If you’ve been staring at your screen wondering why on earth you can't find that one specific Pikachu with a tiny hat, you aren't alone. Pokémon GO events have this funny way of turning a casual walk into a high-stakes scavenger hunt, and the Crowned Collection Challenge Pokémon GO is a perfect example of that frantic energy. It’s part of the massive Pokémon GO Fest 2024 celebrations, specifically tied to the global event that brought the mythical Marshadow and the terrifying Necrozma into the spotlight.
Niantic loves a good costume. They really do. This time around, the "Crowned" theme isn't just about looking fancy; it’s a direct nod to the sun and moon motifs of the Alola region. Players were tasked with catching a series of Pokémon wearing special Sun Crowns and Moon Crowns. It sounds simple. It’s usually not.
The Grind Behind the Crowned Collection Challenge Pokémon GO
Most people think these challenges are just about luck. They’re partially right, but there’s a strategy to it that the game doesn't explicitly tell you in the "Today" view. During the GO Fest Global hours, the spawns rotated every hour based on different habitats. If you were looking for the Sun Crown Pikachu, you had to be active during the Dawn Meadow or Solar Sands hours. Miss that window? You were basically stuck waiting for the rotation to swing back around or hoping a stray Incense spawn would bail you out.
The Crowned Collection Challenge Pokémon GO featured four main stars: Pikachu wearing a Sun Crown, Pikachu wearing a Moon Crown, and then the "Day" and "Night" versions of the various habitat spawns. Honestly, the difficulty wasn't in the catch rate. Pikachu is usually a green-ring or yellow-ring catch if you’re using a Great Ball. The real pain point was the sheer volume of other spawns diluting the pool. When you have Dunsparce, Marill, and Girafarig clogging up the map, finding that one specific crown-wearing mouse feels like finding a needle in a digital haystack.
Why Costumes Matter More Than You Think
Some players roll their eyes at "Costume Pokémon." They call them "inventory cloggers" because you can't evolve most of them. But in the world of trade value, a Pikachu from a specific Crowned Collection Challenge Pokémon GO window is gold.
Think about it this way: Pokémon GO Fest 2024 was a fleeting moment. Once those crowns are gone, they are gone for years, or maybe forever. Collectors who missed the event will trade legendary Pokémon or even shinies just to tick that box in their Event Pokédex. If you managed to snag a Shiny Sun Crown Pikachu, you aren't just looking at a cool sprite; you’re looking at one of the highest-value trade assets in the game right now.
Habitat Rotations and Timing
You had to be precise. The event was split into four rotating habitats: Dark Tundra, Fairy Garden, Ghostly Garden, and Creeping Ruins. Wait, actually, for the Global event specifically, we saw Dawn Meadow, Shining Day, Casper’s Creeps—no, let's get the official names right because Niantic loves their alliteration. It was Dawn Meadow, Shining Day, Creeping Dusk, and Darkest Night.
Each of these hours dictated which "crown" was more prevalent. The Sun Crown versions flocked to the daylight-themed hours, while the Moon Crowns waited for the dusk and night slots. If you played for eight hours straight, you likely finished the challenge without trying. But for the suburban player who only had a twenty-minute lunch break? That’s where the stress kicked in. You had to use your Lure Modules and Incense effectively. Standard Incense worked okay, but the Daily Adventure Incense was a bit of a gamble since it pulls from a different spawn pool entirely.
The Necrozma Connection
While you were hunting for crowns, the real "big bad" was looming in five-star raids. Necrozma. The reason the Crowned Collection Challenge Pokémon GO even existed was to celebrate the arrival of the Prism Pokémon. Catching the crowned versions felt like a side quest compared to the chaos of remote raiding for Necrozma Energy, but the rewards for the collection challenge were nothing to sneeze at.
Usually, these challenges give you a medal, some Stardust, and an encounter. For GO Fest, Niantic usually bumps up the rewards to include things like Rare Candy or even encounters with Pokémon that have a higher-than-average shiny rate. It’s the game’s way of rewarding the "completionists" who don't just want the big legendaries, but want to see that "Completed" badge on their profile.
Common Obstacles and Frustrations
Let's be real: the GPS drift in cities is a nightmare. You’d see a Moon Crown Pikachu on your "Nearby" tracker, walk toward the PokéStop, and suddenly your avatar would sprint three blocks in the opposite direction.
Then there’s the "Storage Full" tragedy. There is nothing worse than clicking on a potential shiny crown Pokémon only to be met with the "Your Pokémon Storage is full" message. By the time you delete a Pidgey and go back, the spawn has despawned or shifted. It happened to me twice during the London in-person event, and I’m still a bit salty about it.
📖 Related: Why the blue wizard robe OSRS players love is actually kinda underrated
Another thing people get wrong is thinking that "Crowned" means "evolvable." It doesn't. If you catch a perfect IV Sun Crown Pikachu, it’s going to stay a Pikachu. You aren't getting a Crowned Raichu. That’s a bitter pill for some, but it’s the price we pay for the aesthetic.
Pro-Tips for Future Collection Challenges
If you're looking at the next big event and want to avoid the stress of the Crowned Collection Challenge Pokémon GO experience, follow these rules. First, clear at least 100 spots in your bag the night before. Second, don't ignore the field research tasks. Often, the very Pokémon you are missing for the collection challenge is sitting behind a "Catch 10 Pokémon" or "Spin 5 Stops" research reward.
Also, use the "Fast Catch" glitch if you know how. It saves seconds, and over an eight-hour event, those seconds add up to hundreds of extra encounters. If you don't know it, basically you hold the berry menu icon, swipe it slightly, throw the ball, and then exit the encounter immediately. It skips the whole "shake, shake, shake" animation. It’s a lifesaver when you're trying to clear a cluster of spawns to find that one elusive crown.
The Social Aspect of the Hunt
Pokémon GO is a social game, even if we’re all staring at our phones. During the Crowned Collection Challenge Pokémon GO hours, the best way to find what you needed was to just ask. "Anyone seen a Moon Crown Eevee?" (Actually, Eevee didn't have the crown this time, it was mostly the Pikachu and the starters/specific spawns, but you get the point).
Community Ambassadors often set up lures at local parks. If you’re struggling, find a "Golden Lure" or a spot with four or five active lures. The spawn rate increases exponentially, and your chances of finishing the challenge within a single hour go through the roof.
What Happens If You Missed It?
If you're reading this and the event has passed, don't panic. You can't "finish" the challenge anymore, but you can still get the Pokémon. Trading is your friend. Find a local Discord or campfire group. Most hardcore players caught dozens of these things and are looking to clear their storage. They’ll likely give you a non-shiny version for a random junk Pokémon just to be helpful.
The medal, however, is gone. That’s the "Elite Collector" badge that sits on your profile. It doesn't do anything for your stats, but for many, it’s a point of pride. It shows you were there, you put in the work, and you braved the heat (or the rain) to get those digital crowns.
💡 You might also like: Skyrim Script Extender Special Edition: What Most People Get Wrong About Modding
Final Steps for the Dedicated Trainer
To truly master these events, you need to think like a tactician. The Crowned Collection Challenge Pokémon GO wasn't just a fun little side-bar; it was a lesson in time management.
- Check the Habitat Schedule: Always know which hour hosts which Pokémon. Set alarms on your phone if you have to.
- Prioritize the Incense: If you're a ticket holder, your Incense spawns are different and often include the "rare" versions of the collection challenge targets.
- Don't Flee Early: Sometimes a Pokémon doesn't show its "crown" clearly on the map if it’s a small sprite. Always click to be sure.
- Stack Your Research: Don't claim rewards until you need them. If a collection challenge requires a specific encounter, see if a research task guarantees it.
The beauty of Pokémon GO is that there’s always another event around the corner. While the crowns were the star of 2024, next year will likely bring something even more complex. Keep your storage open, your battery pack charged, and your walking shoes ready. Your Pokédex won't fill itself.
Check your "Elite Collector" medal count now. If you're missing a few, look back at the dates of the events you missed and see if there’s a pattern. Usually, Niantic repeats these themes during their "End of Year" recap events or special "Anniversary" weeks. There is almost always a second chance, provided you're willing to put in the kilometers.