October is always a big month for Pokémon GO. With Halloween season in full swing, Niantic has packed the calendar with Legendary raids, Mega Evolutions, special events, and even the long-awaited debut of Mega Metagross. Whether you’re looking to complete your Pokédex, power up top-tier attackers, or just grab some shiny Pokémon, this month has plenty to offer.
Five-Star Raids in October 2025
Legendary Pokémon are rotating quickly this month, with all four Deoxys forms returning, Genesect showing off multiple Drives, and Giratina (Altered Forme) closing out the month. Here’s the full schedule:
- Sept 16 – Oct 7: Dialga
- Oct 7 – Oct 14: Normal Forme Deoxys & Defense Forme Deoxys
- Oct 14 – Oct 21: Attack Forme Deoxys & Speed Forme Deoxys
- Oct 21 – Oct 28: Genesect (Normal, Shock Drive, and Douse Drive)
- Oct 28 – Nov 4: Giratina (Altered Forme)
These rotations mean October is the perfect time to finish your Deoxys collection or farm for a strong Giratina to use in raids and PvP.
See also: Hoothoot Pokémon GO Guide: Shiny, IVs, Spotlight Hour & Moves
Mega Raids in October 2025
Mega Evolutions are a huge part of this month’s raid line-up. You’ll see a variety of returning Mega Pokémon along with a Halloween-themed trio to close out the month.
- Sept 30 – Oct 7: Mega Steelix, Mega Scizor, Mega Lucario
- Oct 7 – Oct 14: Mega Sceptile, Mega Blaziken, Mega Swampert
- Oct 14 – Oct 21: Mega Salamence
- Oct 21 – Oct 28: Mega Salamence (second week)
- Oct 28 – Nov 4: Mega Gengar, Mega Sableye, Mega Banette
Mega Salamence is one of the standouts for Dragon-type raids, while Mega Gengar remains one of the most powerful Mega Pokémon in the game.
Mega Metagross Raid Day
The biggest highlight this month is the debut of Mega Metagross on Saturday, October 4, 2025 (2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. local time).
Event bonuses include:
- Up to five additional free Raid Passes from Gym Photo Discs.
- Increased shiny Metagross chance.
- Temporary Remote Raid Pass limit increase.
- A special featured move, Shadow Claw, for Metagross caught during the event (also available later via Elite Fast TM).
For those looking to maximize their rewards, a paid ticket offers extra Raid Passes, boosted XP, Rare Candy XL, and bonus Stardust.
Raid Hours in October 2025
Every Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time, Raid Hours spotlight the current five-star boss. Here’s the full list:
- Oct 1: Origin Palkia
- Oct 8: Normal & Defense Forme Deoxys
- Oct 15: Attack & Speed Forme Deoxys
- Oct 22: Genesect (Normal, Water Module, and Shock Module)
- Oct 29: Giratina (Altered Forme)
If you’re short on time, Raid Hours are the best chance to get multiple Legendary encounters in a single evening.
See also: Pokémon GO Lunatone and Solrock: Locations, Events & Shiny Chances
Quick Tips for Pokémon GO October Raids
- Stock up on counters: Giratina is weak to Ghost and Dark types, while Deoxys’ forms vary in difficulty—Attack Forme melts quickly, but Defense Forme will test your raid team’s endurance.
- Plan your Mega evolutions: Use Mega Gengar or Mega Houndoom to boost damage against Psychic bosses like Deoxys.
- Watch for shiny opportunities: Several featured Pokémon this month have shiny variants, including Metagross, Giratina, and Genesect.
October 2025 is stacked with raid opportunities in Pokémon GO. With the return of Deoxys’ full lineup, the powerhouse Giratina, and the long-awaited debut of Mega Metagross, there’s something for every type of Trainer. Add in the spooky Mega Raids at the end of the month, and it’s clear this Halloween season is going to be one of the most exciting yet.
Make sure to plan your Raid Passes wisely, coordinate with local groups, and don’t miss out on limited-time chances to catch these legendary and mega Pokémon.
