Complete guide to Pokemon Go BD & SP event with Collection Challenge strategies and Field Research rewards
Event Overview & Structure
Pokemon Go’s BD & SP celebration event honors the Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Nintendo Switch releases with exclusive in-game content and challenges.
Niantic continues their tradition of cross-platform celebrations by launching this special event coinciding with the highly anticipated Generation 4 remakes. These coordinated releases create exciting synergy between the main series games and Pokemon Go’s mobile experience.
The BD & SP event features a segmented structure with two distinct phases, each offering unique raid bosses and exclusive costume variations for Sinnoh starter Pokemon. This dual-phase approach encourages sustained player engagement throughout the event duration.
Our comprehensive guide provides strategic insights for completing the Collection Challenge efficiently while maximizing rewards from the exclusive Field Research tasks available during both event phases.
Collection Challenge Deep Dive
Successfully completing the BD & SP Collection Challenge requires capturing all costumed Sinnoh starter Pokemon wearing special headwear throughout the event duration.
During Part 1, Pokemon adorned with Lucas’s hat appear naturally in wild spawns, while those wearing Dawn’s hat become available through Field Research task completion. This dynamic reverses completely during Part 2 of the event.
Upon collecting all required costumed Pokemon, trainers receive substantial rewards including a Froslass encounter opportunity, 1000 Experience Points, and 3000 Stardust. Completion progress also contributes toward your Elite Collector Medal advancement.
Pro Tip: Prioritize completing Field Research tasks during phases when your preferred costumed Pokemon appear as rewards rather than wild spawns, as task completion guarantees encounters while wild spawns remain subject to RNG.
Froslass represents particularly valuable encounter reward given its competitive viability in PvP battles and relative rarity outside specific weather conditions and events.
Field Research Tasks & Rewards
Exclusive Field Research tasks become available by spinning PokeStops throughout the BD & SP event duration, with reward distributions shifting between event phases.
- Catch 2 Turtwig – Dawn’s hat Turtwig (Part 1), Lucas’s hat Turtwig (Part 2)
- Catch 2 Chimchar – Dawn’s hat Chimchar (Part 1), Lucas’s hat Chimchar (Part 2)
- Catch 2 Piplup – Dawn’s hat Piplup (Part 1), Lucas’s hat Piplup (Part 2)
- Trade a Pokemon – Burmy encounter
- Win a Raid – Bagon encounter
- Win a Level 3 or higher Raid – Shieldon encounter
These task-specific encounters provide reliable methods for obtaining costumed Pokemon that might prove elusive through wild encounters alone. The phase-based reward rotation ensures balanced distribution between both costume variants.
Strategic Insight: Complete “Catch 2” tasks early during each phase to secure costumed starters, then focus on raid tasks for additional rare Pokemon encounters. Burmy encounters from trading tasks offer collection completion value while Bagon and Shieldon provide evolution material.
Advanced players should prioritize Level 3+ raid tasks for Shieldon encounters, as Bastiodon remains highly relevant in Great League PvP competitions.
Event Timeline & Phases
The BD & SP event spans from November 16 through November 21, segmented into two distinct phases with unique thematic elements and Pokemon availability.
- BD & SP Part 1: November 16 at 10AM until November 18 at 10AM local time.
- BD & SP Part 2: November 18 at 10AM until November 21 at 8PM local time.
Part 1 adopts Brilliant Diamond theming, featuring increased wild spawns including Seel, Murkrow, Aron, Buneary, Poochyena, Stunky, and Sinnoh starters wearing Lucas’s hat. These spawns complement the Shining Diamond aesthetic and character preferences.
Part 2 transitions to Shining Pearl theming, showcasing Pokemon like Pinsir, Misdreavus, Glameow, Houndor, Spheal, and Sinnoh starters wearing Dawn’s hat appearing more frequently throughout wild encounters.
Transition Strategy: Prepare for phase transitions by completing remaining Collection Challenge requirements before each phase concludes. The 10AM local time switch ensures consistent transition timing regardless of global location.
Advanced Strategy Guide
Maximize your BD & SP event experience through strategic resource management and awareness of common completion pitfalls.
Resource Optimization: Stockpile Pinap Berries before the event to double candy from costumed starter catches. Use incense during active play sessions to increase wild encounter rates, especially for phase-specific costumed Pokemon.
Common Mistakes: Many trainers overlook the phase-specific nature of costume availability, attempting to complete the entire Collection Challenge in one phase. Others waste raid passes on unnecessary battles instead of focusing on research task requirements.
Advanced Tactics: Coordinate with local trainers to complete trade tasks efficiently. Plan raid completions around your daily free raid pass to minimize resource expenditure. Use weather boosts to increase encounter rates for specific costumed Pokemon.
Following these strategies ensures comprehensive Collection Challenge completion while maximizing stardust, experience, and rare Pokemon acquisitions throughout the event duration.
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