Ethan Crossfield 
In a game where long-term grinds can turn into viral moments, Pokemon GO’s anniversary events are designed to reward persistence. One streamer, however, tested that promise by walking nearly 125 miles over a week to chase a very specific reward—and the outcome shows how unforgiving the odds can be.
The 10th Anniversary Ultra Unlock Set the Target
Pokemon GO has been celebrating its tenth anniversary, and one of the commemorative events was Ultra Unlock: 10th Anniversary Edition. Running from July 21 through July 27, the event let trainers encounter starter Pokemon linked to the games that began it all, from the original trio through Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.
The twist for hunters like streamer FleeceKing was the event’s Special Background mechanic. Starters could be shiny, and they also had the chance to arrive with a team-specific Special Background—exactly the combination he was pursuing. That narrow target shaped the entire week-long effort, turning what could have been a casual hunt into a marathon.
FleeceKing Logged 16,000 Encounters—But No Desired Shiny
FleeceKing leaned into the event by going all-in on walking as he streamed his progress. Over the course of the week, he covered about 200 kilometers—just under 125 miles.
By the end, he revealed a staggering total: he captured 16,000 Pokemon during that single week of hunting. Yet the results were brutal for his specific goal. Not a single encounter produced a shiny starter with a Special Background.
He did collect other Pokemon that had Special Backgrounds, but none of those were shiny. The event also didn’t increase shiny odds, meaning his chances were limited to the game’s standard shiny rates while he also tried to roll the additional Special Background condition. Even when you stack thousands of encounters, that extra requirement can make the hunt feel like it’s fighting two separate probability layers at once.
For FleeceKing, the experience wasn’t just unsuccessful—it was draining. After walking more than a hundred miles without landing the intended prize, he ended the week wiped out and disappointed.
A Rare Grind Veteran, and What’s Next After the Event
Disappointment doesn’t seem to derail FleeceKing. The streamer is known for grinding at a rare pace, including being the first player to reach level 50 in Pokemon GO, with the achievement recognized in Guinness World Records. That background makes the outcome land harder: even a player built for relentless effort can still get shut out when luck doesn’t cooperate.
With Ultra Unlock: 10th Anniversary Edition now over, the story doesn’t necessarily end for anniversary hunters. The source notes that a unique Gimmighoul associated with a special 10th anniversary coin has been available throughout the month, and it can also be shiny with a Special Background. The appearance window is set to end on August 1, and it’s believed it won’t return—especially since a similar Gimmighoul from 2025 tied to a 9 coin hasn’t made a comeback. After that, the next major target on the horizon is Pokemon GO Fest Mega Finale in September.
Key points
- Ultra Unlock: 10th Anniversary Edition ran July 21–27 and allowed starter encounters with possible Special Backgrounds.
- Streamer FleeceKing walked nearly 125 miles (~200 km) and captured 16,000 Pokemon in the week.
- He found Special Backgrounds, but no shiny starter with a Special Background—shiny odds were not boosted by the event.
- A 10th anniversary Gimmighoul remains available until August 1 and may offer another shot at shinies with Special Backgrounds.
| Event / Item | Availability window | What it could include (per source) |
|---|---|---|
| Ultra Unlock: 10th Anniversary Edition | July 21–27 | Starter Pokemon with possible shininess and possible Special Backgrounds |
| 10th anniversary Gimmighoul (special coin) | Available all month; ends August 1 | Can be shiny and can have a Special Background |
Expert View
This kind of hunt highlights a key tension in Pokemon GO’s live-service design: special visuals and background variants can turn normal probability into a compounded grind, even when players do everything “right.” For the community, it’s another reminder that streamer-driven marathon content can amplify both the excitement and the risk of disappointment—especially when events don’t adjust shiny rates. In competitive terms, it reinforces that the most dedicated players aren’t just competing against each other, but against the game’s underlying odds, and that anniversary windows may reward speed and flexibility as much as endurance.
