Niantic is keeping the momentum strong in Pokémon GO this summer with a jam-packed June full of new features, legendary encounters, and the long-awaited global GO Fest 2025. Whether you’re a casual player or a hardcore raider, this month is stacked with opportunities to catch rare Pokémon, complete shiny hunts, and engage with new mechanics like Dynamax battles. Here’s everything you need to know:
Season of Delightful Days Begins
The new Delightful Days season launched in early June and runs through August, bringing:
- Region-specific wild spawns themed around city, forest, mountain, and beach habitats.
- Egg-pedition Access for special egg hatching bonuses and rewards.
- A revamped GO Battle League lineup with updated cups and reward tiers.
- Season-long Special Research with premium rewards for GO Pass users.
Making headlines are the Gigantamax debuts of Rillaboom, Cinderace, and Inteleon—bringing VGC-style visuals to raids. Meanwhile, Shadow Registeel returns to five-star Shadow Raids, and Dynamax Pokémon like Groudon, Kyogre, and Cobalion headline the rotation.
June 2025 Events At A Glance
Instrumental Wonders (June 7–11)
- Focused on Gigantamax Cinderace in raids.
- +5,000 XP per raid and boosted Max Particle drops.
- A $1.99 Timed Research unlocks shiny-boosted Ferroseed and Falinks, premium items, and exclusive encounters.
Serene Retreat (May 30–June 3 Recap)
- Featured Gigantamax Rillaboom.
- Halved hatch distances and premium bonuses via a paid research ticket.
Community Day – Jangmo-o (June 21)
- The elusive Dragon-type gets its first Community Day spotlight.
- Exclusive move likely to be Outrage or Draco Meteor.
- Bonuses: 3× catch XP, 3-hour Incense and Lure durations, and increased shiny rates.
Raids, Shadows, and Spotlight Hours
5-Star Raids
- Tapu Bulu (June 3–5)
- Groudon (June 5–14)
- Kyogre (June 14–23)
- Cobalion (June 30–July 8)
Mega Raids
Rotating weekly: Mega Altaria → Abomasnow → Manectric → Beedrill → Aggron
Shadow Raids
- Shadow Regice dominates weekends this month.
- Be prepared: Shadow Raids are tougher and cannot use Remote Passes.
Dynamax & Max Mondays
- Mondays (6–7 p.m. local time) now feature Max Battles, where Dynamax Pokémon can be challenged.
- “To the Max!” is a new onboarding Special Research for beginners that introduces the Dynamax system.
Spotlight Hours
Tuesdays at 6–6:59 p.m. each week:
- Increased spawns for a rotating lineup (e.g., Foongus, Numel, Slugma).
- Bonuses like 2× XP for evolving or catching, or 2× Stardust.
GO Fest 2025 – Biggest Event of the Year
In-Person Weekends
- Jersey City (June 6–8) and Paris (June 13–15)
- Exclusive region-based spawns, shiny debuts, Collection Challenges, and add-on research rewards.
Global GO Fest (June 28–29, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. local)
- Free for all players, with a paid ticket option ($14.99) that unlocks:
- Volcanion encounter via Special Research.
- Global debut of Skiddo and Klefki.
- First wild shiny appearances of Carbink and Frigibax.
- 9 Premium Battle Passes, Rare Candy, Max Revives, and Incense bonuses.
- Ticket holders also receive boosted shiny odds, 1/2 hatch distance, and exclusive habitat rotation spawns.
⚠️ Server Downtime: Brief Outage on June 12
Players in North America experienced brief connection issues on June 12, but service was restored after about two hours. Niantic has not announced compensation, but previous similar outages led to makeup bonuses, so stay tuned.
Strategy Checklist for June 2025
| Event | Date | Action Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Spotlight Hours | Every Tuesday (6–6:59p) | Use Lucky Eggs for evolution XP bonuses |
| Jangmo-o Community Day | June 21 | Farm Dragon Scales, stock up on Poké Balls |
| GO Fest (Jersey City / Paris) | June 6–8, June 13–15 | Buy add-ons early; bring battery packs |
| GO Fest Global | June 28–29 | Buy ticket if you want Volcanion & shinies |
Pokémon GO is going full throttle this month, integrating VGC elements like Dynamax and Gigantamax into the mobile experience while keeping its core loop fresh with events, shinies, and raid rotations. Whether you’re aiming for PvP rewards, a living dex, or just the excitement of the GO Fest ecosystem, June 2025 is one of the richest months the game has offered in years.
Key Takeaways
- Metagross, Excadrill, and Gigantamax Pokémon currently dominate the raid attacker tier lists in Pokémon GO.
- PvP success requires understanding type matchups and equipping optimal movesets for your chosen battle league.
- Strategic use of lucky trades and resource management helps players build competitive teams without excessive Stardust investment.
Optimizing Pokémon Go Gameplay
Pokémon GO continues to evolve in 2025, with new additions and balance changes shaking up the meta. Players looking to optimize their teams should pay attention to the current top performers across different game modes. The most powerful attackers for raids now include Metagross, Excadrill, and the newly introduced Gigantamax Pokémon, which have quickly claimed spots at the top of the tier lists.
For those focused on PvP battles, the Great League rankings have seen some interesting shifts. While specific matchups matter greatly, having a diverse team that can handle various types is essential for success. Lucky trades remain a valuable way to acquire powerful Pokémon with reduced Stardust costs for powering up, making it important to prioritize which Pokémon deserve this special treatment.
When building your teams, consider both the type advantages and the specific movesets available to each Pokémon. The right combination of fast and charge moves can make a significant difference in battle performance, turning an average Pokémon into a formidable competitor. Budget options also exist for newer players who haven’t yet acquired the legendary powerhouses.
Improving your Pokémon Go experience requires both technical adjustments and strategic gameplay choices. The right settings can significantly enhance your ability to find valuable Pokémon and maximize your rewards.
Strategies for Locating and Capturing Rare Pokémon
Finding rare Pokémon requires a combination of timing, location awareness, and game settings optimization. Players should adjust their game settings for better performance and battery life, which allows for longer hunting sessions.
Best Settings for Rare Pokémon Hunting:
- Turn off AR mode to save battery
- Lower screen brightness when possible
- Enable power saving mode in the game settings
- Disable unnecessary notifications
Certain locations like Central Park in New York and the Sydney Opera House are known globally for their high spawn rates of rare Pokémon. These locations typically feature multiple overlapping PokéStops that often have lure modules active.
Adventure Incense, introduced in recent updates, can significantly increase rare Pokémon encounters, especially when used while moving. For optimal results, players should walk at a steady pace in areas away from common spawn points.
Leveraging Local Hotspots for Maximum Rewards
Local hotspots can provide tremendous advantages for Pokémon Go players looking to maximize their rewards. These locations typically feature clusters of PokéStops that can be farmed efficiently.
Top Hotspot Characteristics:
- Multiple PokéStops within short walking distance
- High foot traffic areas that trigger more spawns
- Locations that host exclusive events regularly
- Areas with diverse biome types nearby
Urban centers like New York offer dense concentrations of PokéStops that can be incorporated into efficient “farming routes.” Players can plan circular paths that allow PokéStops to refresh by the time they complete the loop.
Community days and exclusive events tend to center around popular landmarks. Following local Pokémon Go communities on social media helps players stay informed about temporary hotspots created by these events.
Weather conditions affect spawn rates for certain Pokémon types. Checking the in-game weather forecast can help players determine the optimal time to visit specific hotspots for targeted Pokémon hunting.
Understanding Pokémon Types and Battle Strategies
Knowing type advantages and weaknesses is crucial for success in Pokémon GO battles. The right team composition and attack strategies can make the difference between victory and defeat in both PvP encounters and raids.
Comprehensive Guide to Fighting Type Pokémon
Fighting-type Pokémon are powerful offensive options in Pokémon GO. They’re strong against Normal, Rock, Steel, Ice, and Dark-type Pokémon, making them versatile attackers in various battle situations.
However, Fighting types have weaknesses too. They’re vulnerable to Psychic, Flying, and Fairy attacks. Players should be cautious when facing opponents with these attack types.
Some top Fighting-type Pokémon include:
- Machamp: With Counter and Dynamic Punch, it remains a solid choice for Gym battles
- Conkeldurr: High attack stat makes it excellent for raids
- Lucario: Versatility with Fighting/Steel typing gives it additional resistances
When using Fighting types, pair them with Pokémon that can cover their weaknesses. Ghost or Dark types can handle Psychic threats effectively.
Mastering Legendary Raids for High-Level Rewards
Legendary Raids offer some of the most powerful Pokémon in the game. Success in these challenging battles requires proper preparation and strategy.
First, players should understand the raid boss’s type weaknesses. For example, Mewtwo is weak to Bug, Ghost, and Dark-type attacks. Having Pokémon with these attack types will significantly increase damage output.
Team composition is critical. Players should bring:
- Pokémon with type advantages against the raid boss
- High CP Pokémon with optimal movesets
- A mix of attackers and tanks for sustainability
Weather conditions can boost certain attack types. Raiding during favorable weather can increase damage by 20%.
Coordination with other trainers is essential. Using the countdown timer to synchronize attacks and managing resources like Revives and Potions will help ensure victory against these powerful Legendary Pokémon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Players continually seek guidance on the strongest Pokémon available in the game. The meta frequently shifts with updates, new releases, and balance changes that affect which creatures perform best in different aspects of gameplay.
What are the top-tier Pokémon currently dominating in Pokémon GO PvP?
In PvP battles, Metagross continues to dominate the Master League with its Steel/Psychic typing and access to Meteor Mash. Excadrill has risen in popularity due to its strong Ground-type moves and effectiveness against Electric types.
Giratina (Origin and Altered forms) remains powerful in Ultra League due to its bulk and move coverage. Swampert with Community Day move Hydro Cannon is also consistently reliable across multiple leagues.
For Great League, Medicham, Azumarill, and Bastiodon form a strong core that many top trainers use. Recent updates have also seen Gigantamax Pokémon becoming increasingly relevant in competitive play.
Which Pokémon serve as the best attackers for raid battles in the latest Pokémon GO update?
Shadow Mewtwo maintains its position as the premier raid attacker with incredible DPS across multiple matchups. Gigantamax variants of Pokémon have added new dimensions to raid strategies with their enhanced power.
Rayquaza continues to be the top Dragon-type attacker, while Metagross excels against Fairy and Ice types. Darkrai and Gengar lead as Ghost-type attackers, crucial for Psychic-type raids.
Rampardos still holds the highest Rock-type DPS, making it excellent for Flying and Fire bosses. For Water-type coverage, Kyogre remains unmatched in raw power and tankiness.
How does the current Pokémon GO tier list rank the strongest Pokémon?
The S-tier currently includes Shadow Mewtwo, Metagross, Rayquaza, and the Gigantamax Pokémon for their versatility and raw power. These Pokémon consistently outperform others across multiple game modes.
A-tier features strong contenders like Excadrill, Kyogre, Groudon, and Tyranitar that excel in specific situations. These Pokémon offer reliable performance but may lack the versatility of S-tier options.
B-tier includes solid performers like Machamp, Electivire, and Roserade that serve specific roles effectively. C-tier and below consist of Pokémon that are useful for newer players but get outclassed as collections grow.
What are the most effective Pokémon attackers sorted by type for competitive play?
Fire: Shadow Moltres and Reshiram lead with the highest DPS, followed by Chandelure and Darmanitan.
Water: Kyogre remains unmatched, with Swampert (Hydro Cannon) and Kingler following as strong alternatives.
Electric: Zekrom and Shadow Electivire deliver the highest damage, with Zapdos and Magnezone as solid backups.
Grass: Shadow Tangrowth and Roserade offer the best grass damage output, essential for Water and Ground opponents.
Fighting: Shadow Machamp and Conkeldurr stand as the premier Fighting-type attackers. Lucario with Aura Sphere is also exceptional against Normal types.
Who are the most powerful Pokémon in Pokémon GO as of now?
Mewtwo (especially its Shadow variant) continues to reign as one of the most powerful Pokémon overall. Its high attack stat and diverse movepool make it relevant in nearly all content.
Metagross with Meteor Mash remains essential for both PvP and raids due to its typing and damage output. The recently added Gigantamax Pokémon have quickly climbed the power rankings.
Legendary Pokémon like Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza maintain their positions at the top due to their high base stats. Shadow variants of Pokémon generally offer 20% more damage at the cost of being more fragile.
What are considered the rarest Pokémon to capture in Pokémon GO today?
Regional exclusives like Tropius (Africa), Pachirisu (northern Canada/Russia), and Sigilyph (Egypt/Greece) remain among the hardest to obtain without travel or trading. These Pokémon are geographically restricted to specific regions of the world.
Limited-time event Pokémon wearing special costumes have become increasingly collectible. Once their events end, these variant forms become unavailable to new players.
Shiny variants of legendary Pokémon represent some of the most sought-after catches, with appearance rates typically around 1/20 during their featured raid periods. Outside of events, some Pokémon like Unown appear so rarely that many long-term players have never encountered them naturally.
