The new Precious Paths season has begun in Pokémon Go, bringing a range of events and activities to the mobile game throughout December.
As a Pokémon GO player, I’m super excited for this month! We’re getting new Raid bosses and a chance to catch some spotlight Pokémon, but that’s not all! They’re also releasing a couple of new Pokémon – Nacli and Clobbopus! And the best part? Pokémon that were featured in Community Days over the past year are all coming back for a special two-day event in December. It’s going to be amazing!
Pokémon Go is celebrating the winter season with a two-part holiday event, including a special Winter Weekend. Before the year ends, the game will also host a New Year’s celebration to welcome 2026.
You can read more about this month’s biggest Pokemon Go events below.
Table of Contents [hide]
- December Raid Schedule
- Five-Star Raids
- Mega Raids
- Shadow Raids
- Max Battles
- December Spotlight Hours
- Journey To Paldea
- Featured Pokemon
- Bonuses
- December Community Day
- Featured Pokemon
- Bonuses
- Well Armed
- Bonuses
- Gigantamax Snorlax Max Battle Day
- Bonuses
- Winter Holiday Pt. 1
- Featured Pokemon
- Bonuses
- Celestial Research Day
- Winter Holiday Pt. 2
- Featured Pokemon
- Bonuses
- Winter Weekend
- Bonuses
- New Year’s 2026
- Featured Pokemon
- Bonuses
December Raid Schedule
New bosses are coming to Raid battles throughout December.
This month, several popular Pokémon from the Unova region will be available in five-star Raids. Mega-Evolved Pokémon, including Mega Gyarados and Mega Abomasnow, will also return for Mega Raids. Plus, keep an eye out for Shadow Heatran, which will appear in Shadow Raids every weekend.
You can see December’s full Raid schedule below:
Five-Star Raids
November 25-December 4
- Cobalion
- Terrakion
- Virizion
December 4-13
- Kyurem
December 13-22
- Reshiram
December 22-31
- Zekrom
Mega Raids
November 25-December 4
- Mega Aerodactyl
- Mega Medicham
- Mega Garchomp
December 4-13
- Mega Gyarados
December 13-22
- Mega Abomasnow
December 22-31
- Mega Glalie
Shadow Raids
Weekends in December
- Shadow Heatran
Max Battles
- Dynamax Darumaka (December 1-7)
- Dynamax Cryogonal (December 8-14)
- Dynamax Kabuto (December 15-21)
- Dynamax Spheal (December 22-28)
- Dynamax Omanyte (December 29-January 4)
December Spotlight Hours
December brings back the popular Spotlight Hour events in Pokémon Go, offering players chances to catch specific Pokémon and receive special in-game bonuses.
Each Tuesday from 6 to 7 PM in your local time, a specific type of Pokémon will show up more often in the game. Plus, you’ll get a special reward for playing during the event, like double experience points or extra candy when you catch Pokémon.
You can see December’s full Spotlight Hour schedule below:
December 2
- Spotlight Pokemon: Cranidos
- Bonus: 2x transfer candy
December 9
- Spotlight Pokemon: Shieldon
- Bonus: 2x catch XP
December 16
- Spotlight Pokemon: Mienfoo
- Bonus: 2x catch candy
December 23
- Spotlight Pokemon: Spheal
- Bonus: 2x evolution XP
December 30
- Spotlight Pokemon: Delibird
- Bonus: 2x catch Stardust
Journey To Paldea
The new season in Pokémon Go is starting with a special event called “Journey to Paldea,” happening from December 2nd to 9th.
A brand-new Pokémon, Nacli, from the Paldea region is the star of this event! You’ll be able to find and catch this rock-type Pokémon in the wild for the very first time in Pokémon Go.
Paldean Tauros will also be appearing as a challenging three-star Raid boss at Gyms. Different versions of Tauros will be available depending on where you are in the world. Blaze Breed will appear in the Eastern Hemisphere, Aqua Breed in the Western Hemisphere, and Combat Breed will only be found in the Iberian Peninsula.
During the event, you’ll get some extra perks! You’ll earn twice as much XP from winning Raid battles and from evolving Pokémon. Plus, you’ll have a better chance of finding shiny Larvitar and Bagon.
Featured Pokemon
Wild Encounters
December 2, 4, 6, 8
- Larvitar
- Drifloon
- Skrelp
December 3, 5, 7, 9
- Misdreavus
- Bagon
- Clauncher
Raids
Three-Star
- Paldean Tauros (Combat Breed) – Iberian Peninsula
- Paldean Tauros (Blaze Breed) – Eastern Hemisphere
- Paldean Tauros (Aqua Breed) – Western Hemisphere
- Bombirdier
- Dondozo
Bonuses
- 2x XP for winning Raid battles
- 2x XP for evolving Pokemon
- Increased chance to encounter shiny Larvitar and shiny Bagon
December Community Day
Pokemon Go is holding a two-day Community Day event on December 6th and 7th, letting players catch featured Pokemon that appeared in previous events over the past year.
Throughout the event, certain Pokémon that were previously featured in Community Days will appear more often in the wild, giving you another opportunity to catch them. Plus, you’ll have a better chance of finding shiny versions of those Pokémon!
As if that wasn’t enough, there are tons of awesome bonuses during the event! They’re making it way easier to evolve some Pokémon, like Eevee and Floette – the requirements are temporarily lowered. Plus, I’ll get double the Stardust, XP, and Candy just for catching Pokémon, and any Incense or Lure Modules I use will last much longer. It’s going to be amazing!
Featured Pokemon
Wild Encounters
December 6
- Karrablast
- Shelmet
- Vanillite
- Sprigatito
- Fuecoco
- Pawmi
December 7
- Solosis
- Red Flower Flabebe – Europe, Middle East, and Africa
- Blue Flower Flabebe – Asia-Pacific region
- Yellow Flower Flabebe – Americas
- Pikipek
- Jangmo-o
- Rookidee
- Quaxly
Bonuses
- 2x XP for catching Pokemon
- 2x Stardust for catching Pokemon
- 1/2 hatch distance
- 2x candy for catching Pokemon
- 2x chance to receive candy XL from catching Pokemon (players level 31 and up)
- Incense will last for three hours (excluding Daily Adventure Incense)
- Lure Modules will last for one hour
- One additional Special Trade can be made
- Trades will cost 50 percent less Stardust
Limited-Time Evolution Requirements
- Evolve Eevee into Espeon or Umbreon after exploring 1 km with Eevee as your buddy
- Evolve Eevee into Sylveon after earning seven hearts with Eevee as your buddy
- Evolve Floette into Florges after earning seven hearts with Floette as your buddy
- Evolve Pawmo into Pawmot after exploring 1 km with Pawmo as your buddy
Well Armed
Pokemon Go is hosting its Well Armed event from December 11th to 16th, featuring battling Pokemon!
During the event, you can find and catch Clobbopus, a new fighting-type octopus Pokémon, for the very first time! It will appear naturally in the wild and as a reward for completing Field Research. You’ll also see more fighting-type Pokémon like Makuhita and Machop appearing in the wild. Plus, you can battle and defeat Dynamax Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan as Max Battle bosses.
Bonuses
- 2x candy for catching Pokemon
- Increased chance to encounter shiny Dynamax Hitmonlee and shiny Dynamax Hitmonchan
Gigantamax Snorlax Max Battle Day
A new Gigantamax Pokémon will be appearing in Pokémon Go during the next Max Battle Day on December 14.
Between 2 and 5 PM local time, you’ll have a chance to battle and catch a six-star Gigantamax Snorlax at Power Spots! Plus, shiny Gigantamax Snorlax will be more common during this time.
During the event, we’re adding a few extra perks! You’ll be able to collect up to 1,600 Max Particles daily, and you can make two extra Special Trades. Plus, Power Spots will refresh faster and give you eight times the usual amount of Max Particles.
Bonuses
- Max Particle collection limit increased to 1,600
- All Power Spots will host Gigantamax battles
- Power Spots will refresh more frequently
- 8x Max Particles from Power Spots
- You can make two additional Special Trades
- 2x Max Particles from exploring
- 1/4 adventuring distance to receive Max Particles
Winter Holiday Pt. 1
The first leg of Pokemon Go’s annual Winter Holiday event runs December 18-24.
As usual, this year’s event features some new Pokemon with a festive look! Keep an eye out for Sudowoodo disguised as a Christmas tree and Charjabub looking like a present. You’ll find them in three-star Raids and appearing in the wild, along with other Ice-type Pokemon like Swinub and Spheal.
During the event, there will be some extra perks! Everyone will have a better chance of hatching shiny Pichu and Cubchoo from 7 km Eggs. Plus, you’ll earn more rewards as you progress with your Go Pass. And don’t forget to check out the new, limited-time avatar items available in the in-game shop.
Featured Pokemon
Wild Encounters
- Swinub
- Snorunt
- Spheal
- Sudowoodo wearing holiday attire
- Charjabug wearing holiday attire
7 km Eggs
- Pichu wearing a festive hat
- Smoochum
- Cubchoo wearing a holiday ribbon
- Cryogonal
- Snom
Three-Star Raids
- Sudowoodo wearing holiday attire
- Hisuian Avalugg
- Charjabug wearing holiday attire
Bonuses
General
- Increased chance to hatch shiny festive Pichu and shiny festive Cubchoo
Go Pass: Winter Holiday 2025 Milestone
Tier 1
- 2x XP from sending gifts
- Go Pass Deluxe: 2x Stardust from opening gifts
Tier 2
- Additional items may be rewarded when opening gifts
- Go Pass Deluxe: 1/2 egg hatch distance when eggs are placed in incubators
Tier 3
- 50 percent more XP for winning Raid battles
- Go Pass Deluxe: 2x XP from catching Pokemon
Celestial Research Day
Pokemon Go is holding another Research Day on December 20.
Between 2 and 5 PM local time, you can find Lunatone and Solrock by completing special Field Research tasks. This is a great opportunity to catch these Pokémon, which are usually only available in certain regions, and you’ll also have a better chance of finding their shiny versions! Plus, the game will have optional, paid Timed Research with even more rewards, including extra chances to catch Lunatone and Solrock.
Winter Holiday Pt. 2
The second part of Pokemon Go’s Winter Holiday event takes place from December 24-29.
The event features the debut of Rolycoly, a new Pokémon you can find in the wild and challenge in one-star Raids. You’ll also have the chance to find other Pokémon—like Dedenne and Cubchoo wearing special holiday outfits—appearing in the wild and hatching from 7 km Eggs.
Like the first part of the event, there will be a few extra perks available. Everyone will have a better chance of finding shiny, festive Stantler and Dedenne, and you might receive bonus items when catching Pokémon in the wild. Plus, as you progress through the Go Pass, even more bonuses will become available.
Featured Pokemon
Wild Encounters
- Galarian Darumaka
- Bergmite
- Cetoddle
- Dedenne wearing holiday attire
- Rolycoly
7 km Eggs
- Pichu wearing a festive hat
- Smoochum
- Cubchoo wearing a holiday ribbon
- Cryogonal
- Snom
One-Star Raids
- Alolan Sandshrew
- Galarian Darumaka
- Rolycoly
Three-Star Raids
- Galarian Mr. Mime
- Sudowoodo wearing holiday attire
- Charjabug wearing holiday attire
Bonuses
General
- You can earn items like Fast TMs, Charged TMs, Silver Pinap Berries, Golden Razz Berries, and Rare Candy by catching event-themed Pokemon in the wild
- Increased chance to encounter shiny festive versions of Stantler and Dedenne
Go Pass: Winter Holiday 2025 Milestone
Tier 1
- 2x XP from sending Gifts
- Go Pass Deluxe: 2x Stardust from opening Gifts
Tier 2
- Additional items may be rewarded from opening Gifts
- Go Pass Deluxe: 1/2 egg hatch distance when eggs are placed in Incubators
Tier 3
- 50 percent more XP for winning Raids
- Go Pass Deluxe: 2x XP from catching Pokemon
Winter Weekend
Just before the Winter Holiday festivities end, Pokémon Go will host a special two-day Winter Weekend event on December 27th and 28th.
This weekend, the game is removing the daily limit on how many Go Points you can earn. Plus, Go Pass holders for the Winter Holiday 2025 event will get extra daily quests, and completing Timed Research will give you a better chance of finding a shiny festive Eevee.
Bonuses
- No daily limit for how many Go Points you can earn
- Bonus daily quests for Go Pass: Winter Holiday 2025
- Increased chance to encounter shiny Eevee wearing a holiday hat from Timed Research tasks
New Year’s 2026
Pokemon Go is ringing in 2026 with a New Year’s celebration from December 31-January 4.
During the event, you’ll find Pokemon like Bulbasaur, Jigglypuff, Pikachu, and Hoothoot appearing in the game, both in the wild and as special Raid bosses. Plus, you’ll get twice the usual XP and Stardust for winning Raid Battles!
Featured Pokemon
Wild Encounters
- Bulbasaur wearing a party hat
- Jigglypuff wearing a ribbon
- Hoothoot wearing a New Year’s outfit
- Pikachu wearing a party top hat
One-Star Raids
- Pikachu wearing a party top hat
- Wurmple wearing a party hat
Three-Star Raids
- Raticate wearing a party hat
- Nidorino wearing a party hat
- Gengar wearing a party hat
- Wobbuffet wearing a party hat
Bonuses
- 2x XP from Raid Battles
- 2x Stardust from Raid Battles
- Increased chance to encounter a shiny Pikachu wearing a party top hat
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2025-12-31 23:15