Pokemon GO Pinch Perfect Event Adds Klawf, Shiny Dhelmise

Pokemon GO is once again preparing for a new year with another in-game event that expands the overall experience for players, though in a slightly familiar way. As per the recent official announcement, the Pinch Perfect event is scheduled to arrive in January 2026, introducing Klawf to the game. Alongside this, players will finally be able to encounter shiny Dhelmise, something that was not possible earlier. As one of the first events lined up for 2026, Pinch Perfect quietly confirms that regular updates and fresh content will continue to roll out.

Pokemon GO Pinch Perfect Event Brings Gen 9 Klawf and Shiny Dhelmise in January 2026

The announcement comes at the tail end of what has been a fairly eventful year for Pokemon GO. Throughout 2025, the game went through several updates that reshaped how players progress over time. The most notable change arrived in October, when the Trainer level cap was increased from 50 to 80. While this added more long-term goals, some players felt the change happened suddenly and needed time to adjust.

Image Credits: Niantic, Inc

Beyond the level cap update, 2025 also included many limited-time events that introduced new Pokemon and offered bonus XP rewards. Even though the year is not completely over yet, Scopely has already started looking ahead. Early signs of 2026 content suggest the development team plans to keep a similar update rhythm, without slowing things down.

Pinch Perfect Event Dates and Core Features

The Pinch Perfect event will run from January 6 at 10:00 a.m. to January 11, 2026, ending at 8:00 p.m. local time. The main highlight is the arrival of Klawf, the Ambush Pokemon originally introduced in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Its inclusion continues the slow rollout of Paldea-region Pokemon into Pokemon GO.

Image Credits: Niantic, Inc

Shiny Dhelmise is the second major focus of the event. While Dhelmise has been obtainable for some time, its shiny form has not been available until now. During Pinch Perfect, players will finally have the chance to encounter shiny Dhelmise, mainly through raid battles and selected research encounters.

Event Spawns, Raids, and Bonuses

During the event period, Pokemon such as Corphish, Dwebble, Clauncher, Tirtouga, and Archen will appear more frequently in the wild. Some of these Pokemon may also appear in shiny form, though encounters will still depend heavily on luck.

Raid rotations will also change for the duration of the event. One-Star Raids will feature Corphish, Dwebble, and Clauncher, while Three-Star Raids will include Dhelmise and Dondozo. All raid Pokemon during the event will have shiny availability. Players will also earn double XP from catches, and shiny rates for Corphish, Dwebble, and Clauncher will be increased.

Event-themed Field Research and multiple Timed Research periods will offer chances to encounter Klawf. A paid Timed Research ticket priced at $1.99 will include Pokemon encounters, premium battle passes, and additional items.

Looking ahead, Pokemon GO is slowly running low on unreleased main-series Pokemon, with fewer than 100 remaining. While this is not an immediate concern, Generation 10 titles expected later in 2026 should refresh the pool once again.