Honestly, May is usually that awkward transition month in Pokemon GO where we’re all just waiting for the summer heat and the big GO Fest reveals. But 2025? It’s hitting different. We aren't just getting the usual filler; Niantic is finally leaning into the "Might and Mastery" season finale with some heavy hitters.
If you’ve been slacking on your Power Spots or ignoring those weird purple clouds, May is going to be a wake-up call. We're talking the debut of Gigantamax Machamp and the arrival of Urshifu. Yeah, the Wushu Pokemon is finally dropping, and it’s tied to a massive GO Battle Week.
Pokemon Go May 2025 Events: The Big Heavy Hitters
The month kicks off with the Growing Up event from May 2 to May 7. It sounds cute, but it’s basically a "grind for candy" week. If you still don't have a Gyarados, Golisopod, or Altaria, this is your best shot. They’re boosting spawns for Magikarp, Wimpod, and Swablu. Basically, anything that takes 400 candies to evolve is on the table.
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You get double XP and Candy for hatching eggs during this window too.
Then we have the Mega Kangaskhan Raid Day on May 3. From 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., this regional beast is everywhere. It’s one of those rare moments where you can actually snag a shiny Kangaskhan without flying to Australia. Niantic is even lifting the Remote Raid limit for the day, which is a nice touch for those of us stuck at home.
Pawmi Community Day and the Crown Clash
Mark May 11 on your calendar. It’s Pawmi Community Day. Between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., the little electric mouse is the star. If you evolve Pawmo into Pawmot by May 18, it gets the move Brick Break.
Is it meta-breaking? Not really. But the shiny is a great pinkish-orange, and the 1 km buddy evolution requirement is being temporarily slashed during the event.
Right alongside that is the Crown Clash event (May 10–18). This is the one I’m actually hyped for because it introduces Kingambit. You’ll need to evolve it from Pawniard, so start saving those candies now. The event also features costumed versions of Nidoking and Nidoqueen, which look kinda cool but are mostly for the collectors.
The Return of the Lake Trio
The raid rotation for May is actually pretty solid. We start with Tapu Fini (May 1–12), which is a staple in the Ultra League. It’ll know Nature’s Madness, making it a must-grab if you’re into PvP.
After that, the Lake Trio returns from May 12 to May 25.
- Uxie: Asia-Pacific
- Mesprit: Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India
- Azelf: The Americas and Greenland
These are region-locked, so you’ll need those remote raid invites from friends across the pond if you want the full set.
Gigantamax Machamp and Max Mondays
Max Battles are becoming the new Raids, whether we like it or not. The Gigantamax Machamp Max Battle Day on May 25 is the centerpiece. From 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., every Power Spot is going to be hosting this four-armed giant.
You’ll need a solid team of Dynamax Pokemon to take it down. Don't go in alone.
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We also have Max Mondays every week from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.:
- May 5: Dynamax Grookey
- May 12: Dynamax Gastly
- May 19: Dynamax Sableye
- May 26: Dynamax Rookidee
Final Strike: GO Battle Week and Urshifu
The biggest news for the competitive scene is the Final Strike: GO Battle Week (May 21–27). This is where Urshifu makes its debut. This thing has been a terror in the main series games, and it’s likely going to shake up the Master League.
During this week, you can complete more sets in the GO Battle League and earn quadruple Stardust from win rewards. It’s the perfect time to burn through those Premium Battle Passes if you’ve been hoarding them.
Spotlight Hours: Is it worth the 6 PM alarm?
Tuesday nights in May are a bit of a mixed bag.
May 6 features Furfrou with 2x Catch Candy. It's okay, I guess, if you're trying to unlock all those different trims.
May 13 is Sandygast with 2x Transfer Candy. This is the one you want for clearing out your storage. Dump all those legendaries you've been holding onto.
May 20 is Poochyena with 2x Evolve XP. If you have a stack of lucky eggs, this is a prime time to power level.
May 27 is Golett with 2x Catch Stardust. Honestly, this is the best one. Use a Star Piece and go ham. Golett’s evolution, Golurk, is a spicy pick for certain limited cups, and you can never have enough Stardust.
Preparing for GO Fest 2025
While May is busy, it’s also the lead-up to GO Fest 2025. Niantic has already confirmed the first in-person event starts in Osaka, Japan on May 29.
If you aren't going to Japan, don't worry. The global preparations start now. We’re seeing more "Might and Mastery" Special Backgrounds on Pokemon caught this month, and the rewards from the GO Pass: May are leaning heavily into resources you'll need for June and July.
Actionable Next Steps for Trainers
- Clear your storage by May 13: Use the Sandygast Spotlight Hour to transfer everything and get double candy.
- Stock up on Max Particles: You’ll need them for the Gigantamax Machamp debut on May 25. Don't wait until the day of.
- Find a Pawniard with good IVs: Kingambit is coming during the Crown Clash, and you'll want a high-rank one for the Master League or Raids.
- Buddy up with Pawmo: Start walking it now so you’re ready for the 1 km evolution requirement on Community Day.
- Save your Star Pieces: Use them on May 27 during the Golett Spotlight Hour and on May 24 during the Machop Community Day Classic.