Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP is live from Tuesday, July 21 at 10:00am until Thursday, July 23, 2026 at 10:00am local time. During this limited window, Trainers receive six times the normal XP for catching Pokémon as part of the Ultra Unlock: 10th Anniversary Edition event.
The Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP bonus applies automatically. Players do not need to purchase a ticket, activate the GO Pass Deluxe or complete any research before receiving the increased XP.
This is an excellent opportunity to gain levels quickly, particularly when combining the event bonus with Excellent Throws, Curveball Throws, first-throw bonuses and Lucky Eggs.
However, Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP is only the beginning. The bonus increases to 8× Catch XP on July 23 before reaching a huge 10× Catch XP from July 25 until the event ends on July 27.
Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP Dates and Times
Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP is available during the opening section of the 10th Anniversary Ultra Unlock event.
| Bonus | Start time | End time |
|---|---|---|
| 6× Catch XP | July 21 at 10:00am | July 23 at 10:00am |
| 8× Catch XP | July 23 at 10:00am | July 25 at 10:00am |
| 10× Catch XP | July 25 at 10:00am | July 27 at 8:00pm |
All times are local. This means the bonus begins and ends at 10:00am according to the time displayed in each Trainer’s region rather than changing worldwide at the same moment.
The full Ultra Unlock event runs from July 21 at 10:00am until July 27 at 8:00pm local time.
How Does Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP Work?
Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP multiplies the XP awarded when you successfully catch a Pokémon.
The bonus activates automatically during the event period. Catch any wild Pokémon, raid encounter, research encounter or other eligible Pokémon and the increased XP should be shown on the catch summary screen.
Additional catch bonuses can increase the total further, including:
- Nice Throws
- Great Throws
- Excellent Throws
- Curveball Throws
- First Throws
- Catching a new Pokédex entry
- Catch streak bonuses
- Lucky Eggs
Excellent Throws are particularly valuable because they normally provide substantially more XP than Nice or Great Throws. Pokémon GO increased the standard Excellent Throw reward to 1,000 XP as part of its earlier XP redesign, compared with 100 XP for a Great Throw and 20 XP for a Nice Throw.
How Much XP Can You Earn With Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP?
The exact XP shown after a catch depends on the quality of the throw and any additional bonuses earned during the encounter.
| Catch action | Normal XP value |
|---|---|
| Catching a Pokémon | 100 XP |
| Nice Throw | 20 XP |
| Great Throw | 100 XP |
| Excellent Throw | 1,000 XP |
| Curveball Throw | 20 XP |
The difference between an ordinary catch and an Excellent Throw becomes enormous when a large event multiplier is active.
A Trainer landing Excellent Throws consistently can earn XP much faster than someone relying only on ordinary catches. Adding a Curveball and catching the Pokémon with the first successful throw can improve the result further.
The game displays each part of the catch reward separately, so check the catch summary screen to see which bonuses were successfully applied.
Does a Lucky Egg Work With Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP?
Yes. Lucky Eggs double the XP a Trainer earns for a limited period, making them one of the most useful items during Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP.
A Lucky Egg normally lasts for 30 minutes, although its duration can occasionally be extended during special events. Pokémon GO also allows Trainers to activate multiple Lucky Eggs at once to extend the total duration.
The most efficient time to use a Lucky Egg is when you can catch continuously for the full duration.
Good locations include:
- A busy town or city centre
- A park with several PokéStops
- An area with multiple active Lure Modules
- A Community Ambassador meetup
- A location with frequent natural spawns
- A safe walking route with several spawn clusters
Avoid activating a Lucky Egg when you are about to travel through an area with few Pokémon or when your Pokémon storage is almost full.
Best Way to Use Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP
The best way to use Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP is to prioritise quick catches while aiming for the highest-quality throws you can land consistently.
An Excellent Throw is valuable, but repeatedly missing a difficult Excellent Throw can waste time and Poké Balls. A reliable Great Throw may be more efficient than taking several attempts to land one Excellent.
Use the following strategy:
- Clear Pokémon storage before beginning.
- Stock up on Poké Balls, Great Balls and Ultra Balls.
- Choose a location with dense spawns.
- Activate Incense while walking.
- Use Lure Modules when remaining near PokéStops.
- Activate a Lucky Egg before beginning a concentrated catching session.
- Aim for Curveball Great or Excellent Throws.
- Use berries on Pokémon that frequently escape.
- Avoid spending too long on one difficult catch.
- Keep moving between active spawn areas.
Curveball Throws also improve the chance of a successful catch, as well as providing extra XP.
Which Pokémon Are Best for Excellent Throws?
Large Pokémon and species with wide catch circles are generally easier targets for Great and Excellent Throws.
The first Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP rotation features the Kanto, Johto and Hoenn first partner Pokémon:
| Region | Featured Pokémon |
|---|---|
| Kanto | Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle |
| Johto | Chikorita, Cyndaquil and Totodile |
| Hoenn | Treecko, Torchic and Mudkip |
These Pokémon appear from July 21 at 10:00am until July 23 at 10:00am local time. Each featured first partner Pokémon can also be Shiny and may appear with a team-specific Special Background.
Some of the starters have smaller or less forgiving catch circles than ideal XP-farming targets. Do not ignore other wild Pokémon with larger circles simply because they are not part of the featured rotation.
Use Lure Modules During Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP
Normal Lure Modules can attract additional event Pokémon during the anniversary event.
The official event announcement specifically lists Beldum, Gible and Dreepy among the Pokémon that may be attracted by normal Lure Modules, alongside additional encounters. Beldum and Gible can also be Shiny.
Using a Lure Module near several overlapping PokéStops can provide a steady supply of catches without requiring extensive travel.
This works particularly well when:
- Several Trainers place Lures together
- You can reach multiple PokéStops from one location
- Incense is active at the same time
- Your storage has already been cleared
- You have enough Balls for a long session
Remember that Lure Modules benefit all nearby Trainers, so busy community locations may already have active Lures during the event.
Should You Save Lucky Eggs for 10× Catch XP?
Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP is already a strong bonus, but 10× Catch XP will begin on July 25.
Players with only one or two Lucky Eggs may prefer to save them for the 10× period. Trainers with a larger supply can comfortably use some now and keep the rest for the final event phase.
| Your Lucky Egg supply | Suggested approach |
|---|---|
| One Lucky Egg | Consider saving it for 10× Catch XP |
| Two or three | Use one now and save the rest |
| Several Lucky Eggs | Use them during each focused catching session |
| No Lucky Eggs | Keep catching; 6× XP still applies automatically |
The 10× period also lasts longer than either of the earlier phases, running from July 25 at 10:00am until July 27 at 8:00pm local time.
How to Prepare for Pokémon GO 8× and 10× Catch XP
Do not use every resource during Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP if you plan to play throughout the full event.
Between catching sessions:
- Spin PokéStops to replace Balls.
- Open Gifts for additional items.
- Clear unwanted Pokémon from storage.
- Save Lucky Eggs for longer sessions.
- Practise Excellent Throws.
- Identify local spawn-dense routes.
- Keep some Incense and Lure Modules.
- Check the weather before planning longer walks.
The featured Pokémon also change when each XP phase begins. Sinnoh, Unova and Kalos starters appear during 8× Catch XP, followed by Alola, Galar and Paldea starters during 10× Catch XP.
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Can You Use Quick Catch With Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP?
Players who already use the community-known quick-catch technique may find it useful for processing dense clusters more rapidly.
However, quick catch is not presented as a formal in-game feature, and it can make it less obvious whether a Pokémon was successfully caught. Players may need to check their storage or tap the Pokémon again on the map.
It is not necessary to use quick catch to benefit from Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP. Standard catching remains effective, particularly when you are concentrating on Excellent Throws and verifying each XP reward.
Why Is Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP Not Working?
When the expected XP bonus does not appear, check the event time and catch summary.
| Possible problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| Event has not started | Wait until July 21 at 10:00am local time |
| 6× phase has ended | The bonus changes at 10:00am on July 23 |
| Game has not refreshed | Restart Pokémon GO |
| Catch occurred before 10:00am | Only catches after the local start time qualify |
| Looking at the wrong reward | Check the full catch summary |
| GPS or time issue | Confirm automatic device time is enabled |
| App is outdated | Install the latest Pokémon GO update |
The Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP phase ends at exactly 10:00am local time on July 23. It is then replaced by the 8× bonus rather than disappearing completely.
Is Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP Worth Using?
Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP is absolutely worth using, even though larger bonuses arrive later in the event.
It gives Trainers two full days to earn substantially more XP from an activity they would already be completing. Players who combine dense spawns, reliable Great or Excellent Curveball Throws and Lucky Eggs can make meaningful progress towards their next level.
The best strategy depends on your available resources. Use Pokémon GO 6× Catch XP now when you have plenty of Lucky Eggs, Balls and free time. When resources are limited, catch normally during this phase while saving your most valuable items for the 10× Catch XP weekend.
Either way, do not ignore the bonus entirely. Every Pokémon caught before July 23 at 10:00am local time can contribute far more XP than it would during normal gameplay.
