Pokémon Go is celebrating the past 20 years of Pokémon history with a series of Throwback Challenge 2020 events. These events focus on the oldest regions of the game, respectively, the Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and the Sinnoh region from the original games. During these events, you can expect week-long rewards and special encounters, such as finding more Pokémon commonly found in those regions wandering the wild. That includes legendary Pokémon.
For those interested in adding new Pokémon to their roster, you can potentially capture Ho-Oh during the Johto Throwback Challenge 2020. The Johto-based research tasks are available starting May 7. Like every research task, there are three different ones offered in sets of eight, so a total of 24 research tasks to complete during the week-long event.
Here are all of the tasks you need to do before capturing Ho-Oh.
Task 1
- Catch 3 Fire, Grass, or Water-type Pokémon – 10 PokéBallsSend a gift to a friend – Dunsparce encounterCatch a Flying-type Pokémon – 500 StardustTotal rewards: 1 Silver Pinap, 2 Golden Razz, Xatu Encounter
Task 2
- Give your buddy 3 treats – 5 RazzberriesPlay with your buddy – Spinarak EncounterCatch a Bug-type Pokémon – 500 StardustTotal rewards: 1 Silver Pinap Berry, 2 Golden Razzberry, Pineco Encounter
Task 3
- Make 3 Great throws – 1 Charge TMHatch an Egg – Snubbul EncounterCatch a Normal-type Pokémon – 500 StardustTotal rewards: 1 Silver Pinap Berry, a Miltank Encounter, and 2 Golden Razzberries
Task 4
- Evolve a Pokémon – Sudowoodo encounterCatch 5 different species of Pokémon – 10 Great BallsCatch a Ghost-type Pokémon – 500 StardustTotal rewards: 1 Golden Razzberry, Misdreavus encounter, 2 Silver Pinap Berries
Task 5
- Take 3 Snapshots with your buddy – Shuckle EncounterMake 4 Nice Curveball Throws – Mantine EncounterCatch a Fighting-type Pokémon – 500 StardustTotal rewards: 1 Silver Pinap Berry, Hitmontop Encounter, and 2 Golden Razzberries
Task 6
- Catch an Electric-type Pokémon – 1 IncensePower up Pokémon 3 Times – Mareep EncounterCatch a Steel-type Pokémon – 500 StardustTotal rewards: 1 Golden Razzberry, 2 Silver Pinap berries, and a Pokémon encounter
Task 7
- Catch a Water-type Pokémon – Gligar EncounterCatch an Ice-type Pokémon – 500 StardustEvolve a Pokémon – King’s RockTotal rewards: 1 Silver Pinap berry, 2 Golden Razzberries, Piloswine Encounter
Task 8
- Take a Snapshot of an Ice-type Pokémon – Dragon ScaleBattle another trainer – 10 Ultra ballsPower up a Pokémon 6 times – 500 StardustTotal rewards: 2 Silver Pinap berries, 1 Golden Razzberries, and a Donphan Encounter
Task 9
- Claim reward: 3,000 XPClaim reward: 3,000 XPClaim reward: 3,000 XPTotal rewards: 10 Rare Candies and a Ho-Oh Encounter
If you complete all of them, not only do you receive the reward for each task, but you unlock a guaranteed encounter with Ho-Oh. The encounter will have Ho-Oh appear before you as a reward, and you can try to capture it using any of the berries and PokéBalls you have available to you in the game. The Ho-Oh quality will vary, but if you do capture it, yours will know the even-exclusive attack Earthquake, alongside any of its potential fast attacks.
Ho-Oh is a Fire and Flying-type Pokémon. It can reach a maximum of 3,863 CP, with an attack of 239, a defense of 244, and has a stamina of 214. It’s weak to Electric, Water, and Rock-type moves. It’s best moves include steel wing and fireblast, steel wing and brave bird, extrasensory and fireblast, and hidden power and fire blast. The Johto event is the first time Ho-Oh can learn earthquake, giving it even more strength and diversity than before.
You must complete all of the Johto-based Throwback Challenge 2020 events available in the game when they release. These research tasks start on May 8 at 1:00pm and conclude on May 15 at 1:00pm in your local timezone.