July 2025 Pokémon Go Event Guide: Anniversaries, Raids & Max Battles
July is shaping up to be the biggest month in Pokémon Go history. With the 10th‑anniversary celebration, the Road of Legends lead‑up, a ticket‑free Global Go Fest, and a packed calendar of raids, Max Battles, and daily bonuses, there’s something for every trainer. This guide breaks down every event, bonus, and priority so you can maximize rewards and catch ’em all.
10th Anniversary Celebration (July 4‑6)
- Featured Pokémon: Gimme Ghoul holding a 10th‑anniversary coin (obtainable from Golden Lure modules and coin bags earned by sending postcards to Pokémon Scarlet/Violet). This costume Gimme can be shiny and may appear with a special background.
- Bonuses: 4× Catch XP and 4× Catch Stardust – the largest bonuses ever offered.
- Wild Spawns (boosted shiny rate): Party‑Hat Pikachu, Party‑Hat Eevee, Party‑Hat Wurmple.
- Avatar Items & Stickers: New cosmetic rewards.
- Field Research & Legacy Moves: Evolve Ivysaur → Venusaur (Frenzy Plant), Charmeleon → Charizard (Blast Burn), Wartortle → Blastoise (Hydro Cannon).
- Sobble Community Day (July 4, 2 PM‑5 PM local): 1/25 shiny rate, ¼ hatch distance, evolve Drizzile → Inteleon for Hydro Cannon and the signature move Snipe Shot (available via evolution or Charge TM after the event). Great chance to gather Sobble candy for G‑Max Inteleon, the top Water‑type attacker for Max Battles.
Road of Legends (July 6‑10)
A daily rotating raid festival with two raid hours each day (5‑star at 6‑7 PM, Mega at 7‑8 PM; Friday features a Primal raid hour 7‑8 PM).
Daily 5‑Star Raid Bosses
| Day | Bosses |
|---|---|
| Mon | Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Raikou, Entei, Lugia, Ho‑Oh, Regirock, Regice, Registeel, Latios, Latias, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, all Deoxys forms, Uxie, Mesprit, Azelf (regional), both Dialga forms, both Palkia forms, Heatran, Regigigas, both Giratina forms, Cresselia, Darkrai, Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion, both Tornadus forms, both Thundurus forms, Reshiram, Zekrom, both Landorus forms, Kyurem (all forms), Xerneas, Yveltal, all Tapu Koko/Lele/Bulu/Fini, Solgaleo, Lunala, Nihilego, Buzzwole, Pheromosa, Xurkitree (regional), Celesteela, Kartana (hemisphere), Guzzlord, Necrozma, Stakataka, Blacephalon (hemisphere), Hero‑form Zacian/Zamazenta, Regieleki, Regidrago, both Enamorus forms |
| Tue | White Kyurem, Zamazenta (Dawn Wings), Necrozma (Dawn Wings) |
| Wed | Black Kyurem, Reshiram (Dusk Mane), Necrozma (Dusk Mane) |
| Thu | Crown Zacian, Crown Zamazenta |
| Fri | Origin Dialga, Origin Palkia (Primal Groudon & Primal Kyogre in Primal raids) |
Daily Mega Raid Bosses
| Day | Mega Boss |
|---|---|
| Mon | Mega Salamence |
| Tue | Mega Tyranitar |
| Wed | Mega Gardevoir |
| Thu | Mega Gengar |
| Fri | Primal Groudon & Kyogre (no Mega hour) |
Special Notes
- Pokémon caught from these raids (July 6‑12) may have a special background; Mewtwo from Super Mega Raids during Global Go Fest can also carry a background that gains an extra visual effect when Mega‑evolved.
- Adventure‑Effect Moves: Spatial Rend (Origin Palkia) and Roar of Time (Origin Dialga) become obtainable via Elite TM only during Road of Legends.
- Event Eggs (from July 6):
- 2 km: Weedle, Pidgey, Abra, Gastly, Pinsir, Aerodactyl, Mareep, Larvitar, Torchic, Mudkip, Ralts, Bagon, Beldum, Gible, Riolu, Sneasel, Oshawott, Larvesta.
- 5 km: Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle (Pikachu visor), Heracross, Mime Jr., Larvesta.
- 10 km: Tropius, Axew, Bouffalant, Larvesta, Goomy, Jangmo‑o, Toxel, Frigibax.
- Event Bonuses (July 6‑12, extending through Go Fest): No remote‑raid limit; guaranteed Candy XL for trades (L31+); special stickers; Premier Balls more effective; Party Power charges faster; up to 2 free raid passes per day from spinning gyms.
- Go Pass (free tier): Encounters with Team‑Hat Pikachu, Legendary candy, Go Fest T‑shirt, Link Charges, Incubators, Incense, Lucky Trinket (rank 100) – makes next trade a guaranteed Lucky Trade.
Deluxe upgrade adds Team Leader pose, Gold Bottle Cap (rank 100), Mewtwo with special background, 2× hatch candy & Stardust, +5 000 XP from raids, +3 candy +1 Candy XL per 5‑star+ raid, ½ hatch distance.
Global Go Fest (July 11‑12) – No Ticket Required
- Global Debut: Mega Mewtwo X & Y in Super Mega Raids.
- Special Research: Global debut of Zarude (Aura).
- Spawns: All types rotate across the two days.
- Raid Bosses: Nearly every Road of Legends boss returns (with a few exceptions). Saturday and Sunday each have full 5‑star and Mega line‑ups.
- Incense‑Only: All Unown forms, regional Tropius & Bouffalant.
- Bonuses: Increased shiny rates; up to 9 free raid passes per day from gym spins.
Post‑Go Fest Week & Rumored Events (July 13‑27)
| Period | Details |
|---|---|
| July 13‑20 | Week‑long event (unannounced at recording) – rumored to involve Pikachu. |
| July 18 | Mega Raichu Raid Day – both Mega Raichu X & Y in Super Mega Raids. |
| July 21‑27 | Another unannounced event; leak suggests “Ozone Ascent” – Mega Rayquaza weekend (July 25 10 AM‑July 26 8 PM local). |
| July 28‑Aug 3 | Non‑event week – daily “Choose Your Path” Timed Research (one path per day) granting bonuses, encounters, Rare Candy, etc. |
Spotlight Hours (Thursdays, 6‑7 PM local)
| Date | Pokémon | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| July 2 | Pidgey | 2× Evolution XP |
| July 16 | Zubat | 2× Catch XP |
| July 23 | Eevee | 2× Catch Candy |
| July 30 | Bidoof | 2× Transfer Candy |
Great for clearing inventory after Go Fest.
Daily Discoveries (Recurring Weekly Bonuses)
| Day | Theme | Key Bonuses |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Max Monday | Extra Power Spots, faster refresh, rotating Dynamax Pokémon, +1 Rare Candy XL for in‑person Max Battles. |
| Tuesday | Showcase Tuesday | Up to 5 PokéStop Showcases entries. |
| Wednesday | Raid Rotation | New 5‑star & Mega bosses appear; +1 Rare Candy XL during 6‑7 PM raid hour. |
| Thursday | Spotlight Hour (see above) + GO Battle League bonuses. | |
| Friday | Friendship Friday | +2 special trades, 20 % less Stardust per trade, higher Lucky Trade chance, 2 guaranteed Candy XL per trade (L31+). |
| Sunday | Scenic Sunday | More wild spawns, increased route spawns, Incense boosts on routes, reduced Buddy Candy distance, up to 3 Matteo encounters per day on routes. |
Research Breakthroughs (7‑day streak)
Possible encounters: Dragonite, Axew, Honedge, Jangmo‑o, Indeedee, Clobbopus.
- Dragonite – Mega Dragonite ranks 13th best Dragon attacker (Dragon Tail + Draco Meteor) and is the only Dragon Mega with Super Max Mega level (extra Candy XL).
- Axew → Haxorus – 22nd best Dragon attacker.
- Honedge → Aegislash – Great League rank 28.
- Jangmo‑o → Kommo‑o – Ultra League rank 85, Master League rank 97.
Max Battles Schedule
| Period | Max Battle | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| July 6‑12 | Max Chansey | Evolves to Max Blissey – best general tank/healer. |
| July 13‑19 | Max Dino (Deino) | Budget Dragon attacker; useful if lacking Max Latios/Eternatus. |
| July 20‑26 | Max Togepi (listed as “Max Tubbish”) | Awards 750 Stardust per catch. |
| July 27‑Aug 4 | Max Feebas | Featured on Max Mondays during availability. |
Five‑Star & Mega Raid Calendar (Outside Events)
| Dates | 5‑Star Boss | Mega Boss |
|---|---|---|
| July 1‑5 & 13‑14 | Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres | Mega Lucario |
| July 15‑21 | Kyogre | Mega Sceptile |
| July 22‑28 | Solgaleo (shiny debut) | Mega Salamence |
| July 29‑Aug 4 | QM (as listed) | Mega Aggron |
| July 1‑Aug 4 (continuous) | Shadow Palkia (Shadow Raid) | — |
Raid hours follow each boss’s window (6‑7 PM for 5‑star, 7‑8 PM for Mega).
Prioritization Cheat‑Sheet
- First Week (July 1‑5): Focus on Mega Lucario – #1 Fighting attacker (Force Palm / Aura Sphere).
- July 6‑12 (Road of Legends + Go Fest):
- Grab free raid passes (2/day) and Go Pass rewards.
- Target Max Chansey (Max Blissey) and Max Dino for long‑term utility.
- Secure Origin Dialga/Palkia with Adventure‑Effect moves via Elite TM.
- Hunt special‑background Mewtwo in Super Mega Raids.
- July 13‑14: Resume Mega Lucario and Articuno/Zapdos/Moltres if needed.
- July 15‑21: **