The world of Pokémon GO continually expands, introducing trainers to new challenges and creatures. With the arrival of the Cozy Companions event, two intriguing Ice-type Pokémon from the Galar region, Snom and its elegant evolution Frosmoth, have made their debut. Unlike some of their more common counterparts, these frosty friends require a dedicated approach to add to your collection. This guide will navigate you through the precise steps to acquire and evolve these latest additions, ensuring your Pokédex remains impeccably current.
The Elusive Ice Worm: How to Find Snom
Snom, the rather endearing Ice Worm Pokémon, isn`t one you`ll typically stumble upon in the wild. Its availability is tied to specific activities, making strategic play essential. Your primary avenues for encountering Snom are:
- Egg Hatching: During the Cozy Companions event, Snom has a chance to hatch from 7 km eggs. Post-event, it will transition into the 5 km egg pool. While egg hatching can be a game of chance, consistent incubation increases your odds of finding this peculiar creature.
- Research Tasks: This is arguably your most reliable method. By completing various Timed Research tasks associated with the Cozy Companions event, trainers can earn guaranteed encounters with Snom. Prioritizing these tasks ensures a direct path to acquiring your initial Snom. Remember to check your “Today” and “Field Research” tabs regularly for these opportunities.
The Metamorphosis: Evolving Snom into Frosmoth
Acquiring Snom is merely the first step. Evolving it into the beautiful Ice/Bug-type Frosmoth presents a multi-faceted challenge that tests a trainer`s patience and resource management. For an ice worm to transform into a graceful moth, it demands a significant investment of your time and resources. One might even suggest it`s more high-maintenance than some mythical creatures.
Step 1: The Buddy Bond – Earning Hearts
Before any transformation can occur, Snom must become your closest companion. Set Snom as your Buddy Pokémon, and embark on a journey to earn 10 Buddy Hearts with it. Accumulating hearts involves various activities, fostering a bond between trainer and Pokémon:
- Walk Together: Each kilometer walked contributes to hearts.
- Feed Berries: Give Snom treats. Using a Poffin will double the hearts earned and keep your buddy on the map longer, though regular berries also contribute.
- Play Together: Tap on your buddy in AR mode and interact with it.
- Battle Together: Use Snom in Gym battles, Raids, Team GO Rocket encounters, or Trainer Battles.
- Take Snapshots: Capture memorable moments with your Snom in AR mode.
- Visit New Places: Spinning PokéStops at locations you haven`t visited with your buddy before can earn extra hearts.
Accumulating 10 hearts with a creature that largely resembles a sentient snow caterpillar might sound like a task for the truly devoted, or perhaps, the mildly obsessed. But fear not, consistency is key to building this frosty friendship.
Step 2: The Candy Gauntlet – 400 Snom Candy
Once your Snom has warmed to your presence (ironically, for an Ice-type), the next hurdle is the staggering requirement of 400 Snom Candy. This is a substantial sum, necessitating efficient candy acquisition strategies:
- Pinap Berries: Always use a Pinap Berry when catching Snom (especially from Research Encounters) to double the candy yield.
- Hatch More Eggs: Continue hatching 7 km (and later 5 km) eggs to potentially acquire more Snoms and their associated candy.
- Rare Candy Conversion: If you have a surplus of Rare Candy from raids or other rewards, convert them into Snom Candy to significantly expedite the process.
- Transfer Unwanted Snoms: For every Snom you transfer to Professor Willow, you receive one candy. While a small amount per transfer, this adds up over time.
Step 3: The Midnight Metamorphosis – Evolving at Night
With 10 hearts earned and 400 candy in hand, there`s one final, crucial condition: you must evolve Snom at night within the game. This isn`t tied to your local timezone but rather the in-game day-night cycle, which typically mirrors your local time. Simply open the game during real-world night hours, and the option to evolve will appear, transforming your dedicated Snom into the majestic Frosmoth.
The Shiny Question: A Glimmer of Future Frost
For trainers who pursue the elusive shimmering forms, the current status of Shiny Snom is a frequent inquiry. As of the Cozy Companions event, Shiny Snom is not yet available in Pokémon GO. Niantic typically introduces shiny variants during special events or Community Days, often several months after a Pokémon`s initial release. Therefore, while your current Snom encounters will be of its standard coloration, anticipate a future event that may bring its glittering counterpart to the game. The hunt, as always, continues, promising future frosty challenges.
Conclusion: A Frosty Feat Accomplished
The journey to acquire both Snom and Frosmoth is a microcosm of the Pokémon GO experience itself: a blend of chance, strategic planning, and persistent effort. By focusing on Research Tasks for initial encounters, diligently building your buddy bond, and efficiently accumulating candy, you can confidently add these fascinating Ice-type Pokémon to your growing roster. Embrace the challenge, and enjoy the satisfaction of mastering another unique evolution line in your ongoing quest to catch `em all!
Ellis Thorne