King of the Stop: The Complete Guide to October 13 PokéStop Showcases

Tuesday in Pokémon GO brings the return of PokéStop Showcases, providing trainers with a prime opportunity to lock in free Stardust, Premium Items, and progress toward the elusive Platinum Scholar medal.

Running today from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM local time, trainers have a strict 10-hour competition window to scout local stops, deposit their highest-scoring entries, and defend podium spots before the final leaderboard tally.

Rather than featuring a single featured species, this rotation introduces broad elemental typing brackets alongside a dedicated companion qualification tier. Below is the full breakdown of active brackets, how showcase point totals are calculated behind the scenes, and the optimal heavyweights to enter before the 8:00 PM cutoff.

Active Showcase Categories (October 13, 2026)

Trainers can participate in up to three separate PokéStop Showcases simultaneously. Today’s rotation features the following competitive brackets:

Event Clock: All showcases close promptly at 8:00 PM local time. Rewards do not scale if you pull your Pokémon early; ensure your candidates remain assigned to the stop until the automated payout triggers.

Deconstructing the Scoring Formula: Why XXL Beats Raw CP

A frequent misconception among casual trainers is that Combat Power (CP) or individual IV percentages dictate showcase placement. In type-wide and open competitions, the Niantic scoring engine evaluates physical scale parameters:

$$\text{Showcase Points} \approx (\text{Height Ratio} \times 800) + (\text{Weight Ratio} \times 150) + (\text{IV Scaling Factor})$$

Showcase Score Weight Distribution:

[========================================= ] ~80% Height Metric (Heavily weighted towards XXL specimens)

[=============== ] ~15% Weight Metric

[===== ] ~5% Hidden IV Bonus (Attack, Defense, Stamina)

1. XXL Tag is Mandatory: A 0-star IV Pokémon tagged with the physical XXL badge will consistently defeat a 100% IV (Hundo) standard-sized specimen by several hundred points.
2. Species Scaling Baseline: In open-type brackets (like Steel or Ice), the game normalizes scores against that species' baseline averages. However, inherently massive species like Celesteela (averaging 9.99 meters in height) frequently hit higher raw point ceilings than naturally small picks like Magnemite or Beldum.

The Great Buddy+ Bracket: Maximizing Ribbon Bonuses

The fourth category requires that participating Pokémon have reached at least Great Buddy status (two filled buddy hearts or higher):

• Swap In Your Best Buddies: Reaching Level 4 (Best Buddy) applies an additional ribbon multiplier to your profile score.
• Remote Swapping: If you discover a contested stop late in the afternoon, remember that you do not need to walk back to the physical location to swap your entry. Open your in-game Today View, scroll to the Showcases tab, select the active PokéStop, and switch your registered Pokémon remotely.

Rewards & Platinum Medal Progression

Finishing in the top three positions at 8:00 PM drops premium reward bundles directly into your inventory:

• 1st Place Podiums: High chance of Incense, Star Pieces, Super Incubators, or Rare Candy XL, along with 10,000 XP and heavy Stardust bundles.
• The Scholar Medal: Securing 100 first-place showcase wins unlocks the prestigious Professor Phitus Research Outfit.

Merchandise & Collector Updates: LEGO Pokémon & GO Plus + Availability

For collectors looking to expand outside the digital app:

• Official Pokémon Construction Sets: Highly anticipated building sets—including large-scale builds for Rayquaza, Pikachu, and Munchlax—are seeing restocks across major verified retailers.
• Pokémon GO Plus + Stock Alert: The sleep-tracking accessory remains subject to regional stock allocations. Keep your notifications active via certified distributor hubs to secure retail-priced units ahead of upcoming seasonal community days.