'Pokémon Go' Update: Niantic Reveals Events for the Rest of December

It's the final month of 2019, and Niantic is looking to give Pokémon Go players a lot to enjoy heading into the new year with events and in-game bonuses.

According to the official Pokémon Go blog, there are quite a few updates coming to the popular mobile game, and we're not even talking about the massive Community Day this weekend.

There's new Legendary Pokémon to catch, research tasks to complete and new Shiny Pokémon to encounter.

Here's a rundown of everything coming to Pokémon Go in December and the first week of January.

TEAM GO ROCKET RESEARCH

The first update involves a new special research task called, "A Challenging Development."

These new tasks are designed to take down Team Go Rocket and will be available until the end of December. Players will also have a chance to take on Giovanni and capture a Shadow Zapdos.

VIRIZION RAIDS

Following Cobalion and Terrakion's debut in Pokémon Go, Virizion will begin appearing in five-star Raids very soon.

From Tuesday, December 17 at 4 p.m. EST to Tuesday, January 7 at 4 p.m. the Grass and Fighting-type Legendary will appear in Raids. However, it's not the only one appearing in Raids.

Ho-Oh and Lugia will return to five-star Raids alongside Virizion for one weekend only. From Friday, December 20 at 4 p.m. EST to Monday, December 23 at 4 p.m., both Johto Legendaries will be catchable in Raids.

NEW UNOVA POKEMON

There are two new Pokémon from the Unova region making their Pokémon Go debuts. The first is Cubchoo, the Ice-type Pokémon that can evolve into Beartic. Cubchoo will start to appear in the wild with other Ice types beginning December 24.

Cryogonal, another Ice-type, is the second new Pokémon and can be found when near a Glacial Lure Module.

NEW SHINY POKEMON

Many Pokémon during this event will have holiday-themed attire like what players saw with the Pikachu family and their Santa hats during prior festivities. This year, Stantler will be catchable with bells around its neck but the Normal-type deer Pokémon from the Johto region will have its Shiny version make its Pokémon Go debut.

Also, Shiny Snover will begin appearing in the wild during this time.

SPECIAL WINTER WEEKEND EVENT

On December 28 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, players can enjoy special in-game bonuses and the return of Regice.

Glacial Lure Modules will last for two hours, with rare Ice types like Lapras, Delibird and Cubchoo appearing more frequently. If you evolve your Eevee into Glaceon during this event window, it will learn the exclusive move Last Resort.

Regice will return to five-star raids, but don't worry because players will receive two additional Raid Passes during this event window.

IN-GAME BONUSES

There are also plenty of in-game bonuses that the official blog lists. You can read the list below alongside the times they go into effect.

Pokémon in holiday costumes: Pikachu, Raichu, and Pichu wearing beanies and Stantler wearing bells will appear in Pokémon GO for the first time!

Pokémon appearing in Eggs: Alolan Sandshrew, Alolan Vulpix, Pichu wearing beanies, and Stantler wearing bells will be hatching from 7 km Eggs!

Pokémon appearing in Raid Battles: Raichu wearing beanies and Stantler wearing bells will be available to challenge in two-star raids!

Event-exclusive Field Research: Enjoy event-exclusive Field Research tasks that will reward you with the chance to encounter Pokémon like Pikachu wearing beanies!

Save Shadow Pokémon! We have reason to believe that Team GO Rocket has turned more Pokémon, including Delibird, into Shadow Pokémon! There might be other Shadow Pokémon to discover in places high and low, so get out there and save them!

Winter-themed avatar items coming to the shop! You can look forward to a Stantler Sweater and a Stantler Headband as well as a Beanie Hat to match the one some Pikachu are wearing for this event!

From Tuesday, December 24, 2019, at 12:00 a.m. to Wednesday, January 1, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. in your local time zone

Open twice as many Gifts each day: For the duration of the event, the number of Gifts you can open daily will increase to 40.

Carry twice as many Gifts: For the duration of the event, the number of Gifts you can carry in your inventory will increase to 20.

One guaranteed single-use Incubator per day: In order to more easily hatch Eggs during the holiday season, Trainers will receive one single-use Incubator at no cost once per day during the event by spinning a Photo Disc on a PokéStop.

From Tuesday, December 24, 2019, at 12:00 a.m. to Wednesday, December 25, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. in your local time zone

2× Catch Candy

2× Transfer Candy

From Thursday, December 26, 2019, at 12:00 a.m. to Friday, December 27, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. in your local time zone

From Saturday, December 28, 2019, at 12:00 a.m. to Sunday, December 29, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. in your local time zone

From Monday, December 30, 2019, at 12:00 a.m. to Wednesday, January 1, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. in your local time zone

1/2 Hatch Distance when Eggs are placed into Incubators during this time period