[Last Chance] Pokemon Go: New Shiny Pokemon Now Available In Lunar New Year Event

Pokemon Go's ongoing Lunar New Year event is winding down. Until February 13, certain types of Pokemon will appear much more frequently in the wild than they normally do, and developer Niantic is offering players extra XP for capturing and evolving monsters--as well as a chance to catch a new Shiny. [Update: We're quickly approaching the end of the Lunar New Year event, making this your last opportunity to take advantage of the bonus XP it offers and catch a Shiny Spoink.]

Throughout the event, players will have a much easier time of finding Rattata, Ekans, Mankey, Ponyta, Electabuzz, Dratini, Mareep, Miltank, Torchic, Poochyena, Spoink, and Buneary--all Pokemon that correspond to the Chinese zodiac. To commemorate the Year of the Pig, Shiny Spoink will also be available for the first time.

On top of that, players will earn twice the normal amount of XP when they capture and evolve Pokemon. Additionally, monsters that are traded during the event will have a higher likelihood of becoming Lucky Pokemon, which require less Stardust than normal Pokemon to power up. You can tell Lucky Pokemon apart by their sparkling backgrounds.

Spoink isn't the only Pokemon whose Shiny form can now be found; Niantic has also kicked off a special event that gives players a chance to counter Shiny Meltan. The Mythical Pokemon will appear in the wild for a limited time when you open the Mystery Box, an item you'll receive in Go when you transfer a monster to either Let's Go Pikachu or Eevee for Switch.

Shortly after the Lunar New Year event concludes, Niantic will host Pokemon Go's next Community Day. That event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 16, and it features its own pig-like Pokemon: the Ice/Ground-type Swinub. Players will also receive triple the normal amount of Stardust during this month's Community Day.

Niantic recently introduced a new wave of Gen 4 Pokemon to Go, including Lickilicky, Tangrowth, Froslass, and Gallade. A new Gen 4 Legendary, Palkia, also debuted in Raid Battles following the end of the recent Hoenn celebration event. Players have until February 28 to catch the Spatial Pokemon before it leaves Raids.