Pokémon Go Festival of Colors quest steps, research tasks, rewards and bonuses
Shiny Smeargle returns to Pokémon Go! (For a while.)
The Festival of Colors has returned to Pokémon Go for 2025! Just like with past versions of this event, there's a set of worldwide Festival of Colors bonuses and then a second set exclusive to players in India.
No matter where you are, however, you'll be able to enjoy the Festival of Colors 2025 Timed Research Timed Research quest and the Festival of Colors event-exclusive research tasks. Make sure you complete them if you'd like some Festival of Colors rewards!
The Festival of Colors also marks two special shiny Pokémon moments. Firstly, shiny Bruxish has been released in Pokémon Go and, more importantly, it marks the return of shiny Smeargle. Remember - shiny Smeargle will vanish once this event has ended, so try to catch it before time runs out.
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'Festival of Colors 2025 Timed Research' Timed Research quest steps in Pokémon Go
Festival of Colors 2025 Timed Research is the Timed Research quest running throughout 2025's Festival of Colors in Pokémon Go. This means you have until Monday 17th March at 8pm (local time) to complete this quest. Miss this deadline and you'll be unable to collect all of the rewards it offers.
'Festival of Colors 2025 Timed Research' Step 1 of ?
- Catch 15 Pokémon - Ledyba encounter
- Make 15 Curveball Throws - Pawmi encounter
- Use 15 Berries to help catch Pokémon - Tadbulb encounter
- Spin 15 PokéStops or Gyms - Alolan Grimer encounter
- Send 15 Gifts to friends - Amaura encounter
- Make 15 Great Throws - Crabrawler encounter
- Catch 8 different species of Pokémon - Bruxish encounter
- Trade a Pokémon - Bruxish encounter
- Use an Incense - One Incense
Rewards: 2000 XP, 1500 Stardust and four Rare Candies.
The Might and Mastery Season has arrived. The Festival of Colors is currently running in Pokémon Go. You can now catch Dynamax Pokémon through Max Battles. First, however, you need to visit Power Spots to collect Max Particles and complete the To the Max! quest. Don't forget to try out Routes, Gift Exchange and Party Play while you're hunting down rare Pokémon, fighting in the Go Battle League or competing in PokéStop Showcases.
Festival of Colors field research tasks in Pokémon Go
Spinning PokéStops during the Festival of Colors will, of course, give you the chance to earn an event-exclusive research task in Pokémon Go. These tasks can be saved in your research collection and completed after the event ends if you so choose.
Here are the Festival of Colors field research tasks in Pokémon Go:
- Catch 7 Pokémon reward - Flabébé encounter (Colour depending on your region)
- Explore 2km reward - Bruxish encounter
- Use an Incense reward - Bruxish encounter
- Take a Snapshot of your buddy reward - 500 Stardust
Thank you to SilphScience from reddit for the help with this information!
Everything else we know about the Festival of Colors in Pokémon Go
The Festival of Colors is running until Monday 17th March at 8pm (local time). There are four bonuses running worldwide during this time, with the first being that Incense will last for two hours. (This bonus does not affect Daily Adventure Incense.) Alongside this, Lure Modules will last for three hours.
Make sure you're taking a few snapshots every day during the Festival of Colors too as there are some surprises awaiting you. Seriously - do it. Shiny Smeargle is making a return for the Festival of Colors and, once the event ends, it will go back into its box. If you're missing this shiny Pokémon (like I am), then now is your time to hopefully get it. If you're unlucky (like I probably will be), then you'll have to wait until shiny Smeargle returns to Pokémon Go during another event.
The final worldwide bonus sees Bruxish appearing more frequently whenever you use an Incense. This is perfect as the Festival of Colors also marks the release of shiny Bruxish in Pokémon Go.
Keeping to tradition, the Festival of Colors has a selection of bonuses which are exclusive to players in India. Pokémon Go's Festival of Colors is inspired by Holi after all! Players in India will be able to enjoy a branching Timed Research quest, Kurta Pikachu appearing in one-star raids and earning one additional candy from catching a Pokémon after a raid.
The following Pokémon are spawning more frequently worldwide during the Festival of Colors:
- Drowzee
- Magikarp
- Natu
- Aipom
- Meditite
- Dwebble
- Blue Flower Flabébé - In the Asia-Pacific region
- Orange Flower Flabébé - Worldwide
- Red Flower Flabébé - In Europe, the Middle East and Africa
- White Flower Flabébé - Worldwide
- Yellow Flower Flabébé - In the Americas
- Bruxish
Here are the Pokémon appearing in raids worldwide throughout the Festival of Colors:
| Three Star | Five Star | Mega |
|---|---|---|
| Vaporeon | Tapu Koko | Mega Swampert |
| Jolteon | ||
| Flareon |
PokéStop Showcases are running throughout the Festival of Colors.
Finally, there's a pay-to-play Timed Research quest available during the Festival of Colors. It will cost you $2 or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency. As always, purchasing this quest is nonrefundable and can't be purchased using PokéCoins, but can be given to another player you're Great Friends or higher with. If you do purchase this quest, you'll need to finish it before 8pm (local time) on Monday 17th March or else you'll lose the rewards.
Hope you enjoy this year's Festival of Colors!