Pokemon Go October 2024 Events: Raids, Spotlight Hours, Community Day, And More Complete October 2024 Pokemon Go event guide with raid strategies, shiny hunting tips, and optimization tactics

TL;DR

October features 9 major events including Galarian Expedition, Sewaddle Community Day, and two-part Halloween celebration
Key raid bosses: Zamazenta, Origin Forme Giratina, Darkrai, plus new Mega and Shadow encounters
Strategic timing for shiny hunting Galarian birds, costume Pokemon, and event-exclusive moves
Optimize resource use with daily bonuses, increased raid limits, and special research opportunities
Plan ahead with costume Pokemon variants and limited-time Mega Evolution availability

October brings an action-packed calendar for Pokemon Go enthusiasts, packed with strategic opportunities and rare encounters. The Max Out season continues its momentum with significant additions that will reshape your collection strategy.

This month’s standout feature includes the debut of Dynamax forms for Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble, expanding your battle-ready options. Beyond these new forms, trainers can anticipate the arrival of more Galar region Pokemon throughout the scheduling period.

Halloween celebrations receive special attention with extended programming across two distinct phases, each offering unique costume variants and spooky-themed encounters. The expanded format provides more chances to secure limited-time Pokemon and exclusive moves.

Strategic planning becomes crucial this October, as overlapping events and limited windows demand careful resource allocation and timing decisions.

October’s raid landscape offers diverse opportunities for both casual players and dedicated raiders. A comprehensive understanding of the rotation schedule enables optimal preparation and participation timing.

Max Battles Strategy

October 1-November 1

Grookey – Best countered with Poison and Flying types
Scorbunny – Weak to Water, Rock, and Ground moves
Sobble – Vulnerable to Electric and Grass attacks
Falinks – Fighting type vulnerable to Psychic, Flying, and Fairy

Pro Tip: Focus on Falinks for its unique typing, but prioritize the starter Pokemon if you need their candy for evolution lines.

Legendary Raid Tactics

October 4-14

Zamazenta – Use Fighting, Ground, or Fairy moves; its Defense Forme makes it tanky but slow
October 14-28
- Origin Forme Giratina – Dragon/Ghost type weak to Ghost, Dark, Dragon, Ice, and Fairy
  October 28-November 4
  - Darkrai – Pure Dark type vulnerable to Fighting, Bug, and Fairy attacks
    Common Mistake: Underestimating Origin Forme Giratina’s bulk – bring your highest DPS counters
    
    Mega Evolution Planning
    
    October 4-14
    - Mega Blaziken – Fire/Fighting weak to Water, Ground, Psychic, and Flying
      October 14-28
      - Mega Sableye – Dark/Ghost type vulnerable to Fairy moves
        October 28-November 4
        
        Mega Banette – Pure Ghost type weak to Ghost and Dark attacks
        
        Shadow Raid Weekend Strategy
        
        Every weekend in October
        
        Shadow Entei – Fire type weak to Water, Ground, and Rock moves
        Advanced Tip: Shadow Entei appears more frequently during cloudy weather, so plan your raiding around weather boosts.
        
        Tuesday evenings from 6-7 PM local time present consistent opportunities for resource accumulation and shiny hunting. Each session combines increased spawn rates with valuable bonus multipliers.
        
        October 1
        
        Featured Pokemon: Pidove – Normal/Flying type with eventual Unfezant evolution
        October 8
        
        Featured Pokemon: Galarian Slowpoke – Poison/Psychic type that evolves into Galarian Slowbro/Slowking
        October 15
        
        Featured Pokemon: Shroomish – Pure Grass type leading to Breloom
        October 22
        
        Featured Pokemon: Gastly, Duskull, and Litwick – Triple ghost-type focus perfect for Halloween preparation
        October 29
        
        Featured Pokemon: TBA
        
        Bonus: 2x catch Candy
        Resource Management Strategy: The October 22 session offers exceptional value with three different ghost-type Pokemon, making it ideal for stocking up on Halloween-relevant species.
        
        Time Estimate: Each Spotlight Hour requires approximately 45-60 minutes of active play to maximize benefits, with preparation including clearing Pokemon storage and stocking up on Pokeballs.
        
        The Galarian Expedition from October 4-11 delivers multiple high-value opportunities for dedicated trainers. Beyond Zamazenta’s return to five-star raids, this event marks the first availability of shiny Zamazenta, creating collector urgency.
        
        Daily Adventure Incense becomes particularly potent during this period, offering enhanced chances for shiny Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres encounters. These legendary birds represent some of the most sought-after shiny variants in the game.
        
        Shiny Hunting Strategy: Use your Daily Adventure Incense during peak spawn hours (typically early morning or evening) for optimal results.
        
        Team Go Rocket’s mid-event takeover from October 8-11 intensifies the action. Grunts appear with increased frequency at PokeStops and in balloons, carrying new Shadow Pokemon varieties. The accompanying Special Research storyline culminates in a Giovanni confrontation and Shadow Heatran rescue opportunity.
        
        Common Mistake: Failing to complete the Special Research before the event ends means missing Shadow Heatran entirely.
        
        October’s Community Day on Saturday, October 5 features Sewaddle, the bug/grass type that evolves through Swadloon into Leavanny. The 2-5 PM local time window provides ample opportunity for both casual and dedicated participation.
        
        Post-event bonus raids from 5-10 PM local time feature Swadloon, enabling players who missed the main event to still secure the special move.
        
        Evolution Timing Critical: Only Leavanny evolved during the event period will learn Shadow Claw, making timing absolutely essential for optimal moveset acquisition.
        
        The ghost-type Fast Attack Shadow Claw provides valuable coverage against Psychic and Ghost types, significantly enhancing Leavanny’s utility in specific matchups.
        
        Bonus Optimization: The combination of triple-duration incense/lures, double catch candy, and quarter egg distance creates one of the most resource-efficient events of the month.
        
        Time Estimate: Most players can expect to evolve 3-5 Leavanny with the exclusive move during the three-hour window with proper preparation.
        
        The special Mega Mawile Raid Day on October 12 marks the debut appearance of this Steel/Fairy type Mega Evolution.
        
        The 2-5 PM local time window coincides with temporary Remote Raid limit increases to 20 from October 11-12. This strategic timing allows remote players unprecedented access to this limited-time opportunity.
        
        Resource Strategy: Players can acquire up to six free Raid Passes by spinning gym Photo Discs during the event period.
        
        Common Mistake: Wasting premium passes on unsuccessful attempts without proper type counters. Mega Mawile’s dual typing makes it vulnerable to Ground and Fire attacks primarily.
        
        Advanced Planning: Coordinate with local raid groups or remote raiding communities to maximize success rates during this limited window.
        
        The Magnetic Study event from October 15-17 concentrates on electric-type Pokemon attraction through Magnetic Lure Modules.
        
        Enhanced shiny rates for Magnemite, Plusle, and Minun provide focused hunting opportunities. The three-day structure with rotating daily bonuses enables strategic participation planning.
        
        October 15
        
        2x XP for catching Pokemon – Ideal for level grinding
        
        October 16
        
        50% more XP from Raids – Perfect for coordinating with Magnetic Study spawns
        October 17
        
        2x Stardust for catching Pokemon – Excellent for resource accumulation
        Lure Module Strategy: Place Magnetic Lures near clusters of PokeStops to maximize Pokemon encounters during the active bonus periods.
        
        The October 19 Research Day centers on both Yamask and its Galarian variant, offering research tasks from 2-5 PM local time that guarantee encounters with these ghost-type Pokemon.
        
        Increased wild spawns of Cubone, Galarian Zigzagoon, and Duskull complement the research focus, providing additional shiny hunting opportunities.
        
        Paid Ticket Assessment: The optional Timed Research ticket provides additional encounter opportunities, making it valuable for players seeking to complete their Yamask evolution lines or hunt for shiny variants.
        
        Common Mistake: Attempting to complete all research tasks without adequate Pokemon storage space, leading to wasted opportunities.
        
        Time Estimate: Most dedicated players can complete 20-30 research tasks during the three-hour window with efficient route planning.
        
        The first Halloween installment from October 22-28 introduces Morpeko and Dynamax Gastly to Pokemon Go, expanding the available Pokemon pool with seasonally appropriate additions.
        
        The wild encounter list features predominantly ghost and dark types, perfectly aligning with the spooky season theme while providing practical team-building options.
        
        Wild Encounter Strategy
        
        Zubat – Poison/Flying with Crobat evolution
        
        Spinarak – Bug/Poison type
        
        Murkrow – Dark/Flying leading to Honchkrow
        
        Misdreavus – Ghost type with Mismagius evolution
        
        Shuppet – Pure Ghost evolving into Banette
        
        Sableye – Dark/Ghost with no evolution
        
        Absol – Pure Dark type, known for its rare shiny variant
        
        Drifloon – Ghost/Flying type with Drifblim evolution
        
        Purrloin – Dark type evolving into Liepard
        
        Female Frillish – Water/Ghost type with Jellicent evolution
        
        Zorua – Dark type that disguises itself as your buddy Pokemon
        
        Litwick – Ghost/Fire type with Lampent and Chandelure evolutions
        
        Greavard – Ghost type making its Pokemon Go debut
        
        Raid Tier Distribution
        
        One-star
        
        Sneasel – Dark/Ice type with Weavile evolution
        
        Sableye – Dark/Ghost, appears in both wild and raid encounters
        
        Three-star
        
        Hisuian Typhlosion – Fire/Ghost type with unique movepool
        
        Umbreon – Pure Dark type Eeveelution
        
        Bombirdier – Dark/Flying type from Paldea region
        
        The in-game style shop additions include the Morpeko onesie and Woobat top hat, while the Lavender Town theme remix playing at night enhances the atmospheric experience.
        
        The second Halloween phase from October 28-November 3 shifts focus to costume-wearing Pokemon variants and the highly anticipated Gigantamax Gengar debut.
        
        Costume variants of Froakie and Rowlet debut during this period, while Gigantamax Gengar becomes available in Max Battles starting October 31.
        
        Costume Pokemon Encounters
        
        Vulpix wearing a Spooky Festival costume
        
        Shuppet – Standard variant still available
        
        Piplup wearing a Halloween Mischief costume
        
        Woobat – Psychic/Flying type
        
        Zorua – Dark type with increased shiny odds
        
        Froakie wearing a Pokemon Halloween costume
        
        Inkay – Dark/Psychic type that evolves when phone is upside down
        
        Phantump – Ghost/Grass type that evolves into Trevenant
        
        Pumpkaboo wearing a Spooky Festival costume
        
        Rowlet wearing a Pokemon Halloween costume
        
        Multi-Tier Raid Structure
        
        One-star
        
        Pikachu wearing a witch hat
        
        Froakie wearing a Pokemon Halloween costume
        
        Rowlet wearing a Pokemon Halloween costume
        
        Three-star
        
        Gengar wearing a Spooky Festival costume
        
        Umbreon – Standard variant
        
        Drifblim wearing a Halloween Mischief costume
        
        Six-star
        
        Gigantamax Gengar – Making its Pokemon Go debut
        
        Egg Pool Composition
        
        7 km
        
        Vulpix wearing a Spooky Festival costume
        
        Pichu wearing a witch hat
        
        Froakie wearing a Pokemon Halloween costume
        
        Rowlet wearing a Pokemon Halloween costume
        
        Advanced Strategy: Focus on hatching 7km eggs during the event period to maximize costume Pokemon acquisition, particularly the baby Pichu variant which cannot be caught in the wild.
        
        Action Checklist
        
        Clear Pokemon storage space before major events like Community Day and Research Day
        
        Stock up on Pokeballs, Raid Passes, and Incubators
        
        Coordinate raid groups for Mega Mawile Raid Day and weekend Shadow Entei raids
        
        Plan Daily Adventure Incense usage during Galarian Expedition for shiny legendary birds
        
        Set calendar reminders for limited-time events like Mega Mawile Raid Day and Yamask Research Day
        
        Prepare type-effective teams for raid bosses using our BF6 Weapons Unlock guide for battle strategy insights