Pokémon GO Halloween Event 2023: Date, Time, Featured Pokémon, Raids & More

It's October in Pokémon GO, which means the annual Halloween event is right around the corner to bring some terrifying tales and spooky scares a-plenty. As with past Halloween events, we can expect new Raid and wild encounters, more Research tasks, and ample rewards that will send shivers down their spines.

Trainers must come prepared as Team GO Rocket will lure them into their nefarious traps in yet another Takeover event. While we await developer Niantic to confirm the event's content plans officially, let's look at what we know about this year's Halloween event for Pokémon GO, including event schedule, Raids, wild encounters, Research tasks, and more.

31st October 2023 Update: We've updated this guide to reflect the start of the Halloween Part II event, with more encounters, Raids, Research tasks, and more in Pokémon GO. The original article continues below.

Pokémon GO Halloween Event: Start Dates & Times

Spooky season has arrived! 🎃

See what a ghoulishly good time awaits you this October! 👇#AdventuresAboundpic.twitter.com/tI56UcXt3D

— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) September 21, 2023

Developer Niantic confirmed in the October 2023 Content Update that the annual seasonal event, which celebrates the Halloween season, will return for Pokémon GO. This event sees plenty of terrifying and spooky Pokémon appearing more frequently in various encounters, including Raids, wild spawns, and Research tasks.

As such, the event will take place over two weeks this October 2023, with Halloween Part I taking place between 19th and 26th October 2023 from 10 am local time. The Halloween Part II event will arrive in-game a few days later on 26th October 2023, where it will run until Halloween on 31st October 2023.

But that's not all, as Team GO Rocket will be up to their shenanigans this Spooktober as the Team GO Rocket Takeover event returns in time for Halloween. This limited-time event will run concurrently with the Halloween Part II event between 26th and 31st October 2023.

Pokémon GO Halloween Event: All Starred & Mega Raids

The developer has released the event details for the Halloween Part 1 event, which begins on 19th October 2023. In terms of Raid events, Trainers can expect multiple Raid events taking place during this event in which they can encounter various Raid bosses, with the chance of encountering them in their Shiny forms (*).

Don't forget that the Shadow Raids will overlap with the Halloween event as Trainers can encounter Shadow Moltres every weekend (Saturday and Sunday) in October 2023. Let's look at all the Raid events confirmed and occurring during the Halloween Part 1 event in Pokémon GO:

Pokémon GO Halloween Event: All Wild Encounters

Quite like the previous Halloween events, we expect new and spooky wild encounters that'll be seen more frequently in the wild. Trainers will see plenty of Dark, Fairy, Ghost, Poison, and Psychic-type Pokémon being featured in wild encounters with the potential of encountering Shiny forms (*) of specific Pokémon.

Trainers will also be able to encounter a Shiny Phantump for the first time in-game, which they'll be looking to add to their Pokédex. Below is the list of all the Pokémon appearing in Wild Encounters for the Halloween Part 1 event in-game:

Pokémon GO Halloween Event: Field & Timed Research

As expected, this Halloween event will have terrifying Field Research available for Trainers to claim and complete for the event's duration. There will be several Research tasks available in which they can receive Poké Balls, Berries, Stardust, and encounters with Misdreavus* andPhantump*.

Additionally, there will be paid Timed Research for Trainers to acquire by purchasing a ticket from the in-game to have access to the tasks and receive rewards like encounters with Phantump and Alolan Meowth and the Halloween Avatar Pose. Trainers can get a ticket or gift one for their Friends for $5,00 or equivalent to their local currency, which they'll have until 31st October 2023 at 8 pm local time to claim and complete.

There will also be two additional themed Timed Research which focuses on Ghost-type Pokémon and Spiritomb. Both Timed Research will be available between 19th and 31st October 2023 from 10 am and 8 pm local time with some of the rewards, including encounters with Greavard.

Lastly, other in-game activities will overlap with the Halloween Part 1 event like the confirmed Shadow Raids, in which Trainers can encounter Shadow Moltres every weekend, and the Ghost-type Yamask for the Spotlight Hour event. A spooktacular Timed Research, Ticket of Treats, is available all month for Trainers to purchase and complete until 31st October by 11:59 pm local time with various event bonuses and rewards like Premium Raid Passes, Lure Modules, wild encounters, Incubators, Candy, and more.