Pokemon GO has announced an event celebrating the World Championships, which starts on August 15. This is yet another activity during the Delightful Days season, keeping Pokemon GO players engaged with new rewards and bonuses.
Delight Days is the 19th Pokemon GO season, and since it began on July 3, the game has had a series of events. One of the highlights was Pokemon GO Fest 2025, held in June, which featured the debut of Gigantamax Cinderace. As part of the partnership between Pokemon GO and MLB, since July, players have been able to catch pocket monsters and obtain exclusive cosmetic items by watching MLB baseball games at stadiums. Working to keep the season's schedule engaging, Pokemon GO will have a new event starting in the coming days.
Pokemon GO's Recent Events May Have Been a Feast Before a Famine
Pokemon GO treated players to a wealth of rewards and bonuses throughout July, but fans may be in for a rude awakening come August.
Pokemon GO has revealed a special 2025 World Championship event that will kick off on Friday, August 15, at 10 am local time and end on Sunday, August 17, at 8 pm local time. During this period, players will encounter a new costumed Pikachu wearing a varsity jacket in one-star raids and as a reward for completing Field Research tasks. In addition to the Pokemon mascot, trainers will encounter Honedge in one-star raids, as well as Lapras, Dusclops, and Diggersby in three-star raids. It will be possible to make up to five Special Trades, and the new costumed Pikachu will have an increased chance of appearing in its shiny form.
Pokemon GO Event Adds New Costumed Pikachu in Celebration of the 2025 World Championship
- Date: Friday, August 15, at 10 am to Sunday, August 17, 2025, at 8 pm local time.
- New Pokemon: Pikachu wearing a varsity jacket
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Event Bonuses
- Up to five Special Trades can be made each day.
- Additional Pokémon encounters along the GO Battle League reward track.
- Increased chance to encounter Shiny Pikachu wearing a varsity jacket.
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One-Star Raids
- Pikachu wearing a varsity jacket*
- Honedge
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Three-Star Raids
- Lapras*
- Dusclops
- Diggersby
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Field Research Task Rewards
- Pikachu wearing a varsity jacket*
- Marill*
- Paldean Wooper*
- Honedge
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Wild Encounters
- Nidoran♀*
- Mankey*
- Marill*
- Paldean Wooper*
- Spoink*
- Inkay*
- Rookidee*
- Fuecoco*
- Male Frillish*
- Vullaby*
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Paid Timed Research
- Price: $5
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Rewards
- One Premium Battle Pass
- 25,000 Stardust
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Encounters with the following Pokemon:
- Lickitung*
- Lapras*
- Azumarill
- Sableye*
- Swalot
- Claydol
- Carbink*
- Guzzlord*
- Lokix
- The tasks associated with the Timed Research must be completed and their rewards must be claimed before Sunday, August 17, 2025, at 8 pm local time.
- *Shiny chance
- Featured Attacks
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Certain Pokemon encountered during the event will know a featured attack
- Lapras caught during the event will know the Charged Attack Ice Beam.
- Evolve Mankey during the event to get a Primeape that knows the Charged Attack Rage Fist.
- Evolve Primeape during the event to get an Annihilape that knows the Charged Attack Rage Fist.
- Evolve Paldean Wooper during the event to get a Clodsire that knows the Charged Attack Megahorn.
- New Avatar Items
- 2025 Worlds Jersey
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2025 Worlds Visor
- How to get: in-game shop
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2025 Worlds Tee (White)
- How to get: code shared during the broadcast (first day of the competition)
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Themed Stickers
- How to get: spinning PokeStops, opening Gifts, and purchasing from the in-game shop
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New battlegrounds in the GO Battle League
- In celebration of the 2025 Pokemon World Championships, the GO Battle League will feature a new arena and background battle music between August 11 at 1 pm PT and August 17, 2025, at 11:59 pm PT.
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GO Battle Weekend: Delightful Days
- Friday, August 15, at 12 am to Sunday, August 17, 2025, at 11:59 pm local time
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Bonuses
- 4× Stardust from win rewards. (This does not include end-of-set rewards.)
- The maximum number of sets you can play per day will increase from five to 20—for a total of 100 battles—from 12 am to 11:59 pm local time.
- Free battle-themed Timed Research will be available. Rewards include shoes for your avatar inspired by a powerful Battle Tower battler.
- Pokemon encountered via GO Battle League rewards will have a wider variance of Attack, Defense, and HP.
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Active Leagues
- Great League
- Ultra League
- Master League
- Pokemon GO Web Store - Special Boxes
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GO Battle Weekend Ultra Ticket Box
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Price: $4.99
- Features: an event ticket and a bonus Premium Battle Pass
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Price: $4.99
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TM Elite Master Box
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Price: $19.99
- Features: two Elite Fast TMs, two Elite Charged TMs, six Fast TMs, and six Charged TMs.
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Price: $19.99
New Field Research tasks will reward encounters with Marill, Paldean Wooper, and Honedge, while 10 wild Pokemon, including Fuecoco and Male Frillish, will have their spawn rates boosted. Brand-new avatar items will be available in the in-game store: a jersey and visor themed to the 2025 World Championship. Pokemon GO players who open gifts or spin PokeStops will have a chance to obtain themed stickers that will also be available for purchase. A $5 Timed Research will grant benefits including a Premium Battle Pass and 25,000 Stardust.
August is just getting started, and the special Pokemon World Championships 2025 event isn't the only one Niantic has in store for players. Gigantamax Butterfree will debut in Pokemon GO on August 3 in a new Max Battle Day. Snom and its evolution, Frosmoth, will be added on August 6 at the start of the Cozy Companions event. A new Team GO Rocket event will begin on August 11, with Shadow Kyogre returning to the game for a limited time.
WHERE TO PLAY
Pokémon GO is an immersive open-world multiplayer RPG that enables you to live your own RPG adventure in augmented reality. Find and evolve all Pokémon and battle with other players in AR online in this multiplayer adventure RPG.
COMPLETE YOUR POKÉDEX AND INCREASE YOUR TRAINER LEVEL!
Catch your favourite Pokémon as you explore the open world in augmented reality, trade them with other Trainers, or get the chance to catch a Pokémon after winning a Raid. You can also collect Pokémon by hatching eggs through walking! Evolve your Pokémon in your Pokédex, gain levels to catch more powerful Pokémon and earn adventure rewards during a Raid in multiplayer or online PvP battle.
EXPERIENCE THE ADVENTURE IN MULTIPLAYER AND PvP!
Start your own adventure and challenge other Trainers online in PvP during epic Gym battles or in the GO Battle League. You can also enjoy multiplayer by facing off with other players in PvP battles to win rewards, or team up with other Trainers for a chance to catch Pokémon after a Raid Battle.
CREATE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!
Customise your avatar, join one of the three teams and pick your Buddy Pokémon from your Pokédex to journey by your side in this AR adventure RPG.
SWITCH BETWEEN THE REAL WORLD AND THE VIRTUAL WORLD WITH THE AR+ MODE!
Bring the RPG to the real world and search for Pokémon in locations around you. With the AR+ mode, Pokémon appear right in front of you — Catch it with your PokéBall and add it to your Pokédex.
Catch your favourite Pokémon in AR as you explore the world and battle online with other Trainers in PvP and Raid battles.
