These are the current Raid Bosses available in Pokémon GO right now. The list below is updated whenever the raid rotation changes and includes 1-Star, 3-Star, 5-Star, Mega, and Shadow Raids.
Current Pokémon GO Raid Bosses
Full list of current Pokémon GO Raid Bosses, including 1–5 Star, Mega, and Shadow Raids. Updated live with every rotation. The Raid Bosses listed below are available from 6:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, September 23 to around 9:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
5-Star Raids
- Buzzwole is available in the Americas and Greenland
- Pheromosa is available in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India
- Xurkitree is available in the Asia-Pacific region
⚔️ Raid guides: Xurkitree, Buzzwole, Pheromosa
Mega Raids
⚔️ Raid guides: Mega Malamar
3-Star Raids
⚔️ Raid guides: Hisuian Typhlosion, Hisuian Samurott, Hisuian Decidueye
1-Star Raids
Current Shadow Raid Bosses
Learn more about Shadow Raids. These Pokémon are currently available in Shadow Raids:
5-Star Shadow Raids
Raid guides: Shadow Thundurus Incarnate Raid Guide
3-Star Shadow Raids
Related guides: Shadow Alolan Sandslash, Shadow Quagsire, Shadow Lampent
1-Star Shadow Raids
One-Star and Three-Star Shadow Raids are available daily.
Upcoming Pokémon GO Raid Bosses
Tier 5 Raids (September 2026)
Mega Raids (September 2026)
| Dates | Mega Boss | Guides |
|---|---|---|
| September 23 – 29 |
Mega Malamar
|
Mega Malamar |
| September 30 – October 6 |
Mega Victreebel
|
Mega Victreebel |
FAQ
What are Raid Battles?
Raid Battles are special events that occur at Pokémon Gyms, marked as towering structures on the in-game map. These events involve battling against a powerful Pokémon called a Raid Boss. Raids are divided into different tiers:
| Tier 1 | Tier 3 | Tier 5 | Mega |
|---|---|---|---|
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Tier 1 raids feature relatively weaker Pokémon, while Tier 5 raids include the most powerful and rare Pokémon. The tier of the raid determines the difficulty level and the number of players required to defeat the Raid Boss. There is one additional Tier called Mega Raids that only includes Mega Pokémon, which is somewhere around a Tier 4 difficulty.
Raid Battles operate similarly to gym battles, with some minor differences. Players form a team of up to six Pokémon and battle the Raid Boss using their attacks and charged moves. Raid Bosses have higher HP than normal Pokémon and usually require multiple players to defeat.
After successfully defeating a Raid Boss, players receive rewards such as Rare Candies, Golden Razz Berries, TMs (Technical Machines), and a number of Premier Balls. These Premier Balls are used exclusively to catch the Raid Boss, and the number of balls received depends on various factors, including individual and team performance during the raid.
What are Shadow Raids in Pokémon GO?
Shadow Raids are organized by the villainous Team GO Rocket and take place at occupied Gyms. They offer different challenges and rewards compared to regular Raids.
Shadow Raids come in three difficulty levels: 1-Star, 3-Star, and 5-Star. The 5-Star difficulty is reserved for legendary Pokémon. In these raids, players battle against a Shadow Pokémon boss left by Team GO Rocket to defend the Gym. The boss becomes enraged during the battle, boosting its attack and defense and making it more challenging to defeat.
To help players in defeating enraged Shadow Raid bosses, they can obtain Shadow Shards by defeating Shadow Raids or Team GO Rocket members. Shadow Shards can be combined to create Purified Gems, which weaken the Shadow Raid Boss when used. It takes four Shadow Shards to create one Purified Gem.
While Team GO Rocket takes over some Gyms for Shadow Raids, other raids can still occur at untouched Gyms. Remote Raid Passes cannot be used for Shadow Raids, and they do not provide team bonuses for Premier Balls. The IV floor for Shadow Raids is 6/6/6, unlike regular Raids with a 10/10/10 IV floor.
Raid Passes
To participate in a raid, players need a Raid Pass. Free Raid Passes can be obtained by spinning Gym Photo Discs, while players can also purchase Premium Raid Passes from the in-game shop. Each player can hold only one free pass at a time, and additional passes must be purchased.
In addition to these two, there are also Remote Raid Passes. You can buy Remote Raid Passes from the in-game shop. You can do 5 Remote Raids per day.
Raid Timer
Each raid has a timer that indicates the duration for which the raid will be available. Typically, raids last for an hour, allowing players to gather and battle the Raid Boss within that time frame.
Weather influences
The weather in Pokémon GO can influence Raids. Certain weather conditions can boost the effectiveness of certain Pokémon types during raid battles. It is beneficial to take advantage of these weather boosts to increase the chances of defeating the Raid Boss. In addition, the Raid Boss you will be catching will be at a higher level compared to a non-boosted encounter.
