Pokemon Go December 2025 Raid Boss Schedule – All Tiers and Dates
December 2025 is shaping up to be an incredible month for Pokemon Go raids! We’re getting the complete Tao Trio rotation with Kyurem, Reshiram, and Zekrom taking over 5-Star Raids, plus powerful Mega Evolutions like Mega Gyarados making their appearance.
Whether you’re a competitive player looking to strengthen your battle teams or a collector hunting for shiny Legendaries, this month’s raid schedule has something for everyone. The Precious Paths season continues to deliver, and with Max Raids introducing Dynamax Spheal into the rotation, there’s plenty of variety to keep you busy.
Raids remain one of Pokemon Go’s core features, offering exclusive access to Legendary Pokemon, Mega Evolution energy, and rare encounters you can’t find anywhere else. Let’s break down everything happening in December’s raid calendar across all tiers—from 1-Star all the way up to Legendary 5-Star battles.
Note: Pokemon marked with an asterisk (*) can be encountered in their shiny form!
5-Star Legendary Raid Schedule for December 2025
December brings us the legendary dragons from the Unova region, completing the Tao Trio rotation. Here’s your complete schedule:
Kyurem Raids
December 4 – December 13, 2025
- Type: Dragon/Ice
- Shiny Available: Yes
- Raid Hour: December 10, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM local time
Kyurem kicks off December as the boundary Pokemon, representing the shell left behind when the Original Dragon split. Its dual Dragon/Ice typing makes it a valuable addition for Master League battles and Dragon-type raid coverage.
Counter Tips: Fire, Fighting, Rock, Dragon, Steel, and Fairy-type Pokemon deal super effective damage. Mega Blaziken, Reshiram, and Terrakion are excellent choices.
Reshiram Raids
December 13 – December 22, 2025
- Type: Dragon/Fire
- Shiny Available: Yes
- Raid Hour: December 17, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM local time
The Vast White Pokemon takes over mid-month! Reshiram is one of the most powerful Fire-types in the game and dominates raids against Steel, Bug, Grass, and Ice-type bosses. If you don’t have a powered-up Reshiram yet, this is your chance.
Counter Tips: Ground, Rock, and Dragon-type moves work best. Landorus, Rhyperior, Garchomp, and other Reshiram are solid picks.
Zekrom Raids
December 22 – December 31, 2025
- Type: Dragon/Electric
- Shiny Available: Yes
- Raid Hour: December 24, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM local time
Closing out the year with the Deep Black Pokemon! Zekrom’s Electric/Dragon combination makes it incredibly versatile, especially for taking down Flying and Water-type raid bosses. Plus, that shiny black and red coloring? Absolutely gorgeous.
Counter Tips: Ground, Ice, Dragon, and Fairy-type attacks are your best bet. Garchomp, Mamoswine, Landorus, and Togekiss work great.
Pro Tip: All three members of the Tao Trio have available shiny forms with boosted shiny rates during their featured weeks. If you’re shiny hunting, prioritize raids during the Raid Hour events for maximum encounters.
3-Star Raid Bosses in December 2025
The 3-Star tier features some interesting additions from the Paldea region alongside new Generation 9 Pokemon:
Current 3-Star Raid Lineup
- Paldean Tauros (Combat Breed) – Fighting-type variant
- Paldean Tauros (Blaze Breed) – Fighting/Fire-type variant
- Paldean Tauros (Aqua Breed) – Fighting/Water-type variant
- Dondozo* – Pure Water-type (Shiny Available)
- Bombirdier* – Flying/Dark-type (Shiny Available)
Important Regional Information: The three Paldean Tauros breeds are region-locked, making them tricky to obtain:
- Combat Breed – Exclusive to the Iberian Peninsula
- Blaze Breed – Appears in the Eastern Hemisphere
- Aqua Breed – Spawns in the Western Hemisphere
If you’re not in these regions, you’ll need to trade with other players or wait for potential global events. Remote Raids from friends in different regions can also help complete your collection.
1-Star Raid Bosses for December 2025
1-Star Raids are perfect for solo players and offer solid opportunities for candy farming and shiny hunting. Here’s December’s lineup:
- Geodude* (Rock/Ground)
- Aipom* (Normal)
- Aron* (Steel/Rock)
- Gulpin* (Poison)
While these might seem like basic Pokemon, don’t sleep on them! They’re excellent for completing research tasks, building XP through quick raids, and hunting for shiny variants. Aron in particular evolves into Aggron, which has useful applications in raids and PvP.
Solo Player Tip: These raids can be defeated easily by yourself, making them ideal for quick completions during your lunch break or while waiting for higher-tier raids to spawn.
Mega Raid Schedule for December 2025
Mega Evolution energy is precious, and December’s Mega Raid rotation features some powerful options:
Mega Gyarados Raids
December 4 – December 13, 2025
- Type: Water/Dark (Mega form)
- Shiny Available: Yes
One of the most popular Mega Evolutions returns! Mega Gyarados switches from Water/Flying to Water/Dark, giving it a completely different type matchup. It’s fantastic for raids and provides Water-type attack bonuses to your raid party.
Best Counters: Electric, Grass, Fighting, Bug, and Fairy-types. Mega Venusaur, Xurkitree, and Zacian work extremely well.
Mega Abomasnow Raids
December 13 – December 22, 2025
- Type: Grass/Ice
- Shiny Available: Yes
Perfect for the winter season! Mega Abomasnow’s unique typing makes it vulnerable to several types, but it also provides excellent Ice-type damage bonuses for raids against Dragon, Flying, Grass, and Ground-types.
Best Counters: Fire is doubly super effective! Mega Charizard Y, Reshiram, and Chandelure dominate this raid.
Mega Glalie Raids
December 22 – December 31, 2025
- Type: Ice
- Shiny Available: Yes
Closing the month with pure Ice-type power. While Mega Glalie isn’t the absolute strongest Mega Evolution, it’s still useful for Ice-type raid bonuses and looks absolutely menacing in its shiny form.
Best Counters: Fire, Fighting, Rock, and Steel-types. Mega Blaziken, Terrakion, and Metagross are solid choices.
Max Monday Dynamax Raid Schedule
Max Mondays continue throughout December with rotating Dynamax Pokemon appearing at Power Spots. These special events run every Monday from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM local time, with the featured Pokemon remaining available for the entire week.
December Max Monday Lineup
Dynamax Cryogonal*
- December 8 – December 14
- Type: Ice
- Shiny Available: Yes
Dynamax Kabuto*
- December 15 – December 21
- Type: Rock/Water
- Shiny Available: Yes
Dynamax Spheal* (New to Dynamax Raids!)
- December 22 – December 28
- Type: Ice/Water
- Shiny Available: Yes
Dynamax Omanyte*
- December 29 – January 4, 2026
- Type: Rock/Water
- Shiny Available: Yes
For a complete breakdown of Max Monday mechanics and preparation tips, check out our detailed Pokemon Go Max Mondays guide for strategies on stockpiling Max Particles and team building.
Raid Hour Schedule for December 2025
Every Wednesday features Raid Hour from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM local time, where the current 5-Star Legendary takes over nearly every gym. This is your best opportunity to catch Legendaries with increased spawn rates!
December Raid Hour Calendar
Kyurem Raid Hour
- Date: December 10, 2025
- Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM local time
- Shiny Available: Yes
Reshiram Raid Hour
- Date: December 17, 2025
- Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM local time
- Shiny Available: Yes
Zekrom Raid Hour
- Date: December 24, 2025
- Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM local time
- Shiny Available: Yes
Blacephalon Raid Hour
- Date: December 31, 2025
- Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM local time
- Shiny Available: Yes
Note: Blacephalon appears as the special New Year’s Eve Raid Hour! This Ultra Beast from Alola is a Fire/Ghost-type and one of the rarest encounters in the game.
Understanding Raid Battles in Pokemon Go
If you’re new to raiding or need a refresher, here’s everything you need to know about how Raid Battles work:
What Are Raid Battles?
Raid Battles occur when a Boss Pokemon temporarily takes over a gym. You’ll notice these by:
- Giant eggs appearing above gyms with countdown timers
- Active boss Pokemon visible at gyms with time remaining displays
- Notifications if you have a gym in your nearby area
Raid Tiers Explained
Pokemon Go features four main raid difficulty tiers:
1-Star Raids – Easy solo content featuring common Pokemon. Perfect for beginners and quick completions.
3-Star Raids – Moderate difficulty requiring decent counters. Some can be soloed by experienced players with powered-up teams, but most benefit from 2-3 trainers.
5-Star Legendary Raids – High difficulty featuring Legendary and Mythical Pokemon. Requires 3-5+ trainers depending on counters and levels.
Mega Raids – Similar difficulty to 5-Star but rewards Mega Energy instead. Typically needs 3-4 trainers minimum.
Raid Battle Rewards
Winning raids grants multiple rewards:
- Premier Balls for catching the boss (amount varies by contribution)
- Rare Candy (in higher-tier raids)
- Golden Razz Berries
- TMs (Fast and Charged)
- Revives and Potions
- Stardust
- XP (bonuses for new catches and first-time victories)
- Mega Energy (from Mega Raids)
The better your performance and the higher the raid tier, the better your rewards!
How to Get Raid Passes in Pokemon Go
You’ll need Raid Passes to participate in battles. Here’s how to obtain them:
Free Daily Raid Pass
- Spin the Photo Disc at any gym once per day
- You can only hold one free pass at a time
- Must be used before earning another
Premium Raid Passes
- Purchase from the in-game shop
- Can be stacked (hold multiple at once)
- Often included in special boxes and events
Remote Raid Passes
- Buy from the shop or receive as event gifts
- Allow you to join raids visible on your Nearby screen without being physically present
- Perfect for rural players or those unable to travel
- Limited to participating in a certain number per day (currently 5 with a 6th at reduced effectiveness)
Money-Saving Tip: Watch for special event boxes in the shop that bundle Premium or Remote Raid Passes with other items at discounted prices. These offer better value than buying passes individually.
Pro Tips for Catching Raid Boss Pokemon
Successfully defeating a raid boss doesn’t guarantee a catch—Legendary Pokemon especially have low base catch rates. Here’s how to maximize your chances:
Increase Your Premier Balls
You earn more Premier Balls by:
- Dealing high damage – Use type-effective counters and dodge charged attacks
- Team contribution – Your entire team’s combined damage matters
- Gym control – Raiding at gyms controlled by your team grants extra balls
- Friendship bonuses – Raid with friends for additional balls (Best Friends grant +4 balls!)
Optimize Your Catching Technique
Use Golden Razz Berries – These provide the maximum catch rate boost. Save them for Legendaries and shinies!
Master Excellent Throws – Practice your timing and aim. Excellent throws dramatically increase catch rates.
Throw Curveballs – Spinning your throw adds another catch rate multiplier. Combine with Excellent throws for best results.
Wait for Attack Animations – Boss Pokemon attack regularly. Time your throws for right after their attack animation to avoid wasted balls.
Set the Circle – Use the circle lock technique: Hold the ball until the circle reaches your desired size, wait for the attack, then throw immediately after.
Type Medals Matter
Your type catch bonus medals (Gold/Silver/Bronze) affect catch rates. If you haven’t maxed out your Dragon or Ice medal, Kyurem raids are a perfect opportunity to improve them while also catching the boss.
Best Counters and Team Building Tips
Building effective raid teams is crucial for success, especially in higher-tier raids. Here are general guidelines:
Team Composition Basics
Use Type Effectiveness – Always prioritize Pokemon that deal super effective damage. A level 30 counter-type Pokemon often outperforms a level 40 neutral-type Pokemon.
Mega Evolve Strategically – Your Mega Evolution provides damage bonuses to your entire raid party. Coordinate with your group to maximize effectiveness.
Weather Matters – Weather boosts strengthen certain types. Fighting Reshiram during sunny weather? Your Ground and Rock-types hit even harder.
Power Up Smartly – Focus resources on versatile Pokemon like Garchomp, Metagross, and Mamoswine that counter multiple raid bosses.
Resources for Optimal Counters
Raid boss counters change with each rotation, so bookmark these resources:
- Community sites like PokeBattler and GamePress provide detailed counter lists
- Discord servers and local community groups share successful strategies
- In-game recommendations can work but aren’t always optimal
Frequently Asked Questions About Pokemon Go Raids
Can I solo 3-Star raids as a newer player?
It depends on the specific 3-Star boss and your team strength. Some 3-Star raids like Dondozo require strong counters and powered-up Pokemon, making them difficult for newer players to solo. However, with a team of level 30+ Pokemon using super effective moves, certain 3-Star raids become manageable. Your best strategy as a newer player is to team up with one or two others—this virtually guarantees victory and splits the difficulty. Focus on building your first team of level 30+ counters before attempting solo 3-Star raids.
What’s the difference between Premium and Remote Raid Passes?
Both allow you to participate in raids, but Remote Raid Passes have a unique advantage and disadvantage. The advantage: you can join raids from anywhere they’re visible on your Nearby screen or Map View without physically traveling there. This is perfect for rural players or those with limited mobility. The disadvantage: you’re limited to participating in approximately 5 remote raids per day, and remote raiders deal slightly reduced damage compared to in-person raiders. Premium Raid Passes require you to be physically near the gym but have no daily participation limits.
Are shiny rates boosted during Legendary raids?
Yes! Legendary Pokemon from raids typically have a shiny rate around 1 in 20 encounters (approximately 5%), which is significantly higher than wild shiny rates of 1 in 500. This means if you complete 20 Kyurem raids, you have a good statistical chance of encountering at least one shiny. However, RNG is RNG—some players get lucky on their first raid, while others might complete 40+ raids without a shiny. Raid Hours are your best opportunity to maximize encounters quickly during the featured hour.
Do I need to use Rare Candy on Legendary Pokemon immediately?
Definitely not! Rare Candy is one of Pokemon Go’s most precious resources, and you should be strategic about using it. Save your Rare Candy for Legendary and Mythical Pokemon that are difficult to obtain candy for naturally (since they don’t spawn in the wild). However, before converting Rare Candy, make sure you actually plan to power up that specific Legendary. There’s no rush—Rare Candy can be converted anytime. Wait until you have a high IV specimen (ideally 15 attack for raids or proper IV spreads for PvP) before investing heavily in powering it up with Rare Candy.
December 2025 is packed with exceptional raid opportunities for both casual and competitive Pokemon Go players. Whether you’re chasing shiny Legendaries, collecting Mega Energy, or building your Dynamax roster, there’s something happening every day of the month. Get out there, assemble your raid teams, and catch ’em all!
Looking for more Pokemon content this December? Don’t miss our Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Mystery Gift Codes guide for all the latest free items and Pokemon!
Also Check: Pokemon Go Max Mondays Raid Schedule (December 2025) – Complete Guide
