Niantic has a habit of dropping things on us like a ton of bricks. One minute you’re just casually checking for a shiny Lechonk, and the next, your "Today" view is cluttered with a massive list of Galar region starters that you absolutely have to catch before a timer runs out. That’s basically the vibe of the Go All Out Collection Challenge. It wasn't just a simple "catch five monsters" task. It was the formal, somewhat chaotic introduction of the Galar region to Pokémon GO, and honestly, it changed how a lot of us looked at our daily walk to the grocery store.
If you weren't there for the launch of the Max Out season, the sheer scale of the Galar rollout felt different from previous generations. Usually, we get a slow drip-feed. This time? It was a flood. Grookey, Scorbunny, Sobble, and that weirdly charming Wooloo were everywhere.
Decoding the Go All Out Collection Challenge
People get frustrated with these challenges because they feel like a chore. I get it. But the Go All Out Collection Challenge was actually a clever way to force players to interact with the new Galar mechanics immediately. It wasn't just about clicking on every spawn. You had to actually hunt.
The challenge was split into several segments, focusing on the Galar starters and the early-route birds and sheep. You had the Grookey Path, the Scorbunny Path, and the Sobble Path. Choosing one didn't just give you a different sticker; it dictated your spawns and the specific rewards you'd rake in. Most players went for Scorbunny because, let's face it, Cinderace is a beast in the Great League, but the Grookey fans were out in force too.
The mechanics were straightforward: catch the featured Pokémon, evolve them, and pray to the RNG gods that you'd find a Skwovet before the event ended. It sounds simple. It rarely is.
The Galar Starters and Why They Mattered
Let's talk about the starters. Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble aren't just Dex fillers. In the main series games (Pokémon Sword and Shield), these three redefined the competitive meta for a while. Bringing them into GO meant players were looking for high-IV specimens for PvP.
- Grookey: Everyone wanted that Rillaboom. With the right moveset, it’s a total menace.
- Scorbunny: Fire types are hit-or-miss in GO, but Cinderace has that "cool factor" that keeps people grinding.
- Sobble: Inteleon is a glass cannon, sure, but in the right hands? Deadly.
What made the Go All Out Collection Challenge spicy was the evolution requirement. You couldn't just catch a starter and call it a day. You needed candy. Lots of it. This forced people to use their Pinap Berries, which—if you’re like me—you’re always low on because you use them on every single Magikarp you see.
Missing Pieces: The Skwovet and Wooloo Problem
For some reason, Skwovet and Wooloo became the "rare" spawns for certain players during this window. It’s a classic Niantic move. You see fifty Grookey, but the moment you need a Wooloo to finish the medal, they vanish into thin air.
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I remember walking through a local park on the third day of the event. I saw a group of four people huddled over their phones, looking genuinely distressed. I asked if there was a raid. "No," one of them said, "we just need one more Skwovet for the collection challenge, and all we're getting are Rattatas."
That’s the core of the Go All Out Collection Challenge. It creates these little micro-communities of stressed-out collectors. It’s weirdly bonding. You’re all chasing the same digital squirrel.
Rewards: Was It Worth the Hike?
The rewards for completing the challenge weren't exactly game-breaking, but they were solid. We’re talking XP, Stardust, and encounters with more Galar-themed Pokémon. But the real prize? The Elite Collector medal.
For some players, that medal is everything. It’s a permanent record on your profile that says, "I was there when Galar dropped, and I finished the job." If you missed one Pokémon, you didn't get the medal. The pressure was real.
Navigating the Max Out Season Meta
The Go All Out Collection Challenge was just the tip of the iceberg for the "Max Out" season. This season introduced Dynamax, which is a whole other beast. Suddenly, your "regular" Pokémon weren't enough. You needed Power Spots. You needed Max Particles.
Many players felt overwhelmed. You have this collection challenge running, Dynamax raids (Max Battles) popping up, and new Galar research tasks filling your queue. It was a lot. But here’s the thing: Niantic designed this to be a "re-engagement" event. They wanted lapsed players to see the Galar starters and think, "Okay, fine, I’ll come back for a bit."
Honestly? It worked. The player count spiked. The hype was genuine. Even the people who complain about "another regional bird" were out there catching Rookidee.
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Common Pitfalls and How People Failed
The biggest reason people failed the Go All Out Collection Challenge? Procrastination.
People assumed the starters would be everywhere for the entire season. While they were common, the specific challenge had a tight deadline. If you didn't evolve your Thwackey into Rillaboom before the clock hit zero, the challenge remained incomplete.
Another mistake was ignoring the Incense. During the Galar rollout, Incense was actually useful. It helped pull in those specific starters that weren't spawning naturally in certain biomes. If you were stuck in a desert biome, getting a Sobble was a nightmare without some extra help.
Strategies for Future Regional Rollouts
Whenever Niantic does something like the Go All Out Collection Challenge again—and they will, probably for the Paldea region or future "Legends" tie-ins—you need a plan.
- Stockpile Pinaps: I cannot stress this enough. Don't waste them on common spawns a week before a new region drops. You’ll need every bit of candy for those three-stage evolutions.
- Focus on the Evolution Chain: Catching is the easy part. Saving enough candy to hit the final evolution is where most people trip up.
- Use the Map: If your local Discord or campfire group is active, use it. People call out "rare" spawns for these challenges all the time.
- Check Your Tags: I like to tag my challenge Pokémon as "Challenge" so I don't accidentally transfer them or forget which ones I need to evolve.
The Bigger Picture of Galar in GO
The Go All Out Collection Challenge wasn't perfect. Some felt the "choose your path" mechanic was a bit restrictive, and the Dynamax introduction was confusing for the first few days. But as far as regional debuts go, Galar felt energetic.
It brought a sense of discovery back to a game that can sometimes feel like a repetitive grind of the same three events. Catching a Galarian Weezing or seeing a Zacian raid on the horizon—that’s the stuff that keeps the game alive ten years in.
If you finished the challenge, congrats. You've got the medal to prove it. If you didn't, well, there's always the next one. Pokémon GO is a marathon, not a sprint. Except for when a collection challenge ends in two hours. Then it's definitely a sprint.
Actionable Next Steps for Collectors
To make sure you're ready for the next big regional push, start by cleaning out your Pokémon storage now. There is nothing worse than clicking on a rare spawn and getting the "Storage Full" message.
Next, keep an eye on your "Elite Collector" medal progress. It’s a great way to see which historical challenges you’ve completed and where you might have gaps in your regional Dex.
Lastly, engage with the Max Out mechanics if you haven't yet. Dynamax is here to stay, and the Pokémon you caught during the Go All Out Collection Challenge are often the best candidates for your future Max Battle teams. Get those Galar starters powered up—they’re going to be relevant for a long time.