A Ripple In Time Pokemon GO - Complete Guide 2026
A Ripple In Time is a special research quest in Pokemon GO that rewards trainers with Celebi, the Time Travel Pokemon from the Johto region. This comprehensive guide covers all 8 steps to help you catch this Mythical Psychic/Grass-type Pokemon.
Quick Summary: Complete 8 steps of tasks to encounter and catch Celebi. This quest features Eevee evolutions, egg hatching, and collecting Johto Pokemon. Requires completing “A Mythical Discovery” first!
How to Unlock A Ripple In Time
Before you can access A Ripple In Time, you must meet these requirements:
- Reach Trainer Level 15: Level up your account to at least level 15
- Complete A Mythical Discovery: Finish all steps of the Mew special research quest
- Complete Step 6 or 7: The quest unlocks after finishing step 6 or 7 of A Mythical Discovery (sources vary)
No Time Limit: A Ripple In Time has no expiration date. Take your time and complete it at your own pace!
About Celebi
Celebi is a Mythical Pokemon from Generation II with time-traveling abilities:
- Type: Psychic/Grass
- Origin: Generation II (Johto region)
- Pokedex Number: #251
- Best Moveset: Confusion (Fast), Leaf Storm (Charged)
- Usage: Great for raids and PvP in Great and Ultra Leagues
- Special Ability: Can only be obtained through special research
Step 1 of 8: Getting Started
The first step introduces you to the quest with basic Pokemon GO activities.
Tasks
- Power Up Pokemon 5 Times
- Battle in a Gym 2 Times
- Battle In A Raid
Rewards
- 3,000 XP
- 10 Poke Balls
- 1 Fast TM
- 1 Super Incubator
Pro Tip: Power up cheap Pokemon like Pidgey or Weedle to save stardust. You don’t need to power up strong Pokemon for this task!
Step 2 of 8: Social and Evolution
This step focuses on making friends and evolving Grass-type Pokemon.
Tasks
- Make 3 new friends
- Evolve an evolved Grass-type Pokemon
- Catch a Pokemon 3 days in a row
Rewards
- 4,500 XP
- 1,500 Stardust
- 1 Sun Stone
- 1 Premium Raid Pass
Important: “Evolve an evolved Grass-type Pokemon” means evolving a Pokemon that’s already been evolved once. Example: Ivysaur to Venusaur, Gloom to Vileplume, or Bayleef to Meganium.
Step 3 of 8: Level Up and Evolution Items
This step requires reaching level 25 and using the Sun Stone you earned.
Tasks
- Reach Level 25
- Use a Sun Stone to evolve Gloom or Sunkern
- Hatch 9 Eggs
Rewards
- 6,000 XP
- Eevee encounter
- 1 King’s Rock
- 1 Premium Raid Pass
Pro Tip: Sunkern is easier to evolve than Gloom. It only requires 50 candies plus the Sun Stone, while Gloom needs 100 candies. Catch Sunkern during sunny weather for extra candy!
Step 4 of 8: Espeon Evolution
This step focuses on evolving Eevee into Espeon, the Psychic-type Eeveelution.
Tasks
- Walk 10km with Eevee as your buddy to earn Candy
- Evolve Eevee into Espeon during the Day
- Send 20 Gifts to Friends
Rewards
- 7,500 XP
- Eevee encounter
- 2,500 Stardust
- 1 Metal Coat
How to Evolve Espeon
- Make Eevee your buddy Pokemon
- Walk 10km with Eevee and earn at least 2 Eevee candies
- Keep Eevee as your buddy
- Evolve during daytime (when the sky is bright in-game)
- Verify Espeon’s silhouette appears on the evolve button before confirming
Step 5 of 8: Umbreon Evolution
This step requires evolving Eevee into Umbreon, the Dark-type Eeveelution.
Tasks
- Walk 10km with Eevee as your buddy to earn Candy
- Evolve Eevee into Umbreon at night
- Trade a Pokemon
Rewards
- 9,000 XP
- 1 Star Piece
- 15 Pinap Berries
- 1 Up-Grade
How to Evolve Umbreon
- Make a new Eevee your buddy Pokemon
- Walk 10km with Eevee and earn at least 2 Eevee candies
- Keep Eevee as your buddy
- Evolve during nighttime (when the sky is dark in-game)
- Verify Umbreon’s silhouette appears on the evolve button before confirming
Critical: Always check the evolve button silhouette before evolving! If you see a question mark instead of the Eeveelution silhouette, DO NOT evolve yet. Make sure Eevee is still your buddy and you’ve met all requirements.
Step 6 of 8: Consistency and Evolution Items
This step tests your dedication with daily tasks and evolution items.
Tasks
- Visit PokeStops 7 Days in a Row
- Use 25 Pinap Berries while catching Pokemon
- Use items to evolve Pokemon 2 times
Rewards
- 10,500 XP
- 3,500 Stardust
- 1 Dragon Scale
- 5 Silver Pinap Berries
Pro Tip: You’ve already collected Sun Stone, King’s Rock, Metal Coat, and Up-Grade from previous steps. Use any of these to evolve Pokemon like Onix (Metal Coat), Slowpoke (King’s Rock), or Porygon (Up-Grade).
Step 7 of 8: Johto Excellence
The penultimate step requires Johto knowledge and skill before encountering Celebi.
Tasks
- Catch 40 Grass- or Psychic-type Pokemon
- Make an Excellent Curveball Throw
- Earn a Gold Johto Medal
Rewards
- 12,000 XP
- Celebi encounter
- 1 Charged TM
- 10 Silver Pinap Berries
Almost There: After completing Step 7, you’ll encounter Celebi! The Gold Johto Medal requires catching 70 different Johto Pokemon species. Check your Pokedex to see your progress.
Step 8 of 8: Final Rewards
The final step simply requires claiming your rewards after catching Celebi.
Tasks
- Claim Reward (appears 3 times)
Rewards
- 13,500 XP
- 5,500 Stardust
- 1 Super Incubator
- 20 Celebi Candy
Tips for Completing A Ripple In Time
Expert strategies to help you complete this special research efficiently:
- Save Eevees Early: Keep multiple high-IV Eevees for the Espeon and Umbreon evolutions
- Check Time Carefully: Make sure it’s day or night in-game before evolving Eevee. The in-game sky shows the correct time
- Use Adventure Sync: Enable it to track walking distance even when the app is closed
- Join Local Communities: Use Discord or local groups to find friends and trade partners
- Practice Excellent Throws: Use the “set circle” technique on large Pokemon like Wailmer, Snorlax, or Legendaries
- Stock Evolution Items: Save evolution items from your 7-day PokeStop streaks
- Johto Pokemon Hunting: Check nests, events, and use Incense during Johto-themed events
- Pinap Berry Management: Save Pinap Berries from field research and gifts for Step 6
Hardest Tasks and How to Complete Them
Earn a Gold Johto Medal
This requires catching 70 different Johto Pokemon species. Here’s how to complete it:
- Check your current progress: Medal Menu → Johto Badge
- Participate in Johto-themed events and raids
- Use Incense and Lure Modules during events
- Complete Johto Collection Challenges when available
- Trade with friends for regional exclusives like Heracross and Corsola
- Hatch eggs during events featuring Johto Pokemon
Evolve an Evolved Grass-type Pokemon
The easiest options include:
- Bayleef → Meganium (100 Chikorita candy total)
- Ivysaur → Venusaur (100 Bulbasaur candy total)
- Gloom → Vileplume (100 Oddish candy total)
- Weepinbell → Victreebel (100 Bellsprout candy total)
Best Celebi Moveset
Optimize Celebi with these movesets for different battle scenarios:
PvE (Raids & Gyms)
- Fast Move: Confusion
- Charged Move: Leaf Storm or Dazzling Gleam
PvP (Great League)
- Fast Move: Confusion
- Charged Move 1: Leaf Storm
- Charged Move 2: Psychic
PvP (Ultra League)
- Fast Move: Magical Leaf
- Charged Move 1: Leaf Storm
- Charged Move 2: Dazzling Gleam
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to complete A Mythical Discovery first?
Yes, A Ripple In Time unlocks after completing Step 6 or 7 of A Mythical Discovery (the Mew quest).
Can I use the Eevee name trick for Espeon and Umbreon?
Yes, but only once per account. Use “Sakura” for Espeon and “Tamao” for Umbreon. However, we recommend saving the name trick for high-IV Eevees and using the buddy method for this quest.
What if I accidentally evolve Eevee into the wrong Eeveelution?
Unfortunately, you’ll need to get another Eevee and try again. Always check the silhouette on the evolve button before confirming!
Can I catch a shiny Celebi?
Shiny Celebi is not available from A Ripple In Time. It was only available during Pokemon GO Fest 2020’s special research “Distracted by Something Shiny.”
Can Celebi be traded?
No, Celebi is a Mythical Pokemon and cannot be traded with other players.