Update, October 12, 2026: Phantump Catch Mastery took place on September 26, 2026 and has ended. This page is kept as a record, with a recap, evolution details and next steps added at the end. For what is live now, see the October 2026 events calendar.
Catch Mastery is a recurring one-day “throw accuracy” event format, and September’s installment featured Phantump on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time. It has ended, and this page keeps the details as a record.
Event Date and Time
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, September 26, 2026 |
| Time | 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. local time |
| Featured Pokémon | Phantump |
Featured Pokémon and Shiny
Phantump got increased wild spawns for the event, along with an increased Shiny rate. Cherubi and Drifloon also get increased wild spawns during the event window, both with their own increased Shiny chance — worth keeping an eye out for even if Phantump is your main target.
Throw Bonus
The core Catch Mastery bonus applies for the full event: 2× XP and increased Candy for any catch landed with a Nice Throw or better.
Field Research and Timed Research
A free Timed Research line focused on catching Phantump was available during the event, rewarding encounters plus XP and Stardust. A separate paid Timed Research ticket ($1.99) added additional Phantump encounters on top of the free line.
Shop
The Web Store sold a “Phantump Catch Mastery Ultra Ticket Box” for $1.99, bundling the paid ticket with two Rare Candies.
Event Recap: What Happened
Phantump Catch Mastery was a one-day event on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time. Catch Mastery events reward accurate Poké Ball throwing. The official bonuses were 2x XP and increased Candy for catches made with a Nice Throw or better.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Featured Pokémon | Phantump, via Field Research and free and paid Timed Research, with an increased Shiny chance |
| Wild spawns | Cherubi and Drifloon more often, with increased Shiny chances |
| Field Research (Leek Duck) | 10 Nice Throws: Drifloon or Phantump. 3 Great Throws in a row: Phantump. 7 Great Throws: Cherubi or Phantump. 1 Excellent Throw: Phantump. |
| Free Timed Research | Ten steps of Phantump-themed tasks; Step 10 gave 1,500 Stardust and 3,000 XP |
| Paid Timed Research | US$1.99, with extra Phantump encounters; same expiry |
| Ultra Ticket Box | US$1.99, containing the ticket and two Rare Candies |
All Timed Research had to be completed and claimed by 8:00 p.m. local time on September 26, 2026. Tickets could not be bought with PokéCoins but could be gifted to friends at Great Friends level or higher. The official page did not publish exact Shiny odds, so any specific rate you see quoted is an estimate. Note that the 2026 bonus is for “Nice Throws or better”; the official page does not list Curveball Throws as a separate trigger this time.
What To Do Now That It Has Ended
If you caught Phantump, the main question is whether to evolve. According to Bulbapedia, Phantump evolves into Trevenant for 200 Phantump Candy, or for no candy if the Phantump was received in a trade. Trading has its own costs and limits; see the trading guide. Phantump is Ghost/Grass; its Pokémon GO move pool includes Astonish and Tackle as Fast Attacks and Seed Bomb, Shadow Ball and Foul Play as Charged Attacks (Bulbapedia).
- Shiny hunters: check the shiny guide before deciding what to keep. Shiny Phantump has been obtainable since October 19, 2023.
- Judging stats: use the IV calculator and PvP calculator before spending 200 candy.
- Candy planning: the candy calculator and evolution calculator show how much you need, and walking Phantump as a buddy earns candy over time (see the buddy guide).
- Cherubi and Drifloon: their research and wild spawn windows ended with the event too.
To prepare for the next throwing-focused event, practice Nice, Great and Excellent throws on easy targets and keep a good supply of Poké Balls and Berries. For XP planning, see the XP guide.
Will It Return?
No repeat of this event has been announced. The Catch Mastery format itself has precedent: a March 5, 2023 event featured Hitmontop (with Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan in the wild), and a March 16, 2025 event featured Archen with Omanyte and Kabuto more common. Phantump itself debuted in Pokémon GO on October 22, 2021 during Halloween Mischief, per Bulbapedia. Niantic announces returns on its own schedule, so check the events calendar.
Related Guides
- Pokémon GO events in October 2026
- Shiny Pokémon guide and odds
- Trading guide
- IVs explained
- How to maximize XP
- Pokémon GO events hub
Sources: Pokémon GO: Phantump Catch Mastery; Leek Duck: Phantump Catch Mastery; Bulbapedia: Phantump (GO); Pokémon GO: Catch Mastery March 2023; Pokémon GO: Catch Mastery Archen 2025.
