The raid lobby was a pressure cooker. I remember staring at the countdown while everyone pinged their arrival—this weekend could be the one that nets an Astronaut Pikachu. You feel the pull: one more raid, one more timed research task, and maybe the rare spark appears.
I play these events so you don’t have to guess. I’ll show you the clear paths to the Astronaut Pikachu, what to prioritize, and how to stack encounters for the best shot at a shiny.
How to obtain Astronaut Pikachu in Pokémon Go
Parks and gyms fill with players during event weekends, which makes raids the obvious first stop.
There are two reliable ways to get Astronaut Pikachu into your collection:
- Join 1-star raids during the event window.
- Complete the timed research tasks tied to the event.
Niantic partnered with the European Space Agency and The Pokémon Company for this cosmetic Pikachu, so its availability is event-bound. Raids give the fastest access—each completed 1-star raid can yield an encounter—while timed research guarantees multiple shots if you finish the list.
Want multiple encounters? Focus on raids, but don’t skip the timed research; it’s free encounters bundled with XP and stardust rewards that pad your totals.
| Task | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Win a Raid | 2,500 XP |
| Win two Raids | 2,500 Stardust |
| Win three Raids | 2,500 XP |
| Win four Raids | 2,500 Stardust |
| Win five Raids | 2,500 XP |
Complete all five tasks and you’ll earn 2,500 XP, 2,500 Stardust, and an encounter with Astronaut Pikachu.
- 2,500 XP
- 2,500 Stardust
- An encounter with Astronaut Pikachu
How do I get Astronaut Pikachu in Pokémon Go?
You get it by winning 1-star raids during the event or by finishing the event’s timed research. Raids are faster if you want multiple encounters; timed research is the steady route if you can’t hit every raid window.
Can Astronaut Pikachu be shiny?
Yes. The shiny rate for Astronaut Pikachu in raids is 1 in 64, so you’ll need volume—many raids or multiple research encounters—to have a realistic shot. Treat each encounter as a small gamble you tilt in your favor by increasing attempts.
Is the Astronaut Pikachu part of a collaboration with the ESA?
Yes. This cosmetic skin is the result of a collaboration between Niantic, The Pokémon Company, and the European Space Agency, which is why the theme and promotional materials lean into space imagery.
How to maximize encounters and tilt the odds your way
Your local raid schedule will tell you when clusters of 1-star raids will appear, so use that to plan a route.
Practical tactics I use and recommend:
- Prioritize raid windows where multiple gyms spawn 1-star raids within walking distance.
- Use Remote Raid Passes when you can’t reach a gym—buy them from the in-game shop with PokéCoins, or join local raid groups on Discord or Telegram to share invites.
- Finish the timed research as early as possible; those guaranteed encounters stack with raid chances.
- Coordinate with local communities or The Silph Road threads to find raid partners and save time.
Astronaut Pikachu is a tiny lighthouse in a sea of standard skins, so every extra encounter matters if you’re chasing the shiny.
Play the raids, finish the research, and don’t sink your efforts into a single lucky roll—spread the attempts and you’ll improve your odds. Ready to raid until your phone begs for mercy?