg (doubles XP) and Excellent throws to push a single catch toward 8,000 XP, exactly like the 10th Anniversary Party formula that worked earlier in July.
Starter Pokémon Rotations & Community Day Moves
Every featured starter during the event can learn its signature Community Day move, which makes this the cheapest path to a stacked PvE/PvP team without waiting for each individual Community Day. The rotation is split by generation so you can plan which days to play hardest:
| Window | Generations | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 21–23 | Gen 1–3 | Charizard (Blast Burn), Swampert, Sceptile lines |
| Jul 23–25 | Gen 4–6 | Empoleon, Torterra, Serperior, Greninja lines |
| Jul 25–27 | Gen 7–9 | Decidueye, Inteleon, Rillaboom lines |
Evolve during the event (or up to two hours after) to lock the exclusive move. Players who missed the Sobble Community Day still get a clean Inteleon-with-Hydro-Cannon shot during the Gen 7–9 window.
Party-Hat Raids & Special Raids
Themed raids keep the XP flowing between catch sessions:
- 1-Star: Grimer (party hat)
- 3-Star: Raticate, Nidoqueen, Gengar, Wobbuffet (all party hats)
These are easy solo or duo clears, perfect for burning the free Raid Passes you stockpile from Gym Photo Disc spins during the 10× window.
Masterwork Research: Glimmers of Gratitude
A paid Masterwork Research, "Glimmers of Gratitude," costs $4.99 and grants a Shiny Shaymin. It is narrative-driven and long-term, so it is skippable if you only care about combat utility. Shaymin (Land Forme) is a niche Grass-type with no top-tier PvE role, so treat this as a collector purchase rather than a meta play.
GO Pass: 10th Anniversary Edition
The free GO Pass track includes a 10th-anniversary T-shirt, a Golden Lure Module, and event-themed encounters. The deluxe upgrade ($5, or instant Rank 7 for $7) adds one extra Golden Lure Module, which is generally not worth the upgrade on its own. Higher ranks pay off for collectors:
- Rank 10: 2× catch candy (3× with deluxe)
- Rank 20: Increased Candy XL chance
The Golden Lure Module is the quiet MVP here — drop it to spawn Gimmighoul and farm Gimmighoul Coins toward a Gholdengo without needing a Nintendo Switch connection.
Best Farming Plan for the 10× Window
Maximize the final 10× XP stretch (July 25–27) with this loop:
- Stack Lucky Eggs via Party Play item sharing (up to four hours each from three friends).
- Spin every PokéStop you pass for free Raid Passes and Stardust.
- Run a Golden Lure for Gimmighoul coins between catch bursts.
- Mass-catch starters in the Gen 7–9 window for cheap meta evolutions.
- Hold your best throws for Excellent timing to double down on the XP multiplier.
Final Thought
The Ultra Unlock: 10th Anniversary Edition is the rare event where free players get nearly everything that matters — the 10× XP, the starters, and a Golden Lure are all obtainable without spending. Save your Lucky Eggs, clear your item bag, and commit the July 25–27 window to nonstop catching. Happy hunting, trainers!
Check the in-game news tab for exact local start times, sync with your raid group, and make the most of this anniversary-stacked week.