Pokemon GO Precious Pals Guide (March 2026) All Bonuses
Welcome to your ultimate guide for the Pokemon GO Precious Pals Event! As someone who’s participated in countless Pokemon GO events since launch, I’m excited to walk you through everything you need to know about this buddy-focused celebration. Whether you’re a casual player or a dedicated trainer, this event offers something special for everyone.
Quick Overview: Precious Pals Event Details
| Event Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event Dates | January 20-25, 2026 |
| Start Time | Tuesday, January 20 at 10:00 AM local time |
| End Time | Sunday, January 25 at 8:00 PM local time |
| Main Focus | Buddy Pokemon friendship and bonding |
| Star Debut | Shiny Fidough and Shiny Dachsbun |
| Event Duration | 5 days of non-stop action |
This event replaces the High Zaptitude event and brings a fresh focus on strengthening bonds with your buddy Pokemon. Trust me, you won’t want to miss out on these limited-time opportunities!
All Event Bonuses: Maximize Your Rewards
The Precious Pals Event delivers some of the most valuable bonuses we’ve seen for buddy-focused gameplay. Here’s everything you’ll enjoy during the event period:
Primary Bonuses
- Additional Candy XL when walking with your Buddy Pokemon
- Earn additional hearts with your Buddy Pokemon (perfect for friendship leveling)
- Increased chance to encounter Shiny Goldeen in the wild
- Increased chance to hatch Shiny Goldeen and Shiny Goldeen from eggs
- Event-themed Field Research tasks with exclusive rewards
- Event-themed Timed Research with special encounters
Limited-Time Evolution Changes
This is where things get really exciting! Three normally challenging evolutions become much more accessible:
| Pokemon | Normal Requirement | Event Requirement | Evolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eevee | 70 hearts | 20 hearts | Sylveon |
| Pancham | 32 Dark-type catches | 10 Dark-type catches | Pangoro |
| Pawmo | 25 km walked | 5 km walked | Pawmot |
Pro Tip: I recommend preparing your buddy candidates before the event starts. Have your Eevee, Pancham, or Pawmo ready as your buddy so you can immediately start working toward these reduced requirements!
Shiny Fidough Debut: The Star of the Show
The absolute highlight of this event is the debut of Shiny Fidough and its evolution Shiny Dachsbun! This marks the first time these adorable bread-dog Pokemon are available in their shiny forms.
Shiny Appearance Comparison
| Form | Regular Color | Shiny Color |
|---|---|---|
| Fidough | Creamy yellow | Rich chocolate brown |
| Dachsbun | Warm brown | Cool muted brown |
Why You Should Hunt Multiple Shinies
Based on my experience with shiny hunting events, I strongly recommend catching at least two Shiny Fidough:
- Keep one as adorable Shiny Fidough
- Evolve the second into Shiny Dachsbun for your collection
The increased shiny hatch rate from eggs makes this particularly achievable during the event window.
Complete Wild Spawns List
During the Precious Pals Event, you’ll encounter these Pokemon more frequently in the wild:
Guaranteed Increased Spawns
- Goldeen* (with increased shiny chance)
- Zorua
- Espurr
- Wimpod
- Fidough* (shiny available)
Community-Confirmed High-Frequency Spawns
Based on player reports and my own observations:
- Magikarp*
- Eevee* (perfect for Sylveon evolution!)
- Swablu*
- Pancham* (great for Pangoro evolution)
- Stufful*
- Pawmi* (evolves into Pawmo for Pawmot)
*Pokemon marked with * can be encountered as shiny
Strategy Tip: Focus on catching Eevee and Pancham early, as they’re key for the limited-time evolution bonuses. Plus, you’ll need them for Collection Challenges!
2km Egg Hatches: Premium Rewards
You’ll have an increased chance of receiving 2km eggs during this event, and they hatch some fantastic Pokemon:
| Egg Pokemon | Type | Shiny Available? |
|---|---|---|
| Goldeen | Water | Yes (increased chance) |
| Togepi | Fairy | Yes |
| Happiny | Normal | Yes |
| Riolu | Fighting | Yes |
| Fidough | Fairy | Yes (increased chance) |
Egg Strategy: Prioritize hatching as many 2km eggs as possible. The increased shiny chances for both Goldeen and Fidough make this incredibly valuable for shiny hunters!
Collection Challenges: Double Rewards
There are two Collection Challenges available during this event, both offering excellent rewards:
“In Knead of a Friend” Challenge
| Task | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Catch Fidough | 5,000 XP |
| Evolve Fidough into Dachsbun | Fidough encounter |
| Complete Challenge | 5,000 Stardust |
“Little Friends, Big Potential” Challenge
| Task | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Catch Magikarp | 5,000 XP |
| Catch Swablu | Fidough encounter |
| Catch Wimpod | 5,000 Stardust |
| Catch Stufful | – |
Challenge Strategy: Since you need to evolve Fidough for the first challenge, start gathering Fidough candy immediately. You’ll need 50 candies for the evolution, so catch every Fidough you see!
Field Research Tasks: Easy Rewards
Spin PokeStops during the event to receive these special research tasks:
| Task | Possible Rewards |
|---|---|
| Earn a Candy exploring with your buddy | Fidough encounter |
| Give your buddy 1 treat | 5x Razz Berries OR 5x Nanab Berries OR 5x Pinap Berries |
| Take a snapshot of your buddy | Goldeen encounter OR Eevee encounter OR Pawmi encounter |
Research Strategy: These tasks are incredibly easy to complete. I recommend focusing on the “Earn a Candy exploring” task since Fidough encounters are valuable for both shiny hunting and Collection Challenges.
Premium Timed Research: Worth It?
For $4.99 (or local equivalent), you can access exclusive Premium Timed Research. Here’s my honest assessment:
Premium Research Tasks & Rewards
| Task | Reward |
|---|---|
| Earn 5 hearts with your buddy | Wimpod encounter |
| Earn 10 hearts with your buddy | Swablu encounter |
| Earn 15 hearts with your buddy | Pancham encounter |
| Feed your buddy 1 time | Magikarp encounter |
| Feed your buddy 3 times | Espurr encounter |
| Take a snapshot with your buddy | 1x Poffin |
| Completion Rewards | Heart Pose cosmetic, Fidough encounter, 3,000 Stardust |
Is It Worth Your Money?
Buy it if:
- You want the exclusive Heart Pose avatar item
- You need guaranteed encounters with specific Pokemon
- You enjoy supporting the game’s development
Skip it if:
- You’re on a budget
- You can find these Pokemon in the wild anyway
- You don’t care about cosmetic items
My Take: The Heart Pose is cute but not essential. Most of these encounters are readily available during the event anyway.
Shop Options: Ultra Ticket Box
Niantic’s also offering the Precious Pals Ultra Ticket Box for $4.99, which includes:
- Event ticket (Premium Timed Research access)
- One Premium Battle Pass
Value Assessment: This is actually a decent deal if you were planning to buy both anyway. You save about $1 compared to purchasing separately.
Event Strategy Guide: Maximize Your 5 Days
Having participated in dozens of Pokemon GO events, here’s my proven strategy for making the most of Precious Pals:
Day 1-2: Foundation Building
- Set your buddy to Eevee, Pancham, or Pawmo immediately
- Start collecting hearts for the reduced evolution requirements
- Focus on catching event Pokemon for Collection Challenges
- Stock up on Pinap Berries for double candy on Fidough catches
Day 3-4: Evolution & Completion
- Evolve your prepared Pokemon using reduced requirements
- Complete Collection Challenges for bonus rewards
- Hatch 2km eggs for increased shiny chances
- Work on Premium Research if you purchased it
Day 5: Final Push
- Complete any remaining research tasks
- Catch any remaining shinies you’re hunting
- Evolve any final Pokemon before requirements revert
- Claim all rewards before the 8 PM deadline
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Based on community feedback and my own experience, here are pitfalls to watch out for:
Timing Errors
- Don’t wait until the last day to start evolution tasks
- Remember the deadline: Sunday at 8 PM local time
- Account for time zones if playing with friends
Resource Management
- Don’t waste Rare Candies on event Pokemon that are easy to catch
- Save your Poffins for when you can actively play
- Don’t forget to claim research rewards before they expire
Evolution Mistakes
- Double-check evolution requirements before starting
- Don’t evolve your only shiny Fidough if you want both forms
- Remember buddy requirements revert after the event
Platform-Specific Tips
For iOS Users
- Enable notifications for buddy alerts
- Use the Today widget for quick buddy status checks
- Take advantage of Apple Watch integration for heart tracking
For Android Users
- Use the buddy widget on your home screen
- Enable battery optimization exceptions for Pokemon GO
- Take advantage of Adventure Sync for automatic distance tracking
Related Events to Watch
While enjoying Precious Pals, keep an eye on these related events:
- Precious Pals: Taken Over (January 23-25) – Team GO Rocket invasion
- Shadow Raid Day (January 24) – Special shadow Pokemon raids
- Into the Depths (January 27-February 1) – End-of-month event
For more details on these events, check out our comprehensive Pokemon Go January 2026 Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Precious Pals event last?
The Precious Pals event runs for exactly 5 days, from Tuesday, January 20 at 10:00 AM to Sunday, January 25 at 8:00 PM local time.
Can I complete evolution requirements after the event ends?
No, the reduced evolution requirements (20 hearts for Sylveon, 10 Dark-type catches for Pangoro, 5km for Pawmot) expire when the event ends on Sunday at 8:00 PM local time.
Is Shiny Fidough guaranteed in eggs?
No, but the chance of hatching Shiny Fidough from 2km eggs is significantly increased during the event period.
Do I need to buy the Premium Timed Research?
No, the Premium Timed Research is optional. All event features and spawns are available to free players.
Can I transfer event Pokemon after the event ends?
Yes, you can transfer event Pokemon anytime. However, I recommend keeping at least one Shiny Fidough and one Shiny Dachsbun for your collection.
Will the event bonuses stack with other active bonuses?
Yes, event bonuses will stack with any active Star Piece, Lucky Egg, or Incense effects you use during the event.
Final Thoughts
The Precious Pals Event represents everything great about modern Pokemon GO events – it’s accessible to all players, offers meaningful progression opportunities, and introduces exciting new content with the Shiny Fidough debut.
Whether you’re a shiny hunter, evolution enthusiast, or casual player, this event delivers value across the board. The reduced evolution requirements alone make this worth participating in, especially if you’ve been putting off evolving Eevee into Sylveon or working toward Pangoro.
Remember, events like this are designed to bring the community together. Share your shiny catches, help friends with evolution requirements, and most importantly, have fun with your buddy Pokemon!