In Pokémon GO the Lunar New Year event runs from today, bringing you numerous monsters and bonuses once again. We from MeinMMO have looked at which Pokémon are particularly worthwhile and show you where to find them.
Which event is it? In Pokémon GO, the annual Lunar New Year is currently being celebrated, bringing you plenty of new spawns. As you may know from the past, this year it will mainly revolve around red monsters and fire-type Pokémon. This year’s mascot of the Lunar New Year is Flampion.
But which of the numerous monsters are actually worth it? We have taken a look for you and will show you 11 monsters that you should secure for yourself.
How long does the event run? The event “Lunar New Year” runs from January 19, 2023, at 10:00 AM local time to January 23, 2023, at 8:00 PM local time.
That’s why you should secure these 11 monsters
What does the ranking show? In the following ranking, we present 11 monsters that you can get during the Lunar New Year event in the wild, in raids, or from 7 km eggs. We explain why catching them is worthwhile and how you can find each monster in the game. The ranking is based on their locations in the game.
1. Karpador
Why is this Pokémon worth it? Karpador is a water-type Pokémon from the 1st generation, which can evolve into Garados. Its evolution can impress with a strong attack value and good attack combinations, making it one of the best water attackers in Pokémon GO. Additionally, Garados has a temporary Mega Evolution that makes it even stronger.
In the Master League of PvP battles, Garados is also a suitable candidate that should not be missing from your team. Furthermore, the event gives you the opportunity to progress in your “Angler” medal. For that, you need to catch 1,000 large specimens to earn it in platinum.
Where can you find it during the Lunar New Year? Karpador can be found in the wild throughout the entire event. With a little luck, you might even encounter a shiny version.
2. Scoppel
Why is this Pokémon worth it? The normal-type Pokémon Scoppel might also be interesting for some PvP players. The little rabbit can evolve into Grebbit, which can impress in the Super League with a moveset of Mud Shot, Fire Punch, and Earthquake. However, for raids, this little monster is less interesting.
Where can you find it during the Lunar New Year? Scoppel spawns in the wild during the Lunar New Year. You can also get it through the event quest “Send 3 gifts with a sticker.” With a bit of luck, you can also catch Scoppel as shiny. Alternatively, you can find Grebbit in level 3 raids, but without a shiny chance.
3. Flampion
Why is this Pokémon worth it? You should not miss out on the event mascot. It comes from the 5th generation, is a fire-type, and can evolve into Flampivian.
Flampivian can score primarily with a strong attack value and deals significant damage to opponents with its attack combination. Thus, it is one of the best fire attackers in the game. However, it doesn’t play much of a role in the GO Battle League.
Where can you find it during the Lunar New Year? Flampion will be found virtually everywhere in the game in the coming days. So keep an eye out for it in the wild, in level 1 raids, and in 7 km eggs.
Also, it hides in the limited research “Happy Wishes” for the Lunar New Year and in the event quest “Catch 25 Pokémon.” With a bit of luck, you can also hope for a shiny encounter.
4. Galar-Flampion
Why is this Pokémon worth it? Flampion has another form: Galar-Flampion. You can also find it in the game in the coming days. It is an ice-type and can evolve into Galar-Flampivian.
This evolution can also impress with its attack values and is currently the best ice attacker in the game with its moveset of Ice Fang and Avalanche. So, you should definitely have it in your team for raids.
Where can you find it during the Lunar New Year? Unlike the “normal” Flampion, you cannot find Galar-Flampion in the wild. However, it defends the level 1 raids, hides in 7 km eggs, and can be found in the event quest “Catch 25 Pokémon,” potentially even as shiny.
5. Riolu
Why is this Pokémon worth it? Another strong Pokémon that you should secure during the Lunar New Year is Riolu. This fighting-type Pokémon can usually only be found in 10 km eggs, which makes it somewhat rarer than other monsters in this ranking.
It can evolve into Lucario, which, due to its high attack value, is one of the best fighting attackers in Pokémon GO and can also hold its own as a strong steel attacker. In the Super and Hyper League, Lucario secures the 54th place with a moveset of Counter, Power-up Punch, and Shadow Ball in the PvPoke ranking.
Where can you find it during the Lunar New Year? During the Lunar New Year, Riolu hatches from 7 km eggs. With a bit of luck, you might encounter a shiny version.
6. Sheinux
Why is this Pokémon worth it? In the coming days, you should also look out for the electric-type Pokémon Sheinux. The Pokémon from the 4th generation can evolve into Luxtra, which is one of the best electric attackers in Pokémon GO. However, it is less interesting in the GO Battle League.
Outside of specific events, it is otherwise very rarely found in the game and is mostly hatched from the 5 km eggs from adventure sync. So if you still need a strong specimen, you should take advantage of the coming days.
Where can you find it during the Lunar New Year? Sheinux will appear in level 1 raids during the event. There you can also find it in its shiny form.
By the way: What shinies I like best in Pokémon GO, I explain in the following article:
7. Lohgock
Why is this Pokémon worth it? Another strong fire-type Pokémon that you might encounter in the coming days is Lohgock. This monster from the 3rd generation has a high attack value and can score as one of the best attackers in Pokémon GO with its fire and fighting attacks. Additionally, it has a temporary Mega Evolution that can be advantageous in raids.
Where can you find it during the Lunar New Year? Lohgock defends the level 3 raids during the event and can even be found in its shiny form with a bit of luck afterwards. Alternatively, you can find Flemmli, the pre-evolution of Lohgock, in the field research “Open 3 gifts.”
A selection of the best attackers in Pokémon GO is shown in the following video.
8. Regice
Why is this Pokémon worth it? The legendary ice-type Pokémon Regice can assert itself in the GO Battle League. Especially in the Hyper League, it is at the forefront with the attack combination of Target Shot, Thunder, and Blizzard. In raids, however, you should prefer other candidates.
Where can you find it during the Lunar New Year? Regice will be found in the level 5 raids in the coming days. If you’re lucky, you can even encounter a shiny specimen.
You can find the best counters against Regice here.
9. Mega-Schlapor
Why is this Pokémon worth it? If you want to secure a good Mega Pokémon during the Lunar New Year, you should look out for Mega-Schlapor. It can score especially with its fighting moveset in raids. By completing appropriate Mega Raids, you can secure Mega Energy to develop your own specimen.
Where can you find it during the Lunar New Year? Mega-Schlapor will defend Mega Raids in the next few days and can be caught afterwards as a normal Schlapor. With a bit of luck, even as shiny.
Here you can find the best counters against Mega-Schlapor.
By the way: If you still lack a strong specimen in your collection, you can alternatively look out for Haspiror, the pre-evolution of Schlapor, which can be found during the event in the wild and in the event quest “Send 3 gifts with a sticker.”
10. Paras & Wadribie
Why are these Pokémon worth it? Unlike the other Pokémon in this ranking, you should not secure Paras and Wadribie for their strong evolution, but for their special bonus.
The two monsters belong to 22 Pokémon that give you a stardust bonus when catching. So if you want to replenish your stardust supply, keep an eye out for these two monsters in the coming days.
Depending on whether you use a star piece or even benefit from a weather boost, this bonus can increase further. You can expect the following yield when you catch the monsters:
| Stardust | Paras | Wadribie |
| without star piece | 500 | 750 |
| with star piece | 750 | 1,125 |
| with weather boost | 625 | 938 |
| with weather boost and star piece | 938 | 1,406 |
Where can you find them during the Lunar New Year? Both Pokémon appear during the event in the research task “Trade a Pokémon.” You can also find Wadribie in the wild. With a bit of luck, you can also catch both monsters in their shiny forms.
Which monsters do you definitely want to secure in Pokémon GO during the Lunar New Year? And which Pokémon were you hoping for at this event? Let us know here at MeinMMO in the comments and exchange with other trainers.
In February, the big Hoenn Tour will take place in Pokémon GO and bring you new monsters. We will show you the new Porto forms of Kyogre and Groudon.
