What are Guaranteed Daily Pokémon Encounters and Free Boxes in Pokémon Go?

Pokémon Go developer Niantic continues to experiment with the way players experience the game as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the world. Many players have found it difficult to leave their homes to travel the world to play the game, preventing them from running PokéStops, getting freebies, or attending events. Niantic wants to try guaranteed Pokémon encounters daily and offer free boxes to players who open their Pokémon Go app.

As of this writing, Niantic is outright testing these concepts to see how they work with a small player base. If the tests are successful and prove to be beneficial, in the coming months more Pokémon Go players can expect these features to be added to their game.

Which Pokémon encounters are guaranteed?

Professor Willow will appear for the first time to inform players that he has developed a unique new incense device. The chosen players will not find the item available in their bag, but it becomes active following interaction with the teacher. Now every day the trainer opens the Pokémon Go app, a random Pokémon will be attracted to the incense and appear.

We don't know which Pokémon are lucky enough to spawn with incense, for example, if they are from the trainer's local choices or from a much larger set of options available.

What are the daily free boxes?

The daily free boxes will contain various items to add to a trainer's inventory. These items will vary from berry potions, Poké Balls, revives, and possibly others. Much like the Guaranteed Pokémon, the items available inside the box vary. Trainers who receive the free box will see a notification on the Pokémon Go in-game store icon, where you can find the free box. The box is refreshed every day.

These two upcoming daily activities are initially available to a small number of players in Pokémon Go. It will be several months before these features become available to everyone.