Imagine bundling up for a festive adventure in the real world, chasing shiny Pokémon decked out in holiday gear— that's the magic of Pokémon GO this week! If you're a Trainer eager to make the most of the holiday spirit, you're in for a treat from December 22 to December 28, 2025. We've dived deep into the new Season of Precious Paths (https://pokemongohub.net/post/guide/precious-paths-pokemon-go-season/), blending cozy winter vibes with exciting gameplay. Stick around as we break down everything from raid battles to special events, helping even new players catch on quickly without feeling overwhelmed.
Page Contents
- Your Weekly Pokémon GO Rundown
- What's Happening in Pokémon GO This Week
- Raid Battles Breakdown
- The GO Pass and GO Pass Deluxe Perks
- GO Battle League Season 25 Updates
- Diving into the Season of Precious Paths
- What Hatches from Precious Paths Eggs
- Unlocking Research Breakthrough Rewards
As we cozy up in the Season of Precious Paths (https://pokemongohub.net/post/guide/precious-paths-pokemon-go-season/), this week's lineup from December 22 to 28 feels like a holiday gift wrapped in Poké Balls! We're talking Winter Holiday Part 1, Part 2, and the fun-filled Winter Weekend, all designed to sprinkle some seasonal cheer into your adventures. For beginners, these events often mean more chances to spot rare Pokémon or earn bonuses, turning everyday walks into treasure hunts.
Don't forget the regular fun: weekly Spotlight Hours for quick boosts, Raid Hours for intense battles, Dynamax encounters that let you power up your team in massive ways, and Mega Raids where your favorites get a supercharged upgrade. And this is the part most people miss— these events aren't just about catching; they're opportunities to build stronger friendships with other Trainers through trades and raids.
⭐Key Highlights
- Raid Boss Refresh (https://pokemongohub.net/post/guide/current-go-raids/) (December 22): Get ready for Zekrom (https://pokemongohub.net/post/guide/zekrom-counters-guide/) and Mega Glalie (https://pokemongohub.net/post/guide/mega-glalie-raid-guide/) to make their comeback in the raid lineup. Zekrom, that legendary Electric-Dragon powerhouse, is perfect for collectors aiming to complete their Pokédex, while Mega Glalie adds icy flair to your battles.
- Max Monday (https://pokemongohub.net/post/event/pokemon-go-september-2025-events/) (December 22): From 6 PM to 7 PM, Dynamax Spheal takes center stage in Max Battles. If you're new to Dynamax, think of it as a temporary giant mode that amps up the action— Spheal's cute but surprisingly tough in this form!
- Spotlight Hour (https://pokemongohub.net/post/guide/spotlight-raid-hours/) (December 23): Spheal steals the show again, paired with double XP for evolving your Pokémon. This is a great time for beginners to level up their roster without grinding endlessly, as evolutions happen faster with that bonus.
- Raid Hour (https://pokemongohub.net/post/guide/spotlight-raid-hours/) (December 24): Zekrom lights up Five-Star Raids from 6 PM to 7 PM. Teaming up with friends during this hour can make taking down this beast way more manageable—grab your counters and go!
- Winter Holiday Part 1 (https://pokemongohub.net/post/event/pokemon-go-winter-holiday-2025-part-1/) (December 18-24): Say hello to Costume Sudowoodo and Charjabug making their grand entrance, plus higher shiny odds for Pichu in a festive hat and Cubchoo with a holiday ribbon. Shiny hunting here feels extra rewarding, like unwrapping a surprise gift— who doesn't love a sparkly holiday Pokémon?
- Winter Holiday Part 2 (https://pokemongohub.net/post/event/winter-holiday-2025-part-two-and-winter-weekend-event/) (December 24-29): Rolycoly rolls in as a debut star, with boosted shiny chances for Costume Dedenne and Stantler, and plenty more festive surprises. But here's where it gets controversial— some Trainers swear by these costume variants for battles, while others see them as just cosmetic fun. What side are you on?
- Winter Weekend (https://pokemongohub.net/post/event/winter-holiday-2025-part-two-and-winter-weekend-event/#winter-weekend) (December 27-28): Enjoy unlimited GO Points earnings and extra daily quests for the Winter GO Pass, plus better odds for Shiny Eevee in a holiday hat via Timed Research. No caps on points means you can stockpile rewards like never before— a game-changer for dedicated players.
Your Weekly Pokémon GO Schedule
Max Monday: Dynamax Spheal
Spheal Dynamax (https://db.pokemongohub.net/pokemon/363)
Kicking off the week on Monday, December 22, from 6 PM to 7 PM your local time, Dynamax Spheal will pop up in Max Battles. For context, Max Battles are like raid events but with a twist— your Pokémon temporarily grow huge and gain special powers, making fights epic. Meanwhile, Dynamax Kabuto sticks around in Max Battles through December 28, giving you consistent chances to catch or power it up.
Spotlight Hour: Spheal
Spheal (https://db.pokemongohub.net/pokemon/363)
2x Evolution XP
Tuesday, December 23, brings Spotlight Hour from 6 PM to 7 PM local time, starring Spheal with a sweet 2× XP bonus for evolving Pokémon. If you're just starting out, Spotlight Hours are short, one-hour events where a specific Pokémon spawns everywhere, ideal for stocking up on candy and XP without much effort.
Raid Hour: Zekrom
Zekrom (https://db.pokemongohub.net/pokemon/644)
Wednesday, December 24, from 6 PM to 7 PM local time, turns the spotlight on Zekrom in Raid Hour. This means more raids featuring this legendary, so rally your team— it's a prime time to snag one for your collection.
Related guides:
* Zekrom Raid Guide (https://pokemongohub.net/post/guide/zekrom-counters-guide/)
What's Happening in Pokémon GO This Week
Winter Holiday Part 1
The festive Winter Holiday Part 1 in Pokémon GO (https://pokemongohub.net/post/event/pokemon-go-winter-holiday-2025-part-1/) kicks off from Thursday, December 18, at 10:00 a.m. and wraps up on Wednesday, December 24, at 10:00 a.m. local time. It's all about debuting Costume Sudowoodo and Charjabug, while upping your odds for shiny versions of Pichu (festive hat) and Cubchoo (holiday ribbon). These costumes add a playful twist, making your catches feel uniquely holiday-themed— perfect for sharing screenshots with friends.
Winter Holiday Part 2
Following right after, Winter Holiday Part 2 (https://pokemongohub.net/post/event/winter-holiday-2025-part-two-and-winter-weekend-event/) runs from Wednesday, December 24, at 10:00 a.m. to Monday, December 29, at 8:00 p.m. local time. Highlights include Rolycoly's debut and enhanced shiny rates for Costume Dedenne and Stantler. This event builds on the holiday momentum, offering more ways to evolve your strategy with new additions.
Winter Weekend
Cap off the week with the Winter Weekend (https://pokemongohub.net/post/event/winter-holiday-2025-part-two-and-winter-weekend-event/#winter-weekend) from Saturday, December 27, at 10:00 a.m. to Sunday, December 28, at 8:00 p.m. local time. You'll have no daily limits on GO Points, bonus quests for the GO Pass: Winter Holiday 2025, and improved shiny encounters for Eevee in a holiday hat through Timed Research. Timed Research, for newcomers, is like a storyline quest with rewards— completing it can lead to those rare shinies that make your heart race.
Raid Battles Breakdown
Five-Star Raids
Zekrom takes over Five-Star Raids from December 22 to December 31, offering a solid window to battle this electric legend.
* Zekrom (https://db.pokemongohub.net/pokemon/644)
Related guides:
* Zekrom Raid Guide (https://pokemongohub.net/post/guide/zekrom-counters-guide/)
Mega Raids
Mega Glalie chills in Mega Raids from December 22 to December 31, letting you mega-evolve and capture this icy powerhouse.
* Mega Glalie (https://db.pokemongohub.net/pokemon/362-Mega)
Related guides:
* Mega Glalie Raid Guide (https://pokemongohub.net/post/guide/mega-glalie-raid-guide/)
Shadow Raids
Daily One-Star and Three-Star Shadow Raids keep things steady, with Five-Star Shadow Raids hitting Saturdays and Sundays (unless changed). During the Season of Precious Paths, Shadow Heatran crashes the Five-Star party (https://pokemongohub.net/post/guide/shadow-heatran-raid-guide/), and yes, a Shiny Shadow version is possible if luck's on your side! Shadow Pokémon, explained simply, are corrupted versions with boosted attack but lower defense— they're controversial because some players love the edge in PvP, while others prefer the classic forms. Shadow Heatran (https://db.pokemongohub.net/pokemon/485-Shadow)
The GO Pass and GO Pass Deluxe
December 2025's GO Pass and GO Pass Deluxe (https://pokemongohub.net/post/guide/go-pass-december-2025/) come loaded with exclusives like a Palkia encounter, extra XP and Stardust, and the Timed Incubator's return— which hatches eggs faster over time. All Trainers get the GO Pass: December automatically on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. These passes are like VIP tickets; they spark debate on whether the cost is worth it for casual players versus hardcore ones grinding for rares.
GO Battle League Season 25
GO Battle League: Precious Paths (https://pokemongohub.net/post/pvp/go-battle-league-precious-paths/) launches on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. PST (GMT −8). Season start means end-of-season rewards drop, your rank resets completely (ouch for high-rankers!), and rank-up rules stay the same. It's a fresh start that levels the playing field— but is a full reset fair, or does it punish dedicated players?
Active Cups and Leagues this week
Dates | Cups
Dec 16 – Dec 23
* Master League*
* Holiday Cup: Great League Edition*
Dec 23 – Dec 30
* Great League
* Holiday Cup: Ultra League Edition
*4× Stardust win rewards active during these weeks (excludes end-of-set rewards)
Diving into the Season of Precious Paths
Buckle up for the Season of Precious Paths (https://pokemongohub.net/post/guide/precious-paths-pokemon-go-season/) in Pokémon GO, spanning from December 2, 2025, to March 3, 2026! This season spotlights the Pokémon GO Tour: Kalos, brings back the Master Ball Special Research (https://pokemongohub.net/post/guide/masterwork-research-a-precious-catch/), introduces fresh costume Pokémon, and packs in even more surprises. For beginners, seasons are like themed chapters, each with unique bonuses that encourage exploring new regions or playstyles.
Season-long bonuses 🎁
These perks define Precious Paths:
* One extra Special Trade each day— great for swapping with buddies far away.
* More Stardust from your first daily catch, fueling those upgrades.
* Boosted damage from friend Pokémon in raids, making group battles smoother and more powerful.
What Hatches from Precious Paths Eggs
During this season, various Pokémon emerge from eggs. We've spotlighted some favorites below, but remember, each egg type can surprise you with others too— it's all about the thrill of the hatch!
2km Eggs | 5km Eggs | 10km Eggs | 7km Eggs
Adventure Sync Rewards
Adventure Sync tracks your steps even when the app's closed, rewarding you with eggs. Here's what's hatching this season— again, highlights only, as variety keeps it exciting.
5 km Adventure Sync Eggs | 10 km Adventure Sync Eggs
Routes Rewards
7 km Eggs from Mateo Gift Exchange
Unlocking Research Breakthrough Rewards
Power through Field Research tasks to earn a Research Breakthrough and encounter one of these Pokémon! For newbies, Field Research is daily tasks from PokéStops that build toward bigger rewards— it's a steady path to strengthening your team.
There you have it, Trainers— a full guide to making this holiday week unforgettable in Pokémon GO. But let's stir the pot: Do you think events like these shiny boosts make the game too luck-based, or are they the perfect incentive to get outside? Drop your thoughts in the comments— agree, disagree, or share your best shiny story! What's one event you're hyped for?
