Pokémon GO World Championships 2025 Event: Varsity Jacket Pikachu and Special Moves
The Pokémon GO World Championships 2025 is a global event running from August 15 to August 17, 2025. This event introduces Varsity Jacket Pikachu! On top of that, enjoy special raids and spawns, and the ability to evolve certain Pokémon to obtain their special moves.
This guide lists all the wild spawns, raids, bonuses, research and debut Pokémon you can encounter during the Pokémon GO World Championships 2025 event in Pokémon GO.
Quick event overview
Dates: August 15 (10 a.m.) – August 17 (8 p.m.) local time
Bonuses: 5 special trades per day, additional Pokémon encounters in GBL reward track
Shiny: Increased chance of encountering Shiny Pikachu
Debuts: Varsity Jacket Pikachu
Event Details
The World Championships event is a recurring themed event in Pokémon GO that celebrates the in-person World Championships event in Anaheim, California, across the globe.
Date & Time
-
Pokémon GO World Championships (2025) event runs from Friday, August 15, at 10:00 a.m. to Sunday, August 17, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. local time
Event Bonuses
The following bonuses will be active during the World Championships event:
-
Debut of Varsity Jacket Pikachu -
Increased odds to encounter shiny Varsity Jacket Pikachu -
Up to five special trades per day -
Additional Pokémon encounters along the GO Battle League reward track.
Pokémon Debuts
Pikachu wearing a Varsity Jacket will debut during the event, and you’ll have an increased chance to encounter it shiny.
Wild Encounters
The following Pokémon will appear more frequently in the wild:
Some Trainers may even encounter the following:
Field Research
Field research tasks during the event will reward encounters with the following Pokémon:
Timed Research
For US$5.00 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency), you’ll be able to access event-exclusive Timed Research. Timed Research rewards include the following:
- One Premium Battle Pass
- 25,000 Stardust
- Encounters with the following Pokémon:
Note on Timed Research
Please note that Timed Research expires. The tasks associated with this Timed Research must be completed and their rewards must be claimed before Sunday, August 17, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. local time.
Raids
The following Pokémon will appear in Raids:
One-Star Raids
Three-Star Raids
Special Moves
Catch
Certain Pokémon encountered during the event will know a featured attack:
- Lapras will know the move
Charged Attack Ice Beam
Evolve
Certain Pokémon evolved during the event will learn a featured attack:
- Evolve Mankey during the event to get a Primeape that knows the
Charged Attack Rage Fist. - Evolve Primeape during the event to get an Annihilape that knows the Charged Attack Rage Fist.
- Evolve Paldean Wooper during the event to get a Clodsire that knows the
Charged Attack Megahorn.
GO Battle League Updates
In celebration of the 2025 Pokémon World Championships, the GO Battle League will feature a new arena and background battle music between August 11 at 1:00 p.m. PDT and August 17, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
GO Battle Weekend: Delightful Days
Date & Time
-
GO Battle Weekend Delightful days event runs from Friday, August 15, at 12:00 a.m. to Sunday, August 17, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. local time
Event Bonuses
The following bonuses will be active during the GO Battle Weekend Delightful Days:
-
Pokémon encountered via GO Battle League rewards will have a wider variance of Attack, Defense, and HP. -
4× Stardust from win rewards. (This does not include end-of-set rewards.) -
The maximum number of sets you can play per day will increase from five to 20—for a total of 100 battles—from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. local time. -
Free battle-themed Timed Research will be available. Rewards include shoes for your avatar inspired by a powerful Battle Tower battler.
Active Leagues
The following leagues will be active:
- Great League
- Ultra League
- Master League
Shop
Avatar Items
The following avatar items will be available to purchase in the in-game shop during this event and will continue to be available after the event ends:
- 2025 Worlds Jersey
- 2025 Worlds Visor
Special Boxes
For US$4.99 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency), the GO Battle Weekend Ultra Ticket Box will feature an event ticket and a bonus Premium Battle Pass at no additional cost.
For US$19.99 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency), the TM Elite Master Box features two Elite Fast TMs, two Elite Charged TMs, six Fast TMs, and six Charged TMs.
Stickers
You’ll be able to get themed stickers by spinning PokéStops, opening Gifts, and purchasing them from the in-game shop.
Tips for the World Championships Event
- Use your free raid pass daily to get either Varsity Jacket Pikachu or Honedge
- Evolve your PvP Pokémon to take advantage of the limited availability special moves
- PvP as much as you can to boost up your rankings!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the dates for the World Championships 2025 event in Pokémon GO?
The event runs from August 15 at 10:00 a.m. local time to August 17 at 8:00 p.m. local time.
Which Pokémon have a debut during World Championships 2025 event?
Varsity Jacket Pikachu has their debut during the event. It also has a boosted shiny rate!
How can I find Varsity Jacket Pikachu in Pokémon GO?
During the event Varsity Jacket Pikachu can be found in tier one raids and field research tasks.
The post Pokémon GO World Championships 2025 Event: Varsity Jacket Pikachu and Special Moves appeared first on Pokémon GO Hub.