About the event Valuable Colleagues: Taking Control It has become one of the key moments of the Valuable Roads season in Pokémon GOFor a few specific days, Team GO Rocket increases its presence, new Shadow Pokémon are introduced, and a [event/event/etc.] is activated. special investigation linked to Giovanni which you shouldn't miss if you want to keep up to date with the story of the game's villains.
In addition to the Team GO Rocket siege, this special period is accompanied by the general event Valuable colleaguesFocused on partner Pokémon, new collection challenges, field research, and bonuses to earn hearts, candies, and shiny forms, these days in Spain and the rest of Europe are packed with excitement. missions, rewards and opportunities to improve your team.
Key dates for the event: Valuable Colleagues: Taking Control
The stretch of Team GO Rocket Takeover The Valuable Colleagues event takes place within a very specific timeframe. From Friday, January 23 at 00:00 until Sunday, January 25, 2026 at 20:00, local time, both in Spain and in the rest of the European territories where the game is available.
During this window, Team GO Rocket appears much more frequently both at PokéStops and in balloons, making it easier to complete tasks related to Grunts, Gym Leaders, and Giovanni himself. At the same time, new features are being released. new dark Pokémon and the use of charged attack TMs to remove Frustration on Shadow Pokémon is enabled, something that only happens in very specific events.
In parallel, the Special Investigation Valuable Colleagues: Takeover It becomes available as part of the Team GO Rocket narrative. You have until Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 9:59 (local time) to add it to your list of missions, although you can then complete it at your own pace, without a time limit.
It's worth noting that, although the Takeover event is limited to a few days, the research behaves like other special Pokémon GO research events: Once claimed, it does not expire.So you can finish it calmly even if you don't complete all the phases during the event itself.
Requirements to unlock the Valuable Colleagues: Takeover research
To access the special investigation Valuable Colleagues: Taking Control Simply logging into the game during the event isn't enough: there are a number of minimum requirements you must meet in your account. Pokémon GO before the game activates it automatically.
during the season Valuable PathsThe general requirement is that you have entered the game between January 23, 2026, and March 3, 2026Additionally, you need to reach a specific level of progress for Professor Willow and Team GO Rocket to continue their story.
Based on the information provided in the official documents and community guides, you need to comply three basic points to make the mission appear in your journal:
- Reach at least level 8 of Trainer in Pokémon GO.
- Having accessed the game within the season periodThat is, between the beginning of Valuable Paths and March 3, 2026.
- Having previously completed special investigation "A worrying situation", which serves as an introduction to how Team GO Rocket works.
If you meet these conditions, the game should show you a automatic notification and add the investigation to the special missions section. If it doesn't appear despite completing everything, it's very likely you still have Another unfinished Team GO Rocket investigation (for example, a previous Takeover). In that case, it's advisable to finish the pending investigation first, and if it still doesn't trigger, Close and reopen the app and check that the apps are not updating automatically. to avoid problems with background processes. How to prevent automatic updates
How Valuable Colleagues: Takeover works in Pokémon GO
This special investigation is part of the ongoing history of GO Rocket team, which Niantic is expanding through multi-step missions. Valuable Colleagues: Taking Control was launched in January 2026, coinciding with the Valuable Colleagues event and the peak of the Valuable Paths season.
Once claimed, the mission is divided into five consecutive phases with objectives focused on capturing Pokémon, purifying dark creatures, defeating Grunts, and ultimately locating and defeating Giovanni. There is no internal timer. you can advance at your own paceeven outside of the specific dates of the Takeover event.
One important aspect is that the Giovanni's legendary dark Pokémon may vary depending on when you complete the research. At its launch, it was announced that Thundurus Dark Avatar Form as the featured Pokémon, although Niantic has room to rotate the dark legendary in future periods. Even so, the Super Radar Rocket What you obtain in the investigation itself will also help you locate the Team GO Rocket boss.
The operating pattern is similar to other special missions: you must complete the objectives of each phase, claim rewards and move on to the next section. If you find a task particularly slow (for example, purifying several Shadow Pokémon), you can combine it with other Team GO Rocket events to make it more manageable.
Valuable Colleagues: Takeover Phases, Missions, and Rewards
The special investigation of Valuable Colleagues: Taking Control It is structured in five steps clearly differentiated. Although the objectives of the third phase are not detailed in some leaks, they are known. full rewards of each block, as well as the tasks of most phases.
The most relevant overall reward is obtaining a Super Radar Rocket to locate Giovanni and the possibility of Capture Thundurus Dark Avatar Form by defeating him during the period in which this dark legend is active.
Phase 1 of 5
The first phase serves as an introduction to Team GO Rocket and the mechanics of purifying Shadow Pokémon. The known tasks in this first section are:
- Catch 15 Pokémon – Reward: 5 Pinap Berries.
- Purify 2 Shadow Pokémon – Reward: 10 Poké Balls.
- Defeat 3 Team GO Rocket Grunts – Reward: 1 Mystery Component.
Upon completing all three tasks, you will earn 1500 PX, 500 Stardust or with a Encounter with female NidoranIt is a relatively simple phase, designed so that even intermediate players can complete it without too much difficulty.
Phase 2 of 5
In the second phase, the demands increase slightly, as the number of captures and purifications required is increased, while also requiring the defeat of more Team GO Rocket Grunts to advance.
- Catch 20 Pokémon – Reward: 5 Pinap Berries.
- Purify 5 Shadow Pokémon – Reward: 10 Super Balls.
- Defeat 6 Team GO Rocket Grunts – Reward: 3 Mysterious Components.
Upon completion of all tasks, the phase rewards are 2000 PX, 1000 Stardust or with a Encounter with a male NidoranThis phase encourages you to take advantage of the times when balloons and captured PokéStops are most prevalent, so you don't run out of Shadow Pokémon to purify.
Phase 3 of 5
The third phase prepares you directly to face the Team GO Rocket boss. Although the specific objectives aren't always listed in the official notes, it's known that completing this section rewards you with... resources for progress very valuable and, above all, with the key object to locate Giovanni.
The phase 3 rewards are:
- 2500 PX.
- 1500 Stardust.
- 1 Super Radar Rocket to find the boss of Team GO Rocket.
At this point you should already have enough experience facing Recruits and Leaders, so obtaining the Super Radar marks the step to the most demanding part of the investigation, where it comes into play John and its dark legendary Pokémon.
Phase 4 of 5
The fourth phase is entirely focused on the confrontation with GiovanniThe goal here is no longer to capture or purify, but to locate, challenge, and defeat him in battle to continue the Team GO Rocket story.
- Find the boss of Team GO Rocket – Reward: 10 Hyper Potions.
- Battle against the Team GO Rocket boss – Reward: 10 Ultra Balls.
- Defeat the Team GO Rocket boss – Reward: 6 Max Revives.
When you complete phase 4 you will receive 3000 PX, 2000 Stardust or with a encounter with VulpixFurthermore, defeating Giovanni will allow you to rescue his active Dark Legendary Pokémon, which at the time of the mission is Thundurus Dark Avatar Form.
Phase 5 of 5
The fifth and final phase acts as the conclusion of the investigation. In this case, the tasks are limited to claim rewardsSo it's basically a formality to receive the latest batch of XP and resources.
- Claim reward – 1500 Stardust.
- Claim reward – 1500 Stardust.
- Claim reward – 1500 Stardust.
Upon completion of the investigation, you will be granted 6000 PX, 5000 Stardust y 3 MT charged attackThese TMs are especially useful if you want to keep fine-tuning the moves of your Shadow Pokémon or other key members of your team.
Team GO Rocket Takeover Event within Valuable Colleagues
The stretch of Takeover within the Valuable Colleagues event, it functions as a mini-event dedicated to Team GO Rocket, with specific changes to combat against Recruits and Leaders, as well as to dark raids and map appearances.
During this period, Team GO Rocket invades more frequently PokéStops and launches more balloons, making it easier to farm encounters with Shadow Pokémon, obtain Mystery Components, and collect Rocket Radar. At the same time, a new batch of Kalos starter Pokémon in their dark version, along with their corresponding evolutions.
The list of dark new releases includes Dark Chespin, Dark Fennekin, and Dark FroakieThis opens the door to obtaining their Shadow Form evolutions using candies. These debuts are in addition to the usual rotation of teams used by both Team GO Rocket Grunts and Leaders during the event.
Furthermore, they return three classic Team GO Rocket bonuses that make a difference for those looking to optimize their equipment:
- Increased frequency of Team GO Rocket balloons and captured PokéStops, making it easier to encounter Grunts and Leaders.
- Possibility of using a Charged Attack MT to make your Shadow Pokémon Forget Frustration and learn a different charged attack.
- The Pokémon captured in dark incursions of one and three stars They exhibit greater variation in their attack, defense, and HP statistics.
If you want to get the most out of your collection of Shadow Pokémon, this type of window is crucial: Only in events like this can you change FrustrationSo many players in Spain and Europe are reserving their charged attack TMs and elite TMs for these specific days.
Raikou's Dark Raid Day during Valuable Colleagues
Within the same timeframe as the event, a Raikou's Dark Raid Day, designed for those who want to strengthen their roster of dark legendary Pokémon, especially in the area of high-level raids.
This mini-event takes place Saturday, January 24, from 14:00 PM to 17:00 PM local timeDuring those three hours, Dark Raikou appears in the five-star dark raids more frequently and with a higher probability of appearing in a shiny version, something many players have been waiting for.
To encourage participation, Niantic enables a series of specific benefits: you receive five extra raid passes by spinning photodiscs in gyms and, in addition, the remote incursion limit It increases to a maximum of 20 during January 23 and 24.
If you organize yourself well and have access to active groups in your area or through remote raids, this day is ideal to try and get a Dark Raikou with good IVs and even its multicolored version, which can become a very important piece for your electrical equipment.
Relationship with the general event Valuable Colleagues and the Valuable Paths season
Although the focus of Valuable Colleagues: Taking Control It's set in Team GO Rocket, but the event takes place within a broader framework: the season Valuable Paths and the themed event Valuable colleagues, focused on the partner system and Pokémon related to friendship and exploration.
During Valuable Colleagues, the ease of Earn hearts with your partner Pokémon, are activated Collection Challenges specific ones and new shiny ones are released, such as Fidough and shiny Dachsbunwhich become available both in the wild and through eggs and research tasks.
In this context, the reinforced presence of Team GO Rocket functions as a kind of counterpoint: while you strengthen your bond with your partner and complete friendship-focused challenges, you must also to stand up to the villainous organization and prevent it from further expanding its influence over Pokémon.
The Valuable Paths season, in turn, incorporates a own special research of the same name, with twelve phases that are unlocked progressively. Some of these tasks require, for example, get hearts with your partnerUsing berries when capturing or defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts, which combines quite naturally with the activities of Valuable Colleagues: Takeover.
In the end, everything comes together in a single common thread: advance in the story of Team GO RocketTake advantage of teammate bonuses and progress in the various seasonal research, making those days in Spain and Europe especially productive for those who play regularly.
Tips for overcoming valuable colleagues: Taking control
Facing an investigation focused on Team GO Rocket always involves some planning, especially if you want make good use of time which lasts the Takeover event and helps you avoid getting stuck on specific tasks. There are several strategies that can help you progress through the five phases.
When it comes to completing objectives of capture and purificationIt's usually a good idea to use Pinap Berries When capturing Shadow Pokémon, you accumulate more candies per capture, making it cheaper to purify them, as it usually takes a considerable amount of candies to get each Pokémon ready.
When it's time to locate Giovanni and the Leaders of Team GO RocketDon't forget to frequently check the balloons that appear on the map. Sometimes we overlook them out of habit, but during a Takeover event, they're key to quickly completing objectives like defeating Recruits or finding Leaders without having to move around your city too much.
It can also help to make a first test match against the Leaders or against Giovanni himself. This way you can see what Pokémon lineup they use and adjust your counters for the second attempt. Knowing the types and moves allows you to prepare more efficient teams and save revives and potions.
Finally, if you have tasks that involve super-effective charged attacks In gyms or raids, a useful trick is to use Pokémon with Relatively low PCsso they can last longer in combat before weakening. Their quick attacks will do less damage, and you can charge the charged attack multiple times to meet the requirement without the opponent falling too quickly.
The period of Valuable Colleagues: Taking Control It ends up being one of the most comprehensive periods of the Valuable Paths season: the Team GO Rocket storyline, the release of Shadow Avatar Thundurus, Raikou's Dark Raid Day, buddy bonuses, and a long list of special missions all converge. For Pokémon GO players in Spain and across Europe, these are perfect days to progress on several fronts at once: strengthening Shadow Pokémon by taking advantage of the removal of Frustration, progressing in Special and Seasonal Research, and expanding their collection with new Shiny and Shadow Legendary Pokémon while keeping Team GO Rocket at bay.
