Pokémon GO's Bug Out event returns for 2026 with a full week of bug-type spawns, the debut of Blipbug and its evolutionary line, the first-ever shiny Sizzlipede, and a rotating Lure Module schedule that gives you a real shot at one of the game's rarest shinies — female shiny Combee. The event runs from Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. to Monday, March 23, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. local time.
Quick answer: Blipbug is only available through one-star raids and the Bug Out GO Pass — it does not spawn in the wild. You need 25 candy to evolve it into Dottler and another 100 candy for Orbeetle (125 total).
Bug Out 2026 GO Pass Bonuses and Tiers
Unlike previous Bug Out events where catch bonuses were active from the start, the 2026 edition ties its main bonuses to the event's GO Pass tier system. A free GO Pass is automatically added to your account on March 17 at 10:00 a.m. local time. You earn GO Points to rank it up through March 23 at 8:00 p.m., then have until March 25 at 8:00 p.m. to claim rewards before the pass expires.
| Tier | Rank | Bonus (Free) | Bonus (Deluxe) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Rank 25 | 2× catch XP for Nice Throws or better | Same |
| Tier 2 | Rank 50 | 2× catch candy | 3× catch candy |
The free pass also includes Great Balls, Lure Modules, XP, Stardust, event encounters, and a guaranteed Blipbug encounter. The Deluxe pass costs $5 (or $7 for Deluxe + 6 ranks, starting you at rank 7) and adds Candy XL, Rare Candy XL, additional Lure Modules, Premium Battle Passes, and extra event-themed encounters, likely including Shedinja and Sizzlipede. Purchasing through the Pokémon GO Web Store nets bonus items — 10 Ultra Balls, five Max Revives, one Premium Battle Pass, and five Max Potions — at no extra cost.
Rotating Lure Module Schedule and Shiny Combee Strategy
Different Pokémon rotate through regular Lure Modules on a two-day cycle throughout the event. Paras, Combee, and Cutiefly, attracted to these lures all have boosted shiny rates.
| Date Range (Local Time) | Lure Pokémon |
|---|---|
| March 17, 10:00 a.m. – March 19, 10:00 a.m. | Paras + Sizzlipede |
| March 19, 10:00 a.m. – March 21, 10:00 a.m. | Cutiefly + Sizzlipede |
| March 21, 10:00 a.m. – March 23, 8:00 p.m. | Combee + Sizzlipede |
The Combee window is the one to target if you're hunting shiny Vespiquen. Only female Combee can evolve, and females have just a 12.5% (1 in 8) gender ratio. Normally, shiny odds sit around 1 in 512, but the boosted rate during this event likely falls somewhere between 1 in 64 and 1 in 128. The final Combee rotation window includes Sunday, March 22, which is a Double Time Sunday — Lure Modules and Incense activated that day last twice as long, giving you significantly more spawns per lure.
Wild Spawns
The following bug-types appear more frequently in the wild during the event:
| Pokémon | Notes |
|---|---|
| Caterpie | Low candy cost to evolve (12); great for mass evolution XP |
| Dwebble | — |
| Sizzlipede | Shiny debut |
| Nymble | — |
| Scyther | Rare spawn; Mega Scizor is the 4th-best bug-type attacker |
Blipbug is not available in the wild. Scyther is listed as a rare encounter, so don't count on finding many — three-star raids featuring Scizor are a faster route to high-IV specimens if you want to skip the Metal Coat evolution.
Raid Bosses During Bug Out 2026
| Tier | Pokémon |
|---|---|
| One-star | Blipbug |
| Three-star | Pinsir, Scizor, Kleavor |
| Five-star | Zacian (until March 18, 10 a.m.) → Zamazenta |
| Mega | Mega Steelix (until March 18, 10 a.m.) → Mega Slowbro |
| Max Battles | Max Falinks |
| Five-star Shadow | Shadow Latias |
Blipbug is the headline raid addition, but Orbeetle — its final evolution — is not particularly useful. It's a Bug/Psychic type with a max CP of 2,513, an attack stat of 156, a defense of 240, and stamina of 155. It lacks a fast move with a 0.5-second animation, which limits its viability as a Max Battle tank, and its current moveset doesn't make it competitive in GO Battle League either. A future Gigantamax Orbeetle form will function as a Psychic-type attacker with G-Max Gravitas, but it will be outclassed by existing options like Max Alakazam, Max Latios, Max Espeon, and Max Metagross. For most players, doing one or two Blipbug raids for the Pokédex entry and using Rare Candy to fill the gap is the most efficient approach.
Mega Pinsir, available through three-star Pinsir raids, is the third-best bug-type Mega attacker with Fury Cutter and X-Scissor — slightly ahead of Mega Scizor.
Blipbug — How to Get It and Is It Worth Raiding?
Blipbug can be obtained in two ways during the event: one-star raids and the Bug Out GO Pass encounter reward. It does not appear in the wild, in eggs, or through Field Research. Its shiny form is not available at launch.
The full evolutionary line costs 125 candy total (25 for Dottler, 100 for Orbeetle). Since Blipbug is only in one-star raids, farming that much candy through raiding alone is impractical. Walking Blipbug as your buddy, using Rare Candy, or waiting for a future Community Day or wider release are all more realistic paths to a complete evolution line.
Shiny Sizzlipede Debut
Sizzlipede's shiny form debuts with this event. It can be found in the wild, through Lure Modules (it appears in every rotation window), and potentially through Field Research tasks. Centiskorch, its evolution, also has a Gigantamax form expected to arrive in a future update, though it will likely be outclassed by other fire-type Max Battle attackers. The shiny itself is not boosted — it debuts at standard shiny odds.
Tips for Maximizing Candy, XP, and Stardust
Caterpie is one of the best Pokémon to target during this event. It only costs 12 candy to evolve, and with the 2× catch candy bonus active (plus a Pinap Berry), a single catch yields enough candy for an evolution. Stock up on Caterpie, pop a Lucky Egg, and mass-evolve for huge XP gains. Every evolution also counts toward your Bug Catcher medal.
For Stardust, prioritize catching Paras (500 Stardust per catch) and Combee (750 Stardust per catch) from Lure Modules. Star Pieces and weather boosts multiply these values further. GO Battle League players should battle on Thursdays for 4× Stardust from win rewards.
Mega evolving a bug-type Pokémon — ideally one at max Mega Level — boosts candy, Candy XL chances, and XP for every bug-type catch. Mega Beedrill, Mega Pinsir, and Mega Scizor are all solid choices depending on what Mega Energy you have available.
Trading is also more valuable this season thanks to a guaranteed Candy XL on every trade regardless of catch distance, plus one bonus candy per trade. Friendship Fridays double the guaranteed candy from trades, making Friday an ideal day to swap event catches with friends.
Bug Out 2026 is a solid week for shiny hunters chasing Combee and Sizzlipede, and a decent opportunity to stock up on bug-type candy and XP through mass Caterpie evolves. Blipbug's raid-locked debut is frustrating given its high candy cost, but the Pokédex entry is achievable with a single raid and some Rare Candy. Focus on hitting GO Pass Rank 50 early, time your Lure sessions around the Combee rotation and Double Time Sunday, and don't sleep on the three-star raids if you still need Mega Energy for Pinsir or Scizor.