So, the holiday dust has finally settled. If you’re like me, your storage is probably overflowing with Pikachu wearing tiny hats and Costumed Spheal that you'll likely never evolve. But January is different. Niantic usually treats the first month of the year as a bridge between the winter holidays and the massive hype for Pokémon GO Tour. The Pokemon Go January 2025 raids lineup is surprisingly heavy on powerhouses, though, making it a "no-sleep" month if you're trying to climb the Master League ranks or solo some difficult Tier 3s later this year.
Let's be real. Not every raid is worth your premium passes.
Raiding in the cold sucks. You’re standing on a street corner, fingers freezing, trying to land an Excellent Curveball on a legendary that just won't stop jumping. If you're going to do that, the reward better be worth it. This month, we've got a mix of returning titans and some situational picks that most players overlook. It’s not just about the shiny hunt anymore; it’s about the XL candy grind.
The Legendary Heavy Hitters: 5-Star Raids
Honestly, the headline for the Pokemon Go January 2025 raids has to be the return of the "Forces of Nature" in their Therian Formes. We’re talking Landorus, Thundurus, and Tornadus.
If you don't have a high-IV Therian Forme Landorus, you are basically handicapping yourself in the Master League. Sandsear Storm changed everything for this guy. It’s a debuffing machine. Landorus-T isn’t just a "good" Ground type; it’s arguably the most consistent lead in the current meta. You need those 296 XL candies. It’s a slog, I know, but raiding Landorus this month is the only way you're going to keep up with the whales who already have their Level 50 specimens ready to go.
Then there's Thundurus. While it doesn't see as much play in PvP as Landorus, its Therian Forme is a beastly Electric attacker for PvE. If you’re tired of using the same old Jolteons or Magnezones from 2018, Thundurus with Wildbolt is a legitimate upgrade. Don't go crazy on it, but definitely grab enough to have a solid backup for when Kyogre inevitably returns to raids.
Tornadus is... well, it’s Tornadus. It's the one most people skip. Unless you are a hardcore shiny hunter looking for that slightly-different-green tint, you can probably save your passes when the wind genie is in town. It just doesn't have the moveset to compete with the likes of Rayquaza or even Honchkrow in terms of Flying-type DPS.
The Mystery Mid-Month Surprise
Word on the street—and by street, I mean the usual datamining circles like PokeMiners—is that we might see a brief return of a "special" Ultra Beast toward the end of the month. Niantic loves to drop these as a teaser for the Go Tour. If Celesteela or Kartana pop up in their respective hemispheres, drop everything for Kartana. It is a glass cannon, sure, but its Razor Leaf/Leaf Blade combo shreds through Water and Ground types so fast it feels like a glitch.
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Mega Raids: Efficiency over Hype
Mega Evolution energy is one of those things you don't care about until you suddenly really need it. The Pokemon Go January 2025 raids schedule features Mega Swampert and Mega Gardevoir in the rotation.
Mega Swampert is the king. Period.
You need it for Primal Kyogre raids. You need it for Primal Groudon raids. It’s Water/Ground, which is a defensive god-tier typing, leaving it only vulnerable to Grass. If you haven't maxed out your Mega Energy for Swampert, this is your priority. Plus, Mud Shot and Hydro Cannon (if you have the Elite TM or find a way to evolve it during an event window) is a legendary combo.
Mega Gardevoir is the Fairy-type queen. With the dragons often dominating the 5-star slots, having a Level 50 Mega Gardevoir makes your life significantly easier. It hits like a truck. It looks cool. What else do you want?
Why the 3-Star Raids are Secretly Better This Month
Everyone ignores the yellow eggs. Don't do that.
Sometimes the 3-star pool in the Pokemon Go January 2025 raids contains better value for your time than the legendaries. This month, we're seeing Druddigon and Hisuian Braviary making appearances.
Druddigon is a "shiny or bust" raid for many, but it's actually a decent budget Dragon for players who don't have a team of six 4,000 CP Salamence. Its shiny form—that bright green and orange—is also one of the most distinct in the game. It’s a solo-able raid, which is great if you live in a rural area or play at odd hours when the local Discord or Campfire groups are silent.
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Hisuian Braviary is another one to watch. It's a Psychic/Flying type that actually puts in work. More importantly, it’s a Raid-exclusive most of the time. If you’re a completionist, you can’t just find this in the wild.
Shadow Raids: The Frustration Continues
Shadow Raids are still the most polarizing part of the game. The "Enraged" mechanic is frustrating, especially if you're trying to duo a boss and someone forgets to use their Purified Gems.
This January, Shadow Raikou is sticking around for the weekends.
Shadow Raikou is arguably the best Electric-type attacker in the entire game. Better than Xurkitree in many scenarios because of its bulk and consistency. But man, it’s a tough fight. You need at least three people with solid Ground-type counters (think back to that Landorus we talked about) to take it down comfortably. If you see a Shadow Raikou raid and you have the gems, do it. The investment in Stardust is massive, but the DPS is undeniable.
Breaking Down the Schedule
The way Niantic usually structures these months is a two-week rotation.
- Week 1: Focuses on the "New Year" energy. Usually higher shiny rates for specific 1-star raids like Party Hat Bulbasaur or Charmander.
- Week 2-3: The "Legendary Cycle." This is when the Forces of Nature take over.
- Week 4: The transition. This is where we see the Ultra Beasts or the "prep" bosses for February's massive events.
Don't forget the Raid Hours every Wednesday at 6:00 PM local time. If you're looking for a group, that’s your best bet. Most cities have a "hotspot"—a park or a mall—where people gather. Just look for the group of people staring intensely at their phones and tapping rhythmically.
Tactics for the Average Player
You don't need to spend $100 a month to be good at this.
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First, use your free daily pass. It sounds obvious, but so many people let them rot. If you can’t find a 5-star, solo a 1-star. The rewards (Golden Razz Berries, Rare Candy) are worth the five minutes of your time.
Second, use the "search" strings in your storage to find the right counters. Searching "@ground" will show you everything with Ground-type moves. Don't just go with the "Recommended" team. The game loves to recommend Aggron because it has high defense, but Aggron's damage output is like poking a dragon with a pool noodle. It’s useless.
Third, check the weather. It matters. If it's Windy, those Dragon, Flying, and Psychic types are going to be boosted. That means they’ll be harder to catch, but they’ll come out at Level 25 instead of Level 20. That saves you a ton of Candy and Stardust.
The Stardust Problem
Raiding is the best way to burn through your Stardust if you aren't careful. Powering up a Shadow Mamoswine to counter Landorus is expensive. If you’re low on resources, focus on "budget" counters.
- Glaceon: Easily obtained from Eevee, hits Landorus for double-super-effective damage.
- Mamoswine: (Non-shadow) Still a top-tier Ice type and much cheaper to power up.
- Rhyperior: If you played the previous Community Days, you likely have a few of these. Rock Wrecker is great, but even Earthquake works for a Ground-type attacker in a pinch.
What's Next?
January is just the warmup. We know that February usually brings the "Tour" events, which means we’re likely looking at the return of the Sinnoh or Unova legends in a massive way.
The Pokemon Go January 2025 raids are your chance to bank the resources you'll need for those bigger fights. Think of this month as your training arc. Get your Landorus XLs, stock up on Revives and Max Potions, and maybe, if you're lucky, snag that shiny Mega Gardevoir you've been wanting since 2023.
Keep an eye on the "Today" tab in the app. Niantic loves to announce "Raid Days" with about three days' notice. These usually happen on Saturdays and offer five free passes. If we get a Raid Day this January, it’ll likely be for a Hisuian starter or a similar mid-tier evolution.
Get out there. Stay warm. And for the love of Arceus, use your Purified Gems when the boss gets enraged.
Actionable Steps for January Raiding
- Audit your Ground-type team. If you don't have at least four Pokémon above 3,500 CP with Ground moves, Landorus-T raids are your top priority this month.
- Save your Remote Passes. Don't waste them on 3-star raids. Use apps like PokeGenie or the in-game Campfire tool to find local groups for the 5-stars, and save the remotes for when a regional exclusive like Celesteela or Kartana pops up.
- Clean out your storage. You’re going to be catching a lot of high-CP legendaries. Make room now so you aren't panic-deleting Pokémon while the raid timer is ticking down.
- Farm the Mega Energy. Even if you don't have a hundo (100% IV) Swampert or Gardevoir yet, get the energy now. You can always find the "perfect" one later, but the energy is much harder to come by once they leave the rotation.
- Check your local community. January is a slow month for many, but the dedicated players will still be out. Reconnecting now makes those massive February events much smoother.
- Focus on XL Candy. If you're Level 40 or above, don't just catch the legendary and stop. Use a Mega-evolved Pokémon of the same type (e.g., Mega Swampert while catching Landorus) to increase your chances of getting those precious XL candies. It’s the only way to get a Pokémon to Level 50.