The latest limited-time event for Pokémon GO sees Team Rocket return once again during Crown Clash: Taken Over. During this event, secret Team Rocket leader Giovanni has taken the Legendary Pokémon Dialga and infused it with sinister Shadow powers. To free Dialga from his clutches, you'll have to take down other Team Rocket leaders who wield new rosters of powerful Shadow Pokémon.

Taking place over four days, the Crown Clash: Taken Over event alters the teams of prominent Team Rocket leaders. Anyone trying to take on Arlo, Sierra, or Cliff in Pokémon GO during the latter half of May 2025 will have to contend with new Pokémon imbued with Shadow power. Defeating Team Rocket Grunts will allow you to face the leaders, and eventually Giovanni himself.

Crown Clash: Taken Over Event Schedule

Encounter Shadow Pokémon Before The Event Ends

The Crown Clash: Taken Over event starts on May 14, 2025, at 12:00 AM and lasts until May 18, 2025, at 11:59 PM local time. This short time allows players to save Shadow Dialga from Giovanni, but also face other Team Rocket leaders who've taken new Shadow Pokémon under their control. Throughout the event, Team Rocket fights will appear more often in balloons and PokeStops to give you opportunities to face the criminal organization.

While the event lasts, new Shadow Pokémon will debut alongside the new team that the Team Rocket leaders decide to use. In addition, several 1-Star and 3-Star Raid Bosses in Pokémon GO will show up, featuring Shadow Pokémon you can defeat and capture for yourself.

All Shadow Pokémon found during battles, either while the event lasts or outside of it, can be captured through a special encounter that takes place when you defeat the trainer using that kind of Pokémon.

You can also complete Field Research during the event's limited time to earn rewards, including Components needed to challenge Team Rocket leaders. There are several stages of Special Research tied to saving Shadow Dialga, so you'll have plenty of tasks to accomplish in pursuit of that goal. Paying for additional Timed Research may get you bonus rewards as well, but only if you spend real-world money.

All Shadow Pokémon In The Crown Clash: Taken Over Event

Face Raid Bosses And New Team Rocket Challengers

You can encounter several kinds of Shadow Pokémon during the Crown Clash: Taken Over event, but many are only found in specific circumstances. For example, some Shadow Pokémon debuting in this event only appear as enemies to battle in Raids or against Team Rocket leaders. Even though you can catch Shadow Pokémon you fight, the rare locations they appear in make them hard to farm Candies for.

The following table outlines all the different Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon GO you can find in this event, including where their encounters are and if they have a chance to be Shiny:

The Shiny odds in Pokémon GO for Shadow Pokémon during the event do not change, but you may get lucky and find a rare variant. Challenging Raid Bosses multiple times is a fast way to find a Shiny, especially once you have the right counters.

All Pokémon Egg Hatches During The Crown Clash: Taken Over Event

Find Rare Pokémon In Eggs With Less Distance

Two big changes are being applied during the Crown Clash: Taken Over event for Pokémon that hatch from Eggs. Certain Pokémon will now hatch out of 10km Eggs instead of 12km ones, making them easier to get from Eggs you've taken care of. Now, whenever you hatch a 10km Egg, you have a chance to acquire one of these two Pokémon:

• Larvitar (Rock/Dark-type)
• Pawniard (Dark/Steel-type)

Both of these new Egg Pokémon have a small chance of being Shiny, so you can try and hatch more 10km Eggs to discover a rare variant.

While neither of these two Pokémon is a Shadow variant, they will now always have a chance to appear from 10km Eggs. This change continues even after the event ends, giving you a consistent way of gathering Larvitar or Pawniard Candy to evolve either Pokémon into Tyranitar or Kingambit, respectively.

All Crown Clash: Taken Over Event Rewards

Complete Stages Of Research To Earn New Items And Encounters

When the Crown Clash: Taken Over event starts, you can complete Field and Special Research to earn rewards through various Field tasks. For example, defeating a Team Rocket Grunt in Pokémon GO will grant you a Mysterious Component. That item can be used to help build a Rocket Radar, which tracks down Team Rocket leaders hiding during the event.

While there is only one instance of Field Research for rewards, there are five stages of Special Research you can pursue. By finishing tasks tied to each Special Research stage, you can earn valuable items, like Stardust, Berries, or even more Mysterious Components. Meeting all the goals for some stages will also unlock special encounters with rarer Pokémon, including ones with a possibility of being Shiny.

The tables below go over every Crown Clash: Taken Over Field and Special Research Stage, what you earn from it, and what tasks you need to complete for every reward:

Field Research Rewards

Stage 1 Special Research Rewards

Stage 2 Special Research Rewards

Stage 3 Special Research Rewards

Stage 4 Special Research Rewards

Stage 5 Special Research Rewards

The amount of rewards you get from Special and Field Research can be expanded if you pay for Timed Research as well. Two stages of Timed Research will help you earn more encounters, but you may not want to spend money to get more out of a free event. Participating in the Crown Clash: Taken Over event in Pokémon GO already leads to some rewards, so it's up to you to decide if you want more.