How to Get Shiny Gimmighoul in Pokémon GO and Maximize Gholdengo for PvP


Shiny hunters and PvP enthusiasts rejoice! With the Pokémon GO 9th Anniversary Event now live, trainers finally have a chance to hunt for the elusive shiny Gimmighoul, one of the most mysterious and collectible Pokémon in the franchise. But shiny sparkle isn’t the only appeal—its evolution, Gholdengo, is more than just golden: it’s a viable pick for PvP across all three leagues. Whether you’re in it for collection, battles, or bragging rights, this guide walks you through everything you need to know about shiny Gimmighoul and Gholdengo in Pokémon GO.

What is Gimmighoul?

Gimmighoul is a Ghost-type Pokémon originally introduced in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. In Pokémon GO, it made its debut during crossover events with the Nintendo Switch. What makes it unique is its evolution method—instead of candy, Gimmighoul evolves into Gholdengo through the accumulation of 999 Gimmighoul Coins.

There are two forms of Gimmighoul: Chest Form and Roaming Form. The version currently catchable in Pokémon GO (and the one eligible for shiny hunting) is the Roaming Form.

How to Catch Shiny Gimmighoul in Pokémon GO

Catching Gimmighoul—let alone a shiny—isn’t your standard encounter. Here’s how it works:

Requirements:

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Connect Your Devices: Pair your Pokémon GO account to Pokémon Scarlet or Violet via the Mystery Gift > Connect to Pokémon GO menu.
  2. Send a Postcard: From Pokémon GO, send a postcard to Scarlet/Violet. This triggers a Coin Bag reward.
  3. Use the Coin Bag: Similar to the Meltan Mystery Box, using the Coin Bag in Pokémon GO will spawn Roaming Form Gimmighoul around you for 30 minutes.
  4. Shiny Chance: Starting with the 9th Anniversary Event in July 2025, shiny Gimmighoul is officially available. As of now, the shiny rate appears to be standard (roughly 1 in 512), but rates can vary during events.
  • You can use a Coin Bag once per day after sending a new postcard.
  • After sending postcards five times, you’ll receive a Golden Lure Module—unless you already have one in your inventory. In that case, you’ll get Gimmighoul Coins instead, as you can only hold one Golden Lure at a time.”

Gimmighoul to Gholdengo: How to Evolve

Evolving Gimmighoul into Gholdengo is time-consuming but rewarding. Here’s how to get it done:

Evolution Requirements:

  • 999 Gimmighoul Coins
  • 9th Anniversary Event Gimmighoul can’t evolve into Gholdengo

How to Get Coins:

  • Catching Gimmighoul via Coin Bag sometimes rewards coins with great or excellent throws.
  • Golden PokéStops occasionally appear, granting up to 100+ coins per spin.
  • Daily Adventure Incense can help spawn Golden PokéStops.
  • Walking with Gimmighoul as your buddy may reward additional coins.

If you aren’t using a Pokémon GO Plus+ to auto-spin PokéStops, consider picking one up here on Amazon to maximize your Gimmighoul coin collection.

What Does Shiny Gimmighoul Look Like?

Shiny Gimmighoul features a noticeable change—its body takes on a silver hue rather than its usual bronze. It’s subtle but striking, especially when evolved into shiny Gholdengo, which shines with even more golden flair with blue highlights and eyes.

Gholdengo in PvP: A League-by-League Breakdown

Once you’ve got your Gholdengo, what next? PvP trainers, this one’s for you. Despite being relatively new, Gholdengo has solid potential across Great, Ultra, and Master League—with the right IVs and strategy.

Gholdengo’s Typing and Moveset:

  • Type: Ghost/Steel (unique and valuable typing)
  • Fast Moves: Hex, Astonish
  • Charge Moves: Shadow Ball, Focus Blast, Dazzling Gleam, Metal Claw (added later)

Strengths:

  • Double resistance to Normal and Poison
  • Neutral or advantageous matchups vs. popular Pokémon like Cresselia, Togekiss, and Fairy/Grass types
  • Good nuke potential with Shadow Ball and Focus Blast

Great League Performance

  • Rank 1 IVs: 0 Attack / 15 Defense / 10 HP
  • Max CP Cap: 1500
  • Use Case: A spicy pick, not meta-defining but effective against Psychic- and Fairy-heavy teams.

Pros:

  • Wall to many popular Fairy picks
  • Useful Ghost-type pressure

Cons:

  • Vulnerable to Ground and Fire
  • Weak to Shadow Claw pressure

Ultra League Performance

  • Rank 1 IVs: 0 Attack / 15 Defense / 12 HP
  • Max CP Cap: 2500
  • Use Case: A sleeper pick. Good for anti-meta roles and surprise eliminations.

Matchups:

  • Beats Cresselia, Giratina (Altered), and Charmers
  • Loses to Swampert, Talonflame, and Obstagoon

Best Moveset: Hex + Shadow Ball / Focus Blast

Master League Performance

  • Rank 1 IVs: 15 / 15 / 15
  • No CP cap

Performance Notes:

  • Not top-tier, but viable as a tech pick
  • Strong against Zacian, Togekiss, and Lugia
  • Struggles vs. Groudon, Kyogre, and Dialga

Use Gholdengo in Master League if you have XL Candy to level it to 50. It’s an off-meta choice that can pressure common threats with Shadow Ball.

Is Gholdengo Worth the Grind?

Yes—if you:

  • Love unique typings (Ghost/Steel is only shared with Aegislash)
  • Enjoy PvP and want spicy, unexpected counters
  • Are a shiny collector (shiny Gholdengo is rare and eye-catching)

From hunting shiny Gimmighoul with the Coin Bag to evolving into a PvP-ready Gholdengo, this journey isn’t easy—but it’s worth it. Whether you’re showing off your golden ghost or climbing GO Battle League ranks, this is one Pokémon you don’t want to miss.