Niantic has revealed Buzzwole, Pheromosa, and Xurkitree in 5-star Raid Battles, a brand new Pokémon GO Raid battles event that’s set to be one of the highlights of May 2026. Here’s your ultimate guide to everything happening during this event.
The event runs from May 13, 2026 to May 19, 2026. Read on for our complete breakdown of bonuses, featured Pokémon, preparation tips, shiny chances, and strategies to maximize your rewards.
📅 Buzzwole, Pheromosa, and Xurkitree in 5-star Raid Battles — Event Details
| 📛 Event Name | Buzzwole, Pheromosa, and Xurkitree in 5-star Raid Battles |
| 🏷️ Event Type | Raid battles |
| 📆 Start Date | May 13, 2026 |
| 📆 End Date | May 19, 2026 |
| 🎮 Game | Pokémon GO |
| 🌍 Availability | Worldwide (local time) |
🎯 Buzzwole, Pheromosa, and Xurkitree in 5-star Raid Battles — Complete Guide & Strategy
Raid Event Overview
During this Raid-focused event, special Raid Bosses appear in gyms across the world. This is your opportunity to battle and catch powerful Pokémon — including potentially Legendary and Mega Pokémon — that may not be available through other means.
Building Your Raid Team
Success in raids depends on having the right counters. Use our Type Chart to identify weaknesses and our Best Attackers list to find the strongest counters. A team of 6 Pokémon with super effective moves will deal significantly more damage and earn you more Premier Balls for catching.
Raid Rewards
Completing raids during event hours often yields bonus rewards including extra Rare Candy, Golden Razz Berries, and TMs. Higher-tier raids (5-star and Mega) provide the best rewards. Don’t forget that raid encounters have a guaranteed 10/10/10 IV floor, making them excellent for finding high-IV Pokémon.
Remote Raid Tips
If you can’t raid in person, Remote Raid Passes allow you to join raids from anywhere. Coordinate with global communities to find raids in other time zones and maximize your chances of catching the raid boss, especially if it’s shiny-eligible.
🎒 How to Prepare for Buzzwole, Pheromosa, and Xurkitree in 5-star Raid Battles
Proper preparation can make the difference between a good event and an incredible one. Follow these tips to ensure you’re ready for everything Buzzwole, Pheromosa, and Xurkitree in 5-star Raid Battles has to offer:
✅ Prepare your raid teams in advance by checking our Best Attackers list and making sure your top counters are powered up and have the right movesets.
✅ Stock up on Poké Balls, Great Balls, and Ultra Balls before the event starts. Open gifts from friends and spin PokéStops during your daily routine to build your supply. Running out of balls mid-event is every trainer’s nightmare.
✅ Clear out your Pokémon Storage by transferring unwanted Pokémon. You’ll need space for all the event encounters, potential hundos, and shiny Pokémon. Consider holding a mass-transfer session the day before.
✅ Expand your Item Bag to at least 1,500 items if possible. Events often include special items, new research rewards, and bonuses that fill up your bag quickly.
💰 Maximizing Your Rewards During Buzzwole, Pheromosa, and Xurkitree in 5-star Raid Battles
Every event in Pokémon GO comes with special bonuses. Smart trainers know how to stack these bonuses for maximum efficiency. Here’s how to get the most out of this event:
💡 Use Star Pieces during any Stardust bonus windows. Combine them with weather-boosted catches and Mega Evolution bonuses for exponential Stardust gains.
💡 If there are XP bonuses active, stack a Lucky Egg with Excellent throws for maximum gains. Each Excellent throw with a Lucky Egg during 2× XP can net you 2,000+ XP per catch.
💡 Check your Special Research and Timed Research tabs frequently. New research often drops silently during events with valuable rewards like Rare Candy, Elite TMs, and exclusive encounters.
💡 Keep an eye on Raid Bosses — they often rotate to match the event theme. New or returning Legendary Pokémon are common during major events.
✨ Shiny Pokémon During Buzzwole, Pheromosa, and Xurkitree in 5-star Raid Battles
The shiny rate for event-featured Pokémon is typically boosted above the standard 1/512 rate. For Community Days it’s around 1/25, and for event features it can be around 1/125 to 1/256.
New shiny Pokémon are frequently introduced during events. Keep your eyes open for any announcements about shiny debuts — being among the first to catch a newly released shiny is always exciting! For a complete list of all available shinies, check our Shiny Pokémon checklist.
Shiny Checking Tips: You can tell if a Pokémon is shiny from the encounter screen by looking for sparkles and a different color palette. If you see a shiny, use a Golden Razz Berry and an Ultra Ball to ensure the catch. Shiny Pokémon from raids and research have a 100% catch rate (as long as you hit them with the ball).
⚔️ PvP & GO Battle League Relevance
Check if any featured Pokémon have exclusive or Community Day moves during the event. Moves like Meteor Mash, Frenzy Plant, and Blast Burn can completely change a Pokémon’s viability in PvP.
When evaluating Pokémon for PvP during events, pay special attention to IVs. In Great League and Ultra League, the ideal PvP IVs are typically 0/15/15 or close to it — low Attack with high Defense and Stamina maximizes your stat product under the CP cap. Use our Pokédex to find specific PvP IV rankings for each Pokémon.
🏟️ Raid Guide for Buzzwole, Pheromosa, and Xurkitree in 5-star Raid Battles
Raids are a core part of most Pokémon GO events. During Buzzwole, Pheromosa, and Xurkitree in 5-star Raid Battles, expect changes to the raid boss rotation. Here’s what you need to know:
- 1-Star Raids: Great for solo trainers, often feature event-themed Pokémon
- 3-Star Raids: Soloable with strong teams, good rewards
- 5-Star Raids: Legendary Pokémon, need 3-6 trainers depending on counters
- Mega Raids: Mega-evolved Pokémon, excellent for farming Mega Energy
Remember to check the Type Chart for type advantages against raid bosses, and build your teams using the Best Attackers list for the most effective counters.
🏆 Pro Tips & Tricks for Buzzwole, Pheromosa, and Xurkitree in 5-star Raid Battles
🎯 Weather Boost Awareness: Keep an eye on in-game weather. Weather-boosted Pokémon have higher IVs (minimum 4/4/4) and give extra Stardust. If the event features a type that’s currently weather-boosted, you’ll find even better specimens.
🎯 Plan Your Route: Before the event starts, identify areas with high PokéStop and gym density. Parks, shopping centers, and downtown areas typically have the best spawn density for events.
🎯 Tag Your Best Catches: Use the in-game tagging system to mark your best catches during the event. Create tags like ‘Event Hundos’, ‘PvP IVs’, or ‘To Evolve’ to stay organized.
🎯 Buddy System: Set your buddy to a Pokémon that benefits from the event. If featured Pokémon are from a specific type, a Mega-evolved Pokémon of that type will give you extra candy for every catch of that type. Check our Buddy Distance chart for walking distances.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Buzzwole, Pheromosa, and Xurkitree in 5-star Raid Battles
Q: When does Buzzwole, Pheromosa, and Xurkitree in 5-star Raid Battles start and end?
A: The event starts on May 13, 2026 and ends on May 19, 2026. All times are in your local timezone.
Q: Is Buzzwole, Pheromosa, and Xurkitree in 5-star Raid Battles available worldwide?
A: Most Pokémon GO events are available globally, running in each trainer’s local timezone. Some features like regional Pokémon or in-person events may have location restrictions.
Q: Do I need a ticket for Buzzwole, Pheromosa, and Xurkitree in 5-star Raid Battles?
A: This event is free for all trainers. However, optional premium content like Timed Research or event boxes may be available for purchase.
Q: Can I get shiny Pokémon during this event?
A: Yes! Most events feature Pokémon with available shiny forms, and some events introduce new shiny releases. Check our Shiny Pokémon checklist for the full list of available shinies.
Q: What should I prioritize during the event?
A: Focus on catching featured Pokémon (especially shinies and high-IVs), completing event research tasks, taking advantage of bonus multipliers, and participating in event raids. Use Lucky Eggs and Star Pieces during bonus windows for maximum efficiency.
📚 Related Guides & Resources
This guide is updated as new information becomes available. Last updated: May 19, 2026. Data sourced from Pokémon GO Live and community research.