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Pokémon Go Pumpkaboo: How to get Gourgeist, Pumpkaboo size mechanic and Pumpkaboo Collection Challenge explained

How to catch the jack-o'-lantern inspired Pokémon.

Pumpkaboo and Gourgeist, its evolution, are two of the Gen 6 Pokémon which recently debuted in Pokémon Go, alongside Phantump and Trevenant, during October 2021.

Unlike other Pokémon, there are different Pumpkaboo sizes for you to hunt down and catch, so pay attention to the kind of Pumpkaboo you're attempting to catch.

To celebrate this unique feature, you can complete the Pumpkaboo Collection Challenge during the 2021 Halloween event.

Below you'll discover how to get and evolve a Pumpkaboo into a Gourgeist in Pokémon Go.

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How to get Pumpkaboo in the latest Pokémon Go event

Pumpkaboo and Gourgeist hail from Gen 6 and first appeared in Pokémon Go during October 2021.

Pumpkaboo was released as part of the Halloween event and can be caught using a variety of methods:

  • In the wild
  • One-star raids

While you can catch a Pumpkaboo through a one-star raid during the 2021 Halloween event, we suggest saving your raid passes for more exciting Pokémon and focusing on finding one in the wild. Unless, of course, you need an average sized Pumpkaboo for the Pumpkaboo Collection Challenge.

Pumpkaboos should be appearing quite regularly throughout the 2021 Halloween event, though some sizes will be rarer than others, so you should easily be able to add it to your Pokédex.

At the time of writing, it's unknown what Pumpkaboo's spawn rate will be after the 2021 Halloween event, but, like most of the recently released Pokémon, we can expect it to be quite rare. It may also only appear during the Halloween event in a similar manner to Yamask.

Pumpkaboo evolution Gourgeist in Pokémon Go explained

If you want to evolve a Pumpkaboo into a Gourgeist, then you'll need to collect 200 Pumpkaboo candy or, thanks to trade evolution, you can receive a Pumpkaboo from another player to decrease the required candy to zero.

Credit to the official Pokémon website.

If you're unable to utilise the trade evolution mechanic, then you'll have to gather 200 Pumpkaboo candies yourself. Thankfully, the double catch and transfer candy bonuses running throughout the 2021 Halloween event will help you achieve this goal. Pinap Berries are also a great way to increase the amount of candy you earn from catching Pumpkaboo!

Another way to earn Pumpkaboo candy by having it as your buddy and walking 5km. Don't forget to use any spare Rare Candy too if you're desperate for a Gourgeist.

Finally, you'll also receive 10 Pumpkaboo candy from completing a challenge in the eleventh step of the Misunderstood Mischief special research quest.


The World of Wonders season has come to Pokémon Go. You can now catch Wiglett and, if you don't have one already, Diancie through the Glitz and Glam quest. There's also the Rediscover Kanto and World of Wonders quests to complete! 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.


Pumpkaboo sizes in Pokémon Go explained

What sets Pumpkaboo apart from other Pokémon in Pokémon Go is that it comes in four sizes - small, average, large and super.

When you evolve a Pumpkaboo, it will become a Gourgeist of the corresponding size; an average sized Pumpkaboo, for example, will evolve into an average sized Gourgeist.

Credit to the official Pokémon Go blog.

To discover what size a Pumpkaboo is you need to try catching it and, in a similar manner to shiny Pokémon, you'll easily be able to figure out what Pumpkaboo size you're attempting to catch. By this we mean that a small Pumpkaboo will, obviously, be quite small, while the super sized Pumpkaboo will be of a considerable size.

You can also check your Pokédex to see which Pumpkaboo sizes you've already caught.

May close attention to the size of the Pumpkaboo you're trying to catch.

When it comes to trading, it's important to note that, if you're trading for a Pumpkaboo size you don't currently have recorded in your Pokédex, then that trade will be counted as your daily special trade.

Pumpkaboo Collection Challenge Pokémon List in Pokémon Go

The Pumpkaboo Collection Challenges work a little differently than the other Collection Challenges which have appeared in Pokémon Go, because, rather than catching a variety of Pokémon, you're only focusing on one.

This is because, for this Collection Challenge, you need to catch at least one of each Pumpkaboo size, so make sure you tap on every living pumpkin you see.

If you want to complete this challenge, you must do so before Sunday, 31st October at 8pm (local time), because, after this point, the Collection Challenge will be unavailable.

Here are all the Pumpkaboo sizes you need to catch to complete the Pumpkaboo Collection Challenge:

  • Small Size - In the common wild encounter
  • Average Size - In the common wild encounter and one-star raids
  • Large Size - In the rare wild
  • Super Size - In the rare wild

Completing this challenge will reward you with five Rare Candies.

How the Pumpkaboo Collection Challenges works in Pokémon Go

The Pumpkaboo Collection Challenge is running throughout the second half of the 2021 Halloween event - Ghoulish Pals - in Pokémon Go, which means it will be available from Friday, 22nd October to Sunday, 31st October at 8pm (local time).

Similar to previous Collection Challenges, you need to track down all the various Pumpkaboo sizes either in the wild or through one-star raids. After doing so, you'll receive the rewards for the Collection Challenge and it will be added to your Elite Collector medal.

Collection Challenges can be found in the 'Today View' screen, which is accessed by pressing the field research button - the little binoculars - in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. You may have to scroll left if you've been looking at either the field or special research screen.

When you catch a Pokémon on the Collection Challenge rooster will be ticked off this list, helping you keep track of which Pumpkaboos you're missing.

The Pokémon will be ticked off the list as you catch them.

You must complete the Pumpakoo Collection Challenge by 8pm (local time) on Halloween itself if you want to earn all of its rewards.

Good luck catching all of these Pumpkaboos!

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