Pokémon GO Antique Sinistea is the rarer form of Sinistea with an authenticity stamp, and the Halloween 2026 event introduces a new bow-wearing costume for this Pokémon. The event data lists both Phony and Antique versions of the costume. The two forms look similar, but evolving Antique Sinistea costs a substantial 400 Sinistea Candy, compared with 50 for Phony.
The best way to avoid evolving the wrong one is to check the form on its appraisal screen after catching it. Here’s how to hunt the Halloween costume, recognise the rarer form, read the Candy requirement and decide whether to evolve a costumed Sinistea into Polteageist.
How to find Pokémon GO Antique Sinistea in Halloween 2026
The new bow-wearing Sinistea appears in one-star raids from October 27 at 10am local time. Both Halloween Part I and Part II list that costume in the raid rotation, with the opportunity finishing November 5 at 8pm local time. The official announcement names Sinistea without separating the Phony and Antique distributions; event reference data lists both costume forms.
For Pokémon GO Antique Sinistea, defeat a featured one-star Sinistea raid and catch the costume encounter, then examine its form. There is no announced guarantee that any particular raid awards Antique rather than Phony, and Niantic has not published the precise Antique encounter odds. Our Halloween bow Sinistea guide covers the raid window and Shiny eligibility.
How to tell Antique Sinistea from Phony Sinistea
Appraise your Sinistea after catching it. In Pokémon GO, the team leader identifies whether the Pokémon is Phony Form or Antique Form. The Antique Pokémon has an authenticity mark under the base of its cup, but the mark may be difficult to inspect visually, so the appraisal message and evolution Candy cost are much more convenient checks.
Pokémon GO Antique Sinistea requires 400 Candy to evolve, whereas Phony Form requires 50. This is a reliable second way of confirming the form on the Pokémon’s detail screen. If you have several bow-costumed Sinistea, appraise each one and check its individual evolution cost before transferring or evolving anything.
| Sinistea form | How to identify it | Evolution cost | Evolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phony Form | Appraisal identifies Phony; no authenticity stamp | 50 Sinistea Candy | Phony Polteageist |
| Antique Form | Appraisal identifies Antique; stamped underside | 400 Sinistea Candy | Antique Polteageist |
The Halloween bow is a separate cosmetic variant layered onto Sinistea’s underlying form. Pokémon GO Antique Sinistea doesn’t become Antique when you use more Candy on a Phony specimen, and ordinary evolution doesn’t change the Pokémon’s underlying form. Keep an Antique catch if you want to register or preserve the rarer version.
Can Halloween Antique Sinistea evolve with its bow?
The Halloween 2026 event reference data includes bow-costumed Antique Polteageist as well as bow-costumed Phony Polteageist. That supports a costumed evolution path, although players should check the actual evolution button and preview on their caught Pokémon when the event launches. Evolving the Antique form costs 400 Candy, so it is worth confirming the exact destination before spending that much.
For Pokémon GO Antique Sinistea collectors, the decision is whether you want to preserve a bow-wearing Sinistea or use the Candy for bow-wearing Polteageist. If you catch a second costumed Sinistea, you can keep one unevolved and use the other for Polteageist. Our existing Polteageist reference explains the ordinary species and its form-specific evolution requirements.
How to earn 400 Sinistea Candy during Halloween
The Halloween Part I Trick or Treat surprises can award Sinistea Candy, which is useful if you are saving for an Antique evolution. Niantic also confirms the event’s GO Pass Rank 10 bonus: 2× Candy from catching Pokémon on the free track or 3× with Deluxe. That can help when you catch Sinistea from raids after unlocking the milestone.
Pokémon GO Antique Sinistea is a long-term Candy goal, especially if you currently have very little stored. Use the Trick or Treat guide to understand the surprise rewards, and the Halloween GO Pass guide to see the dates and Candy multiplier. Rare Candy can be used for species Candy, but no event announcement guarantees you’ll receive enough Rare Candy to pay for the whole evolution.
Can Antique Sinistea wearing a bow be Shiny?
The official Halloween announcement marks the bow-wearing Sinistea costume as Shiny eligible. Sinistea’s Phony and Antique forms can have Shiny variants, and the event’s costume data lists both forms. However, Niantic has not specified separate Shiny rates or the chances of encountering the Antique form in these one-star raids.
If your Pokémon GO Antique Sinistea goal is a Shiny with the Halloween bow, you’re looking for both a rarer form and a Shiny result. There is no guaranteed raid count for either. Check the appraisal screen even when the Pokémon isn’t Shiny; a normal-coloured Antique with the bow may still be a valuable costume collectible for your account.
When does Pokémon GO Antique Sinistea leave the event?
The new costume is in one-star raids in both phases: October 27–November 1 for Part I and November 1–5 for Part II. The UK is on GMT during these dates after the clocks change October 25. The event ends November 5 at 8pm local time, so you have more time than the Part I-only wild costume hunters.
If you’re playing both phases, our Halloween Part I hub and Part II guide connect the encounter lists. Pokémon GO Antique Sinistea is a separate goal from catching new top-hat Zubat in the wild, and its form should be verified on the Pokémon itself after each raid.
What if the Antique form isn’t showing up?
Finding Phony Form after several raids doesn’t establish that Antique has been removed. The Antique form is the rarer variation, and the event announcement provides no exact distribution rate. Open each Sinistea’s appraisal and inspect the listed evolution Candy requirement before deciding which ones to keep.
The most helpful Pokémon GO Antique Sinistea check is the combination of the team leader’s appraisal message and the 400-Candy evolution requirement. If you see 50 Candy, you’re looking at Phony Form. The form can’t be changed by using an item on a Phony specimen, and a Shiny encounter doesn’t automatically make it Antique.
Official source: Pokémon GO Halloween Part I announcement.
