Get ready to splash some color into your Pokémon GO adventure as the vibrant Festival of Colors 2025 returns from March 13 to 17! This year’s event debuts the shiny Bruxish for the first time, offers the rare chance to snap up to 10 shiny Smeargle encounters daily through photobombs, and transforms PokéStops with colorful surprises. Whether you’re chasing region-specific Flabébé variants or enjoying exclusive bonuses like extended Lure and Incense durations, this festival promises a dazzling mix of new challenges and rewards for Trainers worldwide.
Notably, you’ll be able to get shiny Smeargle from the usual Smeargle photobombs, plus you can encounter Smeargle up to 10 times per day. After this event, shiny Smeargle will go back into the vault, only to come back out for another event, so definitely try to nab one while you can. Lures and Incense will also last three hours (instead of 30 minutes), though this doesn’t include your Daily Adventure Incense nor Golden Lure Modules.
There are also some bonuses specifically for players in India, including a kurta-wearing Pikachu showing up in raids, one extra candy per caught raid Pokémon, and a special branching Timed Research set. If you’re looking for info on the India-exclusive perks, we’ll refer to you to Leek Duck’s event coverage.
Below, we list all the perks for Pokémon Go’s “Festival of Colors” event, including the boosted spawns, free and paid Timed Research tasks, raid targets, and more.
Pokémon Go ’Festival of Colors’ 2025 event Timed Research and reward
The Pokémon Go Festival of Colors 2025 event features both free and premium Timed Research quests. The free Timed Research includes tasks such as catching Pokémon, making curveball throws, spinning PokéStops, and sending gifts, with rewards including encounters with Pokémon like Ledyba, Pawmi, and Bruxish, as well as Stardust, Rare Candies, and XP. The premium Timed Research, available for US$2.00, offers additional challenges and rewards across two steps, featuring multiple Bruxish encounters and items like Incense and Lure Modules. All Timed Research tasks and rewards must be completed and claimed before March 17, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. local time. Additionally, trainers in India have access to exclusive branching Timed Research paths with unique Pokémon encounters and rewards themed around the Festival of Colors.
As usual with Pokémon Go events nowadays, there’s both a free and paid Timed Research. We list the steps for them both below. Remember that all of this research ends when the event does on March 17 at 8 p.m. in your local time.
’Festival of Colors 2025’ free Timed Research
If you complete this free research before the event ends, you’ll get a special reward.
Step 1 of 1
- Catch 15 Pokémon (Ledyba encounter)
- Make 15 curveball throws (Pawmi encounter)
- Use 15 berries to help catch Pokémon (Tadbulb encounter)
- Spin 15 PokéStops or gyms (Alolan Grimer encounter)
- Send 15 gifts to friends (Amaura encounter)
- Make 15 great throws (Crabrawler encounter)
- Catch 8 different species of Pokémon (Bruxish encounter)
- Trade a Pokémon (Bruxish encounter)
- Use an Incense (1 Incense)
Rewards: 4 Rare Candy, 1,500 Stardust, 2,000 XP
’Festival of Colors 2025’ paid Timed Research
Is the “Festival of Colors” paid research worth it? Yes, the coin value is worth it, but you should really only buy this if you love Bruxish. You get 360 coins worth of items and tons of Bruxish encounters. $2 worth of coins is around 220 coins and the tasks are pretty straightforward when it comes to completing it, so you should be able to claim everything quickly before it expires.
Step 1 of 2
- Catch 7 Pokémon (Bruxish encounter)
- Make 5 curveball throws (Bruxish encounter)
- Spin 10 PokéStops or gyms (Bruxish encounter)
- Send 2 gifts to friends (Bruxish encounter)
- Use an Incense (Bruxish encounter)
- Catch 7 Pokémon (1 Incense)
Rewards: 1 Lure Module, 1 Incense, 1,000 Stardust
Step 2 of 2
- Catch 7 Pokémon (Bruxish encounter)
- Make 5 curveball throws (Bruxish encounter)
- Spin 10 PokéStops or gyms (Bruxish encounter)
- Send 2 gifts to friends (Bruxish encounter)
- Use an Incense (Bruxish encounter)
- Catch 7 Pokémon (1 Incense)
Rewards: 1 Lure Module, 1 Incense, 1,000 Stardust
Pokémon Go ’Festival of Colors’ 2025 event Field Research and rewards
The Pokémon Go Festival of Colors 2025 event features a variety of Field Research tasks and Timed Research quests that offer exciting rewards. Players can complete event-themed Field Research tasks such as catching seven Pokémon to encounter region-specific Flabébé (red, blue, or yellow flowers depending on the region), exploring 2 km to encounter Bruxish, using Incense for more Bruxish encounters, and taking snapshots of their buddy for Stardust rewards. The event also includes a free Timed Research quest with tasks like catching Pokémon, making curveball throws, and spinning PokéStops, rewarding encounters with Pokémon such as Ledyba, Pawmi, Tadbulb, Alolan Grimer, and Bruxish, along with items like Incense, Lure Modules, Rare Candies, Stardust, and XP. Additionally, there is a paid Premium Timed Research offering more Bruxish encounters and valuable rewards. Notably, the event introduces shiny Bruxish and the return of shiny Smeargle, which can be encountered through snapshots during the event period, ending on March 17, 2025, at 8 PM local time.
Spinning a PokéStop during the event period may yield one of these tasks:
- Catch 7 Pokémon (Flabébé)
- Explore 2 km (Bruxish encounter)
- Take a snapshot of your buddy (500 Stardust)
- Use an Incense (Bruxish encounter)
The Flabébé task will reward you with the respective Flabébé from your region.
Pokémon Go ’Festival of Colors’ 2025 event boosted spawns
The Pokémon Go Festival of Colors 2025 event features boosted spawns of various Pokémon, including region-specific Flabébé with different colored flowers, Bruxish, Drowzee, Magikarp, Natu, Aipom, Meditite, and Dwebble. For the first time, players have the chance to encounter Shiny Bruxish in the wild, especially when using Incense, which also lasts longer during the event. Additionally, rare variants like White and Orange Flower Flabébé may appear regardless of region. This event enhances the wild encounter experience with a colorful and diverse range of Pokémon appearing more frequently throughout the event period from March 13 to March 17, 2025.
These Pokémon will spawn more frequently during the event period:
- Drowzee
- Magikarp
- Natu
- Aipom
- Meditite
- Dwebble
- Flabébé
- Bruxish
Pokémon Go ’Festival of Colors’ 2025 event raid targets
During the Pokémon Go Festival of Colors 2025 event, raid targets include a variety of Pokémon across different tiers. The five-star raid boss is Tapu Koko, an Electric- and Fairy-type Pokémon known for its Nature’s Madness move, which is weak to Ground- and Poison-type attacks. Mega Swampert features as the Mega Raid boss, with a Water- and Ground-type combination, making it vulnerable to Grass- and Electric-type moves. Three-star raids spotlight the Eeveelutions Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Flareon, each requiring type-appropriate counters such as Electric and Grass for Vaporeon, Ground for Jolteon, and Water and Ground for Flareon. Lower-tier raids include Pokémon like Gligar, Lotad, Cottonee, and Jangmo-o, while special Shadow Raids continue during the event. Trainers are encouraged to team up for the tougher raids to maximize their chances of success during this colorful celebration.
The following changes to the raid schedule and Max Battle schedule will take place as part of the event:
’Festival of Colors’ 2025 raid line-up
The Festival of Colors 2025 raid line-up in Pokémon GO features a vibrant selection of bosses to challenge Trainers. The five-star raid spotlights Tapu Koko, known for its Electric- and Fairy-type moves, requiring Ground- and Poison-type counters. Mega Swampert takes the Mega Raid stage, presenting a Water- and Ground-type challenge. Three-star raids include the iconic Eeveelutions: Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Flareon, each demanding strategic counters based on their Water, Electric, and Fire types respectively. Additionally, one-star raids in India feature Pikachu wearing a kurta, adding a regional flair to the event. This diverse raid roster offers a blend of nostalgic favorites and event-exclusive encounters, perfect for Trainers looking to test their skills and expand their collections during the Festival of Colors 2025.
Three-star raids |
Five-star raids |
Mega raids |
|---|---|---|
| Vaporeon | Tapu Koko | Mega Swampert |
| Jolteon | ||
| Flareon |
How will the Festival of Colors 2025 transform my Pokémon GO experience
The Festival of Colors 2025 will transform your Pokémon GO experience by introducing a vibrant, colorful atmosphere with several exciting new features and bonuses. You’ll encounter a variety of Pokémon more frequently in the wild, including region-specific Flabébé variants and, for the first time, the chance to catch Shiny Bruxish both in the wild and via Incense spawns. Additionally, you can encounter up to 10 Smeargle photobombs daily through buddy snapshots, with Shiny Smeargle available during the event. PokéStops will feature colorful surprises and themed showcases, while Lure Modules and Incense durations are extended to three and two hours respectively, enhancing your gameplay time. Trainers in India will enjoy exclusive bonuses such as branching timed research, one-star raids featuring Pikachu in a kurta, and extra Candy from raids. Overall, the event adds a festive, colorful twist to exploration, catching, and research tasks, making it a must-play celebration in Pokémon GO.
How will encountering Shiny Bruxish change my gameplay during the event
Encountering Shiny Bruxish during the Festival of Colors 2025 will add a striking new Pokémon to your collection, as this is its debut in Pokémon GO with a vivid red, green, and white color palette that stands out dramatically from its regular form. Using Incense during the event significantly increases Bruxish’s spawn rate, boosting your chances to find both regular and shiny variants in the wild, especially when combined with Lure Modules and favorable weather conditions like rain or wind. Additionally, special Research tasks during the event offer more opportunities to encounter Bruxish, including its shiny form, making it a key target for shiny hunters and collectors alike. While Shiny Bruxish does not evolve, its unique appearance and event exclusivity make it a prized addition that enhances your gameplay by encouraging exploration and strategic use of event bonuses to maximize encounters.
