Niantic has officially announced the debut of Gigantamax Pokémon and the very first to take the stage is none other than Gigantamax Butterfree. Mark your calendars: the battle goes down on Sunday, August 3, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time.

Pokémon GO has been teasing the arrival of Dynamax and Gigantamax mechanics for months. Now, for the first time, Trainers will face six-star Max Battles featuring the towering, glowing-winged Gigantamax Butterfree. It can be shiny as well. So, if fortune’s on your side, a Shiny version of Gigantamax Butterfree might flutter into your collection.

What to Expect

This Max Battle Day is packed with perks to keep Trainers engaged before, during, and even after the event:

• All Power Spots will be taken over by Gigantamax Battles during the event hours.
• Max Particles is a key to powering up your Pokémon, which will drop in huge quantities, with an 8× bonus at Power Spots.
• Power Spots refresh faster, keeping the action coming nonstop.
• Your Max Particle storage limit jumps to 1,600, giving you room to grind.
• You’ll get two extra Special Trades, ideal for coordinating rare trades with friends.

In addition, the Remote Raid Pass limit will be temporarily raised from 10 to 20, between August 2 at 5:00 p.m. and August 3 at 8:00 p.m. PDT, letting you raid like never before, even from home.

Bonuses Before the Main Event

The event’s momentum actually begins midnight on August 3, with exploration-based bonuses that run through the main event:

• Double Max Particles from exploration
• Quarter distance requirement to earn them faster

To activate these boosts, make sure you've emptied your Max Particle inventory in the Nearby menu beforehand. Pro tip: turn on Adventure Sync to maximize your movement-based gains.

Special Research

From July 28 to August 3, there is an exclusive Research track centered around Gigantamax Butterfree that you can access. Finishing the tasks will net you rewards such as Candy, Max Particles, and a chance to encounter Dynamax Darumaka, which can also be Shiny.

Premium Event Ticket

For $4.99, Trainers can unlock exclusive Timed Research on Max Battle Day, which includes:

You can also gift tickets to friends ranked Great Friends or higher. The ticket is available in the in-game shop and Pokémon GO Web Store until 5:00 p.m. on August 3.

Coordinate Like With RSVP and Campfire

This isn’t a solo mission. With the new RSVP Planner update launching August 1, you can now schedule Gigantamax Battles with friends and local communities. Pair that with Niantic’s Campfire app, and finding active Max Battles or just fellow Trainers to team up with becomes a breeze.

Ultra Ticket Box Drops on Web Store

Also launching alongside the event is the Ultra Ticket Box in the Pokémon GO Web Store. For the same $4.99 price tag, you’ll get the event ticket plus a bonus Max Particle Pack, a solid deal for those planning to go all in.

Gigantamax Pokémon entering Pokémon GO is great new addition. With high-level coordination, rare rewards, and one of Kanto’s most elegant Pokémon at center stage,