Pokémon GO’s Delightful Days: Taken Over event brings Shadow Kyogre, Shadow Giratina, shiny Salandit, and bonus Rocket activity. Here’s everything to know before August 11.
Pokémon GO’s Shadow Raid Chaos Begins August 11 — Here’s What’s Coming
Team GO Rocket’s not messing around this time. Niantic has officially revealed Delightful Days: Taken Over, a full-blown Shadow showdown featuring the long-awaited debut of Shadow Kyogre and the return of Shadow Giratina.
Running from Monday, August 11 to Sunday, August 17, the event brings a full arsenal of Rocket takeovers, powerful raids, and shiny surprises — just in time to close out Pokémon GO’s Delightful Days season with a literal bang.
Let’s break down why you’ll want to block off your calendar (and stockpile Raid Passes).
Related Read: Dialga & Palkia Take Center Stage in Pokemon GO’s Ultra Unlock Raid Day Event
Event Schedule & Dates
- Event Duration:
August 11, 2025 at 12:00 AM → August 17, 2025 at 11:59 PM (local time) - Shadow Kyogre Raids:
August 16 at 6:00 AM → August 17 at 10:00 PM - Special Research (Shadow Giratina):
Claim until September 2, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Headliners: Shadow Kyogre & Shadow Giratina
Shadow Giratina (Special Research)
- Unlocked by defeating Giovanni
- Rewarded through new Special Research
- Requires Super Rocket Radar
- Can be claimed up until September 2
Shadow Kyogre (5-Star Shadow Raids)
- Appears ONLY from Aug 16–17
- Raid Window: 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM local time
- Get 1 extra Raid Pass per day at Gyms
Two legendary beasts, two very different grinds. Giratina’s tied to the villain boss route, while Kyogre’s all about flexing your raid squad. Either way — both are powerhouses, and Shadow versions crank their stats up to nasty levels.
Bonuses & Special Spawns
Increased Team GO Rocket Activity
- More frequent Rocket balloons and PokeStop takeovers
- Battle grunts for Shadow Staryu, Fletchling, Pikipek, and Grubbin
Shadow Raids & New Shinies
1-Star Shadow Raids:
- Shadow Bellsprout*
- Shadow Aipom*
- Shadow Teddiursa*
- Shadow Seedot*
3-Star Shadow Raids:
- Shadow Absol*
- Shadow Girafarig
- Shadow Whirlipede
*All marked Pokémon can appear shiny — so shiny hunters, prep your radar.
QoL and Battle Perks
- Forget “Frustration”:
For a limited time, you can use a Charged TM to remove Frustration from any Shadow Pokémon. - IV Variance Bonus:
Shadow Pokémon caught in 1-star and 3-star raids will have wider IV spread — which means more chances at getting cracked stats… or cursed ones. - Shiny Salandit Debut:
For the first time ever, shiny Salandit will be available — but through egg hatches, not in the wild. Time to dust off those incubators.
Pro Tips for the Taken Over Event
- Stack Raid Passes before August 16 — Shadow Kyogre raids will be competitive.
- Prioritize Special Research early in the week — Shadow Giratina requires defeating Giovanni, which can take time.
- If you have extra Charged TMs, use them! The Frustration window doesn’t last long.
- Bring Dark and Fairy-types for Giratina, Grass or Electric-types for Kyogre.
- Hatch eggs strategically — shiny Salandit is locked behind RNG, so use Super Incubators to maximize attempts.
What’s After Taken Over?
Pokémon GO’s August is fully stacked:
- GO Fest Max Finale — Drops Eternatus on August 23–24
- Rookidee Community Day — Soars in on August 30
- Rumors are swirling of a female Spartan crossover from Halo landing in Chapter 6 Season 4
August is shaping up to be one of the most stacked Pokémon GO months this year. And Taken Over is just the warm-up.
Related: Niantic Cracks Down on GPS Drift Exploit in Pokémon GO—Here’s What You Need to Know
Taken Over Event Highlights
- Shadow Giratina via Special Research (claimable until Sept 2)
- Shadow Kyogre in 5-star raids (Aug 16–17)
- Shiny Salandit debuts through egg hatching
- Frustration can be removed with Charged TMs
- Bonus Rocket encounters, extra Raid Passes, and boosted stat spreads
Final Take
Between two massive Shadow Legendaries, rare shiny debuts, and a Rocket invasion on the horizon, Delightful Days: Taken Over isn’t pulling punches. Whether you’re chasing PvP beasts or shiny flexes, this is an event that demands your full attention.
Are you Team Kyogre or Team Giratina? Stocking TMs or burning Raid Passes? Let’s hear your strategy for taking back the skies.
