Delightful Days Taken Over Collection Challenge Guide – Pokémon GO

The Delightful Days: Taken Over event in Pokémon GO brings another high-stakes encounter with Team GO Rocket, featuring a new Collection Challenge, fresh Shadow Pokémon, and the opportunity to face Giovanni for a chance at rescuing Shadow Giratina. This takeover also marks the debut of shiny Salandit, giving shiny hunters extra incentive to play throughout the event.

Event Duration and Rewards

The Delightful Days: Taken Over Collection Challenge runs until Sunday, August 17, 11:59 p.m. local time. Completing it before the deadline will earn you:

• 5,000 XP
• 1× Super Rocket Radar (essential for tracking down Giovanni)

Since this is tied directly to the event, missing the deadline means missing the rewards.

See also: Pokemon GO Dynamax Cannon Adventure Effect: Eternatus Event Guide

All Pokémon in the Delightful Days Taken Over Collection Challenge

You’ll need to catch four specific Pokémon to complete the challenge. All of them are available in the wild during the event:

Pokémon	How to Obtain
Pikipek	Wild encounter
Grubbin	Wild encounter
Staryu	Wild encounter
Fletchling	Wild encounter

All four are wild spawns during the event, so be sure to catch them from the wild to progress the challenge — Shadow variants you meet in Rocket battles won’t count toward completion.

See also: How to Evolve Snom in Pokémon GO: Buddy Hearts, Candy & Nighttime Guide

How to Catch All Pokémon in the Delightful Days Taken Over Event

While all four Pokémon are available in the wild, spawn rates can vary depending on your location and weather boosts. Here are some ways to improve your odds:

1. Use Incense and Lure Modules – They can increase encounter frequency, giving you more chances to spot rarer spawns like Staryu.
2. Check Different Biomes – Parks, beaches, and water-heavy areas often yield more Water-type spawns such as Staryu.
3. Play During Boosted Hours – If any of these Pokémon feature in hourly spawn boosts or local events, focus your gameplay then.

Why to Complete the Delightful Days Taken Over Collection Challenge

Beyond the XP and Super Rocket Radar, finishing this challenge sets you up perfectly for the event’s Special Research quest, Delightful Days: Taken Over. This is a limited-claim research that must be picked up by Tuesday, September 2, at 9:59 a.m. local time.

See also: Pokémon GO Virizion Raid Guide: Best Counters, Weaknesses & Shiny Tips

You’ll need to clear any earlier Rocket research like Crown Clash: Taken Over first, and while the research doesn’t expire once claimed, the Shadow Legendary you rescue from Giovanni depends on when you complete it — finishing during this event ensures it’s Shadow Giratina.

Extra Features in the Delightful Days Taken Over Event

Alongside the Collection Challenge, this takeover introduces new Shadow Pokémon: Shadow Staryu, Shadow Giratina, Shadow Fletchling, Shadow Pikipek, and Shadow Grubbin.

• New Shadow Pokémon: Shadow Pikipek, Grubbin, Staryu, Fletchling, and Giratina debut during this event.
• Field Research Tasks:
  • Defeat a Team GO Rocket Grunt → 1× Mysterious Component
  • Purify 3 Shadow Pokémon → 1× Fast TM or 1× Charged TM

Special Research Steps for the Delightful Days Taken Over Event

If you want to prepare for the Special Research tasks while completing the Collection Challenge, here are all the steps and rewards:

• Step 1: Catch Pokémon, purify Shadow Pokémon, defeat Grunts → Ekans encounter + resources.
• Step 2: Similar objectives with higher counts → Koffing encounter + TMs and Stardust.
• Step 3: Defeat Arlo, Cliff, Sierra → Super Rocket Radar.
• Step 4: Find, battle, and defeat Giovanni → Persian encounter + items.
• Step 5: Claim rewards → XP, Stardust, 3 Charged TMs.

See also: Mega Aerodactyl Raid Guide Pokémon GO (Best Counters, Weaknesses & How to Beat It)

Final Tips for Completing the Delightful Days Taken Over Collection Challenge

Completing the Delightful Days: Taken Over Collection Challenge is easier when you combine it with smart event planning. Keep these tips in mind to finish faster and prepare for Giovanni:

• Pair Challenge Progress with Research Steps – Catching event Pokémon will also help advance the Delightful Days: Taken Over Special Research objectives, making your grind more efficient.
• Stock Up on Healing Items – Expect multiple Rocket battles, especially if you plan to face Giovanni. Remember, Rocket Balloons count toward Grunt, Leader, and Giovanni encounters, so use them to progress faster.
• Use Pinap Berries on Shadow Pokémon – This gives extra Candy, helping you purify or evolve them without extra grinding.
• Scout Leader and Giovanni Lineups – Their first Pokémon is fixed, so use an initial “probe” battle to learn their second slot. Keep in mind that lineups may change if you move to another PokéStop, so prepare flexible counters.

Completing the Delightful Days: Taken Over Collection Challenge is more than just ticking boxes—it’s your gateway to facing Giovanni and adding Shadow Giratina to your team. Act fast, because once the event ends, both the rewards and the opportunity to battle for this legendary Shadow Pokémon may disappear. Play Now!