Comprehensive Guide: Pokémon GO Spotlight Hour and Mystery Bonus Hour Events

The Pokémon GO Spotlight Hour and elusive Bonus Hour events made their debut in the game in February 2020. Each week, during a one-hour window from 6 pm to 7 pm according to the local timezone, a particular surprise Pokémon shows up more often in natural habitats, alongside the activation of a secret Bonus.

This opportunity allows enthusiasts to capture numerous instances of the highlighted Pokémon, use candies to evolve them, and with some luck, come across a Shiny variant. These happenings unfold at the same local hour across different regions. Initially set for Tuesday and Thursday evenings, these occasions were later merged into one consolidated event.

Event Scheduling

In this frequently refreshed manual, we aim to inform you about the selected Pokémon that will take center stage during Spotlight Hour on Tuesdays, along with the corresponding Bonus you can anticipate. To illustrate, the most recent Pokémon GO Spotlight Hour is set for Tuesday, June 18th, from 6 pm to 7 pm and will showcase Roggenrola.

Spotlight Hours

Spotlight Hours are held every Tuesday evening and last for one hour, from 6 pm to 7 pm in your local timezone. Since April 2020, Niantic has merged Pokémon GO Spotlight Hour with Pokémon GO Mystery Bonus Hour into a unified weekly occasion occurring on Tuesday nights.

Bonus Hours

Exclusive Enigma Events were initially scheduled for Thursday nights each week, taking place from 6 pm to 7 pm according to your local time zone. Additional Special Event Hours were trialed for a brief period in March 2021 but were swiftly ended. These ephemeral gatherings concentrated on various elements of the gameplay beyond merely amplifying the usual rewards.

Preparation and Expectations

Players can expect increased spawn rates of the headlining Pokémon and the activation of a Mystery Bonus during Spotlight Hours. To prepare for these events, stockpile useful items such as Poké Balls, berries, and Pokémon storage space.

Past Events

We maintain a list of Pokémon featured in past Spotlight Hours and the associated Mystery Bonuses to give you an idea of what to expect in the future. Past bonuses in March 2021, for instance, included doubling specific in-game rewards, which has since been discontinued.

Guides and Resources

This article is part of our extensive Pokémon GO walkthrough and guide series. We cover everything from basic mechanics like catching Pokémon, redeeming promo codes, and checking a Pokémon's IVs to more advanced tactics such as how to utilize lures, get TMs, and catch Shiny Pokémon.

Additional Information

We also provide specific guides for evolving particular Pokémon, using weather to your advantage, and finding regional Pokémon. Our walkthrough and guides include comprehensive lists of attack moves, raid bosses, and detailed charts explaining Pokémon types, egg-hatching distances, and earning candy through friendships and buddy systems.

Event Critiques

While the concept of combining Spotlight and Bonus Hours into a single event has its advantages, it also faces criticism. Some players find the timing inconvenient as it coincides with their commute home from work. Others find the mystery aspect frustrating as it often requires checking social media to see what the bonus is in advance.

Despite these criticisms, Pokémon GO remains a popular game, downloaded 55 million times and grossing over 700 million dollars last year alone. The game continues to evolve, and while there are still features it lacks, it retains a strong player base that enjoys the various events and challenges it offers.