Yo trainers, what's up? It's your boy/girl back with another hype Pokemon Go event breakdown, and this one is the grand finale of the team-based celebrations—A Valorous Hero! As a proud member of Team Valor myself, I was super stoked when Niantic announced this, and let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint. Following the same awesome formula as the previous Instinct and Mystic events, this one brings its own unique flavor with some seriously lit features. The event ran for a solid week, from May 11th to May 17th, and if you missed it, well, FOMO is real, but let me walk you through everything that went down so you're ready if it ever comes back!
The absolute headliner of this event was the world debut of Mega Pinsir! This bug-type beast finally got its mega form, and it was popping up in Mega Raids worldwide. Let's be real, taking down a Mega Raid solo is basically impossible. You gotta squad up with other trainers to take it down. The reward? That sweet, sweet Pinsir Mega Energy*. This is the key resource you need to Mega Evolve your own Pinsir**. My advice? Grind those raids as much as you can to stockpile that energy. You never know when you'll need a mega-evolved powerhouse for a tough raid or a Gym battle. It's a game-changer, trust me!
Now, let's talk about the event bonuses, because oh boy, they were chef's kiss. Niantic really hooked us Valor trainers up. These weren't just minor tweaks; they were major quality-of-life boosts that made grinding so much more rewarding.
Here’s the lowdown on all the active bonuses:
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2x Catch Candy: Double the candy for every catch? Yes, please! This was perfect for powering up those rare Pokemon or evolving them for your Pokedex.
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2x Chance for Candy XL: For us high-level trainers (you know who you are), this was HUGE. Getting Candy XL is usually a pain, so a doubled chance was an absolute blessing for maxing out our best 'mons.
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2 Free Daily Raid Passes: Instead of the usual one, we got two free passes per day. This meant more chances at Mega Pinsir and other raid bosses without spending a single PokeCoin. More raids, more rewards, more fun. It's that simple.
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2 Mysterious Components from Grunts: Fighting Team Go Rocket got way more efficient. Beating a Grunt rewarded you with two components instead of one, meaning you could build your Rocket Radar twice as fast to hunt down those Leaders and Giovanni. So good for the grind!
The event wasn't just about bonuses; there was a ton of Research to sink our teeth into, as always.
First up, the Special Research Story: "A Valorous Hero". This dropped as soon as the event started. Completing the story tasks was totally worth it because the final reward was an encounter with a super rare Ponyta wearing a Candela-themed accessory! For real, this was the one and only way to get this costumed 'mon. If you're a collector, you absolutely had to finish this research. No questions asked.
Then we had the Event Field Research Tasks. You could pick these up by spinning different PokeStops. They were pretty straightforward tasks that gave some solid rewards. Here’s what you could get:
| Task Reward | What You Got |
|---|---|
| Ponyta Encounter | A chance to catch more Ponytas, maybe even a shiny! |
| Hyper Potions | Kept our battle teams healthy and ready for more action. |
| Stardust | The universal currency for powering up Pokemon. Always needed! |
| Revives | Essential for getting your fainted Pokemon back in the fight. |
And don't forget the Timed Research! This was a limited-time set of tasks you had to finish before the event ended. The grand prize for completing it all? A Fast TM and a Charged TM. These items are priceless for optimizing your Pokemon's movesets, so this was a must-do for any serious battler.
The Raid pool got a complete shake-up during the event, which was awesome for variety. We saw some really cool and sometimes rare Pokemon appearing in different tiers. Here's the full breakdown of the event raid bosses:
Event Raid Lineup 2025:
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1-Star Raids (Easy Solo):
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Hisuian Growlithe (so cute!)
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Galarian Ponyta (that pastel mane tho)
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Hoothoot (a classic)
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3-Star Raids (Tough Solo, Easy Duo):
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Galarian Stunfisk (a tricky one!)
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Druddigon (a rare dragon-type)
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Hisuian Braviary (looks absolutely majestic)
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Hisuian Avalugg (an icy mountain)
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5-Star Raid (Requires a Team):
- Tapu Fini (the Island Guardian of water/fairy type)
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Mega Raid (Requires a Big Team):
- MEGA PINSIR (The star of the show!)
Overall, the A Valorous Hero event was an absolute banger and a fitting tribute to Team Valor. Between the debut of Mega Pinsir, the insane bonuses that helped everyone level up faster, the exclusive costumed Ponyta, and the refreshed raid lineup, there was something for every type of player. Whether you're a hardcore raider, a dedicated collector, or just someone who loves extra candy, this event delivered. Big shoutout to Niantic for ending the team event series on such a high note. Valor pride, baby! 🔥
So, what was your favorite part of the event? Did you manage to get enough Mega Energy for your Pinsir? Let me know in the comments below! Catch you on the next adventure, trainers!