Pokémon GO: Dark Skies
Rally together with millions of Trainers worldwide as dark skies herald the arrival of Eternatus and the beginning of GO Fest 2025: Max Finale preparations. During this weeklong event, witness how the world changes around your avatar as Max Battles rage around the world.
Bonuses 
Features 
Eternatus
The Gigantic Pokémon Eternatus emerges for its Pokémon GO global debut! Encounter the Poison- and Dragon-type Legendary Pokémon as you progress through a Max Battle adventure with GO Pass: Max Finale, which starts during the Dark Skies event.
Eternatus can only be caught once during this event, and it requires much more Candy and Candy XL to power up due to its massive power. GO Pass: Max Finale and GO Pass Deluxe: Max Finale will provide significant amounts of Eternatus Candy and Candy XL.
GO Pass: Max Finale
Available: Monday, August 18, at 10:00 a.m. to Sunday, August 24, at 9:00 p.m. local time
Trainers will automatically receive GO Pass: Max Finale on Monday, August 18, at 10:00 a.m. local time. From Monday, August 18, to Friday, August 22, you can collect GO Points up to a daily cap during the Dark Skies event. There’s no daily limit from Saturday, August 23, at 12:00 a.m. to Sunday, August 24, at 9:00 p.m. local time!
Featured Pokémon and Rewards
- An encounter with Eternatus
- Random encounters with Dynamax Pokémon
- Candy, including Eternatus Candy
- Max Particles
GO Pass Deluxe: Max Finale Additional Rewards
- Increased chance of encountering Shiny Dynamax Pokémon
- Eternatus Helmet avatar item
- Additional encounters with even more Pokémon
- Additional Candy and Candy XL, including Eternatus Candy and Candy XL
- Additional Max Particles
Major Milestone Rewards
- Tier 1: Increased power for Behemoth Blade and Behemoth Bash, Additional Max Particles from Power Spots
- Tier 2: Even more power for Behemoth Blade and Behemoth Bash, Increased chance for wild encounters near Power Spots
- Tier 3: Maximum increased power for Behemoth Blade and Behemoth Bash, Additional rewards from Max Pokémon placed at Power Spots
New Special Backgrounds
Trainers who take on Max Battles during the Dark Skies and Max Finale events will have a chance of receiving new Special Backgrounds.
Timed Research Promo
Timed Research Code: GOFESTMAX
Use code GOFESTMAX on the Pokémon GO Web Store to redeem branching Timed Research. Complete to encounter a Gigantamax Pokémon of your choice (Rillaboom, Cinderace, or Inteleon) with a Seasonal Special Background. Code expires August 3, 2025.
You can find Timed Research details here
RSVP Planner
Now supports Gigantamax Battles for coordinating with friends and community.
Find Your Community
You don’t have to face the challenge alone. Find your community to rally fellow Trainers to join during the event.
These Max Battles are Pokémon GO’s biggest challenges yet, and they can only be won when enough Trainers unite as a team.
Spawns 
The following Pokémon will appear more frequently in the wild.
Grookey
Scorbunny
Sobble
Skwovet
Wooloo
Some Trainers might even encounter the following!
Raids 
Appearing in 1-Star Raids
Sinistea
Appearing in 3-Star Raids
Galarian Farfetch'd
Galarian Weezing
Appearing in 5-Star Raids
Zacian and Zamazenta will appear in 5-star raids on certain days.
August 18-20
Zacian
Zamazenta
August 21
- Zacian
August 22
- Zamazenta
Special Raid Hours
Crowned Sword Zacian and Crowned Shield Zamazenta will return in five-star raids for special Raid Hours on the following schedule.
Crowned Sword Energy and Crowned Shield Energy will also be available during these Raid Hours.
Thursday, August 21, 2025, 6 pm - 7 pm
- Zacian
Friday, August 22, 2025, 6 pm - 7 pm
- Zamazenta
Dynamax Battles
Monday, August 18
Appearing in Max Battles as Dynamax Pokémon.
Squirtle
Caterpie
Gastly
Krabby
Shuckle
Sableye
Beldum
Latias
Latios
Trubbish- Sobble
Hatenna
Tuesday-Wednesday, August 19-20
Appearing in Max Battles as Dynamax Pokémon.
Charmander
Omanyte
Kabuto
Articuno
Zapdos
Moltres
Pidove
Drilbur
Cryogonal- Scorbunny
Rookidee
Toxtricity (Amped Form)
Toxtricity (Low Key Form)
Thursday-Friday, August 21-22
Appearing in Max Battles as Dynamax Pokémon.
Bulbasaur
Machop
Chansey
Raikou
Entei
Suicune
Wailmer
Darumaka
Passimian- Grookey
- Skwovet
- Wooloo
Falinks
Research 
Timed Research
Timed Research focused on winning Max Battles will be available throughout the event. Complete the research tasks to earn Zacian Candy, Zamazenta Candy, and encounters with Grookey, Scorbunny, Sobble.
