Ash Ketchum arrives in Pokémon Masters EX as part of a new special event; Dark-type gear event running in-game until July 11th

In a truly shocking surprise, Ash Ketchum, the protagonist of the Pokémon anime series, will be joining Pokémon Masters EX for a Special Event this week. Additionally, a Dark-type Gear Event is now live in-game, alongside the return of Cresselia to the Legendary Arena, and a 6★ EX upgrade for Karen & Houndoom.

Special Event: The Classic Thunderbolt
Ash Ketchum will be arriving in Pasio as part of a special event starting on July 6th, at 11:00pm (PT). This event ties into the Masters 8 Tournament currently ongoing in the anime in Japan, and centers around the Main Player Character and Tina meeting Ash on the Island after the Alolan Champion gets lost while training. More information can be expected to be announced on this event once it goes live in-game.

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Dark Type Gear Event:
A Gear Event is now live in Pokémon Masters EX, this time focusing on Dark-type sync pairs. This co-op battles event will be available until July 11th at 10:59pm (PT).

In this event, players can obtain a full range of 3★ Dark-type gear, including the 3★ Dark Bandanna, 3★ Dark Bracelet, and 3★ Dark Pin, by completing co-op battles together with other trainers as part of this event. The gear can be received both as event battle rewards, and as exchanges from the Event section of the Exchange Items menu. 3★ upgrade items will also be available to upgrade these new 3★ Gear, with Dark Scissors, Thread and Needles used to upgrade the Bandanna, Bracelet and Pin respectively. These upgrade items can be obtained by exchanging associated 1★-3★ gear (i.e. Dark Scissors can be received by exchanging Dark Bandannas, etc). More upgrade items will be received for gear with more ★s, higher levels, or more level caps unlocked.

After this event is over, the new gear will continue to be obtainable from the General tab of the Exchange Items menu, starting from July 18th at 11:00pm (PT).

Players wanting to participate in this event should note the following:

• To participate, players must have completed Main Story Interlude 1: Let the Tournament Begin! in single-player. This interlude can be completed after players complete Main Story: Chapter 10 in single-player.
• The sync pairs that appear as opponents in battle have different capabilities than those which can actually be obtained by players.
• Players cannot take on this event area with 3 teams comprised of only their own Sync Pairs.
• The number of plays available for Daily Bonus Battle 1 are reset every day at 11:00pm (PT)
• When the exchange period for the vouchers obtained in this event ends, leftover vouchers will be converted into coins (10 coins per voucher) and sent to each player's Present Box.

Legendary Arena: Cresselia
A powerful opponent arrives as Cresselia returns to the Legendary Arena. In the Legendary Arena, trainers must complete a set of challenges using up to 30 sync pairs. New event missions have been added for this re-run of the event, offering trainers an opportunity to gain additional gems by completing specific challenges. The Legendary Arena is open right now, and can be challenged up until July 18th, at 10:59pm (PT). Cresselia was last available in the Legendary Arena in March.

Cresselia is weak to Dark-type moves. While on its first HP bar, Cresselia will boost its stats with Double Team and Calm Mind and use Special Damage Reduction and its Brain Barrier 8 passive skill to reduce special damage; on harder difficulties, it will use its Go Viral 9 passive skill to allow its Thunder Wave to paralyze the player's entire team. On its second HP bar, it will switch to using Physical Damage Reduction and its Brawn Barrier 8 passive skill to reduce physical damage, and it will also add Stat Reduction Defense to its side of the field; on harder difficulties, it will use its Go Viral 9 passive skill to allow its Toxic to badly poison the player's entire team, and on Very Hard, it will gradually heal itself. On its third HP bar, Cresselia will continue its Physical Damage Reduction and Stat Reduction Defense, and it will add Status Move Defense and Status Condition Defense to its side of the field. After the first and second bars are depleted, Cresselia will use the Sure Hit Next and Critical Hit Next effects together with moves that damage the player's whole party.

As with all Legendary Arenas, players must have passed Chapter 2: Defeat Team Break in the main story on normal mode in order to participate in this event.

Karen & Houndoom receive a 6★ EX upgrade
In conjunction with Cresselia's return to the Legendary Arena, 5★ Karen & Houndoom can now be raised to 6★ EX, boosting the Sync Pair's stats, and allowing all targets to be hit by the pairs sync move. Raising the sync pair to 6★ EX also gives Karen a special White and Black outfit.