Niantic has announced the requirements to unlock the new Throwback Challenge Champion tasks that are tied to the newly introduced Galarian forms that are coming as elements of the Pokémon Sword and Shield roster are brought into Pokémon Go. Not only are Niantic giving the players the chance to catch Shiny spawns of classic monsters, as well as tons of bonus items, but now they have a new goal to chase.
These new challenges also roll into the newly introduced Throwback Challenges. Niantic will bring out the first of these challenges as Research Tasks as part of the wider 36-part Throwback Challenge 2020. So you will want to focus on completing those each week when they pop up. There’s a different set of tasks each week, with 8 of them being refreshed each time.
Completing these challenges is a core part of the gameplay loop for the next couple of months as these tasks will be key to unlocking the new Galarian Pokémon in Pokémon Go. These tasks begin debuting next month, starting on May 1st and lasting throughout the month. Players will have one week dedicated to five different regions of the game lore. The Galarian forms will be locked to completing the challenges for Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh regions. Each set of challenges entails capturing monsters of various types from each region, judging by the newly revealed Throwback Challenges being like that.
Check the times for your local area to make sure, but the challenges to complete can be found here to become a Throwback Challenge Champion. The game will display these tasks under the Field research screen when the lot swaps over to the Johto region after Kanto wraps up.
And while you’re out completing these challenges, be on the lookout for the rare Shiny spawns of certain Pokémon that can spawn during each rotation.
These tasks won’t be extremely simple to complete either, as they are aimed at hardcore players first and foremost. You can get them without spending too much time on them, but since it’s a staggered release, expect to play Pokémon Go pretty regularly over the next month. But don’t worry if you haven’t been able to complete all of these tasks, Niantic will allow access for Galarian Meowth, Zigzagoon, and Darumaka through 7-kilometer eggs. So that’s something for more casual players at least.
Those players who do complete the Throwback Challenges will unlock the higher tier with the Champion research tasks on June 3. Those tougher challenges will run until June 8.
