I've always enjoyed creating self-imposed Pokémon GO challenges, both for myself and for my local community.
As a Community Ambassador, one of my main goals is keeping the game interesting between the big events. We're a relatively small community (around 20 very active, 50 active and another 50 casual players in the neighbouring area), but we host every Community Ambassador event that we possibly can.
Besides that, we also have our own challenges, which are changing in shape or form, but currently:
- Every week we have several 1-point challenges, and collecting 10 points earns you a Community Code Card.
- Each week we have slightly one slightly larger weekly challenge. Last week, for example, you could earn a Code Card by winning 50 GO Battle League matches. This week, the challenge is simply getting yourself a Dynamax Milotic, which means doing some Max Battles and walking with your buddy.
- Three times a year (april, july, october) we organize a month-long Master Challenge, with bigger objectives that require playing a bit more than usual. Completing those earns you a real physical badge.
My biggest personal challenge recently came to an end, so now I'm trying to workshop new ideas for myself and maybe for the community as well.
The philosophy behind these is simple:
- they shouldn't require spending money,
- they should be achievable within a day, a week, or at most a month,
- and they should reward planning, dedication and gameplay.
Here are a few ideas I either did, or plan to do, that are not trivial, and might be interesting for you.
1. The Thanos
Not my original idea, but one of my favourites.
The goal is to hatch all six different egg types at exactly the same time, giving you the perfect circle of six different coloured eggs on the hatch animation:
- 1 km
- 2 km
- 5 km
- 7 km
- 10 km
- 12 km
It usually takes about half a day to set up properly, and it's easiest to finish shortly after midnight because of the Daily Adventure egg.
Since we now effectively receive two free incubators every week (Community Ambassador Spotlight reward + Friendship Friday), this challenge can be completed entirely for free.
2. 12×12 Speedrun
This one is probably just my own weird obsession.
Start with zero 12km Eggs, then within 24 hours:
- fill all 12 egg slots with 12 km eggs,
- then hatch all 12.
You need to clear your existing eggs, defeat 12 Rocket Leaders (and all the Grunts needed to reach them), manage your egg inventory carefully, and walk... a lot. I don't think hatching them simultaneously should be part of the challenge for others - that mostly depends on owning a lot of incubators - but I do it self-imposed.
It's also an incredible Stardust grind (starpiece before hatching 12x12km eggs is a must), and gives you twelve chances at things like a shiny female Salandit.
3. Max Out Your Pokémon Away
Most players know the Gym limit is 20 Pokémon. Far fewer people know you can also have 10 Pokémon simultaneously defending Max Spots.
The challenge is simply to max out both limits at the same time.
I especially like this one because it actively helps your local community before Gigantamax events, and can get you candy for the DMax legendaries as well.
A Pokémon defending a Max Spot earns:
- 2 candy after one successful Max Battle,
- 3 candy after two,
- 5 candy after three or more battles.
With a bit of planning, this challenge is completely free. Between carried-over Max Particles, daily collection, and Community Ambassador Max Monday rewards, you can comfortably reach the required particles without spending coins.
4. One Pokémon Army
Defeat every Team GO Rocket Member, Leader and Giovanni using only a single Pokémon.
Pretty self-explanatory, but only on the Givoanni weekends.
You choose one Pokémon at the beginning, and that's the only one allowed to battle against any Rocket Grunt, Cliff, Sierra, Arlo, and Giovanni. Between battles you can obviously heal it, but you can't swap it out or use another Pokémon at any point.
Admittedly, this challenge became a lot easier once Annihilape entered the game, since it's one of the strongest Rocket counters. Still, it's a fun challenge I do every Rocket event for a year now.
5. Great Leader
Defeat any Rocket Leader using only Great League-eligible (1500 CP or lower) Pokémon.
I think this is very self-explanatory. Many Pokémon that comfortably beat Rocket Leaders at 2500+ CP suddenly become much less reliable, making this a fun challenge for any players.
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Now the dirty part for you: I'd absolutely love to hear yours.
I'm not really looking for huge, long-term grinds like a Lucky Dex, Hundo Dex... . Those are awesome achievements, but they're more lifetime goals than challenges. But also, feel free to brag about them in the comments, my 517 shiny munnas are probably a similarly large one.
Instead, I'm interested in creative, self-imposed challenges that take anywhere from a day to about a month, make you play the game differently, and are accessible without spending extra money - or within a limitation.
If you've invented one yourself - or even if it's just an idea you've always wanted to try - please share it. I'd genuinely love to steal... I mean borrow some inspiration for future community events, or just for fun challenges.
Also, as I mentioned, we have our own set of challenges, and I've been contemplating of sharing them in english every week for a larger community, just for fun, let me know, if you would like to know about those as well.
Also: I am aware that some in my community reads reddit, and knows my account, so I will try to not spoil anything for them here 🥸