Astronaut Pikachu in Pokemon Go Space Week

This guide explains how to catch the special Astronaut Pikachu during the Pokemon Go Space Week event. You’ll learn the exact steps to find and catch this costumed Pikachu, what items to prepare, and how to avoid common mistakes. The event is a limited-time celebration of space exploration, and the Astronaut Pikachu is one of its featured highlights.

What You’ll Need

• A smartphone with Pokemon Go installed and updated to the latest version.
• A stable internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• Poké Balls (regular, Great, or Ultra) – at least 20 to be safe.
• Razz Berries or Pinap Berries to improve catch rates or double candy.
• Incense (optional but recommended) to attract more spawns.
• Lure Modules (optional, if you plan to sit near a PokéStop).
• Enough storage space in your Pokémon inventory (check your Pokémon storage).

Step-by-Step

1. Check the event dates and times. Space Week usually runs for about a week, often in late February or early March. Open the in-game News or check the official Pokemon Go blog to confirm the exact start and end times in your timezone. The event typically begins at 10:00 AM local time and ends at 8:00 PM local time on the final day.
2. Update Pokemon Go. Before the event starts, go to your app store and update the game to the latest version. Sometimes the event requires a forced update, and you don’t want to miss out because of an outdated version.
3. Prepare your inventory. Make sure you have plenty of Poké Balls. If you’re low, visit PokéStops and Gyms to spin Photo Discs. You can also open Gifts from friends to get items. If you have a Pokémon Go Plus or Poké Ball Plus, ensure it’s charged and connected.
4. Use Incense and Lure Modules. During the event, activate an Incense to increase the number of wild spawns around you. If you’re near a PokéStop, attach a Lure Module to it. This will attract more Pokémon, including the Astronaut Pikachu, to that location.
5. Walk around and check your Nearby tracker. The Astronaut Pikachu will appear as a regular wild spawn. Use the Nearby feature (bottom-right corner) to see which Pokémon are in your vicinity. Look for the silhouette of Pikachu wearing a space helmet. If you see it, head in that direction.
6. Catch every Pikachu you see. Even if the first few are not the Astronaut variant, keep catching. The event spawns a high number of Pikachu, and the Astronaut version is a special variant. Use Pinap Berries to double the candy, which is useful for evolving or powering up.
7. Check Field Research tasks. During Space Week, certain Field Research tasks reward encounters with Astronaut Pikachu. Spin PokéStops to collect tasks, and look for tasks like “Catch 5 Pokémon” or “Make 3 Great Throws” – these often reward the costumed Pikachu. Complete the tasks to get the encounter.
8. Take advantage of event bonuses. Space Week often includes bonuses like increased catch XP or double candy. Use this time to catch as many as possible. Also, keep an eye out for a special Timed Research or Collection Challenge that might reward an Astronaut Pikachu.
9. Check your storage after catching. Once you catch one, check its summary to confirm it’s the Astronaut variant. It will have a space helmet on its head. If you want a shiny, note that the shiny rate is usually boosted during events, but it’s still rare. Keep catching until you get the one you want.
10. Trade if you can’t find one. If the event is ending and you still haven’t caught one, ask a friend who caught an extra to trade it to you. You can trade Pokémon within 100 meters of each other, so meet up in person. Trades cost Stardust, but it’s a reliable way to get the variant.

Common Mistakes

• Not checking the event end time. The event ends at a specific time. If you try to catch after that, the Astronaut Pikachu will no longer spawn. Always check the in-game news for the exact end time.
• Forgetting to use Incense or Lures. These items significantly increase your spawn rate. Without them, you might only see a few Pikachu. Use them early and often.
• Ignoring Field Research. Many players focus only on wild spawns and miss the guaranteed encounters from Field Research. Always pick up tasks from PokéStops and complete them.
• Not having enough Poké Balls. Running out of balls mid-event is frustrating. Stock up before the event starts, and keep spinning stops and opening gifts during the event.
• Confusing the Astronaut Pikachu with other variants. There are many costumed Pikachu (e.g., Halloween, holiday). The Astronaut variant has a clear space helmet. Double-check before you spend a shiny check on the wrong one.

Tips

• Play during peak spawn times. Spawns are often more frequent during the event’s active hours, especially around lunchtime and evening. If you can, play during those windows.
• Use Pinap Berries on every Pikachu. Even if you don’t need the candy, you can use it to evolve a Pikachu into Raichu (though the costume is lost upon evolution). But the extra candy is still useful for powering up.
• Stack Field Research encounters. If you complete a task that rewards an Astronaut Pikachu, you can choose to not catch it immediately. It will be saved in your “Encounter” stack. You can save up to 100 encounters. This is handy if you want to catch it later or if you’re waiting for a friend to trade.
• Join a local community. Check Discord or Facebook groups for your area. Players often report spawn locations or share extra trades. This can save you hours of wandering.
• Keep an eye on the in-game weather. Weather boosts can increase the level of wild spawns, making them higher CP. If it’s partly cloudy, Pikachu (an Electric type) isn’t boosted, but the weather doesn’t affect the costume. Still, higher CP means better IVs potentially.

Troubleshooting

• No Astronaut Pikachu appearing after 30 minutes. Make sure you’re in an area with cell service. If you’re at home, try moving to a nearby park or shopping center. Sometimes spawns are location-dependent. Also, restart the app to refresh the spawns.
• The event isn’t showing in your game. Check your app version. If you haven’t updated, the event won’t appear. Go to the app store and update. Also, check the in-game News to confirm the event is live in your region.
• You can’t find the Field Research task. Not every PokéStop gives the right task. Keep spinning different stops until you find the one that rewards the Pikachu. The task is usually simple, like “Catch 5 Pokémon” or “Make 3 Great Throws.”
• You caught a Pikachu but it’s not the Astronaut variant. That’s normal – not every Pikachu during the event is the costumed one. The Astronaut variant is a separate spawn. Keep catching until you see the helmet. You can also check the Pokedex – the Astronaut Pikachu has its own entry.
• Your Incense isn’t working. Incense only works if you’re moving or if you’re in an area with good GPS signal. If you’re stationary, it spawns one Pokémon every 5 minutes. If you’re walking, it spawns one every minute. If you’re not seeing any, try moving.
• The event ended and you still don’t have one. If you missed the event, you’ll have to wait for the next one. Sometimes Niantic brings back costumed Pokémon in future events or in raids. Keep an eye on future event announcements. Alternatively, you can trade with someone who has a spare.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Astronaut Pikachu be shiny?

Yes, the shiny version of Astronaut Pikachu is available during the event. The shiny rate is usually boosted, but it’s still rare. Your best bet is to catch as many as possible.

Can I evolve Astronaut Pikachu?

Yes, you can evolve it into Raichu, but the space helmet will be lost. The evolved Raichu will not have the costume. If you want to keep the costume, don’t evolve it.

Does Astronaut Pikachu have special moves?

No, it has the same moves as regular Pikachu. The only difference is the costume. It doesn’t have any exclusive move.

How long does Space Week last?

Typically, Space Week lasts about one week. The exact dates vary each year, so check the in-game news for the current event’s start and end times.

Can I get Astronaut Pikachu from raids?

In some years, Astronaut Pikachu has appeared in one-star raids during Space Week. However, it’s primarily a wild spawn. Check the in-game raid list during the event to see if it’s available.

Can I trade for Astronaut Pikachu after the event?

Yes, you can trade for it after the event ends. As long as the person you trade with has one, you can receive it. The trade will cost Stardust, and the cost is higher if you don’t have the Pokémon in your Pokedex yet.

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