How to Get Apex Shadow HO-OH in Pokémon GO

A new Apex Shadow Ho-Oh is being added to Pokémon Go, and this is the first time in the series where trainers are going to be able to capture the Apex version of certain Pokémon. To kick off the upcoming Pokémon Go Johto Tour, it will be possible for players to catch all 100 Pokémon from the Johto region. It will also mark the first time every Johto Pokémon has the chance to appear in its Shiny form. The Johto Tour itself is a ticketed event, costing trainers about $11.99 to participate. As the event approaches, new details are being released, including the introduction of Apex Shadow Lugia and Apex Shadow Ho-Oh.

The Pokémon Go Johto Tour will take place from Saturday, February 26, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. local time. Trainers will choose between Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver versions at the start of the event. This will determine the types of Pokémon that will appear throughout the day and which Pokémon are attracted to Incenses. Regardless, the biggest deal for the Johto Tour is the upcoming Masterworks Research. Last year, the Kanto Tour featured its own Masterworks, which rewarded trainers with a Shiny Mew encounter. The Masterworks Research is designed to be completed over a long period of time. Therefore, it will not expire even after the Johto Tour is over.

In order to obtain Apex Shadow Ho-Oh, the players will need to finish the new Masterwork Research line. The exact details of what this Masterwork Research entails have yet to be revealed, but it will be challenging if it’s anything like the Kanto Tour. While the Masterwork for Mew was only broken down into four different steps, each challenge could take weeks to complete. The Masterwork Research for the Johto Tour will likely feature similar tasks, challenging trainers to capture Pokémon, obtain specific throws, and walk long distances. On the bright side, regardless of which version the trainer chooses between Pokémon Gold and Silver, it is possible to obtain Apex Lugia and Apex Ho-Oh.

What Makes Apex Ho-Oh Special in Pokémon Go

Apex Shadow Ho-Oh is different than its normal form because it can learn Sacred Fire +. This is a stronger version of Ho-Oh’s iconic move that does 130 power in trainer battles and 135 power in gyms and raids. Once it’s been purified, Sacred Fire + will evolve into Sacred Fire ++. Instead of doing 135 power in gym battles, the move will now do 155 damage, making it incredibly powerful to use. Ho-Oh was already one of the strongest Fire-type Pokémon in the game and this new boost in the Sacred Fire move will make it a must-have Pokémon for players.

Similarly, it is possible to obtain a Shadow Lugia. It has its own set of boosted Charged and Fast attacks to use. It will know a boosted version of Aero Blast. Its aura is also completely different from normal Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon GO. It’s likely more Apex Pokémon will join the game as time goes by. Regardless, trainers will walk away from the Pokémon Go Johto Tour with both.

Pokémon Go is available now on iOS and Android.

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Sky Flores
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Sky Flores is a writer and game player based out of New York City. His hobbies consist of creating content on YouTube and streaming video games on Twitch. His online alias is @SkywardWing.

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