Pokémon Go: Secrets of the Jungle event guide

Pokémon Go is hosting a new event to celebrate the new Pokémon movie: Secrets of the Jungle. During this event, Team GO Rocket's Jesse and James will guide you through the jungle in search of a Shiny Celebi. From December 14 through December 17, 2020, Trainers can access event Pokémon and Special Research. Additionally, on December 25 from 8AM through 10PM local time, there will be increased sightings of Jesse and James in their Meowth hot air balloon.

What is the Secrets of the Jungle event in Pokémon Go?

The latest in a long line of Pokémon movies, Secrets of the Jungle was supposed to hit theaters in the summer of 2020. The movie was delayed because of the pandemic and will now be launching on December 25, 2020 in Japan and sometime during 2021 in the US. Secrets of the Jungle tells the story of Koko, a boy raised by Pokémon much like Tarzan. The Pokémon in particular who raised Koko is a new Mythical Pokémon called Zarude. Although we still don't know much about the plot of this movie, we do know that a Shiny Celebi is also important to the story. While Zarude was brought to Pokémon Sword and Shield, Shiny Celebi is coming to Pokémon Go.

As with any Pokémon Go event, Secrets of the Jungle will bring lots of Pokémon in the wild, Raids, and Eggs. Event Pokémon will show up in 5KM Eggs and Raids will include both One Star and Three Star Raids. Two new Shiny Pokémon, Durrant and Rufflet will make their Pokémon Go debuts alongside Celebi.

Source: The Pokémon Company

The following Pokémon will be spawning more frequently in the wild:

• Explorer Pikachu*
• Caterpie*
• Diglett*
• Hoothoot
• Nuzleaf
• Roggenrola*
• Woobat*
• Drilbur
• Cottonee
• Dwebble*
• Durant*

Source: The Pokémon Company

The following Pokémon will be appearing more in Raids:

• Explorer Pikachu*
• Exeggcute*
• Lickitung*
• Chansey*
• Pinsir*
• Mawile*
• Flygon
• Roggenrola*
• Rufflet*

Source: The Pokémon Company

The following Pokémon will be hatching from 5KM Eggs:

• Igglybuff*
• Smoochum*
• Elekid*
• Magby*
• Bonsly*
• Rufflet*

The following Pokémon will be appearing as Snapshot Surprises:

• Meowth*
• Wobbuffet*

The Secrets of the Jungle event introduces a new Special Research line: Distracted by Something Shiny. Unlike previous Special Research where Professor Willow guides Trainers through their tasks, Team GO Rocket's Jesse and James take up the task in Distracted by Something Shiny. This is a four part line which culminates with a Shiny Celebi encounter.

Step One

1. Transfer ten Pokémon for 20 Ultra Balls.
2. Catch ten Grass type Pokémon for a Nuzleaf encounter.
3. Evolve three Grass type Pokémon for a Cottonee encounter.

Completion Rewards: Diglett encounter, 500 Stardust, 1,000 XP

Step Two

1. Play with your Buddy Pokémon ten times for a Poffin.
2. Take a Snapshot of a Grass type Pokémon for a Combee encounter.
3. Give your Buddy Pokémon ten treats for a Cherubi encounter.

Completion Rewards: Pinsir* encounter, 500 Stardust, 1,000 XP

Step Three

1. Defeat Jesse and James four times for five Max Revives.
2. Make five Great Curveball Throws for a Hoothoot encounter.
3. Hatch three Eggs for a Whimsicott encounter.

Completion Rewards: Vibrava encounter, 500 Stardust, 1,000 XP

Step Four

1. Autocompleted for 500 XP.
2. Autocompleted for an Oddish enounter.
3. Autocompleted for a Foongus encounter.

Completion Rewards: Shiny Celebi encounter, 500 Stardust, 1,000 XP

In addition to guiding Trainers through Distracted by Something Shiny, Jesse and James have also returned to the skies in their Meowth hot air balloon. This time, they have new Shadow Pokémon to challenge you with.

First up is Jesse with:

• Scyther*: a Bug and Flying type, Scyther has several weaknesses, including Fire, Flying, Electric, and Ice, but it's quad weakness to Rock is the one you'll want to exploit. Aggron, Rampardos, Rhyperior, Golem, Terrakion, or Tyranitar all work really well here.
• Ekans: a Poison type, Ekans is weak against Ground and Psychic types. However, Ekans is pretty weak. Mewtwo, Alakazm, or Gardevoir could all work well here. Alternatively, you could put in Metagross or whatever Pokémon you plan to use against Stantler, in order to build up their charged attack.
• Stantler: as a Normal type, Stantler's only weakness is Fighting types. However, because of its potential moveset, Steel and Rock types are your best bet here. Metagross, Regirock, Jirachi, or Cobalion are all great choices here.

After beating Jesse, James is up with:

• Pinsir*: a Bug type, James' first Pokémon is Pinsir. Weak to Flying, Rock, and Fire types, great counters include Ho-oh, Moltres, Chandelure, or Lugia.
• Koffing: a Poison type, Koffing is weak against Ground and Psychic types. However, Koffing is also really weak. Golurk, Excadrill, Jirachi, Lugia, or Landorus all work well here.
• Grimer: another fairly weak Poison type, the Pokémon you use against Koffing will work well here and likely have its charged attack ready.

Upon beating Jesse, you can catch a Shadow Scyther with the potential to be Shiny, and upon beating James, you can catch a Shadow Pinsir with the potential to be Shiny. Jesse and James will also be appearing more often on December 25 from 8 AM to 10 PM local time.

Note: Jesse and James fulfill the requirements for beating two Team GO Rocket Grunts in Research tasks.

Two new outfits also hit the Avatar Style section of the PokéShop. Trainers who use a male avatar will be able to claim an outfit based on James' outfit from Secrets of the Jungle, while Trainers using a female avatar can claim an outfit based on Jesse' outfit from Secrets of the Jungle. Both outfits are free and listed in the Tops section.

Questions?

Do you have any questions about the Secrets of the Jungle event in Pokémon Go? Have you already encountered your Shiny Celebi? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to check out our Best Pokémon Go Accessories, so you can be well equipped on your Pokémon Journey!