Summary

  • Urshifu will debut on May 21 in Pokemon GO's Final Strike: GO Battle Week event.
  • The event includes Seasonal Special Research, rewards for evolving Kubfu into Urshifu, and double XP.
  • Players can purchase in-game Timed and Special Research for bonuses like Premium Battle Passes and encounters with Dynamax Kubfu.

Pokemon GO has announced that Urshifu will debut on May 21 as part of the Final Strike: GO Battle Week event. The event is part of the Might and Mastery season, Pokemon GO's 18th seasonal cycle that has added several new Pokemon to keep players engaged.

Some of the most notable updates include the debuts of Dynamax Entei, Raikou, and Suicune, making the alternative forms of Johto's Legendary trio available in the augmented reality game for the first time. Jumping to newer generations, Applin made its Pokemon GO debut at the end of April, while the Kingambit will be added in one of the upcoming events. To make the season even more exciting, the developers have finally confirmed when an anticipated pocket monster will be coming to the game.

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Pokemon GO Raid Schedule for May 2025

Here's the full rundown of what to expect in Pokemon GO when it comes to the Raids in May 2025.

By 

Pokemon GO revealed that Urshifu will be added with the Final Strike: GO Battle Week event, which will start on Wednesday, May 21, at 10 am and end on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 8 pm local time. During the event, the next installment of Seasonal Special Research will be released, with rewards such as Kubfu Candy, Mysterious Components, encounters with Pokemon with a Special Background, and more. To evolve Kubfu into Urshifu (Single Strike Style), trainers will need to defeat 30 Dark-type Pokemon with it as Buddy, and 200 Kubfu Candy. Urshifu (Rapid Strike Style) will be obtained by defeating 30 Water-type Pokemon with Kubfu as Buddy, and 200 Candy.

Final Strike: GO Battle Week Event Details

  • Date: Wednesday, May 21, at 10:00 a.m. To Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. Local time
  • New Pokemon: Urshifu (both forms)
  • Available:
    • The next installment of the Seasonal Special Research story. Players can claim this Special Research at no cost until Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 10 am local time.
    • New Field Research tasks
    • New PokeStop Showcases

  • To evolve Kubfu into Urshifu (Single Strike Style)
    • Have 200 Kubfu Candy after defeating 30 Dark-type Pokemon in raids or Max Battles with Kubfu as their buddy. Players don't have to defeat the Pokemon with Kubfu.

  • To evolve Kubfu into Urshifu (Rapid Strike Style)
    • Have 200 Kubfu Candy after defeating 30 Water-type Pokemon in raids or Max Battles with Kubfu as their buddy. Players don't have to defeat the Pokemon with Kubfu.

  • Event Bonuses
    • 2× XP for winning Raid Battles.
    • Increased chance to encounter Shiny Meditite, Shiny Stunky, and Shiny Mareanie.
    • Upon completing the free Timed Research, the following bonus will unlock: one extra Raid Pass per day.

  • Wild Encounters
    • Mankey*
    • Seel*
    • Galarian Zigzagoon*
    • Meditite*
    • Froakie*
    • Deino*
    • Nickit

  • Raids
  • One-Star Raids
    • Carvanha*
    • Stunky*
    • Mareanie*

  • Three-Star Raids
    • Lapras*
    • Hisuian Samurott*
    • Bombirdier*

  • *Shiny chance
  • Featured Attacks
    • Evolve certain Pokémon during the event to get a Pokémon that knows a featured attack
      • Evolve Mankey during the event to get a Primeape that knows the Charged Attack Rage Fist.
      • Evolve Seel during the event to get a Dewgong that knows the Fast Attack Ice Shard.
      • Evolve Zweilous during the event to get a Hydreigon that knows the Charged Attack Brutal Swing.
      • Evolve Frogadier during the event to get a Greninja that knows the Charged Attack Hydro Cannon.
      • Lapras encountered in Raids and Field Research will also know the Charged Attack Ice Beam.

  • Free Timed Research
    • Rewards
      • Rare Candy
      • Kubfu Candy
      • Encounters with event-themed Pokémon with Special Backgrounds, including Meditite, Stunky, and Mareanie.
      • And more

  • Paid Timed Research
  • Price: $1.99
    • Rewards
      • Two Premium Battle Passes
      • Four Lucky Eggs
      • One Max Particle Pack
      • Encounters with Meditite, Stunky, and Mareanie
      • And more

  • The tasks associated with this Timed Research must be completed and their rewards must be claimed before Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 8 pm local time.
  • Paid Special Research – Fuzzy Fighter
  • Price: $7.99
  • Trainers can play through separate Special Research and encounter Dynamax Kubfu again. Please note that Trainers who purchased or received this Special Research during the Powerful Potential event cannot receive it again.
    • Rewards
      • One Incense
      • Two Premium Battle Passes
      • One Star Piece
      • Encounters with Season-themed Pokémon
      • A rare encounter with a Dynamax Kubfu
      • And more

  • A ticket for this Special Research can be bought from Monday, May 19, at 10 am to Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 8 pm local time.
  • Fuzzy Fighter Ultra Ticket Box (Pokemon GO Web Store)
  • Price: $7.99
    • Rewards
      • Event ticket
      • Three Rare Candies
      • Three bonus Max Revives

During the event, Pokemon GO players who win raids will earn double XP and have the chance to find shiny Meditite, shiny Stunky, and shiny Mareanie. Wild Spawns will feature Froakie and six other Pokemon, while one- and three-star raids will be available. New Field Research Tasks and free Timed Research will be released, the latter rewarding with Rare Candy, Kubfu Candy, and more. Players can purchase in-game Timed Research for $1.99 and Special Research for $7.99 to get goodies like Premium Battle Passes, Lucky Eggs, and an encounter with Dynamax Kubfu. The Pokemon GO Web Store will sell a new $7.99 box with an event ticket, three Rare Candies, and three Max Revives.

In addition to Urshifu's debut, Final Strike: GO Battle Week will feature new PokeStop Showcases in which players can enter with event-themed Pokemon. Trainers who evolve certain pocket monsters during the event will get a critter that knows a Featured Attack. These include Mankey, which, if evolved during the event, will become a Primeape that knows the Charged Attack Rage Fist. The exception is Lapras, who, if found in Raids and Field Research, will know the Charged Attack Ice Beam.

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Pokémon GO
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Augmented Reality
RPG
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Systems
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Released
July 6, 2016
Developer(s)
Niantic
Publisher(s)
Niantic
Engine
Unity
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Pokémon GO is an immersive open-world multiplayer RPG that enables you to live your own RPG adventure in augmented reality. Find and evolve all Pokémon and battle with other players in AR online in this multiplayer adventure RPG.

COMPLETE YOUR POKÉDEX AND INCREASE YOUR TRAINER LEVEL!
Catch your favourite Pokémon as you explore the open world in augmented reality, trade them with other Trainers, or get the chance to catch a Pokémon after winning a Raid. You can also collect Pokémon by hatching eggs through walking! Evolve your Pokémon in your Pokédex, gain levels to catch more powerful Pokémon and earn adventure rewards during a Raid in multiplayer or online PvP battle.

EXPERIENCE THE ADVENTURE IN MULTIPLAYER AND PvP!
Start your own adventure and challenge other Trainers online in PvP during epic Gym battles or in the GO Battle League. You can also enjoy multiplayer by facing off with other players in PvP battles to win rewards, or team up with other Trainers for a chance to catch Pokémon after a Raid Battle.

CREATE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!
Customise your avatar, join one of the three teams and pick your Buddy Pokémon from your Pokédex to journey by your side in this AR adventure RPG.

SWITCH BETWEEN THE REAL WORLD AND THE VIRTUAL WORLD WITH THE AR+ MODE!
Bring the RPG to the real world and search for Pokémon in locations around you. With the AR+ mode, Pokémon appear right in front of you — Catch it with your PokéBall and add it to your Pokédex.

Catch your favourite Pokémon in AR as you explore the world and battle online with other Trainers in PvP and Raid battles.

Cross-Platform Play
Yes
Cross Save
Yes
Franchise
Pokemon
Genre(s)
Augmented Reality, RPG
Platform(s)
iOS, Android