A handy raid schedule makes it a lot easier to decide which bosses deserve your passes (remote or otherwise) in Pokémon Go.
Raid targets rotate roughly every 10 days, so it’s worth keeping an eye on who’s up next if you’re hunting specific legendaries, Ultra Beasts, or Megas.
If you’re new to raids: eggs appear on gyms from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time. When the timer expires, the boss hatches. You can gauge difficulty from the egg — five-star raids show five little monster icons, Mega raids have the DNA-like swirl, and shadow raids take over gyms controlled by Team Go Rocket.
Below is the full list of high-value raid targets in Pokémon Go for this month, covering five-star legendaries and Ultra Beasts, Mega raids, and the current shadow legendary.
Pokémon Go legendary raid schedule for January 2026
Five-star raid bosses (legendaries and Ultra Beasts):
- Dec. 31 until Jan. 5: Blacephalon*
- Jan. 5-16: Genesect (Burn Drive)* and Genesect (Chill Drive)*
- Jan. 16-25: Thundurus*
- Jan. 25 until Feb. 4: Tornadus*
*Shiny version available. Remember: any Poké Ball that lands on a shiny legendary is a guaranteed catch, so consider using a Pinap Berry to squeeze out extra candy.
Pokémon Go Mega raid schedule for January 2026
Mega raid bosses:
- Jan. 5-16: Mega Blaziken*
- Jan. 16-25: Mega Sceptile*
- Jan. 25 until Feb. 4: Mega Ampharos*
*Shiny version available.
Quick reminder: you don’t catch the Mega form after the battle. You’ll catch the standard version and earn Mega Energy instead, with the amount tied to how quickly your group clears the raid.
Pokémon Go legendary shadow raid schedule for January 2026
This month’s shadow legendary is Cresselia, and it can be shiny.
Shadow raids usually only appear during the weekends, though stray shadow legendary raids can pop up midweek.
It’s strongly recommended to team up for shadow raids — they hit harder and are tougher to finish. Bring as many Purified Gems as you can to keep the enrage in check.
After the clear, expect the catch encounter to be trickier than usual, since shadow legendaries tend to shift around more. Stay calm and be patient with your throws.
If you’re planning the rest of your month, don’t forget to check the current Spotlight Hour schedule as well.