Pokémon GO: Crown Clash Event Survival Guide

The newest limited-time event for Pokémon GO is here, featuring the return of Team Rocket in the “Crown Clash: Taken Over.” During this event, Giovanni, the secret leader of Team Rocket, has captured the Legendary Pokémon Dialga and corrupted it with Dark Shadow powers. To liberate Dialga from Giovanni’s control, players will need to defeat various Team Rocket leaders who are now armed with different powerful Shadow Pokémon.

Spanning four days, the “Crown Clash: Taken Over” event revises the teams of key Team Rocket leaders. Players aiming to battle Arlo, Sierra, or Cliff in Pokémon GO during the latter half of May 2025 will encounter new Shadow Pokémon with enhanced powers. Defeating Team Rocket Grunts will pave the way to face the leaders, including Giovanni himself.

Event Schedule for Crown Clash: Taken Over

Encounter Shadow Pokémon Before the Event Ends

The Crown Clash: Taken Over event kicks off on May 14, 2025, at midnight and concludes on May 18, 2025, at 11:59 PM local time. During this quick event, players will have the chance to rescue Shadow Dialga from Giovanni and confront Team Rocket leaders who’ve gained control of new Shadow Pokémon. Throughout the event, Team Rocket encounters will occur more frequently from balloons and PokéStops, providing ample chances to challenge this notorious organization.

During the event, new Shadow Pokémon will make their debut, complemented by the refreshed rosters used by Team Rocket leaders. Additionally, several 1-Star and 3-Star Raid Bosses featuring Shadow Pokémon will become available for players to defeat and capture.

This event also includes the opportunity to complete Field Research tasks for rewards, which encompass essential components to challenge Team Rocket leaders. There are multiple stages of Special Research aimed at rescuing Shadow Dialga, so players will have an array of tasks to complete. Should you choose to pay for additional Timed Research, it may yield bonus rewards, but this requires real-world money.

All Shadow Pokémon In The Crown Clash: Taken Over Event

Confront Raid Bosses and New Team Rocket Challengers

Throughout the “Crown Clash: Taken Over” event, players can encounter various Shadow Pokémon; however, many will only appear under specific circumstances. Notably, some Shadow Pokémon introduced during this event will only be found as adversaries in Raids or against Team Rocket leaders. Although you can capture Shadow Pokémon post-battle, finding them frequently in the wild can prove to be challenging.

The table below lists all the Shadow Pokémon available in Pokémon GO during this event, detailing where to find them and whether they can be Shiny:

The chances of encountering Shiny Shadow Pokémon during the event remain unchanged, but it’s still possible to stumble upon a rare variant. Repeatedly challenging Raid Bosses is a great way to find a Shiny variant, particularly when you have the right counters.

All Pokémon Egg Hatches During the Crown Clash: Taken Over Event

Discover Rare Pokémon in Eggs with Reduced Distance

There are two significant adjustments being implemented regarding Pokémon that hatch from Eggs during the “Crown Clash: Taken Over” event. Specific Pokémon will now hatch from 10km Eggs instead of 12km ones, making it easier to obtain them. Now, whenever you hatch a 10km Egg, you have a chance to receive:

• Larvitar (Rock/Dark-type)
• Pawniard (Dark/Steel-type)

Although neither of these two Pokémon is a Shadow variant, they will consistently have a chance to appear from 10km Eggs. This update will remain effective even after the event concludes, offering a reliable way to collect Larvitar or Pawniard Candy for evolution into Tyranitar or Kingambit, respectively.

Rewards for the Crown Clash: Taken Over Event

Complete Research Stages for New Items and Encounters

When the “Crown Clash: Taken Over” event starts, players can complete Field and Special Research to earn rewards through various tasks. For instance, defeating a Team Rocket Grunt in Pokémon GO will reward you with a Mysterious Component, useful for assembling a Rocket Radar to locate Team Rocket leaders hidden during the event.

There is just one instance of Field Research for rewards, but there are five stages of Special Research to engage in. Completing tasks related to each stage can earn you valuable items, such as Stardust, Berries, and additional Mysterious Components. Meeting all the requirements for certain stages will also unlock unique encounters with rarer Pokémon, some of which may be Shiny.

The tables below summarize the Field and Special Research stages for the Crown Clash: Taken Over event, detailing what rewards you can earn and the associated tasks to complete:

Field Research Rewards

Stage 1 Special Research Rewards

Stage 2 Special Research Rewards

Stage 3 Special Research Rewards

Stage 4 Special Research Rewards

Stage 5 Special Research Rewards

The amount of rewards you earn from Special and Field Research can be increased with paid Timed Research as well. Two stages of Timed Research will offer additional encounters, though you might not want to spend money on a free event. Engaging in the “Crown Clash: Taken Over” event in Pokémon GO already brings several rewards, so it’s up to individual players to decide if they desire more.