Nothing feels better than becoming a fully-fledged Pokémon trainer. Unfortunately, on your way to glory, you’ll encounter numerous challenges. From mega evolutions to shadow Pokémon, every trainer has to defeat incredibly hard raid bosses to get to the top.
With Pokémon GO’s 9th Anniversary in full swing, you must assemble your friends and battle these monsters. To give you a head start, our team has created a comprehensive schedule of the upcoming raid bosses. We will also provide instructions on how to beat each one of them, helping you secure premium loot.
The 2025 Raid Gauntlet
During 2025, you’ll have a chance to battle 5-Star raid bosses, shadow raid bosses, and mega raid bosses. Each one of them requires a special strategy, because the only way to beat these monsters is to target their weaknesses. Here’s the upcoming Pokémon GO raid boss schedule:
Dates | 5-Star Raid Boss | Mega Raid Boss | Weekend Shadow Raid Boss |
Jul 28 – Aug 4 | Virizion (Shiny) | Mega Aerodactyl | |
Aug 4 – Aug 11 | Lugia (Shiny) | Mega Ampharos | Shadow Regirock |
Aug 11 – Aug 18 | Ho-Oh (Shiny) | Mega Slowbro | Shadow Regirock |
Aug 18 – Aug 25 | To Be Announced (TBA) | Mega Pidgeot | Shadow Regirock |
Aug 25 – Sep 2 | Necrozma | Mega Salamence | Shadow Regirock |
Aug 16 – Aug 17 | Shadow Kyogre (special) |
Understanding the 5-Star & Mega Raid Rotations
Each week, there is an increased chance of catching the specific Legendary or Mega Pokémon in rotation. Here’s the breakdown:
July 28 – August 4: Virizion & Mega Aerodactyl — Stock up on Flying- and Ice-type counters.
August 4 – August 11: Lugia (Shiny) & Mega Ampharos — Lugia is tough defensively; Dark- and Electric-types are most effective.
August 11 – August 18: Ho-Oh (Shiny) & Mega Slowbro — Ho-Oh’s unique Fire/Flying typing makes it weak to Rock-types; Slowbro is best countered with Dark, Bug, and Ghost moves.
August 18 – August 25: TBA & Mega Pidgeot — Mega Pidgeot offers a strong offensive boost with Flying moves.
August 25 – September 2: Necrozma (base form) & Mega Salamence — Stock up on strong Dark- and Fairy-types for Necrozma.
Shadow Raid Bosses
Every weekend in August, Shadow Regirock will headline Shadow Raids. For one weekend only (August 16–17), Shadow Kyogre will make its Shadow Raid debut with a chance for its shiny form.
Lower-tier shadow raids this month feature Pokémon like Shadow Magnemite, Shadow Cyndaquil, Shadow Lapras, Shadow Murkrow, and Shadow Piloswine.
Maximizing Raid Hours
Wednesday, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM local time: This golden hour spawns the current 5-star boss across nearly every gym:
August 6: Lugia
August 13: Ho-Oh
August 27: Necrozma
Coordinate with your local community or use Remote Raid Passes to join lobbies worldwide.
Conquering Weekend Shadow Raids
Weekends usually attract the highest number of players, which is why these days are reserved for Shadow Raids. According to the lore, Team GO Rocket has unleashed corrupted Pokémon that are tougher to defeat but offer an incredible attack boost once captured.
This month’s headliner is Shadow Regirock. This Shadow Tier 5 raid boss will appear exclusively on Saturdays and Sundays. Defeating an enraged Shadow Pokémon is really hard, so you’ll need a well-coordinated team. Ensure you bring enough Purified Gems to pacify it and secure the catch.
Raid Passes and Battle Prep
To participate in a raid, you need a Raid Pass. You can get one for free every day by spinning a Gym Photo Disc. However, if you wish to access unlimited raids, you’ll have to buy a Premium Battle Pass.
Of course, the ultimate tool for the modern Trainer is the Remote Raid Pass. These allow you to join a raid battle from the comfort of your couch. That way, you can join Pokémon chases from different regions. While there’s a limit to how many you can use per day, they are invaluable for targeting the bosses you need most.
A deep roster of high-level counters is what separates a good Trainer from a great one. If you feel you’re falling behind, you should consider buying a premium Pokémon GO Account from igitems. These stacked accounts will give you access to numerous high-tier and other resources needed to conquer any 5-star raid boss from day one.
The 9th Anniversary Celebration
The developers will likely allow players to enjoy event features until the end of July. Keep an eye on the in-game news for official announcements, so you don’t lag behind. This July, the world of Pokémon GO is your oyster. The bosses are legendary, the challenges are amazing, and the rewards are waiting. Assemble your team, stock your items, and get ready to raid!
