Pokemon GO Paldea Event (March 2026) Complete Guide

Updated by Dev
December 3, 2025
Gaming Guides

trainers, get ready to embark on an exciting Paldean adventure! The Journey to Paldea event is here, bringing the first wave of Generation IX Pokemon to Pokemon GO, and I’ve got everything you need to know to maximize your rewards and catch them all. As someone who’s been playing since day one, I can tell you this is one of the most exciting events we’ve seen in months, featuring the debut of Nacli, increased shiny chances, and some fantastic bonuses that will help you level up faster than ever.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through every aspect of the Journey to Paldea event, from the new Pokemon debuts to the best raid strategies, collection challenges, and whether that paid Timed Research is actually worth your hard-earned cash. Trust me, you won’t want to miss a single detail of this week-long celebration of all things Paldea!

Pokemon GO Journey to Paldea Event

Event Feature	Details
Event Dates	December 2-9, 2025 (10 AM – 8 PM local time)
New Pokemon	Nacli, Naclstack, Garganacl debut
Main Bonuses	2x XP for raids & evolving, increased shiny Larvitar/Bagon
Event Cost	Free event + $1.99 optional Timed Research
Key Activities	Wild spawns, raids, collection challenges, field research

What is the Journey to Paldea Event?

The Journey to Paldea event is Pokemon GO’s first major celebration of the Paldea region introduced in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Running from December 2-9, 2025, this event marks the debut of the first Generation IX Pokemon in Pokemon GO, bringing the rock salt Pokemon Nacli and its evolution line to the game for the very first time.

What makes this event particularly special is its unique structure with alternating Pokemon spawns throughout the week, giving you different opportunities to catch specific Pokemon on different days. Plus, with some fantastic XP bonuses and increased shiny rates for fan-favorite Pokemon like Larvitar and Bagon, there’s never been a better time to get out there and start catching!

Event Bonuses and Rewards

Let me break down the fantastic bonuses you’ll enjoy during this event:

Active Event Bonuses

2x XP for winning Raid Battles – Perfect for leveling up while tackling those new raid bosses
2x XP for evolving Pokemon – Time to clear out that Pokemon storage and evolve everything you’ve been saving!
Increased chance to encounter Shiny Larvitar and Shiny Bagon – These are some of the most popular shinies, so take advantage!

Why These Bonuses Matter

As someone who’s played through countless events, I can tell you that the 2x XP bonuses are incredibly valuable. With the recent changes to leveling in Pokemon GO, getting double XP for both raids and evolving means you can potentially level up multiple times during this event if you play strategically. I recommend saving up your Pokemon to evolve during this period and using a Lucky Egg to maximize your XP gains!

New Pokemon Debut: Nacli Family

The star of the show is undoubtedly the debut of the Nacli evolution line. Here’s everything you need to know about these new Rock-type additions:

Nacli Evolution Line

Nacli (Rock-type) – The base form, debuting in wild spawns
Naclstack (Rock-type) – Requires 25 Nacli Candy to evolve
Garganacl (Rock-type) – Requires 100 Nacli Candy to evolve (total 125 candy)

How to Maximize Nacli Candy Collection

I’ve learned some tricks over the years for maximizing candy during new Pokemon debuts:

Use Pinap Berries – Every time you catch a Nacli, use a Pinap Berry to double the candy
Activate Rock-Type Mega Evolution – Mega Diancie, Mega Tyranitar, or Mega Aerodactyl will give you bonus candy and candy XL
Trade with Distant Friends – Trading Nacli with friends far away will net you 3 extra candies per trade
Set Nacli as Your Buddy – You’ll earn candy as you walk, though this is slower than other methods

Is Garganacl Worth It?

While we don’t have full PVP analysis yet, Rock-type Pokemon have historically been strong in certain formats. Garganacl’s pure Rock typing could make it a solid addition to your Great or Ultra League team, especially if it gets good moves. I’d recommend catching and evolving at least one for your Pokedex, and a few extras if you’re a collector or competitive player.

Wild Spawns and Schedule

One of the most unique aspects of this event is the alternating spawn schedule. Different Pokemon will appear more frequently on different days, so you’ll want to plan your playing schedule accordingly!

Daily Spawn Schedule

Group A Pokemon (December 2, 4, 6, and 8)

Larvitar* (Rock/Ground) – One of the stars of the event with increased shiny rates!
Drifloon* (Ghost/Flying) – Great for Ghost-type collectors
Skrelp* (Poison/Water) – Unique typing that’s hard to find elsewhere
Stunky (Poison/Dark) – Dark-type specialist’s dream
Oranguru (Normal/Psychic) – Regional Pokemon that’s more widely available
Additional spawns including Nymble*, Pawmi*, and Smoliv*

Group B Pokemon (December 3, 5, 7, and 9)

Bagon* (Dragon) – The other shiny star with increased rates!
Misdreavus* (Ghost) – Classic Ghost-type with potential shiny
Clauncher* (Water) – Water-type with evolution potential
Gulpin (Poison) – Poison-type specialist material
Passimian (Fighting) – Another regional Pokemon more widely available
Additional spawns including Nymble*, Pawmi*, and Smoliv*

*Pokemon marked with asterisks can be shiny during the event.

Constant Spawns (All Days)

These Pokemon will appear throughout the entire event:

Nymble* (Bug) – New Generation IX Bug-type
Pawmi* (Electric) – Electric mouse Pokemon from Paldea
Smoliv* (Grass/Normal) – Olive Pokemon from Paldea
Nacli (Rock) – The event’s star debut!

Important Timing Notes

December 2 and 9: Featured Pokemon start at 10:00 AM and end at 8:00 PM local time
December 6-7 (2:00-5:00 PM): Community Day takes over, so Journey to Paldea spawns won’t appear during these hours
All other dates: Regular event timing applies

Raid Bosses and Strategies

The raid scene during Journey to Paldea is particularly exciting, featuring some challenging new additions and regional variants that you won’t want to miss!

3-Star Raid Bosses

Paldean Tauros Forms (Regional Exclusive)

This is where things get really interesting! Paldean Tauros comes in three different forms, and which one you can raid depends on where you live:

Paldean Tauros (Combat Breed)

Region: Iberian Peninsula
Type: Fighting
Weaknesses: Fairy, Flying, Psychic
Best Counters:
- Alakazam (Confusion/Psychic)
- Gallade (Confusion/Psychic)
- Toucannon (Rock Throw/Brave Bird)
- Staraptor (Rock Throw/Brave Bird)
- Salamence (Dragon Breath/Dragon Claw)

Paldean Tauros (Blaze Breed)

Region: Eastern Hemisphere
Type: Fighting/Fire
Weaknesses: Flying, Ground, Psychic, Water
Best Counters:
- Rayquaza (Dragon Tail/Ancient Power)
- Swampert (Mud Shot/Hydro Cannon)
- Garchomp (Mud Shot/Dig)
- Salamence (Dragon Tail/Dragon Claw)
- Alakazam (Confusion/Psychic)

Paldean Tauros (Aqua Breed)

Region: Western Hemisphere
Type: Water/Fighting
Weaknesses: Electric, Fairy, Flying, Grass, Psychic
Best Counters:
- Sceptile (Bullet Seed/Frenzy Plant)
- Alakazam (Confusion/Psychic)
- Toucannon (Rock Throw/Brave Bird)
- Therian Forme Thundurus (Volt Switch/Thunderbolt)
- Gardevoir (Charm/Psychic)

Global Raid Bosses

Bombirdier* (Dark/Flying)

Type: Dark/Flying
Weaknesses: Electric, Fairy, Ice, Rock
Best Counters:
- White Kyurem (Breath/Dragon Claw)
- Diancie (Rock Throw/Rock Slide)
- Rhyperior (Smack Down/Rock Wrecker)
- Mamoswine (Powder Snow/Avalanche)
- Magnezone (Spark/Wild Charge)

Dondozo* (Water)

Type: Water
Weaknesses: Electric, Grass
Best Counters:
- Regieleki (Thunder Shock/Thunderbolt)
- Sceptile (Bullet Seed/Frenzy Plant)
- Electivire (Thunder Shock/Wild Charge)
- Kartana (Razor Leaf/Leaf Blade)
- Venusaur (Vine Whip/Frenzy Plant)

*Pokemon marked with asterisks can be shiny when defeated in raids.

Pro Raiding Tips

Coordinate with Friends: Some of these raids, especially the Tauros forms, might be challenging to solo. Team up with local players or use Remote Raid Passes.
Check Your Region: Before getting excited about a specific Tauros form, make sure it’s available in your region!
Save Premium Balls: Since Bombirdier and Dondozo can be shiny, save your Premium Balls for these encounters if you get a shiny opportunity.
Mega Evolve for Bonuses: Using a Mega Evolution that matches your counter types will give your whole team a damage boost.

Collection Challenges

Collection Challenges are back and better than ever! During the Journey to Paldea event, you’ll have two separate challenges to complete, each offering fantastic rewards.

Scarlet Collection Challenge

Required Pokemon:

Larvitar*
Drifloon*
Stunky
Skrelp*
Oranguru
Nacli

Rewards:

Larvitar* encounter
5,000 XP
3,000 Stardust

Violet Collection Challenge

Required Pokemon:

Bagon*
Misdreavus*
Gulpin
Clauncher*
Passimian
Nacli

Rewards:

Bagon* encounter
5,000 XP
3,000 Stardust

Strategy for Completing Collection Challenges

I’ve completed my fair share of collection challenges, and here are my top tips:

Plan Your Days: Since spawns alternate, you’ll need to play on specific days to catch certain Pokemon. For example, if you want to complete the Scarlet challenge, focus on December 2, 4, 6, and 8.
Use Incense: During the specific days when your target Pokemon are spawning, use Incense to increase your chances of encountering them.
Check Field Research: Some of these Pokemon might be available as field research rewards, giving you another way to complete the challenges.
Don’t Forget Nacli: Nacli appears throughout the entire event, so you have plenty of time to catch one for each challenge.

Field Research Tasks

Event-themed Field Research tasks will be available by spinning PokeStops during the event period. Here are the tasks and rewards you can expect:

Available Field Research Tasks

Task	Reward Pokemon	CP Range
Catch 5 different species of Pokémon	Nacli	381–414
Power up Pokémon 10 times	Nacli	381–414
Make 10 Great Throws	Larvitar*	411–445
Make 10 Great Throws	Bagon*	459–495

Tips for Completing Field Research

Focus on Great Throws: The “Make 10 Great Throws” task is particularly valuable as it can reward you with either Larvitar or Bagon, both of which have increased shiny rates during this event.
Save Your Research: If you’re close to completing a task but the event is about to end, you can still complete it after the event ends, but you must claim the reward before the event concludes.
Stack Research: You can hold multiple field research tasks at once, so feel free to spin multiple PokeStops to get a variety of tasks.

Paid Timed Research: Is It Worth It?

For $1.99 (or equivalent in your local currency), you can purchase event-exclusive Timed Research. But is it worth your money? Let me break it down for you.

What You Get

3,000 Stardust
Two Premium Battle Passes
Multiple encounters with Larvitar, Bagon, and Nacli
Exclusive tasks and rewards

The Complete Task List

The Timed Research consists of multiple catch-based tasks:

Catch 3 Pokémon → Larvitar encounter
Catch 3 Pokémon → Bagon encounter
Catch 5 Pokémon → Larvitar encounter
Catch 5 Pokémon → Bagon encounter
Catch 10 Pokémon → Larvitar encounter
Catch 10 Pokémon → Bagon encounter
Catch 12 Pokémon → Larvitar encounter
Catch 12 Pokémon → Bagon encounter
Catch 16 Pokémon → Larvitar encounter
Catch 16 Pokémon → Bagon encounter
Catch 18 Pokémon → Larvitar encounter
Catch 18 Pokémon → Bagon encounter
Catch 20 Pokémon → Larvitar encounter
Catch 20 Pokémon → Bagon encounter

Final Rewards: Nacli encounter, 2 Premium Battle Passes, 3,000 Stardust

My Honest Assessment

As someone who’s purchased many of these paid research tasks over the years, here’s my take:

Pros:

Great value if you want multiple Larvitar and Bagon encounters
Premium Battle Passes alone are worth 200 PokeCoins each (400 total)
Increased chances for shiny Larvitar and Bagon
Helps complete collection challenges faster

Cons:

Tasks are very repetitive (just catch Pokemon)
You might get tired of catching by the end
Must be completed before the event ends

Verdict: If you’re a shiny hunter, collector, or someone who wants to maximize their XP and resources during this event, the paid Timed Research is definitely worth it. The Premium Battle Passes alone make it a good value, and the extra encounters with increased shiny rates are just icing on the cake.

Special Shop Offer: Journey to Paldea Ultra Ticket Box

In addition to the paid Timed Research, there’s also a special box available in the Pokemon GO Web Store:

Journey to Paldea Ultra Ticket Box – $1.99

Event ticket (for the paid Timed Research)
Five Ultra Balls

This is essentially the same as the paid Timed Research but with five extra Ultra Balls thrown in. If you’re planning to buy the Timed Research anyway, this is the better deal since you get the Ultra Balls at no additional cost.

Pro Strategies for Maximizing the Event

Now that I’ve covered all the basics, let me share some advanced strategies to help you get the most out of the Journey to Paldea event.

Leveling Up Strategy

With 2x XP for both raids and evolving, this is the perfect time to level up quickly:

Save Your Evolutions: If you have Pokemon you’ve been meaning to evolve, save them for this event
Use Lucky Eggs: Activate a Lucky Egg before mass evolving sessions to get 4x XP total
Raid Frequently: Combine raid bonuses with Lucky Eggs for massive XP gains
Trade Evolutions: Save trade evolutions for during the event to get double XP

Shiny Hunting Strategy

The increased shiny rates for Larvitar and Bagon make this event perfect for shiny hunters:

Focus on Spawn Days: Play on the days when your target shiny Pokemon are spawning
Use Incense: Increase your encounter rates with Incense during spawn hours
Check Every Spawn: With increased rates, every encounter has better odds
Raid for Shinies: Don’t forget that raid encounters also have shiny chances

Resource Management

Make the most of your in-game resources:

Save Pinap Berries: Use them on Nacli to maximize candy for evolution
Manage Your Storage: You’ll be catching a lot of Pokemon, so make sure you have space
Save Star Pieces: Use them during the event to maximize stardust gains
Plan Your Incubators: If you’re getting 2km eggs, this might be a good time to use them

Community Day Conflict

One important thing to note is that the Journey to Paldea event overlaps with the December Community Day on December 6-7 from 2:00-5:00 PM local time. During these hours, the Community Day Pokemon will take precedence, and you won’t see the Journey to Paldea spawns.

My Recommendation: Use the morning hours on these days to focus on Journey to Paldea content, then switch to Community Day activities in the afternoon. This way, you won’t miss out on either event!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Journey to Paldea event last?

The Journey to Paldea event runs for exactly 7 days, from Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 10:00 AM local time to Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 8:00 PM local time.

Which Pokemon debuts in the Journey to Paldea event?

Nacli is the main Pokemon debut in the Journey to Paldea event. You can catch Nacli in the wild and evolve it into Naclstack (25 candies) and then Garganacl (100 candies).

Are the Paldean Tauros forms shiny?

No, the Paldean Tauros forms (Combat, Blaze, and Aqua breeds) do not have shiny versions available during this event. However, Bombirdier and Dondozo can be shiny when encountered in raids.

Can I complete the paid Timed Research after the event ends?

No, the paid Timed Research expires at the same time as the event (December 9, 2025, at 8:00 PM local time). You must complete all tasks and claim all rewards before this time.

What happens if I can’t play on certain days?

Don’t worry! While some Pokemon only spawn on specific days, Nacli, Nymble, Pawmi, and Smoliv appear throughout the entire event. Plus, you can get many of the event Pokemon through field research and raids.

Is the paid Timed Research worth it for free-to-play players?

While it’s technically a paid feature, at $1.99, it’s quite reasonably priced. You get two Premium Battle Passes (worth 400 PokeCoins) plus multiple Pokemon encounters and Stardust. If you can afford it, I’d say it’s worth it.

Can I gift the paid Timed Research to friends?

Yes! You can purchase and gift the Timed Research to any Pokemon GO friends you’ve achieved Great Friends status or higher with. This makes a great gift for Pokemon GO friends!

What should I prioritize during this event?

That depends on your goals! If you’re a collector, focus on catching all the new and featured Pokemon. If you’re a shiny hunter, prioritize Larvitar and Bagon during their spawn days. If you want to level up, focus on raids and evolutions with Lucky Eggs.

Final Thoughts

The Journey to Paldea event is shaping up to be one of the most exciting Pokemon GO events of 2026, and I’m thrilled to be experiencing it with you! With the debut of the first Generation IX Pokemon, fantastic XP bonuses, increased shiny rates, and so much content to explore, there’s something for every type of player.

Whether you’re a casual player looking to catch some cool new Pokemon, a dedicated shiny hunter hoping to add rare variants to your collection, or a competitive player preparing for future battles, this event has you covered. Just remember to plan your schedule around the alternating spawns and Community Day overlap, and you’ll be set for an amazing week of Pokemon GO!

Don’t forget to bookmark this guide for quick reference during the event, and feel free to share it with your Pokemon GO friends who might need help navigating all the event content. Happy hunting, trainers!