The Sparring Partners Raid Day is on Sunday, April 13, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time. This event features different Fighting-type Pokémon in different raid tiers. This event in April 2025 is the first of its kind where more than one Pokémon is featured during a raid day.
Sparring Partners Raid Day Featured Pokémon
The following Pokémon will appear frequently in their respective raid tiers.
- Mega Raids: Mega Heracross
- Tier 3 Raids: Hariyama
- Tier 1 Raids: Scraggy
Heracross, Hariyama, and Scraggy encounters, after completing the raids, can be shiny, if you are lucky.
In addition, Heracross, Hariyama, and Scraggy will be able to learn the Charged Attack Upper Hand. Trainers can teach these featured Pokémon Upper Hand starting with the event and afterward using Charged TMs. Upper Hand is a Fighting-type move that deals 70 power and a chance to lower the opposing Pokémon’s Defense by one stage during Trainer Battles. In Gyms and Raids, however, it only deals 50 power.
Sparring Partners Raid Day Event Bonuses
Trainers participating in the event will have access to the following bonuses.
- Remote Raid Pass limit will increase to 20 from Saturday, April 12, at 5:00 p.m. to Sunday, April 13, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. PDT.
- Five (5) additional free Raid Passes from spinning Gym Photo Discs (for a total of six).
- Increased chance of encountering Shiny Heracross, Hariyama, and Scraggy from Raids.
Event-themed Research
The following event-themed research will be available during the event.
- Free Timed Research Tasks will be available. Completing the tasks will award Trainers with the following
- 10,000 Stardust
- 1,000 additional Stardust for completing a Raid Battle (for a total of 2,000 Stardust, or 3,000 Stardust with the event ticket)
- and more!
- Paid Timed Research will be available for Trainers to purchase for US$4.99 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency). Completing the paid event-themed timed research will award Trainers with the following.
- Eight (8) 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
- 2× Stardust from Raid Battles
These bonuses will be effective on Sunday, April 13, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time.
Enjoy this event and, do make the best use of it.
