Ultra Wormholes in Pokémon GO are mysterious portals that open above Gyms, signaling the arrival of powerful Ultra Beasts from another dimension known as Ultra Space. These wormholes replace the usual raid eggs during special events, offering trainers a rare chance to battle and catch these extradimensional creatures, which are as formidable as Legendary Pokémon. For fans eager to expand their Pokédex and face off against these unique foes, understanding Ultra Wormholes is key to unlocking some of the game’s most thrilling challenges.
For those wanting to fill their Pokédex in Pokémon Go, you’ll want to know when an Ultra Beast is spawning – and this is where understanding how Ultra Wormholes work comes in handy. We explain how Ultra Wormholes work in Pokémon Go below.
What is an Ultra Wormhole in Pokémon Go?
Ultra Wormholes in Pokémon Go are special portals that appear above Gyms during certain events, serving as gateways for Ultra Beasts-powerful, extradimensional Pokémon from Ultra Space-to enter the game world. These wormholes replace the usual Raid Eggs and signal the imminent arrival of an Ultra Beast Raid boss, which players can challenge and attempt to capture. Originating from the Pokémon Sun and Moon series, Ultra Wormholes bring a unique raid experience, requiring coordinated battles due to the strength of Ultra Beasts. They are a key mechanic for encountering and adding these rare creatures to the Pokédex during limited-time events.
Ultra Wormholes can appear in Gyms to countdown to the appearance of an Ultra Beast in a raid.
Beyond the visual appearance of an Ultra Wormhole to signify a Ultra Beast encounter will appear there – and the replacement of Premier Balls with Beast Balls and their higher catch rate as part of certain events – fighting and catching Ultra Beasts is mechanically indistinct from Legendary Pokémon or other creatures in Raid Eggs.
As such, the only purpose of Ultra Wormholes is to highlight that an Ultra Beast, and not another Pokémon, will be spawning at a Gym.
As with Raid Eggs, you won’t know exactly what Pokémon will be in the Raid until the countdown ends – though following the current raid schedule to know the possibilities can help narrow it down.
Which Ultra Beasts can appear in an Ultra Wormhole?
Ultra Wormholes in Pokémon Go are special portals that appear above Gyms, signaling the arrival of Ultra Beasts for raid battles. These extradimensional Pokémon, originally introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon, can only be encountered through these Ultra Wormholes during specific events or raid rotations. The Ultra Beasts that can appear in Ultra Wormholes include Nihilego, Pheromosa, Buzzwole, Xurkitree, Kartana, Celesteela, Guzzlord, Blacephalon, Stakataka, and Naganadel. However, some Ultra Beasts like Poipole and its evolution Naganadel are not always available through Ultra Wormholes and may have been obtained through special research. The availability of each Ultra Beast depends on the current raid schedule, and they appear as 5-star raid bosses, requiring a coordinated effort to defeat and catch them.
To date, the following Ultra Beasts have spawned at Ultra Wormholes in Pokémon Go:
- Nihilego
- Buzzwole
- Pheromosa
- Xurkitree
- Celesteela (regional exclusive to the Southern Hemisphere)
- Kartana (regional exclusive to the Northern Hemisphere)
- Guzzlord
- Stakataka (regional exclusive to the Eastern Hemisphere)
- Blacephalon (regional exclusive to the Western Hemisphere)
As well as the above, there are two Ultra Beasts which do not spawn in Ultra Wormholes – Poipole and evolution Naganadel – which were made available by completing the (now unattainable) “World of Wonders” Special Research. There’s also Necrozma, which, while not technically an Ultra Beast, is closely related lore-wise in some Pokémon games and tie-ins, and often appears during Ultra Beast-focused events.
In terms of tracking down specific Ultra Beasts, which can appear in an Ultra Wormhole is entirely dependant on the current raid schedule.
Finally, know that though they are primarily sourced from raid, Ultra Beasts have also appeared as Special Research and Timed Research reward encounters in the past – though don’t count on them to appear there regularly.
How to get an Ultra Wormhole background
During the Go Fest 2024 event in Pokémon Go, players had the chance to catch Ultra Beasts with a unique Ultra Wormhole background, a special aesthetic effect that appears behind the Pokémon during capture. This background is purely cosmetic and does not affect gameplay or stats. As of now, this Ultra Wormhole background has not returned to the game and remains exclusive to that event. However, players can still obtain Pokémon with this background through trades with friends who caught them during Go Fest 2024.
There was a chance that any Ultra Beast – as well as pseudo-Ultra Beast Necrozma – caught during Go Fest 2024 would come with a unique Ultra Wormhole background.
Like other backgrounds in Pokémon Go, this is purely a cosmetic feature to make the catch a little more unique, and to give collectors something extra to chase.
How do Ultra Wormholes unlock access to Ultra Beasts in Pokémon Go
Ultra Wormholes in Pokémon GO function as portals that appear above Gyms, replacing the usual Raid Eggs during special events. When an Ultra Wormhole manifests, it signals that an Ultra Beast-a powerful Pokémon from another dimension called Ultra Space-will soon emerge for a Raid Battle at that Gym. Trainers must defeat the Ultra Beast in the raid to have a chance to catch it, similar to how Legendary Pokémon raids work. The specific Ultra Beast appearing depends on the current event schedule, and during these raids, special Beast Balls may be used to increase catch rates. Thus, Ultra Wormholes unlock access to Ultra Beasts by acting as the gateway through which these extradimensional creatures enter the Pokémon GO world for players to battle and capture.
How do Ultra Wormholes signal the arrival of specific Ultra Beasts in Pokémon Go
Ultra Wormholes signal the arrival of specific Ultra Beasts in Pokémon GO by appearing above Gyms just before an Ultra Beast Raid begins, taking the place of the usual Raid Eggs. The presence of an Ultra Wormhole indicates that an Ultra Beast will emerge once the countdown ends. However, the exact Ultra Beast that will appear depends on the current event schedule set by the game developers. Players cannot know which Ultra Beast will spawn until the countdown finishes, but tracking ongoing events helps narrow down the possibilities. This system ensures that Ultra Wormholes serve as a clear visual cue that a powerful Ultra Beast raid is imminent, linking the portal’s appearance directly to the specific Ultra Beast featured in that event.
