Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
After Spotlight Hour, don’t transfer everything at once. First protect Pokémon worth keeping or trading; then either trade useful duplicates, hold ordinary ones for the next 2× Transfer Candy bonus, or bulk-transfer them if you need storage now. For the 29 October 2026 Gastly hour, the bonus was 2× Evolution XP, so the best sequence was to evolve during the hour, sort and trade after it, and save disposable catches for a future transfer bonus if space allowed.
Spotlight Hour is currently scheduled on Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m. local time, with a different species and rotating bonus each week. The specific schedule changes, so check the current in-game announcement before planning around a bonus.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Recommended Free Tools
What should I do first after Spotlight Hour?
Sort the catches while they are still grouped in Recent, mark keepers, and only then select the obvious duplicates for transfer. A busy hour can leave dozens or hundreds of one species in your storage; a rushed bulk transfer risks deleting something valuable along with the ordinary catches.
- Check the event bonus. If it was 2× Transfer Candy, transfer during the hour, not afterward. If it was a catch bonus or Evolution XP, the transfer bonus is not active, so there is no reason to rush the cleanup.
- Open Pokémon storage and sort by Recent. Spotlight Hour catches should be near the top. Review the group before selecting anything.
- Protect keepers. Favourite or tag anything you plan to keep, evolve, trade, or use. Keep older catches from 2020 or earlier out of a mass-transfer selection until you have considered their guaranteed Lucky-trade value.
- Choose a destination for the rest. Trade a few worthwhile duplicates, hold disposable ones for 2× Transfer Candy if you have room, or transfer now if storage is tight.
- Inspect the search results before confirming. Search terms reduce risk but do not understand your plans. A low-IV Pokémon may still be the one you wanted to evolve, trade, or keep for a collection.
MattSimplified’s 23 October 2026 advice for event clear-outs is to keep valuable catches first, then sort by Recent and transfer what is not needed while the results remain together. That approach is particularly useful immediately after Spotlight Hour.
Popular on Amazon
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
What should I keep after Spotlight Hour?
Do not judge every catch only by its appraisal stars. A Pokémon may be worth keeping because of its age, form, battle use, trade potential, or collection value, even if its IVs are ordinary.
Keep or review these before transferring
- Shinies and 4★ Pokémon. Search
shinyand4*; favourite the ones you want to protect. - Lucky Pokémon and old catches. A Pokémon that has been in storage since 2020 can qualify for a guaranteed Lucky result when traded, until the trainer’s limit is used. The New Year’s 2026 event raised that limit from 35 to 45 guaranteed Lucky Pokémon per trainer, according to Niantic’s announcement as quoted by Pogo Alley. Treat eligible old catches as a limited trade resource, not ordinary clutter.
- Legendaries, Mythicals, Ultra Beasts, Shadow, Dynamax, and Gigantamax Pokémon. Their special status or scarcity can make them valuable even when their appraisal is not exceptional.
- Costumes, backgrounds, and size records. Keep costume or location-background specimens if you collect them, and retain XXS or XXL Pokémon if you care about size showcases.
- PvP candidates and useful attackers. Great League and Ultra League Pokémon may have low Attack IVs, so a low-star appraisal does not automatically mean they are disposable. Keep the best attackers you intend to use.
- Trade-evolution candidates. A Gastly or Haunter can be useful to trade because a later Gengar evolution can then cost no Candy.
- Already-traded catches you still use. A traded Pokémon cannot be traded a second time, but it may still be a strong attacker or a useful collection entry.
- High-level specimens you are considering transferring. MattSimplified notes that transferring Pokémon above level 31 gives better Candy XL odds. A trainer must be level 31 or higher to receive Candy XL from transfers at all.
If you collect nundos, search 0attack&0hp&0defense before clearing low-appraisal catches. A community PvP search string sometimes shared by Dexerto is 0attack,1attack&3hp,4hp&4defense,3defense; it is one player’s broad check, not a universal definition of a good PvP Pokémon.
How can I bulk-transfer safely?
Search for likely transfer candidates, review the matches, then use the game’s multi-select transfer controls. The following string is a starting filter from MattSimplified, not a guarantee that every result is disposable:
0*,1*,2*&!shiny&!lucky&!legendary&!mythical&!costume&!#&!favorite&!traded&!shadow&!dynamax&!background
It targets 0★, 1★, and 2★ catches while excluding several obvious keepers, favourites, and tagged Pokémon. It does not cover every personal exception: for example, size records or a Pokémon you intend to evolve may still appear. Add exclusions or tag those candidates before using the filter.
Also popular on Amazon
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
To keep guaranteed-Lucky candidates out, add !year2016&!year2017&!year2018&!year2019&!year2020, or, more safely, tag eligible older Pokémon first and exclude that tag. Useful search atoms include 4*, shiny, lucky, shadow, costume, # for tagged Pokémon, !# for untagged Pokémon, age0 for Pokémon caught today, traded, xxl, xxs, background, dynamax, gigantamax, and +eevee to include a whole family.
- Enter the filter in the Pokémon search field.
- Scroll through the matches and check for anything you plan to keep, evolve, trade, or use.
- Long-press a result, choose Select all, and use Transfer only after the final review.
MattSimplified also recommends clearing storage before an event when the bonus is not 2× Transfer Candy. That leaves room for new catches and avoids interrupting the hour. If a transfer bonus is live, do not clear the Pokémon you want to transfer before the event; tag them ahead of time and transfer during the bonus instead.
Should I transfer now or wait for 2× Transfer Candy?
Wait if you have enough storage and the catches are ordinary duplicates. The same transfer during a 2× Transfer Candy Spotlight Hour yields double the usual Candy, making a large event clear-out more valuable. One More Catch described the bonus as appearing roughly every five weeks; it is a rotating perk, not a fixed monthly date.
The latest 2× Transfer Candy hour listed in the October 2026 schedule was Stufful on Thursday, 15 October, from 6 to 7 p.m. local time. As of One More Catch’s 20 October update, the next date had not been announced, and its published November lineup did not include a transfer-bonus hour. Do not assume a particular date: keep a “To Transfer” tag and check the current schedule.
Holding everything is only sensible if you have room. Pokémon storage started at 300 slots; MattSimplified reported in 2026 that each upgrade adds 50 slots for 200 PokéCoins, with purchasable storage up to 12,650. Level rewards can take the total cap to 13,000 at Trainer level 80. If your box is full or you need space for an immediate catch, transfer the safest duplicates now rather than missing the event or blocking play.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsAlso popular on Amazon
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
When is Spotlight Hour, and what does the bonus change?
The Pokémon GO team’s current event announcement says, “Spotlight Hour will return from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time.” In the 2026 schedule, Spotlight Hour returned on Thursdays after previously running weekly on Tuesdays until March and then pausing. The species and bonus rotate, so the event’s after-hour plan depends on the specific perk.
| Bonus during the hour | Best use of the hour | When to transfer extras |
|---|---|---|
| 2× Transfer Candy | Transfer pre-tagged junk early, then continue catching; transfer new disposable catches before the hour ends. | During the hour, while the bonus is active. |
| 2× Evolution XP | Use a Lucky Egg and evolve eligible Pokémon after the event begins. Digancy’s guidance is that the Egg stacks with the bonus for 4× XP. | After sorting; save duplicates for the next transfer bonus if space permits. |
| 2× Catch Candy | Prioritize catches; Pinap or Silver Pinap Berries can stack with the catch bonus for 4× Catch Candy, according to Digancy. | After the hour, unless storage requires an earlier clear-out. |
| 2× Catch XP or 2× Catch Stardust | Catch first. Digancy says a Lucky Egg stacks with Catch XP for 4× XP, while a Star Piece on Catch Stardust yields 3× Catch Stardust. | After the hour, unless storage is full. |
Gather Poké Balls and berries before the event so you do not spend the hour stopping at PokéStops instead of catching. Incense or a Lure can provide more encounters. A same-type Mega can add catch Candy or XP, as applicable. Use a Lucky Egg or Star Piece only when it matches the active bonus and your goal.
The October 2026 schedule listed Seedot with 2× Catch XP on 1 October, Elgyem with 2× Catch Candy on 8 October, Stufful with 2× Transfer Candy on 15 October, Morelull with 2× Catch Stardust on 22 October, and Gastly with 2× Evolution XP on 29 October. Some events also include catch-time details such as Mega Energy, costumes, or size notes; those affect the value of catching a specimen, not the later transfer decision. Official event notes say, “You may encounter a Shiny one—if you’re lucky!”
Can I trade extra Pokémon instead of transferring them?
Yes, if you have a nearby friend and the duplicate is useful for a trade, Candy, a Lucky chance, or a trade evolution. Trading needs two players to be friends, Trainer level 10 or higher, and—except for the Forever Friends Remote Trade feature—physical proximity within 100 metres, according to Bulbapedia. A regular in-person trade of an already-registered Pokémon costs 100 Stardust per trainer at every friendship level, according to Pogo Alley and Bulbapedia.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Trade limits and what can be traded
- Trainers can make 100 in-person trades per day. Special Trades are limited to one per day unless an event raises the limit; a typical Community Day may add one, for a maximum of two.
- Special Trades do not count toward the 100-trade total, but you cannot make a Special Trade after reaching the 100-trade limit.
- Already-traded Pokémon cannot be traded again. Other ineligible cases include most Mythicals (Meltan and Melmetal are exceptions), Shadow Pokémon, a current buddy, a defender at a Gym or Power Spot, fainted Pokémon, favourites until unfavourited, active Mega or Primal Pokémon, fused Pokémon, eggs, and several specially restricted forms.
Trade Stardust costs depend on whether the recipient has registered the Pokémon and on friendship level. Both trainers pay the higher of the two offers. The table below is for in-person trades; Pogo Alley’s 10 August 2026 figures agree with Bulbapedia’s listed costs.
Also popular on Amazon
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Widely Compatible: Transform any USB-C port into a USB-A port and USB-A port into a USB-C port, and connect up a wide range of USB-C(including MacBook, iPad Pro/Air/Mini, iPhone models with USB C ports, Samsung Galaxy series, and Google Pixel series. ) and USB A devices(including external hard drives, phones, mice, printers, and more)
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
| Trade category | Friend | Good | Great | Ultra | Best or Forever |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular or Purified, registered | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Shiny, Legendary, Ultra Beast, Gigantamax, or Meltan/Melmetal, registered | Cannot trade | 20,000 | 16,000 | 1,600 | 800 |
| Regular or Purified, unregistered | Cannot trade | 20,000 | 16,000 | 1,600 | 800 |
| Shiny, Legendary, Ultra Beast, Gigantamax, or Meltan/Melmetal, unregistered | Cannot trade | 1,000,000 | 800,000 | 80,000 | 40,000 |
A Purified Pokémon uses a Special Trade, but if the recipient already has that Purified form registered, its Stardust cost remains 100. A Lucky Pokémon does not make the trade itself cheaper; the Stardust discount applies to later power-ups.
Trade Candy, Lucky outcomes, and evolution value
The Candy you receive for a trade depends on the distance between the two Pokémon’s catch locations: 1 Candy for less than 10 km, 2 Candy for 10–100 km, and 3 Candy for at least 100 km. For trainers level 31 or higher, Bulbapedia and the Pokémon GO Wiki list Candy XL chances of around 10%, around 25%, and 100% across those distance brackets, respectively.
Trading rerolls IVs, so do not trade a specimen whose exact stats you need to preserve. The IV floor rises with friendship: 0 at Friends, 1 at Good Friends, 2 at Great Friends, 3 at Ultra Friends, and 5 at Best Friends. A Lucky trade has a 12/12/12 floor. CP and HP can change; moves do not. Trading also resets Mega level and buddy-heart progress, and resets Dynamax or Gigantamax Max Moves to level 1 while leaving Max Guard and Max Spirit unlocked.
Lucky status comes only from trading. Both sides receive a Lucky Pokémon, with a sparkling background, at least 12 in each IV, and half the Stardust cost to power up; Candy costs do not change. Niantic’s quoted 2018 statement says older Pokémon have a higher chance of becoming Lucky, but Niantic has not published numerical odds. Community percentage tables are not official odds.
Best Friends can become Lucky Friends after a daily interaction, such as a gift, trade, raid, or Trainer Battle. Niantic’s March 2019 update described the chance as possible but did not publish its probability. The next trade between Lucky Friends is guaranteed Lucky, whether local or remote; afterward, the friendship returns to Best Friends, and the same pair can become Lucky Friends again later.
Also popular on Amazon
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Use Friendship Friday and trade evolution strategically
Friendship Friday, introduced in the Forever Forward Daily Discoveries schedule on 15 June 2026, offers “Up to two additional Special Trades,” “Trades will require 20% less Stardust,” an increased chance of Lucky Trades, and “Two guaranteed Candy XL from trades (Trainers level 31+).” If useful Spotlight Hour duplicates are still in storage, that is a better time for trades than discarding them, unless the active transfer bonus makes transferring the priority.
Since 10 January 2020, trading a Pokémon from an eligible trade-evolution family waives the Candy cost of that family’s later evolution, even if the traded Pokémon was an earlier stage. This makes Gastly and Haunter useful trade candidates: trading one can make its later evolution into Gengar free. Other families include Kadabra, Machoke, Graveler and Alolan Graveler, Boldore, Gurdurr, Karrablast and Shelmet (which must be traded for each other), Phantump, and Pumpkaboo. Some evolutions that require held items in the core-series games still need evolution items in Pokémon GO.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Can I send Spotlight Hour extras to Pokémon HOME?
Use Pokémon HOME for a specimen you want in a HOME living dex or a compatible Switch game, not as a bulk-clearance tool for ordinary Spotlight Hour catches. The GO Transporter can send up to 25 Pokémon per trip, but it uses energy that recharges over time; Legendaries and Mythicals cost considerably more energy. Transfer from GO to HOME is one-way, so a Pokémon sent there cannot return to GO.
Shadow, Mega, Gigantamax, and costumed Pokémon cannot be sent through this route. HOME provides no Pokémon GO Candy, so it is not a substitute for transferring extras when your goal is Candy or storage space.
What is the best plan for Gastly extras from 29 October 2026?
The Gastly Spotlight Hour ran from 6 to 7 p.m. local time with 2× Evolution XP. Use this sequence for that event’s catches or as a model for a future Evolution XP hour:
- During the hour: use a Lucky Egg if you want the XP, then evolve inexpensive Pokémon after the bonus begins. Digancy’s stated stacking guidance is 4× XP with the Egg and 2× Evolution XP bonus.
- After 7 p.m.: sort by Recent. Review and protect shinies, 4★ catches, size or background specimens, and Pokémon you intend to use.
- Keep eligible old catches out of the cleanup. Pokémon in storage since 2020 may be used toward the guaranteed Lucky-trade limit, so do not include them in the dump.
- Offer spare Gastly or Haunter for trade if you want a chance at a Lucky result or a later Candy-free Gengar evolution. Decide before trading, because IVs reroll and the Pokémon cannot be traded again.
- Tag the ordinary leftovers “To Transfer.” Hold them for the next 2× Transfer Candy hour if storage permits; the next date was not announced in the October schedule.
- If you need space immediately, use a conservative search filter, inspect every result, then bulk-transfer the unneeded duplicates.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much Candy does a normal Pokémon transfer give?
Niantic has not published a numerical baseline for Candy from an ordinary transfer in the cited material. Event guides describe the transfer bonus as double the usual Candy, so compare the bonus to the baseline rather than relying on an unsupported fixed number.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchCan I get a Pokémon back after sending it to Pokémon HOME?
No. A transfer from Pokémon GO to HOME is one-way, so only send a Pokémon you are willing to remove from GO permanently.
Can Spotlight Hour Pokémon be shiny?
Yes, a featured species can be shiny if you are lucky; the Pokémon GO team includes that possibility in its Spotlight Hour notes. The supplied schedule does not state a numeric shiny rate.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
