Niantic releases schedule of Pokémon GO events in May - Larvesta, Volcarona, and Shiny Mantyke debut in upcoming event featuring Team Instinct's Spark

Niantic has announced details on upcoming events and activities in Pokémon GO across May, with an infographic posted to their social media accounts. The infographic includes a variety of events between now and the beginning of June. While several of the items included in this infographic were previously announced during April, freshly announced today is a new event focused on Spark, the Team Instinct leader, which will begin in-game on May 2nd at 10:00am local time.

An Instinctive Hero
The An Instinctive Hero event, featuring Team Instinct and its leader, Spark, will begin at 10:00am local time on May 2nd, and will run through to 8:00pm local time on May 8th. This event will feature the Pokémon GO debuts of Larvesta, the Torch Pokémon, and Volcarona, the Sun Pokémon, as well as the first appearance of Shiny Mantyke.

Larvesta can be evolved into Volcarona by using 400 Larvesta Candy.

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Event Bonuses and Activities
The following event bonuses will also be active throughout the event period:

• Increased chance of hatching Shiny Pokémon from 2 km, 5 km, and 10 km Eggs
• 2× XP for hatching Pokémon
• 2× Stardust for hatching Pokémon

The core of this event will be focused on the An Instinctive Hero Special Research, featuring Spark, the leader of Team Instinct. Completing this special research will grant Trainers a special encounter with the Electric Pokémon Elekid, wearing a special Spark-themed accessory. This Special Research story will be the only way for Trainers to encounter this Elekid until at least the end of the current Rising Heroes season.

Pokémon Encounters
All Pokémon listed below with a ⁂ next to their name can also be encountered in their Shiny variants.

From Eggs:
The following Pokémon will hatch from Eggs:

• 2 km, 5 km, and 10 km Eggs:
  • Larvesta
• 7 km Eggs
  • Mime Jr. ⁂
  • Happiny ⁂
  • Mantyke ⁂
  • Timburr ⁂
  • Karrablast ⁂
  • Axew ⁂
  • Shelmet ⁂
  • Goomy

From Research Encounters
The following Pokémon can be encountered through completing Field Research tasks and the An Instinctive Hero Special Research:

• Field Research
  • Magneton ⁂
  • Chansey ⁂
  • Electabuzz ⁂
  • Magmar ⁂
  • Snorlax ⁂
  • Mantrine ⁂
  • Chimecho ⁂
• An Instinctive Hero Special Research
  • Elekid wearing a Spark-themed accessory ⁂

May's Featured Pokémon, Encounters and Raids
Pokémon Spotlight Hours
A different Pokémon and special bonus will be featured every Tuesday from 6:00pm to 7:00pm local time:

• May 2: Alolan Geodude ⁂ | 2× XP for catching Pokémon
• May 9: Ponyta ⁂ | 2× Candy for catching Pokémon
• May 16: Bellsprout ⁂ | 2× Candy for transferring Pokémon
• May 23: Skorupi ⁂ | 2× XP for evolving Pokémon
• May 30: Houndour ⁂ | 2× Stardust for catching Pokémon

Research Breakthrough encounters
When seven days of Field Research tasks are completed, Trainers will be able to encounter these Pokémon:

• Parasect
• Pinsir ⁂
• Snorlax ⁂
• Gible ⁂
• Furfrou ⁂
• Goomy

Raids
Raid rotations all start and end at 10:00am local time on the dates listed unless otherwise noted.

Featured Raid Pokémon
The following Pokémon will be appearing in five-star raids:

• Apr 17th-May 2: Tapu Bulu ⁂
• May 2nd-9th: Genesect (w/ Shock Drive) ⁂
• May 9th-24th: Tapu Fini ⁂
• May 24th-June 1st: Regigigas ⁂

Raid Hours
The following Pokémon will be featured in a Raid Hour event on every Wednesday from 6:00pm to 7:00pm local time:

• May 3rd: Genesect (w/ Shock Drive) ⁂
• May 10th: Tapu Fini ⁂
• May 17th: Tapu Fini ⁂
• May 24th: Regigigas ⁂
• May 31st: Regigigas ⁂

Mega Raids
The following Mega-Evolved Pokémon will be appearing in Mega Raids:

• April 17th-May 2nd: Mega Slowbro ⁂
• May 2nd-11th: Mega Scizor ⁂
• May 11th-24th: Mega Pinsir ⁂
• May 24th-31st: Mega Altaria ⁂

Other Upcoming Events in May
All times in the event listing below are based on Trainer's local times.

• An Instinctive Hero: From May 2nd at 10:00am, to May 8th at 8:00pm
• Raid Day: May 6th, between 11:00am and 2pm
• A Valorous Hero: From May 11th at 10:00am, to May 17th at 8:00pm
• Elite Raids: May 13, with raids occuring at 11:00am, 2:00pm, and 5:00pm
• May Community Day: May 21st, between 2pm and 5pm
• ???: From May 22 at 10:00am, to May 28th at 8pm