Pokémon GO September 2025 Events: Raid Bosses, Spotlight Hours, Community Day, and More
September brings fresh adventures to Pokémon GO, and September 2025 is jam‑packed with special events, research, raid bosses, Spotlight Hours and an exciting Community Day. Because Niantic structures its content around global local‑time windows, trainers in Tangier will enjoy the same dates and times as players around the world. Below is a guide to the month’s highlights, including raid rotations, Spotlight Hour bonuses, Community Day details and other events to look forward to.
A new Season: Tales of Transformation
Pokémon GO cycles through themed seasons approximately every three months. Starting September 2 (10 a.m. local time), the game kicks off a new season called Tales of Transformation that runs until December 2. The season’s Special Research can be claimed from September 2 at 10 a.m. until December 2 at 9:59 a.m. local time. Previous seasons have altered wild spawns, egg pools, raids and GO Battle League cups, so expect similar changes.
The season’s narrative revolves around transformation and Pokémon that change forms. In previous updates Niantic teased appearances from Rotom, Kecleon and various Castform; September’s events may expand on this theme. To take part, open the ‘Today’ tab after September 2 and claim the free Special Research story, which can be completed at any time during the season.
Five-Star Raid schedule
Niantic rotates legendary raid bosses every couple of weeks. According to search snippets, September 2025’s schedule features Necrozma, Palkia and Dialga, each for a limited window. Trainers should note the following dates:
- Necrozma — Aug 25 – Sept 2: the Psychic-type prism Pokémon returns to five-star raids during the final days of August into the first week of September. Prepare counters like Darkrai, Chandelure and Hydreigon to exploit its weakness to Dark and Ghost moves.
- Palkia — Sept 2 – Sept 16: the water/dragon legendary takes over five-star raids after Necrozma. Palkia is weak to Fairy and Dragon attacks; Togekiss, Dialga and Mega Gardevoir are strong choices.
- Dialga — Sept 23 – Oct 7: after a short gap, the steel/dragon titan Dialga appears. Fighting-type counters like Lucario and Conkeldurr are effective.
Between Palkia and Dialga there may be a raid break or a secret boss (some years this slot features Ultra Beasts). Keep an eye on the in-game news for any surprise announcements.
Shadow Groudon Raid Weekend
Niantic is hosting a Shadow Raid Weekend on Saturday Sept 20 and Sunday Sept 21. During this event trainers will battle Shadow Groudon in special raids, banding together to save the legendary from Team GO Rocket. Shadow Groudon raids offer the chance to catch this powerful Ground-type with a shadow boost, and dedicated trainers can even encounter Shiny Shadow Groudon. Shadow raids are harder than standard raids because the boss attacks more aggressively, so bring Purified Gems to weaken its defences.
Steel Skyline event and Mega raids
At the end of the month Niantic will hold a Steel Skyline event from September 30 to October 7. The event features the debut of Duraludon, a Steel/Dragon Pokémon. Expect boosted Steel-type spawns like Aron and Magnemite, and themed research tasks. Mega raids during this period are likely to include Mega Salamence (before September 9) and Mega Lucario or Mega Aggron later in the month, though Niantic’s full rotation may include other megas.
Spotlight Hours
Every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. local time, Pokémon GO runs a Spotlight Hour featuring a specific Pokémon and a bonus. September 2025 offers a varied line-up:
- September 2 – Pidgey: the tiny bird Pokémon is in the spotlight and evolving Pokémon during this hour grants 2× XP. Evolving enough Pidgey can net a lot of experience. Some players report a chance of earning Pidgeot Mega Energy during this hour.
- September 9 – Trubbish: this Poison-type offers 2× Stardust for catching. Shiny Trubbish is available, so stock up on Poké Balls and Star Pieces.
- September 16 – Gothita: the psychic-type will spawn in abundance and provides 2× XP for catching. Gothita can evolve into Gothitelle, a solid Great League contender.
- September 23 – Hoothoot: Hoothoot is featured with 2× Catch Candy. Catching plenty will earn candy to power up Noctowl for the Great League. Hoothoot can be shiny.
- September 30 – Aron: the steel/rock hatchling concludes the month. During this hour trainers gain 2× Transfer Candy. This is a great opportunity to clear inventory and gain extra candy for powerful Aggron evolutions.
Community Day: Flabébé
Pokémon GO’s September 2025 Community Day spotlights Flabébé, the single‑bloom Pokémon. Flabébé Community Day takes place on Sunday September 14 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. local time. Flabébé spawns in five colours worldwide (red, yellow, blue, white and orange) depending on region; during Community Day all colours will appear more frequently.
Bonuses
During the three‑hour event, Niantic usually offers the following bonuses (based on typical Community Days):
- 3× Stardust for catching – catch everything to maximise gains.
- 3‑hour Incense and Lure Modules – incense and lures activated during the event will last for three hours.
- 2× Catch Candy and 2× chance of earning Candy XL – a perfect time to stock up on candy for Florges, Flabébé’s evolution.
- Special Research story – a paid $1 ticket provides extra tasks and rewards centred on Flabébé.
Evolving Flabébé into Floette and then into Florges during the event or up to five hours afterward yields an exclusive move (Niantic will announce the move nearer the date). Use the event to farm candy and obtain good IV Florges for raids and the GO Battle League.
Other notable events
- Completely Normal mini‑event: Running from September 23 – 27, this quirky celebration may boost Normal‑type spawns and research tasks. Expect raids featuring Hoothoot and other Normal types.
- Max Mondays: Some community sources refer to Max Mondays, a series of one‑day bonuses on Mondays where Mega raids award extra Mega Energy and experience.
- GO Battle League updates: The Tales of Transformation season resets the league rankings and introduces new cup formats. September usually features the Great League and a themed cup such as the Little Jungle Cup. Check the in‑game ‘Leagues’ tab for weekly rotations.
How to prepare
With so many events, it’s wise to plan ahead:
- Stock up on Poké Balls, Berries and raid passes. August’s Necrozma raids and September’s Palkia and Dialga rotations will quickly drain resources. Spin PokéStops daily and complete research tasks to refill items.
- Organise your Pokémon storage. Spotlight Hour on September 30 gives 2× Transfer Candy for transferring Pokémon, so identify duplicates you can send away.
- Coordinate with local players. Shadow Groudon raids are challenging, and beating them often requires a group. Use local Discord or WhatsApp groups to schedule raid times.
- Take advantage of bonuses. Use Lucky Eggs during the Pidgey Spotlight Hour for huge XP gains, and Star Pieces during Trubbish hour for bonus Stardust.
Final thoughts
September 2025 promises to be one of the busiest months in Pokémon GO this year. The Tales of Transformation season introduces fresh research and spawns, Necrozma, Palkia and Dialga headline the raid rotation, Flabébé’s Community Day offers a rare chance to catch multiple flower colours, and weekly Spotlight Hours provide valuable bonuses. Whether you’re a casual trainer or a dedicated raider, there’s something for everyone. Keep your eyes on the in‑game news for any surprise updates, and most importantly, have fun exploring the world of Pokémon this September!
Sources
To learn more and see the official announcements, visit the Pokémon GO news blog and the comprehensive event summaries on Pokémon GO Hub.
