The night sky in Pokémon GO is about to sparkle like never before. The Pokémon Company and Niantic kicked off the very first edition of the Minior Meteor Showers this Monday, October 19 at 5:00 p.m., a brand-new astronomical event modeled on the Orionid meteor shower calendar. Until Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (local time), Trainers around the world can watch meteors streak across the game map and try to catch, for the first time, 
Minior, the Meteor Pokémon from the Alola region.
Seven color variants and a yearly celestial calendar
A true curiosity of Generation VII, Minior has a protective rocky shell that hides an energy core available in seven vivid colors: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet. For its debut in the mobile game, Niantic has set up a seasonal spawn system: each major meteor shower on the real astronomical calendar will introduce or spotlight a specific core color, with different distributions for the northern and southern hemispheres in later events.
For this first week dedicated to the Orionids, every Minior catch grants a substantial Stardust bonus. The studio has already set the next dates of the year to complete its color palette: the Leonids from November 14 to 19, the Geminids from December 11 to 16, the Eta Aquariids in early May, the Delta Aquariids in late July and the famous Perseids in mid-August.
Shields Down: a dynamic battle mechanic
True to its signature Ability from the console games, Minior introduces a dynamic transformation mechanic to Pokémon GO battles. When it steps onto the field against Team GO Rocket Grunts, Leaders or opponents in the GO Battle League, Minior fights in its Meteor Form. In this armored shell, it has a particularly high Defense stat, offset by a modest Attack.
As soon as its HP drops below 50%, its stone casing bursts open in real time to reveal the colorful core. Its stats then flip instantly: its Defense drops in favor of a blazing spike in Attack, turning the Pokémon into a formidable late-game attacker. Note that Niantic has stated that Minior will be temporarily restricted at the 2027 Pokémon Latin America International Championships to keep competitive balance stable.
A starry sky every evening and spawn bonuses
To immerse the community in this enchanting atmosphere, the map display automatically lights up with shooting stars every evening between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. (local time). It is during this four-hour window that Minior’s wild spawn rates peak. Remember to activate your Star Pieces to maximize your resource gains during your twilight sessions.
Key takeaways
- Dates: From Monday, October 19 at 5:00 p.m. to Saturday, October 24 at 11:59 p.m. (local time).
- Peak spawns: Every evening from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a celestial shooting-star animation.
- Forms: Debut of the Meteor Form and the seven core colors.
- Mechanic: Transformation into the ultra-offensive Core Form as soon as HP falls below 50%.
- Resources: Increased Stardust bonus on every Minior catch.
Source: Niantic / Pokémon GO
