Pokémon GO is gearing up for its fifth Raid Day of the year with the newly announced Sparring Partners Raid Day, featuring Mega Heracross, Hariyama, and Scraggy. This Fighting-type themed event is set to take place on Sunday, April 13, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time, offering players a chance to take on powerful foes, earn exclusive rewards, and potentially encounter shiny versions of all three.
Featured Pokémon
- Mega Heracross (Gen 2) – Known for its resemblance to the Hercules beetle and famously used by Ash in the Pokémon anime. While it doesn’t evolve, Heracross can now Mega Evolve and boasts a more intimidating exoskeleton.
- Hariyama (Gen 3) – The evolved form of Makuhita, Hariyama is a sumo wrestler-inspired Pokémon with serious bulk.
- Scraggy (Gen 5) – A mischievous lizard-like Pokémon that evolves into Scrafty at level 39, bringing a quirky charm to the roster.
All three Pokémon will appear more frequently in raids during the event and will have a chance to appear shiny.
Exclusive Attack: Upper Hand
Beginning with Sparring Partners Raid Day, Mega Heracross, Hariyama, and Scraggy will be able to learn the new Charged Attack: Upper Hand.
- Trainer Battles: 70 power + may lower opponent’s Defense by one stage
- Gyms & Raids: 50 power
This new move adds strategic depth for both PvP and PvE players and will remain available after the event ends.
Event Bonuses
- Up to five additional free Raid Passes by spinning Gym Photo Discs (max of six total).
- Remote Raid Pass limit increased to 20 from Saturday, April 12, at 5:00 p.m. to Sunday, April 13, at 8:00 p.m. PT.
- Increased shiny rates for Mega Heracross, Hariyama, and Scraggy.
Event Ticket — $4.99
Available via the in-game shop and the Pokémon GO Web Store, this optional ticket offers:
- Eight extra free Raid Passes from Gym spins (total of 14 for the day)
- 50% more XP from Raid Battles
- 2× Stardust from Raid Battles
- Increased Rare Candy XL drop rate
Timed Research (Free)
This free research track includes:
- 10,000 Stardust
- Bonus 1,000 Stardust per completed raid (up to 3,000 Stardust per raid with event ticket)
- Additional mystery rewards
Ultra Ticket Box — $4.99
Also available in the Pokémon GO Web Store, this bundle includes:
- Event ticket
- Bonus Premium Battle Pass
Upcoming April Events
Pokémon GO continues to roll out a stacked lineup of content for April 2025:
- April 9 – Spring to Spring event debuts Gossifleur and Eldegoss
- April 16 – Horizons Celebration Event marks the debut of Tinkaton
- April 19 – Max Battle Day brings the highly anticipated debut of Gigantamax Snorlax
Stay tuned as April heats up with new Pokémon, powerful raids, and some long-awaited additions to the mobile experience. Whether you’re chasing shinies or strategizing with the new Charged Attack Upper Hand, Sparring Partners Raid Day is shaping up to be a knockout event.
