Wild Area Events

In Pokémon Sword & Shield, the Wild Area is filled with a variety of Max Raid Battles that change periodically. However, with internet connection, you have the ability to access specific Raid Battles during certain times. This page is to detail all Wild Area Events

Finale

Release Dates:

Global: November 1st 2022 - End of Service

The final event and the now standard Wild Area News had the majority of the Gigantamax Pokémon as opponents to face

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Crown Tundra  Event

Challenge Glastrier & Spectrier Event

Release Dates:

Global: October 21st - October 23rd 2022

The October special Max Raid Battle event celebrated the second anniversary of The Crown Tundra and featured uncatchable battles against Glastrier and Spectrier with lots of rare rewards

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Crown Tundra  Event

Battle Under Full Moon Event

Release Dates:

Global: September 9th - September 19th 2022

The September special Max Raid Battle event focused around small Pokémon, offering a chance to get Shiny Snom

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Urshifu  Event

Scary Summer Event

Release Dates:

Global: August 12th - August 21st2022

The August special Max Raid Battle event focused around the Pokémon Grimmsnarl, offering a chance to get Shiny Grimmsnarl

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Urshifu  Event

Cool Off Event

Release Dates:

Global: July 1st - 10th 2022

The July special Max Raid Battle event focused around the Pokémon Marill, Poliwag and Spheal, offering a chance to get Shiny Marill

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Urshifu  Event

Urshifu Event

Release Dates:

Global: June 17th - 19th 2022

The May special Max Raid Battle event focused around the Pokémon Urshifu and featured battles against both forms, though they are unable to be caught

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Urshifu  Event

Shell-ebration Event

Release Dates:

Global: May 22nd 2022

The May special Max Raid Battle event focused around the Pokémon Shellder and offered a chance to get Shiny Shellder

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April Fools  Event

Sudowoodo Event

Release Dates:

Global: April 1st 2022

The April Fools special Max Raid Battle event focused around the Pokémon Sudowoodo and offered a chance to get Shiny Sudowoodo

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April Fools  Event

Fossil Event

Release Dates:

Global: March 18th - March 27th 2022

The March special Max Raid Battle event was to coincide with the opening of the Pokémon Fossil Museum in Tokyo in March 2022. It featured the Unova and Kalos Fossil Pokémon with a chance of Shiny Tyrantrum

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Summer  Event

Pokémon Day 2022 Event

Release Dates:

Global: February 22nd - 27th 2022

The February special Max Raid Battle event featured raids against Gigantamax Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise to celebrate Pokémon's 26th anniversary

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Summer  Event

Valentines 2022 Event

Release Dates:

Global: February 11th - 20th 2022

The February special Max Raid Battle event featured Milcery, with all the Sweet items for evolution being given. Milcery had the Gigantamax Factor and had a chance of being shiny

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Summer  Event

New Year 2022 Event

Release Dates:

Global: January 1st - 9th 2022

The December special Max Raid Battle event features Pokémon based on being associated with luck, with Shiny Magikarp being available

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Summer  Event

Holiday Event

Release Dates:

Global: December 17th - 26th 2021

The December special Max Raid Battle event features Pokémon based on Christmas with Shiny Delibird being available

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Summer  Event

Eeveelution Event

Release Dates:

Global: November 19th - 28th 2021

The October special Max Raid Battle event features Pokémon based on Eevee and its evolutions with Shiny Eevee and Gigantamax Eevee

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Summer  Event

Halloween 2021 Event

Release Dates:

Global: October 29th - 31st 2021

The October special Max Raid Battle event features Pokémon based on Halloween, with a chance to get a shiny Zoroark

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Summer  Event

Alola Starter Event

Release Dates:

Global: October 1st - 3rd 2021

The October special Max Raid Battle event features Pokémon based on the Alola Starters, the first way you've been able to get them in special balls

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Summer  Event

Meteorite Event

Release Dates:

Global: September 17th - September 19th 2021

The September special Max Raid Battle event features Solrock & Lunatone, with a chance to get them both shiny

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Summer  Event

Cleaning Event

Release Dates:

Global: September 3rd - September 5th 2021

The September special Max Raid Battle event features Pokémon based on things that clean up. It offers a chance to get shiny Cinccino

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Summer  Event

Summer Ghost Event

Release Dates:

Global: August 20th - August 22nd 2021

The August special Max Raid Battle event features Pokémon based on Ghosts. It offers a chance to get shiny Chandelure

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Summer  Event

Summer Event

Release Dates:

Global: August 6th - August 8th 2021

The August special Max Raid Battle event features Pokémon based on summer such as bugs, fans and ice cream. It offers a chance to get shiny Vanilluxe

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Summer  Event

Fossil Event

Release Dates:

Global: July 23rd - July 25th 2021

The July special Max Raid Battle event features the Fossil Pokémon from the Kanto Region, with a chance of getting Shiny Omanyte

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FossilPokémon  Event

Curry Class Event

Release Dates:

Global: July 9th - July 11th 2021

The July special Max Raid Battle event features the Pokémon that adorn the Curry Class medals, with a chance of getting Shiny Copperajah as well as the other version's exclusive ingredients

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Curry Pokémon  Event

Tentacle Pokémon Event

Release Dates:

Global: June 25th - June 27th 2021

The late June special Max Raid Battle event features various Pokémon with tentacles being available and a chance of getting Shiny Grapploct

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Tentacle Pokémon  Event

Froggy Pokémon Event

Release Dates:

Global: June 4th - June 6th 2021

The early June special Max Raid Battle event features various frog Pokémon being available and a chance of getting Shiny Politoed and a chance to get Gigantamax Venusaur for all players

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Froggy Pokémon  Event

Wooloo Event

Release Dates:

Global: May 21st - May 23rd 2021

The late April special Max Raid Battle event features Wooloo & Dubwool being available and a chance of getting Shiny Wooloo

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Wooloo Event

Meowth Festival Event

Release Dates:

Global: April 30th - May 2nd 2021

The late April special Max Raid Battle event features the various forms of Meowth with Gigantamax Meowth being available and a chance of getting Shiny Galarian Meowth

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Meowth FestivalDay  Event

World Penguin Day Event

Release Dates:

Global: April 23rd - April 25th 2021

The mid April special Max Raid Battle event features Eiscue in order to celebrate World Penguin Day, and offered a chance to get Shiny Eiscue

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World Penguin Day  Event

Early Route Event

Release Dates:

Global: April 5th 2021 - ??? 2021

The April 2021 Wild Area Event was focused around some Pokémon you find in the early routes of Galar, as well as Ditto. It features no Gigantamax

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Early Route Event Image

Easter Event

Release Dates:

Global: April 2nd - April 4th 2021

The early April special Max Raid Battle event features Rabbit themed Pokémon, as well as a chance of getting Shiny Azumarill

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Flower Event

April Fools Day Event

Release Dates:

Global: April 1st 2021

The April special Max Raid Battle event features nothing but uncatchable Magikarp, to celebrate April Fool's Day

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April Fools Day Event

Flower Event

Release Dates:

Global: March 26th - March 28th 2021

The Mid-March special Max Raid Battle event features Flower themed Pokémon, as well as a chance of getting Shiny Lilligant

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Flower Event

Fairy & Flying Event

Release Dates:

Global: March 1st - March 31st 2021

The March 2021 Wild Area Event was focused around Fairy & Flying-type Pokémon. This event provided a myriad of Fairy & Flying-type Pokémon including Gigantamax Hatterene & Gigantamax Corviknight

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Fairy & Flying Event Image

Pokémon Day 2021 Event

Release Dates:

Global: February 26th - February 28th 2021

The late February special Max Raid Battle event features spawns of Gigantamax Pikachu. If 1,000,000 Pikachu are defeated, then all players will receive a distribution of 100 Armorite Ore and 100 Dynite Ore

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Pokémon Day 2021 Event

Valentine's Day 2021 Event

Release Dates:

Global: February 11th - February 14th 2021

The Mid-February special Max Raid Battle event features nothing but spawns of Milcery with the Gigantamax Factor, giving the sweets as well as a chance of getting Shiny Milcery

Click here for full details

Valentine's Day 2021 Event

Secrets of the Jungle Event

Release Dates:

Global: February 4th - February 8th 2021

The February special Max Raid Battle event features a tie-in with the movie Secrets of the Jungle and features increased appearances of Pokémon from the movie including Cramorant. This event has got a special bonus of distributions from February 10th if enough players defeat the Cramorant

If 500,000 people beat it, all players will receive a gift of a Flame Orb, Toxic Orb and Light Ball
If 1,000,000 people defeat it, all players receive a gift of a Gold Bottle Cap, 3 Bottle Caps and 3 Pearl Strings

Click here for full details

Secrets of the Jungle Event

Fighting & Psychic Event

Release Dates:

Global: February 1st - February 28th 2021

The February 2021 Wild Area Event was focused around Fighting & Psychic-type Pokémon. This event provided a myriad of Fighting & Psychic-type Pokémon including Gigantamax Machamp & Gigantamax Orbeetle

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Fighting & PsychicEvent Image

Year of the Ox Event

Release Dates:

Global: January 22nd - January 24th 2021

The January special Max Raid Battle event features the Pokémon that are based on the Year of the Ox, getting you a chance for Shiny Tauros

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Year of the Ox Event

Berry Event

Release Dates:

Global: January 8th - January 10th 2021

The January special Max Raid Battle event features the Pokémon that are Berry themed, getting you various rare Berries as well as a chance for Shiny Skwovet and Shiny Greedent. It repeated November 2020's event with alterations to the item pools and rarities

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Berry Event

Normal & Dragon Event

Release Dates:

Global: January 1st - January 31st 2021

The January 2021 Wild Area Event was focused around Dragon & Normal-type Pokémon. This event provided a myriad of Normal & Dragon-type Pokémon including Gigantamax Snorlax & Gigantamax Duraludon

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Normal & Dragon  Event Image

Christmas 2020

Release Dates:

Global: December 25th - December 27th 2020

The December 2020 Special Wild Area Event was focused around Christmas and featured spawns of Delibird and other Ice-type Pokémon, with a chance to get Shiny Alolan Vulpix

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Christmas 2020Image

Ice & Fire Event

Release Dates:

Global: December 1st - December 31st 2020

The December 2020 Wild Area Event was focused around Ice & Fire-type Pokémon. This event provided a myriad of Ice & Fire-type Pokémon including Gigantamax Lapras & Gigantamax Centiskorch, as well as the ability to get Kantonian Ponyta & Rapidash

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Bug & Poison Event Image

Berry Event

Release Dates:

Global: November 20th - November 22nd 2020

The November special Max Raid Battle event features the Pokémon that are Berry themed, getting you various rare Berries as well as a chance for Shiny Skwovet

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Berry Event

Bug & Poison Event

Release Dates:

Global: November 2nd - November 30th 2020

The November 2020 Wild Area Event was focused around Bug & Poison-type Pokémon. This event provided a myriad of Bug & Poison-type Pokémon including Gigantamax Butterfree & Gigantamax Garbodor

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Bug & Poison Event Image

Halloween Raids

Release Dates:

Global: October 30th - November 1st 2020

The September special Max Raid Battle event features the Pokémon that are spooky and a chance of getting a Shiny Gourgeist

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September Seasonal Equinox Event

Ghost & Dark Event

Release Dates:

Global: October1st - October 31st 2020

The October 2020 Wild Area Event was focused around Ghost & Dark -type Pokémon. This event provided a myriad of Ghost & Dark-type Pokémon including Gigantamax Gengar & Gigantamax Grimmsnarl

Click here for full details

This event then got updated when The Crown Tundra released to give Dynite Ore as a Raid Reward Click here for full details

Ghost & Dark Event Image

September Seasonal Equinox Event

Release Dates:

Global: September 18th - September 20th 2020

The September special Max Raid Battle event features the Pokémon that have evolved from the Sun Stone or the Moon Stone and a chance of getting a Shiny Clefable

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September Seasonal Equinox Event

Electric & Grass Event

Release Dates:

Global: September 1st - September 31st 2020

The September 2020 Wild Area Event was focused around Electric & Grass -type Pokémon. This event provided a myriad of Electric & Grass-type Pokémon including Gigantamax Toxtricity, Gigantamax Flapple and Gigantamax Appletun

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Electric & Grass Event Image

Water & Ground Event

Release Dates:

Global: August 1st - August 31st 2020

The August 2020 Wild Area Event was focused around Water and Ground-type Pokémon. This event provided a myriad of Water and Ground-type Pokémon including Gigantamax Sandaconda and Gigantamax Drednaw

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Water & Ground Event Image

Pikachu Outbreak

Release Dates:

Global: August 6th - August 9th 2020

The August special Max Raid Battle event features the Pikachu line including the first place to catch Alolan Raichu in the game, a Mimikyu and a chance of getting a Shiny Pikachu

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Pikachu Outbreak Event Image

Sea Pokémon Invasion

Release Dates:

Global: July 17th - July 19th 2020

This Extra Event, for one weekend, added a lot of Water-type Pokémon into raids. With this, it added a 2% chance of getting a guaranteed shiny Wailord from 5 star raids

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Sea Pokémon Invasion Max Raid Battle Event Image

Rock & Steel Event

Release Dates:

Global: June 30th - July 31st 2020

The July 2020 Wild Area Event was focused around Rock and Steel-type Pokémon. This event provided a myriad of Rock & Steel-type Pokémon including Gigantamax Copperajah and Gigantamax Coalossal

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Rock & Steel  Max Raid Battle Event Image

Zeraora Event

Release Dates:

Global: June 17th - June 28th 2020

To celebrate the release of the Isle of Armor, Zeraora was added as an uncatchable raid boss, but with a twist: Its Shiny Variant is also available. This is in order to promote the opportunity to get a Shiny Zeraora distribution. If 1,000,000 people manage to defeat Zeraora in a Max Raid Battle, players will receive the Shiny Zeraora. To do that, they also need to deposit/withdraw a Pokémon from HOME from the event start to the event end

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Zeraora Max Raid Battle Event Image

Gigantamax Pokémon Return

Release Dates:

Global: June 2nd - June 17th 2020, June 29th 2020

If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of every Gigantamax Pokémon aside from Pikachu, Meowth and Eevee in raids

In Pokémon Sword: Gigantamax Snorlax, Gengar, Kingler, Lapras, Garbodor, Corviknight, Appletun, Toxtricity (Amped Form), Centiskorch, Grimmsnarl, Alcremie and Duraludon will appear in Max Raid Battles
In Pokémon Shield: Gigantamax Snorlax, Charizard, Butterfree, Machamp, Orbeetle, Drednaw, Coalossal, Flapple, Sandaconda, Toxtricity (Low Key Form), Hatterne and Copperajah will appear in Max Raid Battles

Click here for full details

Gigantamax Max Raid Battle Event Image

Gigantamax Meowth

Release Dates:

Global: May 26th 2020 - June 2nd 2020

If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Gigantamax Pikachu. This event allows for the first opportunities to find Gigantamax Meowth with its Hidden Ability and to find its shiny variant

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Gigantamax Meowth Max Raid Battle Event Image

Gigantamax Eevee

Release Dates:

Global: May 19th 2020 - May 25th 2020

If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Gigantamax Pikachu. This event allows for the first opportunities to find Gigantamax Eevee with its Hidden Ability and to find its shiny variant

Click here for full details

Gigantamax Eevee Max Raid Battle Event Image

Gigantamax Pikachu

Release Dates:

Global: May 12th 2020 - May 18th 2020

If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Gigantamax Pikachu. This event allows for the first opportunities to find Gigantamax Pikachu with its Hidden Ability and to find its shiny variant

Click here for full details

Gigantamax Pikachu Max Raid Battle Event Image

May 2020 - Competitve

Release Dates:

Global: April 28th 2020 - May 11th 2020

If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding various Pokémon that are typically used in a competitive environment: Whmiscott, Tyranitar, Rotom, Dragapult, Togekiss & Excadrill. Each of these raids has a guaranteed drop of each TR it can give

Click here for full details

May 2020 Max Raid Battle Event Image

Easter 2020

Release Dates:

Global: April 10th 2020 - April 15th 2020

If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding various Baby Pokémon and Ditto. These Pokémon come with items that can help breeding Pokémon such as Everstone, Destiny Knot and more

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Easter Max Raid Battle Event Image

Gigantamax Duraludon & Charizard

Release Dates:

Global: March 26th 2020 - April 28th 2020

If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of Gigantamax Copperajah, Gigantamax Duraludon, Gigantamax Garbodor and Gigantamax Charizard. 5* Charizard raids cannot be shiny but can at lower levels

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Gigantamax Duraludon & Charizard Max Raid Battle Event Image

Pokédex Completion Event

Release Dates:

Global: March 19th 2020 - March 25th 2020

If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of Gigantamax Snorlax, Gigantamax machamp and Gigantamax Gengar as well as different version exclusives and rare Pokémon. They give rewards of Fossils and various version exclusive items including Applin evolution items:
Shelmet, Karrablast, Accelgor, Escavalier and Pincurchin will appear in both games
Galarian Corsola, Galarian Ponyta, Galarian Rapidash, Mandibuzz, Oranguru, and Female Indeedee will appear in Sword
Galarian Darumaka, Galarian Farfetch'd, Sirfetch'd, Braviary, Passimian, and Male Indeedee will appear in Shield

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Pokédex Completion Max Raid Battle Event Image

Gigantamax Machamp & Gengar

Release Dates:

Global: March 9th 2020 - March 18th 2020

If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of Gigantamax Snorlax, Gigantamax machamp and Gigantamax Gengar

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Gigantamax Machamp & Gengar Max Raid Battle Event Image

Kanto Starters & Mewtwo

Release Dates:

Global: February 27th 2020 - March 1st 2020

If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Kanto Pokémon in the Wild Area.
The increases are of Kanto Starters which provide EV Reducing Berries, Toxic Orb, Flame Orb and Life Orb, or against uncatchable Mewtwo which give PP Max and Ability Capsules

Click here for full details

Toxtricity Max Raid Battle Event Image

Gigantamax Toxtricity

Release Dates:

Global: February 16th 2020 - March 8th 2020

If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Gigantamax Pokémon in the Wild Area.
The increases are Gigantamax Kingler, Gigantamax Grimmsnarl & Gigantamax Toxtricity (Amped Form) for Sword and Gigantmax Orbeetle, Gigantamax Hatterene & Gigantamax Toxtricity (Low Key Form) for Shield.

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Toxtricity Max Raid Battle Event Image

Milcery & Gigantamax Toxtricity

Release Dates:

Global: February 7th 2020 - February 16th 2020

If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Gigantamax Pokémon in the Wild Area.
The increases are Milcery, Gigantamax Kingler, Gigantamax Grimmsnarl & Gigantamax Toxtricity (Amped Form) for Sword and Milcery, Gigantmax Orbeetle, Gigantamax Hatterene & Gigantamax Toxtricity (Low Key Form) for Shield.

Click here for full details

Toxtricity Max Raid Battle Event Image

Coalossal, Lapras, Flapple, Appletun & Milcery

Release Dates:

Global: January 31st 2020 - February 6th2020

If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Gigantamax Pokémon in the Wild Area.
The increases are Coalossal, Flapple & Milcery for Sword and Lapras, Appletun and Milcey for Shield.

All Milcery in this event are able to Gigantamax into Alcremie when they evolve and it also allows for all 63 variants, including different sweets, to Gigantamax. It also introduces the Ribbon & Star Sweets

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Coalossal & Lapras Max Raid Battle Event Image

Coalossal, Lapras, Flapple, Appletun & Alcremie

Release Dates:

Global: January 9th 2020 - January 30th 2020

If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Gigantamax Pokémon in the Wild Area.
The increases are Coalossal, Flapple & Alcremie for Sword and Lapras, Appletun and Alcremie for Shield. Alcremie's Gigantamax variants here provide different Flavor base forms which were not available beforehand, some flavors are version exclusive.
Gigantamax Alcremie Salted Cream and Ruby Swirl are exclusive to 5☆ Sword Raids Gigantamax Alcremie Caramel Swirl & Rainbow Cream are exclusive to 4☆ Shield Raids

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Coalossal & Lapras Max Raid Battle Event Image

Magikarp

Release Dates:

Global: December 31st 2019 - January 3rd 2020

If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Magikarp in the Wild Area. These raids offer lots of Nuggets as rewards as well as a higher chance of a shiny Magikarp

Click here for full details

Magikarp Max Raid Battle Event Image

Delibird

Release Dates:

Global: December 20th 2019 - December 25th 2019

If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Delibird in the Wild Area. These raids offer more candy rewards than the standard raids

Click here for full details

Delibird Max Raid Battle Event Image

Snorlax

Release Dates:

Global: December 4th 2019 - January 9th 2020

If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Gigantamax Snorlax in the Wild Area

Click here for full details

Snorlax Max Raid Battle Event Image

Butterfree, Drednaw & Corviknight

Release Dates:

Global: November 15th 2019 - December 4th 2019

If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Gigantamax Pokémon in the Wild Area. The increases are for Gigantamax Butterfree for all games, Gigantamax Drednaw for Pokémon Sword and Gigantamax Corviknight for Pokémon Shield

Click here for full details

Butterfree Max Raid Battle Event Image

Some of the data was compiled with help from SciresM, mattyoukhana & Lean