With the release of Version 2.9.0, Pokémon Sleep prepares for the arrival of Expert Mode, a new gameplay feature that increases difficulty and expands rewards. In this mode, raising Snorlax becomes more challenging, but players can earn greater bonuses, unlock exclusive weekly missions, and encounter rare Pokémon like Raikou. This guide explains how to unlock Expert Mode, how it works, and what to prepare before it goes live in late July or early August.
What Is Expert Mode?
Expert Mode is a harder version of the standard game mode in Pokémon Sleep, increasing the challenge of raising Snorlax. In return, the rewards are greater—offering more Research EXP, additional Dream Shards, and a higher chance of encountering Shiny Pokémon. Weekly Expert-exclusive missions will also be available, providing new objectives to complete each week.
Expert Mode is expected to roll out by late July or early August 2025, following the Version 2.9.0 update. Players can prepare in advance by reaching the required Snorlax rating and building optimized helper teams.
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Note: Maintenance for Version 2.9.0 took place on June 5, 2025. Players who already met the unlock requirements will gain access to Expert Mode automatically as soon as it launches.
How to Unlock Expert Mode
To unlock Expert Mode on Greengrass Isle, you need to:
- Reach Master 18 Rating with Snorlax – Your Snorlax on Greengrass Isle must reach the Master 18 rank.
- Use an Expert Ticket – Once you meet the rank requirement, you can activate Expert Mode by using an Expert Ticket.
If you’ve already achieved Master 18 before the update, Expert Mode will unlock automatically once the feature goes live.
How to Get and Use Expert Tickets
Expert Tickets are essential for entering Expert Mode. You can obtain them through:
- Sleep Point Exchange: 200 Sleep Points for the Regular Exchange or 100 Sleep Points for the Premium Exchange.
- Tutorial Reward: Completing the Expert Mode tutorial grants one free Expert Ticket.
- Ticket Limit: You can hold a maximum of 2 Expert Tickets at any given time.
Expert Mode Gameplay Changes
Expert Mode introduces several core changes to increase difficulty:
- Snorlax’s Favorite Berries: Each week, Snorlax will have 1 main favorite and 2 sub-favorite Berries.
- Pokémon collecting the main favorite Berry will get helping bonuses.
- Pokémon that collect none of Snorlax’s favorite Berries will face a helping frequency penalty.
- Weekly Random Bonus: An additional Snorlax-related bonus will be chosen randomly each week.
- Expert Bonus: Regular area bonuses are replaced with a unique Expert Bonus.
- Higher Drowsy Power Requirement: Unlocking Pokémon sleep styles will require more Drowsy Power, but the rewards for researching these styles will also increase.
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Rewards and Benefits in Expert Mode
Players who take on the extra difficulty are rewarded with:
- Increased Research EXP, Dream Shards, and Pokémon Candies.
- Greater chance to encounter Shiny Pokémon.
- Weekly Expert Missions with valuable rewards. For example: Sleep for a certain number of hours with Fire-type Helpers that collect Snorlax’s main favorite Berry, and receive multiple Handy Candies S.
- Different Pokémon spawn patterns on Greengrass Isle, including an increased appearance rate of Raikou.
Tips to Prepare for Expert Mode
- Build a Diverse Team: Make sure you have a variety of Helper Pokémon to cover Snorlax’s favorite Berries each week.
- Stock Up on Sleep Points: Keep enough Sleep Points ready for ticket exchanges.
- Optimize Snorlax Growth: Plan meals and helper Pokémon combinations that maximize Snorlax’s weekly rating.
- Complete Your Sleep Style Dex: The more sleep styles you have unlocked, the better your overall research rewards.
Also, don’t forget the version 2.9.0 global change: Evolved Pokémon you befriend now receive the same increased carry limits as ones you evolve yourself—this can boost your resource generation in Expert Mode significantly.
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FAQ: Pokemon Sleep Expert Mode
1. Can you catch Legendary Pokémon in Expert Mode?
Yes. Raikou spawns more frequently in Greengrass Isle (Expert Mode). Future Expert Mode zones like Cyan Beach and Taupe Hollow are expected to feature Suicune and Entei.
2. Will Articuno, Zapdos, or Lugia appear in Expert Mode?
Yes. Expert Mode rotates high-value spawns. Articuno likely fits Snowdrop Tundra, Zapdos suits OGPP, and Moltres aligns with Amber Canyon. Lugia may appear as a Flying-type to add variety across zones.
3. Can Free-to-Play (F2P) players access Expert Mode easily?
Yes. You can buy Expert Tickets for 200 Sleep Points (or just 100 with Premium Exchange). This makes the mode accessible to F2P players without spending real money.
4. How many Expert Tickets can you hold?
You can hold a maximum of two Expert Tickets at once. Since you can’t stockpile more than that, use them regularly to avoid wasting Sleep Points.
5. How often should F2P players use Expert Mode?
F2P players can enter Expert Mode about twice per month while still saving enough Sleep Points for biscuits or Main Skill Seeds. This allows consistent access to rewards and Legendary Pokémon.
6. Does Expert Mode increase Shiny encounter rates?
Yes. Expert Mode raises your chances of finding Shiny Pokémon, making it one of the best ways to hunt for rare variants in the game.
7. Do Pokémon spawns change in Expert Mode?
Yes. Each Expert Mode zone features a different spawn pool. For example, Raikou only appears in Greengrass Isle (Expert Mode), not in its regular counterpart.
8. Should you spend Sleep Points on Expert Tickets or Main Skill Seeds?
It depends on your goal. Use Expert Tickets to find rare Pokémon and complete weekly missions. Spend on Main Skill Seeds to strengthen long-term team performance. Balance both based on your strategy.
9. What rewards does Expert Mode offer?
Expert Mode increases rewards like Research EXP, Dream Shards, Pokémon Candies, and unique weekly mission bonuses. These scale with your Snorlax’s growth and sleep research progress.
10. Do you need the Premium Pass to benefit from Expert Mode?
No. You can access all core Expert Mode features—including Legendary spawns, tickets, and missions—without the Premium Pass. Premium users get a discount on ticket costs, but F2P players can still fully participate.
