Pokémon Pokopia Guide: Bulbasaur Jump Rope Contest Event

Bulbasaur's Jump Rope Contest is one of Pokémon Pokopia's most deceptively tricky limited-time events. What looks like a simple minigame turns into a genuine test of rhythm and focus once Bulbasaur starts messing with the rope speed. Hit the right thresholds and you walk away with everything from Leppa Berries to an exclusive Jump Rope Trophy that permanently records your score and the date you earned it.

When does the jump rope contest run?

The event runs from April 19, 2026 at 5:00 AM to April 26, 2026 at 4:59 AM, tied to your Nintendo Switch 2's local time rather than any global server clock, according to TheGamer. That means no time zone math required. You can also time-travel to the event start if you want to get going early, though TheGamer notes this may have unintended side effects, so proceed with caution.

One prerequisite worth knowing: according to TheGamer, you need to have completed the "Yawn Up A Storm" request in the Withered Wasteland before the event will trigger for you.

Find Bulbasaur at the Pokemon Center

How to start the contest

When you load into Pokopia during the event window, a message will appear saying a Pokémon is the talk of the town. Head to any Pokémon Center in your current zone. According to Eurogamer, you don't need to have rebuilt the Pokémon Centers to access the event. Bulbasaur will be standing outside with a speech bubble indicating they want to hold a contest.

If Bulbasaur isn't saying anything relevant, try speaking to Professor Tangrowth inside, who will point you toward Bulbasaur. Once you talk to Bulbasaur, select "Is a jump rope contest going on right now?" to kick off the minigame. Bulbasaur will explain the basic rules before you begin.

You can also check in with Bulbasaur at any point during the event to see how many days remain, which is a handy way to track your window without leaving the game.

How to win: timing tricks that actually work

The minigame runs on a single input: press R (or B, depending on your settings) to jump over Bulbasaur's vine rope. That's it for controls. The entire challenge is in the timing.

Here's what testing across all three sources confirms works:

• Listen to the rope, not just the visuals. The rope makes two distinct sounds: a whoosh as it swings and a thud when it hits the ground. Press your jump button on that second sound. This is more reliable than watching the rope, especially when the pace shifts.
• Adjust your camera angle. Eurogamer recommends pulling the camera to a top-down view above Ditto and Bulbasaur. This makes the rope arc much easier to read.
• Watch for the exclamation point. According to TheGamer, Bulbasaur signals a pace change with an exclamation point above its head. The speed shifts roughly every 10 jumps.
• The rope slows at 50. Both Polygon and Eurogamer flag this as the biggest trap in the contest. After 50 successful jumps, Bulbasaur slows the rope down instead of speeding it up, which breaks your established rhythm. Expect it and don't panic-jump early.
• Focus on Ditto, not the rope. Eurogamer's counterintuitive tip: keep your eyes on Ditto and let the rope sit in your peripheral vision. Once the rope becomes visible on the near side, jump.
• Nearby Pokémon are a distraction. TheGamer points out that Pokémon living near the local Pokémon Center will crowd around to watch and can disrupt your concentration. Consider running the contest in a zone with fewer nearby Pokémon.

Press R to clear the vine rope

Multiplayer rules

You can play the contest with friends, but the rewards work differently depending on where you play. According to TheGamer:

• On another player's island: Scores are ranked among all players, but only the host earns rewards based on their score.
• On a Cloud Island: The highest-scoring player earns the rewards.

Eurogamer notes that playing with friends can make the rope's speed easier to manage since you're both focused on the same rhythm, but you'll need to stay in sync to clear the rope together.

What are all the jump rope contest rewards?

Rewards are tied to score thresholds and handed out only once per tier. Reaching a new threshold on a later attempt will grant that tier's reward even if you missed it before, but you won't earn a reward you already claimed. According to TheGamer, Bulbasaur will tell you directly when there's nothing left to give, so you'll always know where you stand.

The trophy is the standout reward here. It permanently records your jump count and the date of the attempt on which you first cleared 51 jumps. Per TheGamer, if you only hit 52 on that attempt, your trophy will read 52 forever. Plan accordingly if you care about the number displayed.

The full reward table, cross-referenced across Polygon, Eurogamer, and TheGamer:

Note on the exact threshold for the Star Piece and Lost Relics: sources differ slightly (Polygon lists 10 and 20, while TheGamer lists 11 and 21). The safest approach is to aim past both numbers to ensure you trigger the reward.

Should you push past 51 jumps?

For most players, the trophy at 51 jumps is the main draw. The Poké Metal and Rare Poké Metal rewards beyond that are useful but not unique to this event. Polygon confirms that everything above 50 on the reward list (excluding the trophy) can be obtained through other means in Pokopia.

That said, if you're grinding for Rare Poké Metal Ingots, the contest is an efficient source. Clearing 141 jumps nets you a total of 50 Rare Poké Metal Ingots across five tiers, per TheGamer. Once you hit that 141-jump ceiling, there are no further rewards no matter how high you go.

The real decision point is your trophy score. If you want a high number permanently etched on it, you need to plan your run so that you first cross 51 jumps during an attempt where you're already performing well. Unlocking the trophy on a 52-jump run and then scoring 200 later won't update the trophy.

For more Pokémon Pokopia event guides and tips on other games, browse more guides on GAMES.GG.