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

Pokemon GO is starting 2026 strong with the Pinch Perfect event, bringing the Gen 9 Pokemon Klawf and the first-ever shiny Dhelmise to the mobile game. Running for nearly six days in early January, this crab and crustacean-themed event offers new encounters, raid battles, and bonuses to kick off the new year.

Pinch Perfect Event Dates

Event Duration:

• Start: Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 10:00 AM local time
• End: Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 8:00 PM local time

Total event length: 5 days, 10 hours

The timing gives players a full week after the New Years Event to recover before diving into the next collection challenge.

Klawf: The Ambush Pokemon Debuts

The star of Pinch Perfect is Klawf, making its Pokemon GO debut.

Pinch in and prepare for Klawf, the Ambush Pokémon, and more during the Pinch Perfect event in #PokemonGO! Enjoy event bonuses such as 2× XP for catching Pokémon.

January 6, at 10:00 a.m. to Sunday, January 11, at 8:00 p.m. local timehttps://t.co/Ymvv90KsZv pic.twitter.com/KlItW2rBoK

— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) December 17, 2025

About Klawf

Type: Rock Origin: Paldea region (Pokemon Scarlet and Violet) Classification: The Ambush Pokemon Design: A fierce-looking crab with prominent claws

In the main series: Klawf is known for hanging from cliffs and ambushing prey from above, which fits its “Ambush Pokemon” designation perfectly.

How to Catch Klawf

Klawf won’t be spawning in the wild during Pinch Perfect. Instead, players must complete research tasks:

Field Research Tasks:

• Various tasks throughout the event will reward Klawf encounters
• Check PokeStops regularly for relevant tasks

Timed Research (Free): Three rotating Timed Research periods, each offering Klawf encounters:

1. January 6-8: Complete tasks for Dwebble and Klawf
2. January 8-10: Complete tasks for Corphish and Klawf
3. January 10-11: Complete tasks for Clauncher and Klawf

Note: Each timed research window is only 48 hours, so don’t miss them!

Shiny Dhelmise Makes Its First Appearance

For shiny hunters, the real prize is the debut of shiny Dhelmise.

About Dhelmise

Type: Ghost/Grass Design: A possessed ship’s anchor wrapped in seaweed Unique trait: One of the most unusual type combinations in Pokemon

Shiny form: Features a different color palette that makes it stand out from the regular version.

How to Encounter Dhelmise

Three-Star Raids:

• Dhelmise will be featured in 3-Star Raids throughout the event
• This is your primary chance to hunt for the shiny variant
• Bring Grass counters like Fire, Ice, Flying, Bug, or Poison types

Wild encounters:

• Dhelmise will appear in the wild during Pinch Perfect
• Much rarer than raid encounters
• Still has shiny chance in wild spawns

Paid Timed Research:

• $1.99 research includes a guaranteed Dhelmise encounter
• Not guaranteed to be shiny

Wild Encounters: Event-Themed Pokemon

Beyond the debuts, several crustacean and rock-type Pokemon will have increased spawns:

Featured Wild Spawns

Corphish:

• Water-type crab Pokemon
• Shiny available (increased odds during event)
• Evolves into Crawdaunt

Dwebble:

• Bug/Rock-type hermit crab
• Shiny available (increased odds during event)
• Evolves into Crustle

Clauncher:

• Water-type pistol shrimp Pokemon
• Shiny available (increased odds during event)
• Evolves into Clawitzer

Tirtouga:

• Water/Rock-type prehistoric turtle
• Shiny available
• Evolves into Carracosta

Archen:

• Rock/Flying-type prehistoric bird
• Shiny available
• Evolves into Archeops

Shiny hunters: Corphish, Dwebble, and Clauncher have boosted shiny rates during Pinch Perfect, making them priority targets.

Raid Battle Lineup

One-Star Raids (Easy Solo Content)

Perfect for casual players or those raiding solo:

Featured Pokemon:

• Corphish* – Water-type
• Dwebble* – Bug/Rock-type
• Clauncher* – Water-type

*All have shiny chance

Strategy: These are easily soloable raids, great for guaranteed encounters with shiny-eligible Pokemon.

Three-Star Raids (Moderate Challenge)

Require stronger teams or 2-3 players:

Featured Pokemon:

• Dhelmise* – Ghost/Grass (shiny debut!)
• Dondozo* – Water-type from Gen 9

*Both have shiny chance

Dhelmise counters:

• Fire types (Charizard, Blaziken)
• Ice types (Mamoswine, Glaceon)
• Flying types (Moltres, Rayquaza)
• Bug types (Scizor, Genesect)

Dondozo counters:

• Electric types (Zekrom, Raikou)
• Grass types (Venusaur, Roserade)

Event Bonuses

2x Catch XP

What it does: Doubles the experience points earned from catching Pokemon

Why it matters:

• Great for players pushing toward higher levels
• Stacks with Lucky Eggs for 4x XP
• Perfect timing after the level cap increase to 80

Optimization tip: Use Lucky Eggs during the event, especially during Community Day hours or when you have multiple catches lined up. 2x XP becomes 4x XP, making this one of the best times to grind levels.

Increased Shiny Odds

Boosted shiny rates for:

• Corphish (wild and raids)
• Dwebble (wild and raids)
• Clauncher (wild and raids)

What “increased” means: While Pokemon GO doesn’t publish exact shiny rates, “increased odds” typically means rates jump from roughly 1/500 to something closer to 1/125 or 1/64 during events.

Shiny hunting strategy: Focus on these three species if you’re missing their shinies, as this boosted rate may not return for months.

Timed Research Schedule Breakdown

One of the most important aspects of Pinch Perfect is the rotating Timed Research:

Research Period 1: January 6-8

Duration: Tuesday 10:00 AM – Thursday 10:00 AM local time

Rewards:

• Dwebble encounter (shiny chance)
• Klawf encounter (debut)

Strategy: Complete this early since it’s the shortest window and Klawf is the primary goal.

Research Period 2: January 8-10

Duration: Thursday 10:00 AM – Saturday 10:00 AM local time

Rewards:

• Corphish encounter (shiny chance)
• Klawf encounter

Strategy: Mid-event window gives flexibility, but don’t procrastinate.

Research Period 3: January 10-11

Duration: Saturday 10:00 AM – Sunday 8:00 PM local time

Rewards:

• Clauncher encounter (shiny chance)
• Klawf encounter

Strategy: Final chance for free Klawf encounters—don’t miss this window!

Important: Each research period is independent. You can complete all three for multiple Klawf encounters.

Paid Timed Research: $1.99 Option

For players willing to spend, there’s premium research available:

What You Get for $1.99

Guaranteed encounters:

• Corphish (shiny chance)
• Dwebble (shiny chance)
• Clauncher (shiny chance)
• Dhelmise (shiny chance – debut!)
• Klawf (debut)

Additional rewards:

• 2 Premium Battle Passes (normally $2 value)
• Additional items and bonuses

Value assessment: The Premium Battle Passes alone nearly cover the cost, and the guaranteed encounters with shiny-eligible Pokemon make this reasonable value for collectors or shiny hunters.

Who should buy it:

• Shiny hunters wanting extra chances
• Players who can’t play much during the event
• Collectors ensuring they get Klawf and Dhelmise
• Anyone who raids regularly (the Battle Passes add value)

The Dwindling Pokemon Pool Problem

While Pinch Perfect brings new content, it highlights a growing concern for Pokemon GO’s future:

Running Out of Pokemon

Current situation:

• Less than 100 unreleased main series Pokemon remain
• Gen 9 is nearly exhausted
• Events need new content to stay fresh

Why this matters:

• New Pokemon drive engagement and event excitement
• Running out of content could stale the game
• Slower release pace may be necessary

The Solution: Gen 10

Expected timeline: Late 2026

The next generation of Pokemon games is anticipated for 2026, which will replenish Pokemon GO’s content pool significantly. This means:

Short-term: Expect slower Pokemon releases as Niantic stretches remaining Gen 9 Pokemon Mid-2026: Gen 10 announcement will create hype Late 2026: Gen 10 Pokemon begin appearing in GO

Recent Release Pattern

Despite the shrinking pool, Pokemon GO has maintained regular releases in late 2025:

• Multiple Gen 9 debuts in recent months
• Shiny releases for existing Pokemon
• Variant forms and regional variants

Niantic’s strategy: Mix new Pokemon debuts with shiny releases and event variants to maintain content flow.

Pinch Perfect Event Strategy Guide

For Casual Players

Priorities:

1. Complete at least one Timed Research for Klawf
2. Catch one Dhelmise (wild or raid)
3. Take advantage of 2x Catch XP for leveling
4. Participate in a few raids if convenient

Time commitment: 30-60 minutes per day

For Collectors

Priorities:

1. Complete all three Timed Research periods for multiple Klawf
2. Catch both regular and shiny Dhelmise
3. Fill Pokedex entries for Klawf and Dondozo
4. Collect event-themed Pokemon (Corphish, Dwebble, Clauncher)
5. Consider purchasing paid Timed Research for guaranteed encounters

Time commitment: 1-2 hours per day

For Shiny Hunters

Priorities:

1. Focus on Dhelmise raids (shiny debut)
2. Hunt shiny Corphish, Dwebble, and Clauncher (boosted rates)
3. Check every wild spawn of featured Pokemon
4. Complete all research for extra encounters
5. Purchase paid Timed Research for additional shiny chances
6. Raid extensively during peak hours

Time commitment: 3-5 hours per day, especially during raid hours

For XP Grinders

Priorities:

1. Stock up on Lucky Eggs before the event
2. Mass-catch during 2x XP period with Lucky Egg active (4x XP)
3. Focus on quick catches (fast-spawning Pokemon)
4. Complete raid battles for bonus XP
5. Time your catching sessions for maximum efficiency

Strategy: With the level cap now at 80, this is perfect for grinding toward higher levels.

Optimization Tips

Maximize Timed Research

Don’t miss windows:

• Set phone reminders for each research period
• Complete tasks as soon as they’re available
• Don’t wait until the last minute

Raid Efficiently

Remote Raid considerations:

• Save Remote Raid Passes for Dhelmise (shiny debut)
• Use free daily passes on 1-Star raids for easy completions
• Join raid groups on Discord for 3-Star raids

Lucky Egg Timing

Best times to activate:

• During catch sprees with multiple spawns nearby
• Before completing multiple raids back-to-back
• When stacked research tasks are ready to claim
• 30 minutes of continuous catching for maximum value

Shiny Check Method

Efficient shiny hunting:

1. Quick-check every featured species spawn
2. If not shiny, run from encounter (saves time)
3. Move to next spawn immediately
4. Catch shinies and high-IV specimens only

Related Pokemon GO & Gaming News

Stay informed on the latest gaming updates:

• Elden Ring Nightreign Update 1.03.1 Scholar Class Buffs
• Dead Island 3 Confirmed 2028 Release Date
• Fallout Season 2 Rotten Tomatoes 97 Percent Review Score

The Bottom Line

Pokemon GO’s Pinch Perfect event offers a solid start to 2026 with meaningful content:

Key highlights:

• Gen 9’s Klawf debuts (January 6-11)
• Shiny Dhelmise first appearance
• 2x Catch XP for leveling
• Boosted shiny rates for Corphish, Dwebble, Clauncher
• Multiple Timed Research opportunities
• Affordable paid research option ($1.99)

Don’t miss:

• Three rotating Timed Research periods (each 48 hours)
• Dhelmise raids for shiny hunting
• 2x XP period perfect for level grinding
• Last major event before Gen 10 news expected mid-2026

Event priorities ranked:

1. Complete Timed Research for Klawf (limited windows!)
2. Raid for shiny Dhelmise (debut—won’t have boosted rates later)
3. Hunt boosted shinies (Corphish, Dwebble, Clauncher)
4. Grind XP with Lucky Eggs (2x becomes 4x)
5. Fill Pokedex with event Pokemon

Whether you’re a hardcore shiny hunter or a casual player just wanting to catch the new crab Pokemon, Pinch Perfect has something to offer. Just don’t sleep on those Timed Research windows—once they close, you’ll have to wait for Klawf to return in future events.

Mark your calendars for January 6, stock up on Pokeballs, and get ready to pinch your way through the first major Pokemon GO event of 2026! 🦀✨📱