NIANTICPlayers around the world should get ready to flex their muscles as the Pokemon Go Sparring Partners Raid Day event will feature some strong Fighting-type creatures, such as Mega Heracross.
After a successful Raid Day featuring Mega Audino‘s debut, a similar new event is coming to Pokemon Go, but this time, it will be focused on Fighting-type creatures.
The recently announced Sparring Partners event will bring Mega Heracross back, but it won’t come alone. It will be accompanied by other strong fighters that every player will want to have on their team.
Sparring Partners Raid Day: Date & time
The Pokemon Go Sparring Partners Raid Day event will take place on Sunday, April 13, 2025, from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM local time.
During those three hours, Fighting-type Pokemon will take over Niantic’s game, appearing more frequently in regular Raids as well as Mega Raids.
Featured Pokemon
The mighty Bug/Fighting-type Mega Heracross will take over Mega Raids, while Hariyama and Scraggy will do the same with regular ones.
Moreover, they will all have increased chances of appearing as Shiny.
Remember that Mega Evolutions are temporary forms, so after you challenge and defeat Mega Heracross, you’ll have a chance to catch a regular one. Then, you can trigger the Pokemon’s Mega form using its Mega Energy, which you can collect by defeating it in Mega Raids.
Attack Availability
Starting with the event and continuing afterward, the featured Pokemon – Mega Heracross, Hariyama, and Scraggy – will be able to learn the Charged Move Upper Hand.
Upper Hand stats
- Trainer battles: 70 power and the chance to lower the opponent’s Defense by one stage
- Gym and Raid battles: 50 power
Event bonuses
During the Sparring Partners Raid Day, players can benefit from the following bonuses:
Related
- The Remote Raid Pass limit will increase to 20 from April 12, 2025, at 5:00 PM until April 13, 2025, at 8:00 PM PDT.
- Players can receive up to five additional free Raid Passes from spinning Gym Photo Discs for a total of six.
- Players will have increased chances of encountering Shiny Heracross, Shiny Hariyama, and Shiny Scraggy from Raid battles.
Event ticket
Hardcore trainers can get additional bonuses and items by purchasing an event ticket for US$ 4.99 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency) from the in-game store. The paid ticket includes:
- Eight additional Raid Passes from spinning Gym Photo Discs for a daily total of 14.
- Increased chance to get Rare Candy XL from Raid battles.
- 50% more XP from Raid battles.
- x2 Stardust from Raid battles.
DEXERTOThe bonuses will be active during the three hours the Raid Day lasts, though the ticket will stay in the shop up until one hour before it ends – April 13, 2025, at 4:00 PM local time.
Players can purchase and gift event tickets to any of their Pokemon Go friends. However, to do so, first, they must achieve a Friendship level of Great Friends or higher.
Timed Research
A free Timed Research opportunity will be available during the Pokemon Go Sparring Partners Raid Day, and those who complete the tasks can earn the following rewards and bonuses:
- x10,000 Stardust
- x1,000 additional Stardust for completing a Raid battle for a total of 2,000 Stardust – or 3,000 Stardust for ticket holders
- And more!
Remember that, as the name says, every Timed Research has a limited time. Every task must be completed – and rewards must be claimed – before it expires on April 13, 2025, at 5:00 PM local time.
Pokemon Go Web Store – Ultra Ticket Box
During the event, a Sparring Partners Raid Day Ultra Ticket Box will be available at the Pokemon Go Web Store for US$ 4.99 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency).
The Ultra Ticket Box will include:
- x1 event ticket
- x1 Premium Battle Pass
That’s all there is to know bout the Sparring Partners Raid Day event in Pokemon Go. Don’t forget to check the other events like the Spotlight Hour schedule and all of the Raid Bosses and Shadow Raid bosses available.
