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.
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:
- January 6-8: Complete tasks for Dwebble and Klawf
- January 8-10: Complete tasks for Corphish and Klawf
- 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:
- Complete at least one Timed Research for Klawf
- Catch one Dhelmise (wild or raid)
- Take advantage of 2x Catch XP for leveling
- Participate in a few raids if convenient
Time commitment: 30-60 minutes per day
For Collectors
Priorities:
- Complete all three Timed Research periods for multiple Klawf
- Catch both regular and shiny Dhelmise
- Fill Pokedex entries for Klawf and Dondozo
- Collect event-themed Pokemon (Corphish, Dwebble, Clauncher)
- Consider purchasing paid Timed Research for guaranteed encounters
Time commitment: 1-2 hours per day
For Shiny Hunters
Priorities:
- Focus on Dhelmise raids (shiny debut)
- Hunt shiny Corphish, Dwebble, and Clauncher (boosted rates)
- Check every wild spawn of featured Pokemon
- Complete all research for extra encounters
- Purchase paid Timed Research for additional shiny chances
- Raid extensively during peak hours
Time commitment: 3-5 hours per day, especially during raid hours
For XP Grinders
Priorities:
- Stock up on Lucky Eggs before the event
- Mass-catch during 2x XP period with Lucky Egg active (4x XP)
- Focus on quick catches (fast-spawning Pokemon)
- Complete raid battles for bonus XP
- 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:
- Quick-check every featured species spawn
- If not shiny, run from encounter (saves time)
- Move to next spawn immediately
- Catch shinies and high-IV specimens only
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- Dead Island 3 Confirmed 2028 Release Date
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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:
- Complete Timed Research for Klawf (limited windows!)
- Raid for shiny Dhelmise (debut—won’t have boosted rates later)
- Hunt boosted shinies (Corphish, Dwebble, Clauncher)
- Grind XP with Lucky Eggs (2x becomes 4x)
- 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! 🦀✨📱
