Summer is always the prime time to play “Pokemon Go.” The sun is out longer. The weather is warmer. It just feels like there’s more time to head out into the world and explore.
Niantic is capitalizing on this by kicking off its Season of Go, running from 10 a.m. June 1 to 10 a.m. Sept. 1. It starts with a bang as Pokemon Go Fest 2022 will be celebrated this weekend. From there, plenty of surprises will emerge along the way with in-person celebrations happening around the world and finale coming Aug. 27.
It’s a lot to digest, and there’s plenty of info to wade through. To help you out, here are the top 11 Pokemon for June to keep an eye out for and when they’ll be appearing.
1. Mewtwo — The top generalist in the game will be available in raids from June 16 to June 23 and June 23 to July 1. Why two sets of releases? The Genetic Pokemon will have two legacy moves during its release. The first week will feature Shadow Ball and the second one will have Psystrike. Both moves make Mewtwo incredible in raids and in Go Battle League.
Psystrike is its signature move and hits fairly quickly like a truck while Shadow Ball is the perfect counter for other psychics such as Lugia. Mewtwo has the bulk and power to be good in any situation. Even if you have a perfect one, players can use the extra Candy XL to make your best Mewtwo hit level 50.
2. Groudon — Although it may be overshadowed Garchomp and Landorus in some aspects, the Continent Pokemon is still a powerhouse in raids and in Go Battle League. The big question with the raids is if Groudon will come with Fire Punch. It’s a move that was available during certain events, and if it isn’t on this pocket monster, players will need to use an Elite TM to add it. Fire Punch is an important Charged move because its speed makes Groudon usable in competitive play.
Players will have plenty of chances at Groudon as it will be available from June 7 to June 16 and will have two raid hours. Again, it’s often a top counter in raids and is high ranking in Master League so it’s useful to raid even for Candy XL to level it up to 50.
3. Kyogre — The best water-type Pokemon in the game is available in raids from June 1 to June 7. It’s a powerful Pokemon in raids and is decent in PvP depending on the meta. What’s intriguing with Groudon and Kyogre is that they both have a Primal form. Depending on how Niantic introduces that into the game, it would be a wise move to stock on Candy XL for both and find a good one.
Regardless, these raids will be worth your time in June.
4. Shiny Axew — This will be one of the most sought-after shinies when it makes its debut at Pokemon Go Fest 2022. It will be the one people will raid for and it will make the Plains hour the most popular one. What makes Axew so desirable was its rarity upon release. It was one of the most difficult pocket monsters to obtain in Generation V because it appeared rarely in the wild and was one of the scarce hatches from eggs.
In terms of usability, it’s final form Haxorus is a decent dragon, but it doesn’t have the stats to make it a pseudo-legendary. The Axe Jaw Pokemon has high attack stats but it falls short in stamina and defense. Still, it is good pokemon to use in some PvP formats, so it’s more than just a collector’s item.
5. Tropius — For a long time, this Pokemon was only available for players who could travel near Africa, and that was a shame because the Fruit Pokemon is a beast in Great League. That changes with Pokemon Go Fest 2022. It will be available for ticketholders during the Rainforest hour.
Players should grab one just to move one step closer to completing their Hoenn Dex. (Kecleon is still MIA.) The same could be said about the other regional, Torkoal, but it has been released during the 2018 Go Fest. Ideally, players should look for a PvP Tropius with 0 attack, 15 defense and 15 stamina, but as long as that attack number is 1 or below, you should be in good shape for Go Battle League.
6. Shiny Karrablast — This is another Go Fest 2022 debut, but one that’s more than just a trophy for variant hunters. Karrablast’s evolution, Escavalier, is an excellent pick for Great and Ultra leagues in Go Battle League. The Cavalry Pokemon’s bug- and steel-typing and great stats make it a powerhouse that can take down the likes of Cresselia, Umbreon, Registeel and Nidoqueen.
The fact that the shiny looks great also doesn’t hurt its prospects. It’s much more desirable than the creature it’s linked with, Shelmet, though having both wouldn’t be that bad.
7. Cross Chop Primeape — Mark your calendars and don’t forget June 18. That’s when Go Battle Day is held and the star of that event will be Mankey. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., players can receive an encounter with the Pig Monkey Pokemon by fighting in Go Battle League. The big reward though is that from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., players who evolve Mankey will obtain a Primeape that knows the Charged Attack Cross Chop.
This legacy move adds an interesting twist to the Pokemon, which is a good pick for Great and Ultra leagues. Its stats and access to the fast move Counter and the charged move Nightslash make it formidable. Giving it a spammable charge move like Cross Chop may surprise competitors even more.
8. Shiny Galarian Stunfisk — This Pokemon is a staple in competitive play. The combination of ground- and steel-typing and a solid moveset makes this version of the Trap Pokemon a monster in Great and Ultra leagues. What’s better than a normal Galarian Stunfisk though? A shiny version of this pocket monster, which is brown and gold.
This Pokemon will be appearing in the wild in city areas so it’s best to catch them if you happen to see one this season.
9. Shiny Unown — This is the collector’s portion of the list. These are Pokemon that aren’t necessarily good, but they’re nice to have for completionists. That’s highlighted by Unown, which doesn’t necessarily do anything, but it’s a nice Pokemon to have because they rarely appear outside of events.
They’re often good for trades as hard-core players want a complete alphabet of unowns. What’s even rarer though is shiny versions of these Pokemon. Shiny Unown is one of the more difficult Pokemon to get, and it could have decent trade value to the right person.
10. Shiny Shaymin-inspired Pikachu — Shiny costumed Pokemon are another rarity that will catch a collector’s eyes. They added a bit of flair in battle and they’re a cool flex to drop into gyms. What makes costumed Pokemon notable is that they’re often limited edition. Once they debut, players may have to wait another year for them to return, or sometimes they don’t come back at all.
It’s unlikely that players will see a Pikachu with a Gracidea flower outside of Pokemon Go Fest 2022 unless there’s another Shaymin event in the future.
11. Shiny Tirtouga and Archen (tie) — Niantic recently announced these two as part of Adventure Week, running from 10 a.m. June 7 to 8 p.m. June 12. This post-Go Fest event will introduce Tyrunt and Amaura in 7km eggs and Field Research tasks. Both those Pokemon are intriguing and they’ll be worth getting for Pokedex and PvP purposes.
But shinies are what players want. They’re mainly for bragging rights and being able to get shiny Tirtouga, shiny Archen or both of these fossil-sourced Pokemon will be a huge get for trainers. Tirtouga and Archen were already scarce beforehand after briefly appearing in the wild. Now, they’re back in the rotation and available only in 7km eggs and Field Tasks.
It will be difficult obtaining both Tirtouga and Archen, but if you find one, consider yourself lucky and be sure to show them off because they don’t have too many uses outside of being collector’s items.
