Terminology of Event Pokémon (GO)

The terminology of Event Pokémon explains how terms such as "Event Pokémon" and "costumed Pokémon" are used in Pokémon GO.

Pokémon wearing clothes

Here are some examples where the Japanese game text specifically refers to Pokémon wearing clothes (Japanese: 着飾(きかざ)った dressed-up), which was officially translated as either "costumed", "special costumed" or "Event":

• "Special costumed Pikachu are appearing in the area!"

  「着飾ったピカチュウがエリア内に出現」

• "Event Pokémon hatching from Eggs"

  「着飾ったポケモンがタマゴからかえる」

• "Encounter Event Pokémon after Field Research"

  「着飾ったポケモンがフィールドリサーチ完了後に出現」

• "Event Pokémon appearing in raids"

  「着飾ったポケモンがレイドに出現」

• "Event Pokémon appearing in the wild"

  「着飾ったポケモンが野生で出現」

• "Up to 12 surprise encounters with costumed Pokémon in GO Snapshot" (Pokemon GO Tour 2024)

  「GOスナップショットで着飾ったポケモンとの出会い（12回まで）」

This Japanese term has been also translated as "wearing costumes", "wearing fun costumes", or "in costumes":

• "Hey there, <player>! I’ve noticed that some Pokémon wearing costumes have been appearing around my lab lately. Isn’t it fun to change up your look every once in a while?" (Misunderstood Mischief)

  「やぁ、<player>！見たか？着飾ったポケモンが現れ始めた。おしゃれなポケモンという感じだな。」

• "Hey, <player>! Have you run into any Pokémon wearing fun costumes recently? I’ve seen quite a few around my mobile lab." (Finding Your Voice)

  「やぁ、<player>！見たか？ほら、着飾ったポケモン！」

• "Between Galarian Yamask’s slab, Banette’s puppet body, and all the Pokémon in costumes walking around, it feels like the spooky factor’s turned way up at the moment!" (Halloween 2021)

  「デスマスの粘土板、ジュペッタのぬいぐるみの体、そして着飾ったポケモンまで。すごい状況だ．．．」

• "You may get additional Candy from catching Pokémon wearing costumes!" (Halloween 2023)

  「着飾ったポケモンが持っているアメ増の可能性」

In this case, this term is found in Japanese but missing in the English version:

• "Fabulous choice, <player>! The glitter, the glam—Pikachu looks ready to electrify the crowd!" (referring to Pikachu Pop Star in Pokémon GO Fest 2021)

  「ポップな選択だ、<player>！ アイドルのように着飾ったピカチュウ、輝いているぞ！」

Other Japanese terms

Some dialogue refers to Event Pokémon in Japanese as 「特殊(とくしゅ)」 (special) or 「特別(とくべつ)」(special). In particular, some of them use lowercase "event" or "special event" in English:

• "You have selected at least one Legendary Pokémon, Mythical Pokémon, Ultra Beast, or event Pokémon."

  「伝説・幻のポケモン、ウルトラビースト、もしくは特殊なポケモンが含まれています！」

• "You have not selected any Legendary Pokémon, Mythical Pokémon, Ultra Beasts, or event Pokémon."

  「伝説・幻のポケモン、ウルトラビースト、特殊なポケモンを選択していません」

• "You can't select Event Pokémon."

  「特殊なポケモンは選択できません！」

• "<number> Event Pokémon"

  「特殊なポケモン<number>匹」

• "If 20 Trainers work together to successfully complete a Raid Battle, then special event Pokémon will appear near that Gym for 10 minutes!"

  「20人のトレーナーが協力してレイドに勝つとそのジムの周りで10分間特別なポケモンが現れる」

In those cases, the dialogue uses 「いつもとは違う」 (other than usual), which was officially translated as "Event":

• "Event Pokémon attracted to Lure Modules"

  「いつもとは違うポケモンがルアーに反応」

• "Event Pokémon attracted to Rainy Lure Modules"

  「いつもとは違うポケモンがレイニールアーに反応」

• "Event Pokémon attracted to Mossy Lure Modules"

  「いつもとは違うポケモンがハーブルアーに反応」

This dialogue uses another Japanese term:

• "Encounters with Butterfree, Dragonite, Sneasel, Kirlia, and Absol, and more, all wearing fashionable costumes" (Fashion Week 2023)

  「バタフリー、カイリュー、ニューラ、キルリア、アブソルなど、おしゃれな衣装をつけたポケモンたちに出会える」

English-only mentions

In the dialogue asking for confirmation to transfer an Event Pokémon, the English version specifically mentions that this is an Event Pokémon, which is not mentioned in the Japanese version:

• "Do you really want to transfer this Event Pokémon?"

  「本当にこのポケモンを送ってもいいですか？」

In this dialogue, the Japanese text meaning "Legendary Pokémon and others" was expanded to mention other kinds of Pokémon, including lowercase "event Pokémon":

• "You cannot invite friends to Raid Battles against certain Legendary, regional, or event Pokémon."

  「伝説のポケモンなど、特別なレイドボスに挑戦するバトルにフレンドを招待することはできません。」

This piece of dialogue is not present in Japanese. It was added in the English version:

• "I wonder how those Pokémon feel when they wear those costumes." (Finding Your Voice)

In this case, the word "costumed" was added in the English version:

• "Blanche was none too pleased to see those Berries scattered on the ground, but the costumed Pokémon that rushed in to gobble them up sure seemed thankful. Haha!" (Finding Your Voice)

  「きのみは派手に散らばってしまったのだが、ポケモンがやってきて．．．全部食べてしまった。なんだか楽しい光景だったよ！」

In this case, "Event-themed" and "costumed Pokémon" are used in the English text, but the Japanese version simply mentions the Pokémon variations without using those terms:

• "Research rewards for Winter Holiday Part 1 include: Event-themed Pokémon encounters, such as Spheal wearing a holiday scarf, Cryogonal, and the first peek at a new costumed Pokémon—Psyduck wearing holiday attire!" (Winter Holiday 2023)

  「ウィンターイベントパート1関連のチャレンジを完了することで、ホリデースカーフをつけたタマザラシ、フリージオ、ホリデー衣装をつけたコダック（先行）に出会え、プレミアムバトルパス2枚がもらえます。」

Pokémon wearing hats

Here are some examples where the Japanese game text specifically refers to Pokémon wearing hats (Japanese: 帽子(ぼうし)をかぶった hat-wearing), which was also officially translated as "special costumed":

• "Evolve your duo into a trio with Flygon! You’ll encounter a special costumed Flygon."

  「ライゴンに参加してもらえば、帽子をかぶったフライゴンに出会える！」

• "Evolve your duo into a trio with Gardevoir! You’ll encounter a special costumed Gardevoir."

  「サーナイトに参加してもらえば、帽子をかぶったサーナイトに出会える！」

• "Add Galarian Ponyta to your band! You’ll encounter a special costumed Galarian Ponyta."

  「ポニータ（ガラルのすがた）に参加してもらえば、帽子をかぶったポニータ（ガラルのすがた）に出会える！」

• "Add Galarian Zigzagoon to your band! You’ll encounter a special costumed Galarian Zigzagoon."

  「ジグザグマ（ガラルのすがた）に参加してもらえば、帽子をかぶったジグザグマ（ガラルのすがた）に出会える！」

In this case, the Japanese version includes 「ホウエン帽子をかぶった」 (wearing Hoenn Hat) and 「ホウエンリボンをつけた」 (wearing Hoenn Bow):

• "Incense may attract Pikachu wearing Brendan’s hat or Pikachu wearing May’s bow"

  「ホウエン帽子をかぶったピカチュウとホウエンリボンをつけたピカチュウがおこうに反応」

In this case, the dialogue exceptionally refers to Pokémon wearing hats as "sporting festive headwear" (Japanese: 帽子で着飾った dressed-up with hats). The Japanese version includes 「着飾った」(dressed-up), the same term normally used for the Pokémon wearing clothes:

• "I’ve already scouted a couple promising candidates: Galarian Ponyta and Galarian Zigzagoon. They’re both sporting festive headwear, so you really can’t go wrong!" (Pokémon GO Fest 2021)

  「実はすでに候補を見つけてあるんだ。帽子で着飾ったガラルのすがたのポニータとジグザグマ。」

See also

• Event Pokémon (GO)