Journey to Paldea is a one-week Pokémon GO event running from December 2 at 10:00 a.m. to December 9, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. local time. It kicks off the Precious Paths season with a focus on Paldea-region species, the debut of the Nacli family, rotating wild spawns, and a small paid research ticket.
Event timing and core bonuses
Throughout the entire window, the event applies three global bonuses:
- 2× XP for winning Raid Battles
- 2× XP for evolving Pokémon
- Increased shiny odds for Larvitar and Bagon in the wild
These bonuses last from 10:00 a.m. on December 2 until 8:00 p.m. on December 9 in your local time zone.
Nacli, Naclstack, and Garganacl debut
The event’s main debut is the Nacli evolution line from Paldea:
- Nacli (Rock-type, the Salt Rock Pokémon)
- Naclstack (evolves from Nacli)
- Garganacl (final evolution)
Evolution costs are straightforward:
- 25 Nacli Candy to evolve Nacli → Naclstack
- 100 Nacli Candy to evolve Naclstack → Garganacl
Nacli can be found in the wild during the event and as an encounter from several research rewards. It does not have a shiny form in this event.
Wild spawns and alternating featured days
A small group of Paldean Pokémon appears more often every day of the event, with two larger pools rotating on alternating days.
Base event spawns (all days)
These Pokémon have boosted wild spawn rates for the full week:
- Nymble* (Bug)
- Pawmi* (Electric)
- Smoliv* (Grass / Normal)
- Nacli (Rock)
*Marked species can be shiny.
Alternating wild spawn groups
The larger rotation splits into two groups. Each group gets four days of boosted spawns, and each species in the group can be shiny.
| Dates (2025) | Featured group | Pokémon | Typing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 2, 4, 6, 8 | Group A | Larvitar*, Drifloon*, Stunky*, Skrelp*, Oranguru* | Rock/Ground, Ghost/Flying, Poison/Dark, Poison/Water, Normal/Psychic |
| Dec. 3, 5, 7, 9 | Group B | Bagon*, Misdreavus*, Gulpin*, Clauncher*, Passimian* | Dragon, Ghost, Poison, Water, Fighting |
Larvitar and Bagon have significantly boosted shiny odds compared to their usual rates, both in the wild and from many event encounters.
Two extra timing rules shape the rotation:
- On December 2, the first set of featured spawns begins at 10:00 a.m. local time.
- On December 9, featured spawns end at 8:00 p.m. local time with the event.
Journey to Paldea overlaps with the December Community Day weekend. On December 6 and 7, from 2:00–5:00 p.m. local time, Community Day species override these event spawns temporarily.
Three-star raids: Paldean Tauros forms, Bombirdier, and Dondozo
Three-star raids focus on regional Paldean Tauros forms and two Paldean bosses:
| Raid boss | Region | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paldean Tauros (Combat Breed) | Iberian Peninsula | Fighting | Regional form; only appears in this area |
| Paldean Tauros (Blaze Breed) | Eastern Hemisphere | Fighting / Fire | Regional form |
| Paldean Tauros (Aqua Breed) | Western Hemisphere | Fighting / Water | Regional form |
| Bombirdier* | Global | Dark / Flying | Can be shiny |
| Dondozo* | Global | Water | Can be shiny |
All of these raid Pokémon are single-stage and not available as wild spawns during the event. To get them, you need to complete raids.
Free Field Research tasks and rewards
Event Field Research is available from PokéStops throughout the week. Tasks and their rewards are simple and tightly focused:
| Task | Reward encounter | Shiny chance |
|---|---|---|
| Catch 5 different species of Pokémon | Nacli | No shiny |
| Power up Pokémon 10 times | Nacli | No shiny |
| Make 10 Great Throws | Larvitar* or Bagon* | Both can be shiny with boosted odds |
The Larvitar and Bagon tasks are especially valuable if you want extra shiny checks or more Candy and Candy XL for Tyranitar and Salamence.
Scarlet and Violet Collection Challenges
Two Collection Challenges run for the full duration of the event. Both are catch-only and use the rotating wild pools.
Scarlet Collection Challenge
Required catches:
- Larvitar*
- Drifloon*
- Stunky*
- Skrelp*
- Oranguru*
- Nacli
Rewards:
- Larvitar encounter*
- 5,000 XP
- 3,000 Stardust
Violet Collection Challenge
Required catches:
- Bagon*
- Misdreavus*
- Gulpin*
- Clauncher*
- Passimian*
- Nacli
Rewards:
- Bagon encounter*
- 5,000 XP
- 3,000 Stardust
*All listed Pokémon can appear as shiny when caught in the wild or from encounters, including the reward Larvitar and Bagon.
Paid Timed Research (US$1.99)
A small paid Timed Research ticket is available for about US$1.99 (or local equivalent). You can buy it or gift it to friends who are at least Great Friends. It cannot be purchased with PokéCoins.
The research is a single long step made up of repeated “Catch X Pokémon” tasks; each task completion gives a Larvitar or Bagon encounter. The sequence is:
- Catch 3 Pokémon – Larvitar*
- Catch 3 Pokémon – Bagon*
- Catch 5 Pokémon – Larvitar*
- Catch 5 Pokémon – Bagon*
- Catch 10 Pokémon – Larvitar*
- Catch 10 Pokémon – Bagon*
- Catch 12 Pokémon – Larvitar*
- Catch 12 Pokémon – Bagon*
- Catch 16 Pokémon – Larvitar*
- Catch 16 Pokémon – Bagon*
- Catch 18 Pokémon – Larvitar*
- Catch 18 Pokémon – Bagon*
- Catch 20 Pokémon – Larvitar*
- Catch 20 Pokémon – Bagon*
Completing the entire Timed Research awards:
- One Nacli encounter
- 2 Premium Battle Passes
- 3,000 Stardust
The Timed Research expires with the event. All tasks must be completed and rewards claimed by December 9, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. local time.
Journey to Paldea Ultra Ticket Box
A separate web-only bundle, the Journey to Paldea Ultra Ticket Box, is sold for about US$1.99 on the official Pokémon GO Web Store. It includes:
- The same event Timed Research ticket described above
- Five Ultra Balls
The web store bundle is an alternative way to obtain the ticket, with a small extra item bonus.
Practical strategy: what to focus on
The event is built around three main goals: XP grinding, shiny hunting, and building Paldean collections.
- XP: Schedule raid sessions and large evolution batches while the 2× XP bonuses are active. Stacking a Lucky Egg during either activity multiplies gains further.
- Nacli line: Keep a Rock-type Mega Evolution active when catching Nacli if possible. This increases Nacli Candy and Candy XL drops, which helps reach Garganacl quickly.
- Shiny targets: Use the Group A days to hunt shiny Larvitar, and Group B days for shiny Bagon. The “Make 10 Great Throws” Field Research and the Timed Research ticket both add extra checks.
- Regionals and raids: Join local or remote groups targeting the Paldean Tauros variant available in your region, and pick up Bombirdier and Dondozo while their shiny forms are on the table.
- Collection Challenges: Check which Group day you are on before going out so you can prioritize any missing Scarlet or Violet entries.
Handled with a bit of planning, Journey to Paldea is an efficient way to gain levels, stock up on Stardust and Candy, and add several Paldean and regional Pokémon to a long-term roster.
