If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Pokémon Go Friendship Day Collection Challenge: How to complete the Collection Challenge and Friendship Day explained

Everything you need to know about the grass-type themed Friendship Day in Pokémon Go.

Friendship Day is a new event in Pokémon Go, which focuses around giving you a number of, sometimes friendship based, bonuses.

The very first Friendship Day is themed around grass-type Pokémon and there's even a Collection Challenge for you to complete during the event itself.

You may, however, find this Collection Challenge to be quite of a - well - challenge, since it will only be available during Friendship Day.

On this page:

Cover image for YouTube videoPokémon Go Trading gameplay
Pokémon Go Trading gameplay

List of Pokémon and rewards for the Friendship Day Collection Challenge in Pokémon Go

The Friendship Day Collection Challenge in Pokémon Go tasks you with catching 11 grass-type Pokémon.

Here are the Pokémon you need to catch to complete the Friendship Day Collection Challenge:

  • Bulbasaur
  • Tangela
  • Chikorita
  • Sunkern
  • Treecko
  • Cacnea
  • Turtwig
  • Snivy
  • Cottonee
  • Foongus
  • Chespin

All of these Pokémon will appear in the wild, meaning you don't have to worry about hunting down a specific field research task or partaking in a raid.

Completing the Friendship Day Collection Challenge will reward you with 175,000XP.

Tips for completing the Friendship Day Collection Challenge in Pokémon Go

Here are some tips to help you complete the Collection Challenge for the grass-type Friendship Day in Pokémon Go:

  • The most important fact to remember for this Collection Challenge is that it's only available between 11am to 2pm (local time) on Saturday, 24th April, and, because of this, we recommend completing it at the beginning of the event.
  • Friendship Day is the perfect time to use a Lucky Egg or two, especially when you complete the Collection Challenge!
  • Use an Incense if you're having trouble finding a particular Pokémon, because it will bring more Pokémon to your specific location. During Friendship Day, Incense will last for three hours.
You'll need to catch these Pokémon to complete the Collection Challenge.
  • You can also place a Mossy Lure Module at a PokéStop, which will attract grass-type Pokémon to that particular location and, like Incense, it will last for three hours.
  • Don't forget to use berries, especially Razz Berries, to make Pokémon easier to catch.

Friendship Day bonuses in Pokémon Go explained

Aside from the Collection Challenge, you can enjoy a host of bonuses during Friendship Day in Pokémon Go.

The best of which is the increased chance of receiving a Lucky Pokémon from a trade, which will be available till 5pm (local time), with a friend coupled with the trade range being increased to 40km.

You'll also be able to enjoy a triple Catch XP bonus throughout the event and grass-type Pokémon will be appearing more frequently in the wild.

Finally, both Incense and Lure Modules will last for three hours if activated during Friendship Day.


The World of Wonders season has come to Pokémon Go, giving you the chance to catch Poipole. The World of Wonders: Taken Over event is currently running, bringing the It's a Rocket World special research quest with it. Don't forget to try out Routes, Gift Exchange and Party Play while you're hunting down rare Pokémon, fighting in the Go Battle League or competing in PokéStop Showcases.


How the Friendship Day Collection Challenge works in Pokémon Go

Collection Challenges in Pokémon Go were released in January 2021 and run alongside certain in-game events. Each Collection Challenge will see you catching a number of Pokémon that, thanks to the event, are appearing more frequently in the wild.

Once you've completed the Collection Challenge by catching all of the required Pokémon, you'll be rewarded with a number of items and progress for your Elite Collector medal.

The Friendship Day Collection Challenge is running as part of the first Friendship Day event and will only be available on Saturday, 24th April from 11am to 2pm (local time).

Collection Challenge can be found on the 'Today View,' which is accessed by pressing the field research button (the little binoculars) in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. Depending on whether you've been looking at your current field or special research tasks, you may have to scroll to your left.

After accessing 'Today View,' you'll find a list of the Pokémon you need to catch to complete the Collection Challenge. Catching a Pokémon in the Collection Challenge rooster will tick it off the list to keep track of which ones you've caught and which you haven't.

The Pokémon will be ticked off the Collection Challenge list as you obtain them.

Remember - the Collection Challenge must be completed before its associated event ends and it vanishes forever.

Have fun during the first Friendship Day!