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Get full details on Pokemon GO’s Sparring Partners Raid Day, including raid timings, bonuses, featured Pokemon, rewards, and ticket info.
You might want to set aside some time for an intense few hours on Sunday, April 13, 2025. From 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time, Sparring Partners Raid Day is set to bring a focused lineup, temporary bonuses, and added incentives. If you’re planning to participate, it’s worth going over every detail to make the most of it.
Everything About Sparring Partners Raid Day
Key Raid Features to Know
During the event, you’ll notice certain Pokemon showing up in raids more than usual. The Mega Raids will feature Mega Heracross, while standard raids will include Hariyama and Scraggy more frequently. Encounters from these raids may result in Shiny variants, but only if you’re lucky.
Each of these Pokemon fits the “sparring” theme, with Fighting-type traits playing a major role. Whether you’re battling for fun or resources, these choices reflect the tactical nature of the event.
Upper Hand Becomes Available
A new Charged Attack named Upper Hand is being introduced. Starting with this event, it will become part of the movepool for the featured Pokemon.
- In Trainer Battles, Upper Hand delivers 70 power and carries a chance to lower the opponent’s Defense by one stage.
- In Gyms and raids, the same move deals 50 power.
This addition isn’t time-limited, so Pokemon that can learn it will continue to have access to it even after the event ends.
Remote Raid Pass Limit Temporarily Raised
From Saturday, April 12, at 5:00 p.m. PDT to Sunday, April 13, at 8:00 p.m. PDT, the Remote Raid Pass limit increases to 20. This temporary boost allows more flexibility during raids without leaving your location.
If you’re used to hitting the regular limit quickly, this extended cap might help you participate in more battles without waiting for the daily reset.
Free Raid Passes at Local Gyms
You may receive up to five extra Raid Passes by spinning Gym Photo Discs during the three-hour window. Adding the regular daily pass, you can end up with six total free passes on the day.
Just make sure to spin multiple gyms throughout the event to maximize your collection.
Higher Shiny Chances
The odds of encountering Shiny Heracross, Shiny Hariyama, or Shiny Scraggy are higher specifically during raids in this time frame. If you’re a collector or looking to expand your Shiny lineup, this window might prove useful.
Paid Ticket Options and Bonuses
There’s also a ticketed version of the event, priced at US$4.99 (or your local equivalent). This can be purchased from the in-game shop or gifted to friends with a Great Friends level or higher.
The following extra bonuses apply only for ticket holders from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on April 13:
- Eight additional Raid Passes from Gym Spins (up to 14 total)
- Increased chance of getting Rare Candy XL from raid battles
- 50% more XP from raid battles
- Double Stardust from raid battles
Important: This ticket cannot be bought using PokeCoins, and all purchases are non-refundable, including gifted ones. The deadline to buy the ticket is 4:00 p.m. local time on April 13.
Free Timed Research: Stardust and More
A free Timed Research will be available for everyone during the event. If you finish it by 5:00 p.m. local time, you’ll receive the following rewards:
- 10,000 Stardust
- 1,000 extra Stardust per completed raid (2,000 total, or 3,000 with a ticket)
- Additional items and bonuses included in the research steps
Keep in mind, this research disappears at the end of the event. You must finish and claim all rewards before the cutoff time.
Web Store Ultra Ticket Box Offer
If you prefer making purchases online, the Sparring Partners Raid Day Ultra Ticket Box is available in the Pokemon GO Web Store. It also costs US$4.99, and along with the event ticket, it includes a bonus Premium Battle Pass at no extra cost.
This option may be useful if you’re already planning to buy the ticket and want a small boost to your battle items.
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