After the massive success of Pokémon GO Fest 2021, Niantic have announced that we have completed all parts of the Ultra Unlock Challenge! This means all three different themes, time, space, and a currently unknown theme will each get their own event. Hype is in order, because these events look fantastic!
‘Trainers,
Incredible work completing all 24 challenges in the Global Challenge Arena during Pokémon GO Fest 2021! As is tradition with Pokémon GO Fest events, we’re excited to unveil more details on this year’s Ultra Unlock bonus events. As you know, the Mythical Pokémon Hoopa appeared during Pokémon GO Fest 2021 just the other day. Hoopa seemed intent on causing mischief and summoned all kinds of Legendary Pokémon to raids! That mischief is continuing even now, and it seems the Legendary Pokémon Dialga and Palkia will be summoned to raids next! Keep an eye on how time and space are distorted by the appearance of each of these Legendary Pokémon. There’s still no sign of Hoopa reappearing, but we’ll continue to monitor the situation.’
Ultra Unlock Part 1: Time
The flow of time has been disrupted! Dialga will be appearing in five-star raids, and Pokémon from various eras will be appearing more often. Look forward to encountering formerly fossilized Pokémon like Cranidos and Shieldon—if you’re lucky, you might even encounter a Shiny Cranidos or a Shiny Shieldon!
Date & Time
Ultra Unlock Part 1: Time will run from Friday, July 23, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. to Tuesday, August 3, 2021, at 8:00 p.m. local time.
Features
Raids
The following Pokémon will be appearing in raids from Friday, July 23, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. to Friday, August 6, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. local time:
Five Star Raids
Dialga will be appearing in five-star raids. If you’re lucky, you might find a Shiny Dialga! Dialga is not only a hugely meta relevant Legendary Pokémon, but it also has a wonderful green shiny too. Check out our Dialga raid guide to prepare your optimal counters.
| Regular Dialga Sprite | Shiny Dialga Sprite |
 |
 |
Three Star Raids
Magneton, Aerodactyl, Porygon2, and Golurk will be appearing in three-star raids.
One Star Raids
Unown U, Cranidos, Shieldon, Bronzor, and Klink will be appearing in one-star raids. If you’re lucky, you might find a Shiny Unown U!
Wild Spawns
The following Pokémon will be appearing more frequently in the wild: Voltorb, Porygon, Omanyte, Kabuto, Baltoy, Cranidos, Shieldon, and more. If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny Cranidos or a Shiny Shieldon!
| Shiny Shieldon | Shiny Bastiodon |
 |
 |
| Shiny Cranidos | Shiny Rampardos |
 |
 |
7km Eggs
The following Pokémon will be hatching from 7 km Eggs: Omanyte, Kabuto, Aerodactyl, Lileep, Anorith, Cranidos, and Shieldon.
Field Research
| Task Text | Reward |
|---|---|
| Hatch an Egg | Shieldon (s) |
| Win a raid | Cranidos (s) |
| Spin 10 Pokestops or gyms | 10 Pokeballs |
| Earn a candy walking with your buddy | 3 Ultra Balls |
| Catch 3 pokemon with weather boost | 2 Pinap berries |
Timed Research
The Timed Research is available until Tuesday, August 3, 2021, at 8:00 p.m. local time.
Stage 1
- Catch 10 pokemon – Diglett (s)
- Use 5 berries to help catch pokemon – Drilbur
- Catch 5 different species of pokemon 6 Nanab berries
- Stage reward – 10x poke balls, 483 XP, 3x ultra balls
Stage 2
- Catch 5 voltorb – Magnemite (s)
- Transfer 7 pokemon – 7x Ultra balls
- Send 3 gifts to friends – 3x Pinap berries
- Stage reward – 5x great balls, 483 XP, 5x ultra balls
Stage 3
- Catch 10 omanyte or kabuto – Aerodactyl (s)
- Power up a pokemon 5 times – 3x Max revive
- Earn 5 hearts with your buddy – 7x Razz berries
- Stage reward – 15x poke balls, 483 XP, 5x ultra balls
Stage 4
- Catch 7 Porygon – Upgrade
- Evolve a pokemon – 8x Ultra balls
- Use 10 berries to help catch pokemon – 5x Pinap berries
- Stage reward – 10x Great balls, 483 XP, 5x ultra balls
Stage 5
- Catch 15 Rock-type pokemon – Onix (s)
- Win a raid – Shieldon (s)
- Power up a pokemon 7 times – Cranidos (s)
- Stage reward – 30x poke balls, 3x ultra balls, 2000 stardust
Ultra Unlock Part 2: Space
It appears space will be distorted as well, causing Pokémon from various places to appear where they usually don’t! Look forward to seeing Palkia appearing in five-star raids, Heatmor and Durant appearing in the wild, and more. Heracross will also be appearing globally for the first time in three-star raids—if you’re lucky, you might even encounter a Shiny Heracross!
Date & Time
Ultra Unlock Part 2: Space will run from Friday, August 6, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. to Tuesday, August 17, 2021, at 8:00 p.m. local time.
Features
Raids
The following Pokémon will be appearing in raids from Friday, August 6, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. to Friday, August 20, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. local time:
Five Star Raids
Palkia will be appearing in five-star raids. If you’re lucky, you might find a Shiny Palkia!
| Regular Palkia Sprite | Shiny Palkia Sprite |
 |
 |
Three Star Raids
Alakazam, Kangaskhan, and Heracross will be appearing in three-star raids. If you’re lucky, you might find a Shiny Kangaskhan or a Shiny Heracross! This is a great opportunity to add two regional exclusives to your collection, and Shiny Heracross in particular is fantastic.
| Shiny Heracross | Shiny Kangaskhan |
 |
 |
One Star Raids
Unown U, West Sea and East Sea Shellos, Elgyem, and Espurr will be appearing in one-star raids. If you’re lucky, you might find a Shiny Unown U!
Wild Spawns
The following Pokémon will be appearing more frequently in the wild: Clefairy, Munna, Red-Striped and Blue-Striped Basculin, Elgyem, Heatmor, Durant, and more!
Regional Pokémon in 7km Eggs
The following regional-exclusive Pokémon will be hatching from 7 km Eggs: West Sea and East Sea Shellos, Red-Striped and Blue-Striped Basculin, Heatmor, and Durant.
Timed Research
Complete Timed Research to earn encounters with certain event-themed Pokémon! This Timed Research will be available from Friday, August 6, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. to Tuesday, August 17, 2021, at 8:00 p.m. local time.
Field Research Tasks
There will also be themed Field Research available at PokéStops throughout the event. We will update our guide when we have more information.
Ultra Unlock Part Three: ???
What will happen once Parts 1 and 2 are over? Will these abnormal events continue to happen? What awaits us during Part 3? Stay tuned!
Date & Time
Ultra Unlock Part Three: ??? will run from Friday, August 20, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. to Tuesday, August 31, 2021, at 8:00 p.m. local time.
Conclusion
This is a great opportunity to add a variety of regionals to your Pokédex, as well as potentially some amazing new shinies. Kangaskhan and Heracross both have a Mega form that will arrive in game at some point. Bastiodon is a Great League PvP champ. Rampardos is one of the all time best Rock type attacks in the meta. Plus both versions of Shellos and Basculin will be spawning world wide, rather than either side of the Meridian Line. And who doesn’t want shiny Dialga and Palkia?! Two absolute giants of legendaries that are widely loved. Hype!