Pokémon GO is closing out its summer season with a major Legendary debut. Eternatus, the towering Poison/Dragon-type from the Galar region, is officially joining the mobile game as part of the GO Fest 2025: Global Finale. The event spans one day but brings with it new raid tiers, themed spawns, and time-limited content tied directly to the Eternatus appearance.
As with other GO Fest finales, this one compresses a wide range of activities into a single event, offering casual players a clear goal while giving longtime grinders a shot at exclusive rewards and powerful encounters.
Eternatus Appears in Shadow Raid Format
Eternatus won’t just be showing up in standard Legendary raids. It’s entering the game through Shadow Raids, which adds an extra layer of challenge and mechanic variety. These encounters include boosted attack phases, resistance debuffs, and unique windows for high-damage output, especially when Purified Gems are used.
This makes Eternatus one of the few Gen 8 Legendaries introduced with modified mechanics right out of the gate. It also hints at a more layered rollout for future raid bosses, where strategy and team coordination matter beyond just typing matchups.
Ultra Beasts Rotate Through Hourly Cycles
The event isn’t centered on Eternatus alone. GO Fest 2025 Finale also brings back Ultra Beasts, with rotating raid appearances throughout the day. These hourly cycles allow trainers to plan for specific targets, whether it’s stacking counters, aiming for dex entries, or farming candy for power-ups.
The return of Ultra Beasts in a timed rotation mirrors the format from previous global events, reinforcing Niantic’s strategy of blending new content drops with legacy availability. It keeps the field dynamic and ensures rare encounters aren’t permanently vaulted.
Event Research and Bonuses Included
Timed research tied to the event provides rewards themed around Galar Pokémon and Ultra Wormhole lore. Players can complete tasks for additional raid passes, Stardust, encounters with rare Pokémon, and avatar items.
On top of that, bonuses like reduced hatch distances, increased shiny odds for specific spawns, and snapshot surprises round out the format. These extras are structured to reward both short bursts of play and full-day commitment without making participation feel like a chore.
A Late-Gen Legendary With Competitive Potential
Eternatus isn’t just a flashy addition. Its dual Poison/Dragon typing and stat distribution give it a distinct edge in both PvE and PvP formats. While its move pool at launch hasn’t been fully confirmed, expectations are already building around whether it will slide into GO Battle League relevance or settle as a high-tier raid attacker.
Its arrival also marks one of the final major Galar-era rollouts in Pokémon GO, signaling that future spotlight creatures could shift toward Gen 9 in the months ahead. If Eternatus lands well, it sets the tone for how future Legendary releases might mix traditional encounters with Shadow-style mechanics.
Mobile Game Addict & Casual Gaming Critic
She’s played more mobile games than most people have downloaded. TAPTAPTAP is fast, fierce, and funny — reviewing the latest hypercasual hits, idle clickers, and gacha grinds with real talk and zero fluff.
