Why are Pokemon GO players upset about Mankey and Rediscover Kanto? Reddit explains

The recent updates to Pokemon GO's wild spawns, specifically the Rediscover Kanto feature, have left a significant portion of the game's community frustrated. While the feature was intended to improve gameplay by aligning Pokemon spawns with their natural habitats, its implementation has backfired for many players. Reddit user u/EquivalentReality988 highlighted this issue by stating,

"I bet there are a lot of confused new players here who don't know what's the big deal with all the Mankey & Rediscover Kanto hate, so here's an explanation:"

I bet there are a lot of confused new players here who don't know what's the big deal with all the Mankey & Rediscover Kanto hate, so here's an explanation: byu/EquivalentReality988 inpokemongo

Instead of increasing diversity and excitement, it has introduced monotony and reduced opportunities to catch event-specific Pokemon, shinies, and Pokemon with good IVs. The situation is especially aggravating for those who were excited about the concept but are now left with repetitive spawns.

This shift has led to an outpouring of criticism on Reddit, where players have voiced their dissatisfaction with Niantic's decisions. From seasoned veterans to returning players, many feel the current system dilutes the excitement and variety that made Pokemon GO’s gameplay loop so engaging in the past.

Reddit users have been vocal about their frustrations. u/Technical-Teacher-31 pointed out Niantic’s approach, saying they cited Dreepy as an example of an event Pokemon that was exceedingly rare due to the overwhelming presence of Rediscover Kanto spawns.

Post by EquivalentReality988 sparked an interesting conversation among Pokemon GO players (Image via Reddit)

u/DePilsbaas shared their struggles as a returning player, noting how they used to catch plenty of Magikarp in 2016, but now, they must walk extensive distances to evolve one because Magikarp spawns are nearly non-existent. This challenge highlights how the current system hinders newer and returning players.

u/Bicepticlops humorously called out the absurd frequency of Mankey events, listing numerous instances where the Pokemon was featured.

"Don't forget how mankey has also had 43 events in the past year as well! Spotlight hours, comm days, the monkey events, and I'm sure I forgot about bunch more!"

This overexposure further fuels the community's frustration with a lack of variety in spawns.

u/WhyAmIToxic lamented that even before Rediscover Kanto, the wild spawn pool often felt uninspired, dominated by common Pokemon like Yungoos and Pidove.

Comment byu/EquivalentReality988 from discussion inpokemongo

They argued that while Rediscover Kanto worsened the situation, the core problem of unexciting spawns has existed for a while.

u/Technical-Teacher-31 reminisced about the early days of Pokemon GO, where encountering rare Pokemon like Dratini, Chansey, and Porygon was an unforgettable experience.

Comment byu/EquivalentReality988 from discussion inpokemongo

They expressed concern that the current system undermines the thrill of discovery that defined the game in its early years.

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Why the Pokemon GO Rediscover Kanto feature falls flat?

Assessing why GO Rediscover Kanto fell flat (Image via The Pokemon Company)

The introduction of Rediscover Kanto in April 2024 was meant to enhance wild spawns by tying them to specific biomes, such as Water Pokemon near lakes. However, the feature's real-world impact has been underwhelming.

Players now face an overabundance of Kanto-region Pokemon in every biome, reducing variety and overshadowing event-specific spawns. This imbalance makes it harder to collect candies, obtain strong IV Pokemon, or even encounter shiny versions of event Pokemon.

What exacerbates the issue is how repetitive the spawns have become. Events that once brought excitement with unique spawns now feel hollow because the Rediscover Kanto spawns take up the majority of spots.

The gameplay loop has shifted from dynamic and varied to predictable and stale, which has left players disillusioned with the direction of the game.

While the Rediscover Kanto update had good intentions, its execution has alienated much of Pokemon GO’s community. The repetitive spawns and reduced event Pokemon availability have drained the excitement from the gameplay loop.

Players are calling for Niantic to address these issues and bring back the variety and unpredictability that made the game so beloved. Until then, the community's frustration with Mankey and Rediscover Kanto is unlikely to subside.

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