October in Pokémon Go is always special, and 2025 is no different. The game is packed with raids, debuts, themed events, and of course, the much-anticipated Halloween festivities. Whether you’re after shiny hunts, Mega evolutions, or XP boosts, this month’s calendar offers something nearly every day. Let’s break down everything happening in Pokémon Go throughout October 2025.
Major Seasonal Events
XP Celebration
August 25 – October 14: The XP Celebration continues into October, rewarding Trainers with:
- 2× Catch XP for Nice, Great, and Excellent throws.
- +3,000 XP from winning Raids.
- +3,000 XP from winning Max Battles.
It’s the perfect opportunity to grind before the levelling update arrives on October 15.
Steel Skyline Event
September 30 – October 7: The Steel Skyline kicks off the month with the debut of Duraludon, available in shiny form. Expect Steel-type Pokémon to spawn more frequently alongside themed raids and bonuses.
See also: Pokémon GO October 2025: All Raid Hours and Raid Bosses
Mega Metagross Raid Day
October 4: One of the biggest highlights of the month is the debut of Mega Metagross. Trainers can:
- Encounter shiny Metagross at increased rates.
- Receive up to five free Raid Passes from Gym Photo Discs.
- Enjoy a temporary boost to the Remote Raid Pass limit.
Harvest Festival
October 10 – October 16: Celebrate autumn with the debuts of Dipplin and Hydrapple. The event also boosts shiny rates for Pumpkaboo and Smoliv, fitting the harvest theme.
Halloween 2025 (Part 1 & Part 2)
As tradition goes, Pokémon Go’s Halloween event is split into two parts. Expect ghost-type spawns, costumed Pokémon, themed research, and plenty of spooky surprises lasting for almost two weeks.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Celebration
To mark the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, a crossover event takes place in October. Details are still unfolding, but Trainers can anticipate special research and themed spawns tied to the upcoming game.
Raid Schedule for October 2025
Here’s the lineup for 5-Star Raids this month:
- Sept 16 – Oct 7: Dialga
- Oct 7 – Oct 14: Deoxys (Normal & Defense Formes)
- Oct 14 – Oct 21: Deoxys (Attack & Speed Formes)
- Oct 21 – Oct 28: Genesect (Shock & Douse Drives)
- Oct 28 – Nov 4: Giratina (Altered Forme)
Mega Raids
Mega Pokémon featured in October include:
- 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 (extended)
- Oct 28 – Nov 4: Mega Gengar, Mega Sableye, Mega Banette
Weekly Features
Spotlight Hours (Tuesdays, 6–7 p.m. local time)
- Oct 7: Ferroseed – Bonus: Double Evolution XP
- Oct 14: Petilil – Bonus: Double Catch Stardust
- Oct 21: Gastly – Bonus: Double Catch XP
- Oct 28: Sinistea – Bonus: Double Catch Candy
Raid Hours (Wednesdays, 6–7 p.m. local time)
- Oct 1: Ur-Palkia
- Oct 8: Deoxys (Normal & Defense)
- Oct 15: Deoxys (Attack & Speed)
- Oct 22: Genesect (Shock & Douse Drives)
- Oct 29: Giratina (Altered Forme)
Max Mondays (Mondays, 6–7 p.m. local time)
- Sept 29 – Oct 5: Beldum
- Oct 6 – Oct 12: Timburr
- Oct 13 – Oct 19: Swirlix
- Oct 20 – Oct 26: Gastly
- Oct 27 – Nov 2: Vullaby
Research Breakthroughs
From Sept 2 – Dec 2, 2025, completing Field Research Breakthroughs will reward encounters with a rotating pool of featured Pokémon. This gives Trainers a steady supply of bonus encounters on top of the monthly events.
See also: Pokémon GO Lunatone and Solrock: Locations, Events & Shiny Chances
This month is one of the busiest Pokémon Go has ever seen. Between raid rotations, Mega debuts, Spotlight Pokémon, and back-to-back themed events, Trainers will rarely find a quiet day. Highlights like Mega Metagross, Dipplin’s debut, and the annual Halloween festivities ensure that October is a can’t-miss month for both collectors and battlers.
