Pokemon Go is giving you a chance to become an In-Game character

Pokémon Go for the first time in its franchise history is giving you a chance to become a character in the game. The hit mobile game is set to host a new competition to choose eight lucky fans as battle-able NPCs in its major upcoming ticketed Pokémon Go Tour: Kanto event, which will take place on February 20th.

Niantic said they will judge the contest on the basis of creativity of avatar outfit, Pokemon team composition, and overall theme. To make entering in the contest, players have to post a screenshot of their trainer profile on Twitter using the hashtag #PokemonGOTourContest with a list of three non-Legendary or Mythical Kanto Pokemon (also excluding Ditto).

For this no purchase is necessary, and players must complete their entry by January 11th at 11:59:59 PM PST. You can see a full list of rules for the contest here. Winning entries from the contest will get featured at PokéStops across the whole world with their name, avatar, and Pokémon.

Pokemon Go’s Kanto event is the first major ticketed event of 2021. The event will challenge trainers to capture all 150 Pokemon (with their Shiny versions) from the original Pokemon games, along with a chance to grab Pokemon’s with exclusive moves and more. Those trainers who purchase an $11.99 ticket (via Pokemon Go’s in-game store) for the event will get an opportunity to complete a Special Research ending with the chance to capture a Shiny Mew (first time outside of Japan).

And if you don’t even buy a ticket, this event will let you find and battle against the NPC’s trainers chosen by Niantic on the game’s map. Until now, Pokémon Go has only featured Team Rocket on the game’s map, the addition of new NPCs could point to the entry of other characters in the game’s map (like Ash Ketchum, Misty, Brock, etc..)