If you've spent any time staring at a Gym in Pokémon GO lately, you've probably noticed that the vibe has shifted. It’s not just about the same old faces anymore. Right now, we are smack in the middle of January 2026, and the current raid bosses Pokémon GO lineup is honestly a bit of a chaotic mix of high-tech bugs and fiery powerhouses.
Most people just jump into a raid because they see a big shadow and a five-star egg. But if you’re trying to actually be efficient, you need to know exactly what’s rotating through those gyms. Right now, we’re looking at a heavy focus on the Unova region and some seriously heavy hitters in the Mega slots.
The Big Ones: 5-Star Legendary Raids
Basically, the headliners right now are Genesect (Burn Drive) and Genesect (Chill Drive). They've been holding down the fort since January 5th and will stay until January 16th.
It’s kind of a weird situation because you’re essentially hunting the same Pokémon but with different hats—or in this case, different high-tech cartridges. If you’re a shiny hunter, both the Burn and Chill versions can be shiny. They are Bug and Steel types, which means they are absolutely terrified of Fire.
If you miss this window, don't sweat it too much, but the next shift is fast. On January 16th, the Genesects pack up and Incarnate Forme Thundurus flies in. He’ll be around until January 25th. After that? Incarnate Forme Tornadus takes over to close out the month and lead us into February.
Pro-Tip for Genesect
Since it's a double-weakness to Fire, you don’t need a massive group. Two trainers with high-level Mega Blaziken or Reshiram can basically melt through Genesect’s health bar. Honestly, it’s one of the easier legendary duos if you have the right counters.
Mega Raids: The Powerhouses
The Mega slot is currently occupied by Mega Blaziken. It’s here until the 16th, matching the Genesect window.
This is huge. Mega Blaziken isn't just a cool-looking bird; it is arguably one of the best Fire-type attackers in the entire game. If you don't have enough Mega Energy to evolve one yet, this is your priority.
Once the clock strikes 10:00 AM on January 16th, Mega Sceptile takes over. Then, on January 25th, we move to Mega Ampharos. It’s a very "starter-heavy" month for Mega raids, which is great for newer players trying to build up their core teams.
Shadow Raids: The Weekend Grind
Shadow Raids are a whole different beast. You've probably seen Shadow Cresselia hovering around. Unlike the regular raids, these are mostly a weekend thing throughout January.
Cresselia is notoriously tanky. You can't just solo this one. You’re going to need a group and, more importantly, Purified Gems. If your team doesn't use gems when she hits her "enraged" state, you’re basically just throwing your Raid Passes into a black hole.
The Shadow Schedule
- 1-Star Shadows: Drowzee, Ralts, Bagon, Snover. (Bagon is the one you want here—Shadow Salamence is a monster).
- 3-Star Shadows: Scyther, Aerodactyl, Sableye.
- 5-Star Shadow: Shadow Cresselia (Weekends).
There’s also a special Shadow Raikou Raid Day coming up on January 24th. Mark that on your calendar. Between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM local time, Raikou will be everywhere. It’s the best time to grab a high-IV Shadow Raikou, which is still a top-tier Electric attacker for raids.
What's Happening with Dynamax?
Niantic is really pushing the Max Battles right now. It's technically separate from the standard raid tab, but most of us treat them the same.
Right now (the week of January 12th), Dynamax Caterpie is the featured mon in Max Battles. Yeah, I know, it’s a caterpillar. But you need those Max Particles. Starting January 19th, we get Dynamax Beldum, which is infinitely more exciting. Metagross is a staple in the meta, and having a Dynamax version is going to be crucial for future Power Spot battles.
Lower Tier Raids: The Hidden Gems
People often ignore the 1-star and 3-star raids, but that’s a mistake. Especially this week with the High Zaptitude event running from January 13th to 18th.
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In the 1-star category, you’ve got Ponyta, Krabby, Sandygast, and Scorbunny. Honestly, Scorbunny is the standout there if you’re still looking for a good Cinderace candidate.
The 3-star raids are featuring Magmar, Onix, and Diggersby. Magmar is decent if you need Candy for Magmortar, but none of these are really "must-haves" compared to the legendaries.
How to Prepare Your Team
Don't just go in with the "Recommended" team. The game's auto-selector loves picking high-HP Pokémon that do zero damage. It’ll suggest Aggron or Blissey just because they won't die, but you'll run out of time.
For the current Genesect raids, bring:
- Reshiram (Fusion Flare is a must).
- Mega Blaziken (Fire Spin/Blast Burn).
- Heatran (Magma Storm).
- Chandelure (Fire Spin/Overheat).
For the upcoming Thundurus (Jan 16+), swap to Rock and Ice types. Rhyperior with Rock Wrecker or Mamoswine with Avalanche will do the heavy lifting there.
Why This Rotation Matters
This month is basically a "catch-up" month. Genesect, Thundurus, and Tornadus are all great for filling out the Pokédex, but they also have niche uses in the GO Battle League.
The real value, though, is in the Kyurem Fusion Raid Day that just happened on January 10th. If you caught a good Kyurem, you might be looking for ways to use it. While it's not a raid boss right now, the energy you gathered there makes it a prime candidate for your team when taking down the flying-type legendaries later this month.
Actionable Next Steps for Trainers
Stop wasting passes on 1-stars unless you really need the shiny check. Focus your daily free pass on Mega Blaziken until the 16th to stock up on that energy. It’s a top-three Fire attacker and you’ll regret not having it when the harder Bug or Grass bosses rotate in later this year.
Check your inventory for Purified Gems. You get shards from beating Team GO Rocket grunts. If you’re planning on hitting Shadow Cresselia this weekend, you need a stack of 10 gems ready to go. Without them, the "enraged" buff makes the boss nearly impossible for small groups.
Lastly, keep an eye on the clock. Raid bosses usually swap at 10:00 AM local time on the dates mentioned. Don't be the person who shows up at 11:00 AM expecting a Genesect only to find a Thundurus staring back at you.
Plan your Wednesday Raid Hours (6:00 PM to 7:00 PM). January 14th is your last big chance for the Genesect forms before they disappear for who knows how long. Gather a group, hit the densest area of gyms in your town, and move fast.