The advent of a new year also means the introduction of a host of exciting events in Pokémon GO, such as the five Spotlight Hours that will be occurring in January 2023. Unlike Community Days, which tend to last longer and offer more in-game bonuses, these Spotlight Hours only last for a single real-time hour, specifically from 6 pm to 7 pm local time. For newcomers and veteran Trainers alike, these hour-long live events are optimal moments for acquiring dozens of a specific pocket monster and farming its Catch Candy for a potential evolution.

The featured pocket monsters for January 2023's Spotlight Hours in Pokémon GO are Alolan Sandshrew, Swirlix, Seedot, Tynamo, and Blitzle. Each of these particular Pokémon will appear in droves near Pokéstops, Gyms, and even players' locations for a 60-minute duration. During this time, Trainers are encouraged to set aside however much time they can spare to catch as many of these pocket monsters as possible. Except for Tynamo, all of these Spotlight Hour Pokémon can be Shiny, so s might be able to find one or more rare variations of the featured creatures if they are lucky.

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All Spotlight Hours for January 2023 in Pokémon GO

Shiny Encounters with Alolan Sandshrew Seedot and Blitzle in Pokémon GO

In order to take full advantage of January 2023's Spotlight Hours in Pokémon GO, Trainers at Stocking up on Pinap Berries will also maximize the number of Catch Candy earned from these Spotlight Hours. While hoarding pocket monster Candy does not take up inventory space, catching Pokémon will fill up one's Pokémon Storage. Therefore, clearing out and organizing Pokémon Storage is a task that should be prioritized before one participates in a Spotlight Hour event.

Suppose players feel the increased spawn rates of January 2023's Spotlight Hours in Pokémon GO are still not enough for their catching capabilities. In that case, having Incenses and Lure Modules on hand will ensure the highest chances of encountering Shiny variations of the featured Pokémon. For clarification, below is an index of all five Spotlight Hour pocket monsters that will appear during January 2023, including their dates and corresponding event bonuses:

Featured Pokémon

Spotlight Hour Date

Event Bonus (6 pm - 7 pm)

Alolan Sandshrew in Pokémon GO

January 3
  • Evolution XP ×2

Swirlix

January 10
  • Catch Stardust ×2

Seedot

January 17
  • Catch XP ×2

Tynamo

January 24
  • Catch Candy ×2

Blitzle

January 31
  • Transfer Candy ×2

More: Pokémon GO: All Field Research Tasks & Rewards (Winter Holiday)

Source: Dexerto