Some achievements in Pokémon GO hold bigger weight than others, as they require enormous dedication and, sometimes, weeks of exhausting hunting. This is the case with Celebi, the mythical guardian of the Ilex Forest.
This species requires thorough preparation, as well as a bit of luck. The chance of catching Celebi randomly is close to zero, which is why you must do everything in your power to increase these odds.
Celebi is a time-traveling, Psychic/Grass-type Pokémon, which in itself makes it quite a rarity. In this guide, we’ll talk about the Pokémon and what makes it so special. After that, we’ll provide a detailed guide to help you catch it!
Prerequisite for Catching Celebi
Before you can even begin your hunt for Johto’s time traveler, you must first prove your worth by finding Kanto’s.
The path to Celebi is unlocked only after you’ve completed the “A Mythical Discovery” Special Research questline, which ends in an encounter with Mew.
Once you find Mew, Professor Willow will give you a significantly more complex challenge, starting a quest called “A Ripple in Time,” that will appear in your Special Research tab.
How to Complete “A Ripple in Time”
“A Ripple in Time” is an eight-part quest designed to test all the skills and knowledge you’ve acquired over time. To complete this endeavor, you’ll need patience, strategy, and a bag stocked with particular items.
Below, we’ve explained every part of the quest, so you know exactly what to expect.
Stage 1/8: Setting the Stage
Power up a Pokémon 5 times.
Battle in a Gym 2 times.
Battle in 2 raids.
Reward: Get 10 Poké Balls, 1 Fast TM, and 500 Stardust
This initial phase is like a warm-up, testing your core mechanical skills and knowledge. The good news is that you can finish this part without much hassle.
Stage 2/8: Building Connections
Make 3 new friends.
Catch a Pokémon 3 days in a row.
Evolve an evolved Grass-type Pokémon (e.g., Ivysaur, Bayleef).
Rewards: 1 Sun Stone, 1,500 Stardust, 1 Premium Raid Pass.
With this quest, the developers want to encourage players to be more social. For evolving an evolved Grass-type, we recommend that you evolve a Pokémon like Bulbasaur to Ivysaur, and then hold onto that Ivysaur for this task.
Stage 3/8: The Johto Journey
Reach Trainer Level 25.
Use a Sun Stone to evolve Gloom or Sunkern.
Hatch 9 Eggs.
Rewards: Eevee Encounter, 1 King’s Rock, 2,000 Stardust.
This phase is a bit more demanding. The Sun Stone from the previous stage comes in handy here. You will be rewarded with an Eevee encounter, a Pokémon that you’ll likely need for future challenges.
Stage 4/8: A Walk Through Day
Walk 10 km with Eevee as your buddy to earn Candy.
Evolve Eevee into Espeon during the day.
Send 20 Gifts to Friends.
Rewards: Another Eevee Encounter, 2,500 Stardust, 1 Metal Coat.
This is the first of two intricate Eevee evolutions. To guarantee an Espeon, you must have walked 10 km with Eevee as your buddy and then evolve it while it is still your buddy during daytime hours in the game.
Stage 5/8: A Walk Through Night
Walk 10 km with Eevee as your buddy to earn Candy.
Evolve Eevee into Umbreon at night.
Trade a Pokémon.
Rewards: 1 Star Piece, 3,000 Stardust, Unown Encounter.
The second verse is the same as the first, but with a nocturnal twist. Repeat the process with another Eevee, but this time, evolve it at night to get Umbreon. Find a friend for a quick trade to complete the stage.
Stage 6/8: The Long Haul
Visit PokéStops 7 days in a row.
Use 25 Pinap Berries while catching Pokémon.
Use items to evolve Pokémon 2 times.
Rewards: 10 Silver Pinap Berries, 3,500 Stardust, 1 Dragon Scale.
You must be patient to complete this phase. Maintaining a seven-day streak might sound like a lot of time, but it will pass quickly as you’ll have fun. The Metal Coat and Dragon Scale you’ve earned will also be useful for the evolution tasks.
Stage 7/8: The Final Test
Catch 40 Grass- or Psychic-type Pokémon.
Make an Excellent Curveball Throw.
Earn a Gold Johto Medal.
Rewards: 1 Charged TM, 10 Silver Pinap Berries, Celebi Encounter.
This is the final push. The Gold Johto Medal, requiring you to catch 70 unique Pokémon from the Johto region, is often the biggest hurdle. Focus on trading and participating in Johto-themed events. Land that one perfect throw, and your prize awaits.
Stage 8/8: The Reward
Auto-completed tasks.
Rewards: 20 Celebi Candy, 5,500 Stardust, 1 Super Incubator.
The final stage completes automatically, showering you with rewards and, most importantly, leading you directly to your encounter with Celebi.
Pro-Tips for a Flawless Journey
Going through “A Ripple in Time” can feel like a real chore. Here’s how to make that journey smoother:
Challenge Task | The Requirement | The Insider’s Playbook |
|---|---|---|
Eevee Evolutions | Evolve Eevee into Espeon (day) and Umbreon (night) using the buddy method. | You must walk 10km and evolve Eevee while it’s still your set buddy. Don’t remove it before evolving! For efficiency, walk one Eevee for 20km to cover both tasks’ distance requirements before evolving the first one. |
Gold Johto Medal | Register 70 unique Johto region Pokémon in your Pokédex. | This is a background task you should always be working on. Actively trade with friends, hatch 7km eggs for regional babies like Pichu and Togepi, and never miss a Johto-themed event. |
Evolve an Evolved Grass-Type | Evolve a Pokémon that is already the second stage of a Grass-type line. | The easiest path is to evolve a common Pokémon. Find a Chikorita, evolve it to Bayleef, and then use that Bayleef for the final evolution to Meganium for this task. This saves you from using a rarer Pokémon. |
How to Guarantee a Celebi Encounter
After clearing the final research task, the moment arrives. Celebi will appear on your screen, ready for you to catch. Here’s what to know about this special encounter:
It’s a Guaranteed Catch: Relax. Unlike wild encounters, Celebi cannot flee, and you have unlimited Poké Balls (though it will likely only take a few) to secure it.
Use a Pinap Berry: Since the catch is assured, this is the perfect opportunity to use a Pinap Berry or Silver Pinap Berry to double your Celebi Candy haul.
Embrace AR Mode: The Mythical encounters are cinematic. Turn on AR mode for an unforgettable experience of seeing Celebi floating in your real-world environment. It’s a fantastic photo opportunity and a fitting end to your long journey.
Getting Celebi is a test of dedication, but the reward is more than just a new Pokémon. It’s a testament to your skill as a trainer. However, if you find your resources stretched thin and the grind for Stardust and items daunting, there are ways to enhance your gameplay. Consider browsing Pokémon GO accounts for sale at igitems, where you can find profiles ready-made with the assets needed to breeze through any challenge the game throws your way.
The Story of Shiny Celebi
A standard Celebi is a mark of prestige, but a Shiny Celebi? That’s a legend. A special, pink-hued variant of Celebi was made available through a limited-time Special Research questline called “Distracted by Something Shiny.”
This quest was tied to the movie Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle and featured a storyline with Team Rocket’s Jesse and James. If you completed this research, you were rewarded with a guaranteed Shiny Celebi encounter.
As of now, this was the only way to obtain a Shiny Celebi. Each account can have one regular Celebi (from “A Ripple in Time”) and one Shiny Celebi (if you completed the special event research). If you missed it, you’ll have to keep an eye out for any future events where Niantic might bring it back.
Celebi Q&A: Your Questions Answered
Can you trade Celebi? No. As a Mythical Pokémon, Celebi cannot be traded under any circumstances. Your Celebi is connected to your account.
How many Celebi can you catch? One of each type. Every trainer can catch one standard Celebi through “A Ripple in Time” and, if they completed the event, one Shiny Celebi.
Is catching Celebi free? Yes, the “A Ripple in Time” Special Research is entirely free for all players who meet the prerequisites.
The quest to catch Celebi is one of Pokémon GO’s most notorious challenges. It’s a rewarding adventure that teaches you about different aspects of the game. Now, with this guide in hand, you’re prepared to complete all the phases. Start your tasks today and claim your well-deserved mythical prize!
