Pokémon Go 'Ultra Unlock Water Festival' 2026 event guide

Another Ultra Unlock event is happening in Pokémon Go, this time themed around water-type Pokémon. The "Ultra Unlock: Water Festival" event runs from Aug. 18-24 and debuts Arrokuda, its evolution Barraskewda, and Cramorant.

This event has several bonuses that increase as the event goes on:

• Aug. 18-20: 2x catch XP, 3x catch Stardust
• Aug. 20-22: 3x catch XP, 4x catch Stardust
• Aug. 22-24: 4x catch XP, 5x catch Stardust

That being said, you may want to head out to your local spots during the weekend to make the most of this event, since those bonuses are so juicy.

Below we list the other perks for Pokémon Go's "Ultra Unlock: Water Festival" event, including how to find a Arrokuda and Cramorant.

How to catch Arrokuda and Cramorant in Pokémon Go

Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Scopely Explore

To catch Arrokuda, there's a few methods:

• Get an Arrokuda encounter guaranteed at Go Pass rank 13 and 28 (and additional encounters if you have the deluxe pass).
• Randomly encountered from the "catch 15 water-type Pokémon" event Field Research.
• Randomly encountered from Rainy Lure Modules placed on PokéStops.

You can evolve Arrokuda into Barraskewda using 50 Arrokuda Candy.

Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Scopely Explore

For Cramorant, there's different ways to grab it:

• Hatch Cramorant from 5 km eggs obtained during the event.
• Get a guaranteed Cramorant encounter at Go Pass rank 30 (and an additional encounter at 19 and 30 if you have the deluxe pass).
• Take a snapshot once per day to get a photobomb encounter with Cramorant.
• Earn a Cramorant as a random reward from the Go Battle League starting at rank 16.

Cramorant can change forms in battle. If you use Surf or Dive, it'll turn into Gorging Form (with Pikachu in its mouth) or Gulping Form (with Arrokuda in its mouth), depending on how much HP it has. This only happens in trainer battles, not in raids or gyms.

Pokémon Go 'Ultra Unlock: Water Festival' event Go Pass

This event features a Go Pass with 30 ranks, plus another 30 bonus ranks. Notably, you can earn encounters with Arrokuda and Cramorant from the pass just by playing the game. As usual, you can accumulate points by winning raids, hatching eggs, and catching Pokémon. Every day you can also earn an additional 100 points (one rank) by catching 10 water-type Pokémon.

There are also some bonuses you can unlock from hitting certain ranks:

• Rank 10: 2x catch candy
• Rank 20: Halved hatch distance

You can also upgrade the pass to the deluxe version for $4.99, unlocking another track of rewards, including a very funny Starmie backpack.

Image: Scopely Explore

Pokémon Go 'Ultra Unlock: Water Festival' event Field Research and rewards

Spinning a PokéStop during the event period may yield one of these tasks:

• Catch 5 water-type Pokémon (10 Poké Balls, 5 Great Balls, 3 Ultra Balls, or 3 Pinap Berries)
• Catch 10 water-type Pokémon (Dewpider or Ducklett encounter)
• Catch 15 water-type Pokémon (Clamperl, Feebas, or Arrokuda encounter)

Pokémon Go 'Ultra Unlock: Water Festival' event boosted spawns

These Pokémon will spawn more frequently during the event period, according to the event blog post:

• Psyduck
• Goldeen
• Feebas
• Clamperl
• Mareanie
• Wimpod
• Wiglett (in its natural biomes only)

Based on player reports and our own experience, these also seem to be spawning in higher numbers:

• Magikarp
• Marill
• Wailmer
• Ducklett*
• Dewpider*

Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Scopely Explore

*There is an "increased chance" to encounter these Pokémon shiny.

Pokémon Go 'Ultra Unlock: Water Festival' event egg hatches

These Pokémon have a chance to hatch from any 5 km eggs obtained during the event:

• Azurill
• Mantyke
• Frillish
• Cramorant

Pokémon Go 'Ultra Unlock: Water Festival' event raid targets

The following changes to the raid schedule will take place as part of the event: