Wild Area Events

In Pokémon Sword & Shield, the Wild Area is filled with a variety of Max Raid Battles that change periodically. However, with internet connection, you have the ability to access specific Raid Battles during certain times. This page is to detail all Wild Area Events

Finale
Release Dates: Global: November 1st 2022 - End of Service The final event and the now standard Wild Area News had the majority of the Gigantamax Pokémon as opponents to face Click here for full details
Challenge Glastrier & Spectrier Event
Release Dates: Global: October 21st - October 23rd 2022 The October special Max Raid Battle event celebrated the second anniversary of The Crown Tundra and featured uncatchable battles against Glastrier and Spectrier with lots of rare rewards Click here for full details
Battle Under Full Moon Event
Release Dates: Global: September 9th - September 19th 2022 The September special Max Raid Battle event focused around small Pokémon, offering a chance to get Shiny Snom Click here for full details
Scary Summer Event
Release Dates: Global: August 12th - August 21st2022 The August special Max Raid Battle event focused around the Pokémon Grimmsnarl, offering a chance to get Shiny Grimmsnarl Click here for full details
Cool Off Event
Release Dates: Global: July 1st - 10th 2022 The July special Max Raid Battle event focused around the Pokémon Marill, Poliwag and Spheal, offering a chance to get Shiny Marill Click here for full details
Urshifu Event
Release Dates: Global: June 17th - 19th 2022 The May special Max Raid Battle event focused around the Pokémon Urshifu and featured battles against both forms, though they are unable to be caught Click here for full details
Shell-ebration Event
Release Dates: Global: May 22nd 2022 The May special Max Raid Battle event focused around the Pokémon Shellder and offered a chance to get Shiny Shellder Click here for full details
Sudowoodo Event
Release Dates: Global: April 1st 2022 The April Fools special Max Raid Battle event focused around the Pokémon Sudowoodo and offered a chance to get Shiny Sudowoodo Click here for full details
Fossil Event
Release Dates: Global: March 18th - March 27th 2022 The March special Max Raid Battle event was to coincide with the opening of the Pokémon Fossil Museum in Tokyo in March 2022. It featured the Unova and Kalos Fossil Pokémon with a chance of Shiny Tyrantrum Click here for full details
Pokémon Day 2022 Event
Release Dates: Global: February 22nd - 27th 2022 The February special Max Raid Battle event featured raids against Gigantamax Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise to celebrate Pokémon's 26th anniversary Click here for full details
Valentines 2022 Event
Release Dates: Global: February 11th - 20th 2022 The February special Max Raid Battle event featured Milcery, with all the Sweet items for evolution being given. Milcery had the Gigantamax Factor and had a chance of being shiny Click here for full details
New Year 2022 Event
Release Dates: Global: January 1st - 9th 2022 The December special Max Raid Battle event features Pokémon based on being associated with luck, with Shiny Magikarp being available Click here for full details
Holiday Event
Release Dates: Global: December 17th - 26th 2021 The December special Max Raid Battle event features Pokémon based on Christmas with Shiny Delibird being available Click here for full details
Eeveelution Event
Release Dates: Global: November 19th - 28th 2021 The October special Max Raid Battle event features Pokémon based on Eevee and its evolutions with Shiny Eevee and Gigantamax Eevee Click here for full details
Halloween 2021 Event
Release Dates: Global: October 29th - 31st 2021 The October special Max Raid Battle event features Pokémon based on Halloween, with a chance to get a shiny Zoroark Click here for full details
Alola Starter Event
Release Dates: Global: October 1st - 3rd 2021 The October special Max Raid Battle event features Pokémon based on the Alola Starters, the first way you've been able to get them in special balls Click here for full details
Meteorite Event
Release Dates: Global: September 17th - September 19th 2021 The September special Max Raid Battle event features Solrock & Lunatone, with a chance to get them both shiny Click here for full details
Cleaning Event
Release Dates: Global: September 3rd - September 5th 2021 The September special Max Raid Battle event features Pokémon based on things that clean up. It offers a chance to get shiny Cinccino Click here for full details
Summer Ghost Event
Release Dates: Global: August 20th - August 22nd 2021 The August special Max Raid Battle event features Pokémon based on Ghosts. It offers a chance to get shiny Chandelure Click here for full details
Summer Event
Release Dates: Global: August 6th - August 8th 2021 The August special Max Raid Battle event features Pokémon based on summer such as bugs, fans and ice cream. It offers a chance to get shiny Vanilluxe Click here for full details
Fossil Event
Release Dates: Global: July 23rd - July 25th 2021 The July special Max Raid Battle event features the Fossil Pokémon from the Kanto Region, with a chance of getting Shiny Omanyte Click here for full details
Curry Class Event
Release Dates: Global: July 9th - July 11th 2021 The July special Max Raid Battle event features the Pokémon that adorn the Curry Class medals, with a chance of getting Shiny Copperajah as well as the other version's exclusive ingredients Click here for full details
Tentacle Pokémon Event
Release Dates: Global: June 25th - June 27th 2021 The late June special Max Raid Battle event features various Pokémon with tentacles being available and a chance of getting Shiny Grapploct Click here for full details
Froggy Pokémon Event
Release Dates: Global: June 4th - June 6th 2021 The early June special Max Raid Battle event features various frog Pokémon being available and a chance of getting Shiny Politoed and a chance to get Gigantamax Venusaur for all players Click here for full details
Wooloo Event
Release Dates: Global: May 21st - May 23rd 2021 The late April special Max Raid Battle event features Wooloo & Dubwool being available and a chance of getting Shiny Wooloo Click here for full details
Meowth Festival Event
Release Dates: Global: April 30th - May 2nd 2021 The late April special Max Raid Battle event features the various forms of Meowth with Gigantamax Meowth being available and a chance of getting Shiny Galarian Meowth Click here for full details
World Penguin Day Event
Release Dates: Global: April 23rd - April 25th 2021 The mid April special Max Raid Battle event features Eiscue in order to celebrate World Penguin Day, and offered a chance to get Shiny Eiscue Click here for full details
Early Route Event
Release Dates: Global: April 5th 2021 - ??? 2021 The April 2021 Wild Area Event was focused around some Pokémon you find in the early routes of Galar, as well as Ditto. It features no Gigantamax Click here for full details
Easter Event
Release Dates: Global: April 2nd - April 4th 2021 The early April special Max Raid Battle event features Rabbit themed Pokémon, as well as a chance of getting Shiny Azumarill Click here for full details
April Fools Day Event
Release Dates: Global: April 1st 2021 The April special Max Raid Battle event features nothing but uncatchable Magikarp, to celebrate April Fool's Day Click here for full details
Flower Event
Release Dates: Global: March 26th - March 28th 2021 The Mid-March special Max Raid Battle event features Flower themed Pokémon, as well as a chance of getting Shiny Lilligant Click here for full details
Fairy & Flying Event
Release Dates: Global: March 1st - March 31st 2021 The March 2021 Wild Area Event was focused around Fairy & Flying-type Pokémon. This event provided a myriad of Fairy & Flying-type Pokémon including Gigantamax Hatterene & Gigantamax Corviknight Click here for full details
Pokémon Day 2021 Event
Release Dates: Global: February 26th - February 28th 2021 The late February special Max Raid Battle event features spawns of Gigantamax Pikachu. If 1,000,000 Pikachu are defeated, then all players will receive a distribution of 100 Armorite Ore and 100 Dynite Ore Click here for full details
Valentine's Day 2021 Event
Release Dates: Global: February 11th - February 14th 2021 The Mid-February special Max Raid Battle event features nothing but spawns of Milcery with the Gigantamax Factor, giving the sweets as well as a chance of getting Shiny Milcery Click here for full details
Secrets of the Jungle Event
Release Dates: Global: February 4th - February 8th 2021 The February special Max Raid Battle event features a tie-in with the movie Secrets of the Jungle and features increased appearances of Pokémon from the movie including Cramorant. This event has got a special bonus of distributions from February 10th if enough players defeat the Cramorant If 500,000 people beat it, all players will receive a gift of a Flame Orb, Toxic Orb and Light Ball If 1,000,000 people defeat it, all players receive a gift of a Gold Bottle Cap, 3 Bottle Caps and 3 Pearl Strings Click here for full details
Fighting & Psychic Event
Release Dates: Global: February 1st - February 28th 2021 The February 2021 Wild Area Event was focused around Fighting & Psychic-type Pokémon. This event provided a myriad of Fighting & Psychic-type Pokémon including Gigantamax Machamp & Gigantamax Orbeetle Click here for full details
Year of the Ox Event
Release Dates: Global: January 22nd - January 24th 2021 The January special Max Raid Battle event features the Pokémon that are based on the Year of the Ox, getting you a chance for Shiny Tauros Click here for full details
Berry Event
Release Dates: Global: January 8th - January 10th 2021 The January special Max Raid Battle event features the Pokémon that are Berry themed, getting you various rare Berries as well as a chance for Shiny Skwovet and Shiny Greedent. It repeated November 2020's event with alterations to the item pools and rarities Click here for full details
Normal & Dragon Event
Release Dates: Global: January 1st - January 31st 2021 The January 2021 Wild Area Event was focused around Dragon & Normal-type Pokémon. This event provided a myriad of Normal & Dragon-type Pokémon including Gigantamax Snorlax & Gigantamax Duraludon Click here for full details
Christmas 2020
Release Dates: Global: December 25th - December 27th 2020 The December 2020 Special Wild Area Event was focused around Christmas and featured spawns of Delibird and other Ice-type Pokémon, with a chance to get Shiny Alolan Vulpix Click here for full details
Ice & Fire Event
Release Dates: Global: December 1st - December 31st 2020 The December 2020 Wild Area Event was focused around Ice & Fire-type Pokémon. This event provided a myriad of Ice & Fire-type Pokémon including Gigantamax Lapras & Gigantamax Centiskorch, as well as the ability to get Kantonian Ponyta & Rapidash Click here for full details
Berry Event
Release Dates: Global: November 20th - November 22nd 2020 The November special Max Raid Battle event features the Pokémon that are Berry themed, getting you various rare Berries as well as a chance for Shiny Skwovet Click here for full details
Bug & Poison Event
Release Dates: Global: November 2nd - November 30th 2020 The November 2020 Wild Area Event was focused around Bug & Poison-type Pokémon. This event provided a myriad of Bug & Poison-type Pokémon including Gigantamax Butterfree & Gigantamax Garbodor Click here for full details
Halloween Raids
Release Dates: Global: October 30th - November 1st 2020 The September special Max Raid Battle event features the Pokémon that are spooky and a chance of getting a Shiny Gourgeist Click here for full details
Ghost & Dark Event
Release Dates: Global: October1st - October 31st 2020 The October 2020 Wild Area Event was focused around Ghost & Dark -type Pokémon. This event provided a myriad of Ghost & Dark-type Pokémon including Gigantamax Gengar & Gigantamax Grimmsnarl Click here for full details This event then got updated when The Crown Tundra released to give Dynite Ore as a Raid Reward Click here for full details
September Seasonal Equinox Event
Release Dates: Global: September 18th - September 20th 2020 The September special Max Raid Battle event features the Pokémon that have evolved from the Sun Stone or the Moon Stone and a chance of getting a Shiny Clefable Click here for full details
Electric & Grass Event
Release Dates: Global: September 1st - September 31st 2020 The September 2020 Wild Area Event was focused around Electric & Grass -type Pokémon. This event provided a myriad of Electric & Grass-type Pokémon including Gigantamax Toxtricity, Gigantamax Flapple and Gigantamax Appletun Click here for full details
Water & Ground Event
Release Dates: Global: August 1st - August 31st 2020 The August 2020 Wild Area Event was focused around Water and Ground-type Pokémon. This event provided a myriad of Water and Ground-type Pokémon including Gigantamax Sandaconda and Gigantamax Drednaw Click here for full details
Pikachu Outbreak
Release Dates: Global: August 6th - August 9th 2020 The August special Max Raid Battle event features the Pikachu line including the first place to catch Alolan Raichu in the game, a Mimikyu and a chance of getting a Shiny Pikachu Click here for full details
Sea Pokémon Invasion
Release Dates: Global: July 17th - July 19th 2020 This Extra Event, for one weekend, added a lot of Water-type Pokémon into raids. With this, it added a 2% chance of getting a guaranteed shiny Wailord from 5 star raids Click here for full details
Rock & Steel Event
Release Dates: Global: June 30th - July 31st 2020 The July 2020 Wild Area Event was focused around Rock and Steel-type Pokémon. This event provided a myriad of Rock & Steel-type Pokémon including Gigantamax Copperajah and Gigantamax Coalossal Click here for full details
Zeraora Event
Release Dates: Global: June 17th - June 28th 2020 To celebrate the release of the Isle of Armor, Zeraora was added as an uncatchable raid boss, but with a twist: Its Shiny Variant is also available. This is in order to promote the opportunity to get a Shiny Zeraora distribution. If 1,000,000 people manage to defeat Zeraora in a Max Raid Battle, players will receive the Shiny Zeraora. To do that, they also need to deposit/withdraw a Pokémon from HOME from the event start to the event end Click here for full details
Gigantamax Pokémon Return
Release Dates: Global: June 2nd - June 17th 2020, June 29th 2020 If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of every Gigantamax Pokémon aside from Pikachu, Meowth and Eevee in raids In Pokémon Sword: Gigantamax Snorlax, Gengar, Kingler, Lapras, Garbodor, Corviknight, Appletun, Toxtricity (Amped Form), Centiskorch, Grimmsnarl, Alcremie and Duraludon will appear in Max Raid Battles In Pokémon Shield: Gigantamax Snorlax, Charizard, Butterfree, Machamp, Orbeetle, Drednaw, Coalossal, Flapple, Sandaconda, Toxtricity (Low Key Form), Hatterne and Copperajah will appear in Max Raid Battles Click here for full details
Gigantamax Meowth
Release Dates: Global: May 26th 2020 - June 2nd 2020 If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Gigantamax Pikachu. This event allows for the first opportunities to find Gigantamax Meowth with its Hidden Ability and to find its shiny variant Click here for full details
Gigantamax Eevee
Release Dates: Global: May 19th 2020 - May 25th 2020 If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Gigantamax Pikachu. This event allows for the first opportunities to find Gigantamax Eevee with its Hidden Ability and to find its shiny variant Click here for full details
Gigantamax Pikachu
Release Dates: Global: May 12th 2020 - May 18th 2020 If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Gigantamax Pikachu. This event allows for the first opportunities to find Gigantamax Pikachu with its Hidden Ability and to find its shiny variant Click here for full details
May 2020 - Competitve
Release Dates: Global: April 28th 2020 - May 11th 2020 If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding various Pokémon that are typically used in a competitive environment: Whmiscott, Tyranitar, Rotom, Dragapult, Togekiss & Excadrill. Each of these raids has a guaranteed drop of each TR it can give Click here for full details
Easter 2020
Release Dates: Global: April 10th 2020 - April 15th 2020 If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding various Baby Pokémon and Ditto. These Pokémon come with items that can help breeding Pokémon such as Everstone, Destiny Knot and more Click here for full details
Gigantamax Duraludon & Charizard
Release Dates: Global: March 26th 2020 - April 28th 2020 If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of Gigantamax Copperajah, Gigantamax Duraludon, Gigantamax Garbodor and Gigantamax Charizard. 5* Charizard raids cannot be shiny but can at lower levels Click here for full details
Pokédex Completion Event
Release Dates: Global: March 19th 2020 - March 25th 2020 If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of Gigantamax Snorlax, Gigantamax machamp and Gigantamax Gengar as well as different version exclusives and rare Pokémon. They give rewards of Fossils and various version exclusive items including Applin evolution items: Shelmet, Karrablast, Accelgor, Escavalier and Pincurchin will appear in both games Galarian Corsola, Galarian Ponyta, Galarian Rapidash, Mandibuzz, Oranguru, and Female Indeedee will appear in Sword Galarian Darumaka, Galarian Farfetch'd, Sirfetch'd, Braviary, Passimian, and Male Indeedee will appear in Shield Click here for full details
Gigantamax Machamp & Gengar
Release Dates: Global: March 9th 2020 - March 18th 2020 If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of Gigantamax Snorlax, Gigantamax machamp and Gigantamax Gengar Click here for full details
Kanto Starters & Mewtwo
Release Dates: Global: February 27th 2020 - March 1st 2020 If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Kanto Pokémon in the Wild Area. The increases are of Kanto Starters which provide EV Reducing Berries, Toxic Orb, Flame Orb and Life Orb, or against uncatchable Mewtwo which give PP Max and Ability Capsules Click here for full details
Gigantamax Toxtricity
Release Dates: Global: February 16th 2020 - March 8th 2020 If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Gigantamax Pokémon in the Wild Area. The increases are Gigantamax Kingler, Gigantamax Grimmsnarl & Gigantamax Toxtricity (Amped Form) for Sword and Gigantmax Orbeetle, Gigantamax Hatterene & Gigantamax Toxtricity (Low Key Form) for Shield. Click here for full details
Milcery & Gigantamax Toxtricity
Release Dates: Global: February 7th 2020 - February 16th 2020 If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Gigantamax Pokémon in the Wild Area. The increases are Milcery, Gigantamax Kingler, Gigantamax Grimmsnarl & Gigantamax Toxtricity (Amped Form) for Sword and Milcery, Gigantmax Orbeetle, Gigantamax Hatterene & Gigantamax Toxtricity (Low Key Form) for Shield. Click here for full details
Coalossal, Lapras, Flapple, Appletun & Milcery
Release Dates: Global: January 31st 2020 - February 6th2020 If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Gigantamax Pokémon in the Wild Area. The increases are Coalossal, Flapple & Milcery for Sword and Lapras, Appletun and Milcey for Shield. All Milcery in this event are able to Gigantamax into Alcremie when they evolve and it also allows for all 63 variants, including different sweets, to Gigantamax. It also introduces the Ribbon & Star Sweets Click here for full details
Coalossal, Lapras, Flapple, Appletun & Alcremie
Release Dates: Global: January 9th 2020 - January 30th 2020 If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Gigantamax Pokémon in the Wild Area. The increases are Coalossal, Flapple & Alcremie for Sword and Lapras, Appletun and Alcremie for Shield. Alcremie's Gigantamax variants here provide different Flavor base forms which were not available beforehand, some flavors are version exclusive. Gigantamax Alcremie Salted Cream and Ruby Swirl are exclusive to 5☆ Sword Raids Gigantamax Alcremie Caramel Swirl & Rainbow Cream are exclusive to 4☆ Shield Raids Click here for full details
Magikarp
Release Dates: Global: December 31st 2019 - January 3rd 2020 If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Magikarp in the Wild Area. These raids offer lots of Nuggets as rewards as well as a higher chance of a shiny Magikarp Click here for full details
Delibird
Release Dates: Global: December 20th 2019 - December 25th 2019 If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Delibird in the Wild Area. These raids offer more candy rewards than the standard raids Click here for full details
Snorlax
Release Dates: Global: December 4th 2019 - January 9th 2020 If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Gigantamax Snorlax in the Wild Area Click here for full details
Butterfree, Drednaw & Corviknight
Release Dates: Global: November 15th 2019 - December 4th 2019 If you play during this allotted time, you will have an increased chance of finding Gigantamax Pokémon in the Wild Area. The increases are for Gigantamax Butterfree for all games, Gigantamax Drednaw for Pokémon Sword and Gigantamax Corviknight for Pokémon Shield Click here for full details