How to find and battle Challengers in Pokémon Go

What are the Fashion Challengers in Pokémon Go?

Fashion Challengers are trainers you will battle as part of the Fashion Week timed research quest running in Pokémon Go until Monday, 3rd October at 8pm (local time).

Unlike past events - where the challengers appeared at random PokéStops - this year's Fashion Challengers appear as rewards for completing specific quest steps in the Fashion Week research quest.

You'll know when a Fashion Challenger is awaiting you by how the words 'An Opponent Appears!' will sit in the Rewards section for that quest step.

The battle follows the typical trainer battle formula, with the expectation being that the Fashion Challengers don’t use shields. Thanks to this, they are quite easy to beat if you have a strong enough team.

Upon their defeat, you'll recieve a number of items from the Fashion Challenger, such as Poké Balls and Stardust, along with the reward you'll recieve from completing this quest step in the Fashion Week research.

After their defeat, you won’t receive a Pokémon encounter as a reward. Instead, the rewards take the form of stardust, Poké Balls and other items, like Potions.

The Wild Area 2024: Global event is this weekend! Throughout it you can catch Pokémon during the habitat hours, use Safari Balls, catch Mighty Pokémon, battle Gigantamax Toxtricity, obtain both Toxtricity Forms and catch a Studded Jacket Snorlax. If you've purchased an event ticket, you can also complete the An Accomplished Trainer quest. You can now catch Dynamax Pokémon through Max Battles. First, however, you need to visit Power Spots to collect Max Particles and complete the To the Max! quest. 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 to battle a Fashion Challenger in Pokémon Go

There are three Fashion Challengers appearing throughout the Fashion Week timed research quest in Pokémon Go.

As mentioned above, each Fashion Challenger is a reward for completing a specific quest step in the Fashion Week research quest - all you have to do is complete the tasks for that step and the battle will be made available to you.

After unlocking the battle, you can fight the Fashion Challenger whenever you like! Just in keep mind that this research quest will no longer be available past Monday, 3rd October at 8pm (local time), so, if you want to battle the Fashion Challengers, you must do so before this deadline.

When it comes to battling the Fashion Challengers, we recommend selecting three of your most powerful Pokémon to ensure you defeat the enemy Pokémon as quickly as possible. If you'd like to learn more about the Fashion Challengers line-ups, visit the next section where we've listed the teams for the challengers we've faced so far.

There's also little need to bank your Charged Moves when facing the Fashion Challengers, because they won't use their shields to block your attacks. This means you don't need to have a Pokémon who will wittle down their shields and can simply focus on using your more powerful attacks.

Finally, when it comes to your own shield, feel free to use them whenever you like - even if its just to save yourself from using a more powerful Potion to heal a Pokémon after the battle. Since the Fashion Challenger won't be using their own shields, you might as well make the battle even easier for yourself.

Fashion Challenger line-up list in Pokémon Go

Below you'll find all of the Fashion Challenger line-ups for the 2022 Fashion Week event in Pokémon Go:

Quirky Challenger Teams

Since none of the Quirky Challengers Pokémon share a weakness, you'll want to have a Pokémon which has a type advantage over each one. For Furfrou, this would be a fighting-type, while Mareanie is weak to electric, ground and psychic-type Pokémon. Meanwhile, Diglett is weak against grass, water and ice-types. If, however, you have a powerful Pokémon like Mewtwo, can easily select this Pokémon and watch as it defeats all three without breaking a sweat.

Rugged Challenger

As you've probably noticed, the Fashion Challengers all have weak Pokémon, so defeating them is an easy task. If you want to take advantage of their weaknesses, however, then you'll need a fighting-type for Furfrou, a ground-type for Blitzle and a fairy-type for Absol.

Cool Challenger

Congratulations - you've made it to the last Fashion Challenger! For this challenger's team, you'll need a fighting-type for Furfrou, an electric-type for Frillish and a psychic-type for Croagunk.

Good luck defeating the Fashion Challengers during the Fashion Week event!