Special Challenge

A Special Challenge (Japanese: スペシャルチャレンジ Special Challenge) is a type of special stage in Pokémon Shuffle that usually features Pokémon which are also available in main stages or Expert Stages. These stages can be move- or time-limited, and tend to have different stage data from their main or expert counterparts. These stages cost Coin Shuffle.png Coins ×300 to play.

A Special Challenge stage for Genesect.

If the Pokémon in a Special Challenge has already been caught, it may drop a Skill Booster personalized.png Personalized Skill Booster or (rarely) a Raise Max Level.png Raise Max Level.

For the game's end-of-service period, Special Challenges began running on a consistent 24-week cycle, with a Special Challenge running on each even-numbered week, and lasting for one week.

During the game's live service period, 27 different Special Challenges were held. However, few of these were kept in the end-of-service events. Stage costs were unified to Coin Shuffle.png Coins ×300, rather than previous events' varied amounts of Coins or Heart Shuffle.png Hearts. The Mewtwo and Tyranitar stages were adapted into Shiny versions of the two (though keeping parameters such as HP and move count), making those versions of the Pokémon available for the first time in any format. A stage for Rayquaza was also added, based on one of its previous Great Challenge releases.

Drops

Main article: Drop (Shuffle)

If these Pokémon have already been caught, they have a chance to drop items:

  • 25% chance to drop Skill Booster personalized.png Personalized Skill Booster ×1
  • 25% chance to drop Skill Booster personalized.png Personalized Skill Booster ×1
  • 1.5625% chance to drop Raise Max Level.png Raise Max Level ×1

Drop rates can be increased if the Drop Rate Increase.png Drop Rate Increase (DRI) effect is purchased from the Special Shop.

Default rates
Drop rates Average
drops/run
Skill Booster personalized.png PSB ×1 Skill Booster personalized.png PSB ×1 Raise Max Level.png RML ×1
25% 25% 1.563%
  • 0.5 Skill Booster personalized.png PSB
  • 0.016 Raise Max Level.png RML
Drop Rate Increase.png DRI rates
Drop rates Average
drops/run
Skill Booster personalized.png PSB ×1 Skill Booster personalized.png PSB ×1 Raise Max Level.png RML ×1
43.75% 43.75% 3.10%
  • 0.875 Skill Booster personalized.png PSB
  • 0.310 Raise Max Level.png RML

Rotating stages

Week 2

Pokémon Type HP Moves Catchability EXP Cost Notes
Base Bonus
Xerneas Xerneas Fairy 11,555 16 13% 2% 5 Coin Shuffle.png Coins ×300 N/A

Week 4

Pokémon Type HP Moves Catchability EXP Cost Notes
Base Bonus
Yveltal Yveltal Dark 8,606 16 7% 3% 5 Coin Shuffle.png Coins ×300 N/A

Week 6

Pokémon Type HP Time Catchability EXP Cost Notes
Base Bonus
Genesect Genesect Bug 7,280 01:00 10% 2% 5 Coin Shuffle.png Coins ×300 N/A

Week 8

Pokémon Type HP Moves Catchability EXP Cost Notes
Base Bonus
Mewtwo Mewtwo
ShinyShiny
Psychic 8,528 16 7% 3% 5 Coin Shuffle.png Coins ×300 N/A

Week 10

Pokémon Type HP Moves Catchability EXP Cost Notes
Base Bonus
Tyranitar Tyranitar
ShinyShiny
Dark 8,060 18 11% 3% 5 Coin Shuffle.png Coins ×300 N/A

Week 12

Pokémon Type HP Moves Catchability EXP Cost Notes
Base Bonus
Salamence Salamence Flying 12,000 18 11% 3% 5 Coin Shuffle.png Coins ×300 N/A

Week 14

Pokémon Type HP Moves Catchability EXP Cost Notes
Base Bonus
Rayquaza Rayquaza Dragon 10,627 20 9% 3% 5 Coin Shuffle.png Coins ×300 N/A

Week 16

Pokémon Type HP Time Catchability EXP Cost Notes
Base Bonus
Luxray Luxray Electric 5,500 00:40 7% 4% 5 Coin Shuffle.png Coins ×300 N/A

Week 18

Pokémon Type HP Time Catchability EXP Cost Notes
Base Bonus
Hydreigon Hydreigon Dark 10,170 00:50 10% 3% 5 Coin Shuffle.png Coins ×300 N/A

Week 20

Pokémon Type HP Time Catchability EXP Cost Notes
Base Bonus
Porygon-Z Porygon-Z Normal 9,501 00:40 2% 4% 5 Coin Shuffle.png Coins ×300 N/A

Week 22

Pokémon Type HP Time Catchability EXP Cost Notes
Base Bonus
Goodra Goodra Dragon 7,804 00:40 11% 2% 5 Coin Shuffle.png Coins ×300 N/A

Week 24

Pokémon Type HP Moves Catchability EXP Cost Notes
Base Bonus
Hoopa Hoopa
Hoopa Unbound
Dark 10,800 20 3% 3% 5 Coin Shuffle.png Coins ×300 N/A

Live-service stages

Main article: Special Challenge/Live service period

Trivia

In other languages

Language Title
Japan Flag.png Japanese スペシャルチャレンジ
France Flag.png French Défi spécial
Italy Flag.png Italian Livello Speciale
Spain Flag.png Spanish Fase Especial


Main stages Puerto BlancoSandy BazaarNight FestivalIsla AsulRainbow ParkGalerie Rouge
Sweet StrasseSilbern MuseumMt. VinterCastle NoapteJungle Verde
Wacky WorkshopPedra ValleyAlbens TownRoseus CenterDesert UmbraVioleta Palace
Blau SalonGraucus HallNacht CarnivalPrasino WoodsZaffiro CoastMarron Trail
Expert Stages Expert Stages
Special stages Daily (Daily PokémonOne Chance a Day!)
Challenge (Great ChallengeUltra ChallengeUB ChallengeHigh-Speed ChallengeSpecial Challenge)
Resource event (Meowth's Coin ManiaSkill Booster M Stage!Tons of Exp. Points)
Competitive stageEscalation battlePokémon Safari
Retired special stages An Evolving Challenge!Commemorative EventScore ChallengeTry 'Em Items Stage
Survival Mode Survival Mode
24-week event cycle 123456789101112131415161718192021222324
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