December 2025 in Pokémon Go: Upcoming Raid Bosses, Spotlight Hours, Community Day, and More

The new Precious Paths season in Pokémon Go has kicked off, bringing a host of exciting events and activities throughout December. Players can look forward to fresh Raid bosses and Spotlight Pokémon, along with the introduction of new Pokémon like Nacli and Clobbopus. Additionally, all featured Pokémon from the past year will return for a special two-day Community Day event. The game will also celebrate the holiday season with a two-part Winter Holiday event, including a mini-event over Winter Weekend. To cap off the month, a New Year’s celebration will welcome 2026 in style.

**December Raid Schedule**
New Raid battles are set for December, featuring legendary Pokémon from the Unova region in five-star Raids. Mega-Evolved Pokémon like Mega Gyarados and Mega Abomasnow will also return in Mega Raids. Players can encounter Shadow Heatran in special Shadow Raids every weekend. Here’s the full Raid schedule:

**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**
Spotlight Hour events return this month, featuring a new lineup of Pokémon and bonuses. Every Tuesday from 6-7 PM local time, a specific Pokémon will appear more frequently, along with a bonus for participating. Here’s the Spotlight Hour schedule:

– December 2: Spotlight Pokémon – Cranidos | Bonus: 2x transfer candy
– December 9: Spotlight Pokémon – Shieldon | Bonus: 2x catch XP
– December 16: Spotlight Pokémon – Mienfoo | Bonus: 2x catch candy
– December 23: Spotlight Pokémon – Spheal | Bonus: 2x evolution XP
– December 30: Spotlight Pokémon – Delibird | Bonus: 2x catch Stardust

**Journey to Paldea**
Kicking off the season is the Journey to Paldea event from December 2-9, featuring the new rock-type Pokémon Nacli. This is your chance to catch Nacli in the wild, while Paldean Tauros will appear in Gyms as a three-star Raid boss, with different forms available in various regions. Bonuses during this event include double XP for winning Raid battles and evolving Pokémon, plus increased shiny odds for Larvitar and Bagon.

**Featured Pokémon – 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, Blaze Breed – Eastern Hemisphere, Aqua Breed – Western Hemisphere, Bombirdier, Dondozo

**Bonuses**
– 2x XP for winning Raid battles
– 2x XP for evolving Pokémon
– Increased chance to encounter shiny Larvitar and shiny Bagon

**December Community Day**
The December Community Day spans two days, December 6-7, allowing players to catch featured Pokémon from the past year. Each day will see a selection of previous Community Day Pokémon appearing more frequently, with increased shiny odds. Bonuses include reduced evolution requirements for certain Pokémon and double Stardust, XP, and candy for catches.

**Featured Pokémon – Wild Encounters**
– December 6: Karrablast, Shelmet, Vanillite, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Pawmi
– December 7: Solosis, Red Flower Flabebe (Europe, Middle East, Africa), Blue Flower Flabebe (Asia-Pacific), Yellow Flower Flabebe (Americas), Pikipek, Jangmo-o, Rookidee, Quaxly

**Bonuses**
– 2x XP for catching Pokémon
– 2x Stardust for catching Pokémon
– 1/2 hatch distance
– 2x candy for catching Pokémon
– 2x chance to receive candy XL from catching Pokémon (level 31 and up)
– Incense lasts for three hours (excluding Daily Adventure Incense)
– Lure Modules last for one hour
– One additional Special Trade can be made
– Trades cost 50% 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**
From December 11-16, the Well Armed event will feature fighting-type Pokémon, including the debut of Clobbopus. This Pokémon will appear in the wild and as a reward for completing Field Research tasks. Other fighting Pokémon like Makuhita and Machop will also be available, with Dynamax forms of Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan as Max Battle bosses.

**Bonuses**
– 2x candy for catching Pokémon
– Increased chance to encounter shiny Dynamax Hitmonlee and shiny Dynamax Hitmonchan

**Gigantamax Snorlax Max Battle Day**
On December 14, Gigantamax Snorlax will be featured as a six-star Max Battle boss from 2-5 PM local time, offering another chance to catch this Pokémon with increased shiny odds. Bonuses include a higher Max Particle collection limit and more frequent Power Spot refreshes.

**Bonuses**
– Max Particle collection limit increased to 1,600
– All Power Spots will host Gigantamax battles
– Power Spots refresh more frequently
– 8x Max Particles from Power Spots
– Two additional Special Trades
– 2x Max Particles from exploring
– 1/4 adventuring distance to receive Max Particles

**Winter Holiday Pt. 1**
The first part of the Winter Holiday event runs from December 18-24, introducing festive-themed Pokémon like Sudowoodo dressed as a Christmas tree and Charjabug as a present. These Pokémon will appear in three-star Raids and in the wild alongside ice types like Swinub and Spheal. Bonuses include increased shiny odds for Pichu and Cubchoo from 7 km eggs, plus new festive avatar items in the shop.

**Featured Pokémon – 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**
– Increased chance to hatch shiny festive Pichu and shiny festive Cubchoo
– Go Pass: Winter Holiday 2025 Milestone

**Celestial Research Day**
On December 20, from 2-5 PM local time, players can catch Lunatone and Solrock by completing event-themed Field Research tasks, with increased shiny odds for both Pokémon. Paid Timed Research will also be available for extra rewards.

**Winter Holiday Pt. 2**
The second part of the Winter Holiday event runs from December 24-29, introducing Rolycoly. This Pokémon will appear in the wild and in one-star Raids, alongside holiday-themed Pokémon like Dedenne and Cubchoo. Bonuses include increased shiny odds for festive Stantler and Dedenne, plus extra items from catching wild Pokémon.

**Featured Pokémon – 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**
– Earn items like Fast TMs, Charged TMs, Silver Pinap Berries, Golden Razz Berries, and Rare Candy by catching event-themed Pokémon
– Increased chance to encounter shiny festive Stantler and Dedenne
– Go Pass: Winter Holiday 2025 Milestone

**Winter Weekend**
Before the Winter Holiday celebration concludes, a mini-event will take place from December 27-28, lifting the daily limit on Go Points. Players will also receive bonus daily quests for the Go Pass: Winter Holiday 2025 and increased shiny odds for festive Eevee through Timed Research tasks.

**Bonuses**
– No daily limit for Go Points
– 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**
Pokémon Go will celebrate the New Year from December 31 to January 4, featuring festively dressed Pokémon like Bulbasaur, Jigglypuff, Hoothoot, and Pikachu in the wild and as Raid bosses. Players will earn double XP and Stardust for winning Raid Battles.

**Featured Pokémon – 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