Pokémon GO Willow’s Birthday Research launches on July 21, 2026, with free Timed Research, Professor Willow’s assistant Pikachu and special event rewards.
The birthday celebration lasts for only one day, although players who obtain the Timed Research will have several additional days to finish it.
Professor Willow’s assistant Pikachu makes its Pokémon GO debut through research, snapshot surprises and raids.
The Pokémon GO Willow’s Birthday Research also rewards a Lucky Egg, Star Piece and multiple opportunities to catch the new costumed Pikachu.
Pokémon GO Willow’s Birthday Research Date and Time
The Pokémon GO Willow’s Birthday Research event runs on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.
| Event Detail | Date and Time |
|---|---|
| Event begins | July 21 at 10:00 a.m. local time |
| Event ends | July 21 at 8:00 p.m. local time |
| Timed Research expires | July 27 at 8:00 p.m. local time |
| Assistant Pikachu raids end | July 27 at 8:00 p.m. local time |
Players must open Pokémon GO during the one-day event to ensure they receive the free Timed Research.
The research does not need to be completed on July 21, but every task and reward must be finished and claimed before July 27 at 8:00 p.m.
Pokémon GO Willow’s Birthday Research Rewards
The free Pokémon GO Willow’s Birthday Research includes several useful rewards.
| Confirmed Reward | Amount |
|---|---|
| Professor Willow’s assistant Pikachu encounters | Multiple |
| Lucky Egg | 1 |
| Star Piece | 1 |
| Additional rewards | To be revealed |
The complete task list will become available when the research begins.
Because it is Timed Research, unfinished tasks will disappear when the deadline passes.
Players should also claim each completed reward rather than leaving it sitting on the Events tab.
How to Get Professor Willow’s Assistant Pikachu
Professor Willow’s assistant Pikachu can be obtained through several methods.
| Method | Availability |
|---|---|
| Timed Research | Free Willow’s Birthday Research |
| Field Research | Event tasks from PokéStops |
| Snapshot surprise | Available during the birthday event |
| One-star raids | July 21 to July 27 |
| Wild encounters | Not announced |
The easiest method is likely to be the free Timed Research.
Players who want several assistant Pikachu encounters can also complete Field Research and one-star raids.
Professor Willow’s assistant Pikachu is a costumed Pokémon and is separate from ordinary Pikachu.
Can Professor Willow’s Assistant Pikachu Be Shiny?
Yes, Professor Willow’s assistant Pikachu can be shiny.
Every announced encounter method has a chance to produce the shiny version.
The Pokémon GO Willow’s Birthday Research does not guarantee a shiny encounter, so players may need to complete several research tasks or raids.
| Encounter Method | Shiny Available? |
|---|---|
| Timed Research | Yes |
| Field Research | Yes |
| Snapshot surprise | Yes |
| One-star raid | Yes |
Shiny odds have not been officially confirmed.
Completing more encounters gives players the best chance of finding the shiny costume.
Team-Specific Special Backgrounds
Professor Willow’s assistant Pikachu may also have a team-specific Special Background.
The background is based on the player’s team when the encounter begins.
| Team | Possible Special Background |
|---|---|
| Team Instinct | Instinct background |
| Team Mystic | Mystic background |
| Team Valor | Valor background |
A costumed Pikachu may be shiny, have a Special Background or potentially have both.
Neither bonus is guaranteed.
Players without a team cannot receive a team-specific Special Background.
Professor Willow’s Assistant Pikachu Raids
Professor Willow’s assistant Pikachu appears in one-star raids.
The raid remains available beyond the one-day birthday event.
| Raid Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Raid tier | One-Star |
| Raid boss | Professor Willow’s assistant Pikachu |
| Raid availability | Until July 27 at 8:00 p.m. |
| Shiny available | Yes |
| Special Background available | Yes |
Most players should be able to defeat the raid alone.
Pikachu is an Electric-type Pokémon and is weak to Ground-type attacks.
Useful counters include Groudon, Garchomp, Excadrill, Rhyperior and Landorus.
Pokémon GO Willow’s Birthday Field Research
Event-themed Field Research will be available from PokéStops during the celebration.
Confirmed rewards include:
- PokéCoins
- Lucky Eggs
- Professor Willow’s assistant Pikachu encounters
- Additional event rewards
The ability to earn PokéCoins from Field Research makes these tasks particularly worthwhile.
Spin several PokéStops during the Pokémon GO Willow’s Birthday Research event and delete unwanted tasks to search for the best rewards.
Field Research is assigned to individual PokéStops and normally remains the same for every player during that day.
How to Get the Snapshot Surprise
Professor Willow’s assistant Pikachu may appear through a snapshot surprise.
To trigger a possible surprise:
- Open your Pokémon storage.
- Select any Pokémon.
- Tap the camera icon.
- Take a photograph.
- Exit the snapshot screen.
- Check whether Assistant Pikachu appears.
- Return to the map and catch it.
There may be a limited number of snapshot encounters.
Repeat the process with another Pokémon if the first photograph does not trigger a surprise.
Snapshot encounters are only expected during the active July 21 birthday event.
Does Professor Willow’s Assistant Pikachu Evolve?
Costumed Pikachu often cannot evolve, although the exact evolution status of Professor Willow’s assistant Pikachu should be checked after release.
If the Evolve button does not appear on its Pokémon page, the costume is locked to Pikachu.
Players should avoid transferring every duplicate immediately.
Keep at least one strong version, one shiny version and one Special Background version when possible.
A shiny Pikachu with a team-specific Special Background is likely to be the rarest variation.
Is Willow’s Birthday Research Free?
Yes, the Pokémon GO Willow’s Birthday Research is free.
Players do not need to buy an event ticket or GO Pass Deluxe to receive the Timed Research.
The research should appear automatically for players who open Pokémon GO during the event period.
The separate Glimmers of Gratitude Masterwork Research and GO Pass Deluxe are paid products, but they are not required for the birthday research.
Is Willow’s Birthday Research Worth Completing?
The free research is worth completing for the exclusive costumed Pikachu alone.
It also provides a Lucky Egg and Star Piece, which can be used during the high-XP and catch bonus periods of the surrounding Ultra Unlock event.
The Pokémon GO Willow’s Birthday Research is especially valuable for:
- Costume Pokémon collectors
- Shiny Pikachu hunters
- Special Background collectors
- Players needing Lucky Eggs
- Players needing Star Pieces
- Players looking for free PokéCoins from Field Research
The biggest risk is forgetting the expiration date.
Claim every reward before July 27 at 8:00 p.m. local time.
Pokémon GO Willow’s Birthday Research FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the research free? | Yes |
| When does it begin? | July 21 at 10:00 a.m. |
| When does the event end? | July 21 at 8:00 p.m. |
| When does the research expire? | July 27 at 8:00 p.m. |
| What is the featured Pokémon? | Professor Willow’s assistant Pikachu |
| Can Assistant Pikachu be shiny? | Yes |
| Can it have a Special Background? | Yes |
| Is it available in raids? | Yes, until July 27 |
| Are PokéCoins available from Field Research? | Yes |
| Does the research cost money? | No |
The Pokémon GO Willow’s Birthday Research gives every player a free opportunity to collect the new assistant Pikachu.
Open the game on July 21, complete the available Field Research and remember that the Timed Research must be claimed before it expires on July 27.
