As we move towards the end of the current season in Pokémon GO, the latest event, Final Strike: GO Battle Week, offers plenty of rewards and some new Pokémon. There's an event nearly every week now in Pokémon GO, with some being more interesting and useful for players than others. Despite many long-time players falling out of love with the game, one thing that does keep trainers returning is the debut of new Pokémon.

Following the Crown Clash event, Final Strike: GO Battle Week is one players do not want to miss out on. It is one of the final events of the Might & Mastery season and offers bonuses, debuts, new spawns, updated raids, and much more to keep you playing this coming week. While the new season, which is set to launch in June 2025, is sure to shake things up in Pokémon GO for players, this event provides lots of great opportunities for new and returning players.

Final Strike Event Schedule

Dates & Times Of The Event

Final Strike: GO Battle Week is open to all Pokémon GO players, with the majority of content available without any tickets needing to be purchased. However, there are two types of paid research tasks, a timed research and a Fuzzy Fighter Special Research. The week also features another event based around the GO Battle League, with a number of different classic cups available for trainers to battle in.

Additional rewards, including an encounter with Dynamax Kubfu, can be earned by players who buy paid tickets.

Regardless of whether you buy either of the paid elements, Final Strike: GO Battle Week will run from Wednesday, 21 May, at 10am local time until Tuesday, 27 May, at 8pm local time. This gives players plenty of opportunities to take advantage of the increased spawns, raids, and bonuses on offer.

All Pokémon Debuts & Wild Spawns During Final Strike Event

A New Evolution For Trainers

One of the biggest bonuses during the Final Strike event is the debut of Ursifu in two different forms. The Generation 8 Legendary Pokémon Kubfu has been in Pokémon GO for some time, but it has not previously been able to evolve. From the start of the Final Strike event onward, you will be able to evolve Kubfu into Ursifu's two forms. It will cost you 200 Kubfu Candies to evolve, but it also has specific requirements based on which version you want it to evolve into.

To gain either of Usifu's forms, you'll need Kubfu as your buddy Pokémon to complete the required tasks. To be able to evolve it into Urshifu (Single Strike Style), you need to defeat 30 Dark-type Pokémon in raids or Max Battles, and to get Urshifu (Rapid Strike Style), you need to defeat 30 Water-type Pokémon in raids or Max Battles. If you swap Kubfu out as your buddy, you will still retain the progress you have made with these challenges when you select it again.

In addition, many Pokémon will spawn in the wild more frequently than normal for the duration of the event. These are Mankey, Seel, Galarian Zigzagoon, Meditite and Froakie. All five of these Pokémon also have the chance to spawn as their shiny versions. If you are lucky, there are also increased spawns of Deino and Nickit, but at a lower rate than the first five.

All Pokémon Raids During Final Strike Event

New 1 & 3 Star Raids

For the week-long event, the regular raid battles will change from Dynamax Suicune Max Raid, which requires a large number of players to have a chance of victory.

Max Raids will remain unchanged during the Final Strike Event in Pokémon GO.

3-star raids in Pokémon GO are much harder and require either multiple players or going into the battle with a team that perfectly counters the raid Pokémon. For the Final Strike event, the 3-star raids will be made up of Lapras, Hisuian Samurott, and Bombirdier. The three Pokémon all rarely feature now in Pokémon GO, so if you have not already caught one, this provides a great opportunity. All six updated raid Pokémon for the event have the chance of being their shiny versions during the post-battle encounter.

All Final Strike Event Rewards

Additional Bonuses And Rewards

In addition to increased spawns and raids, there are further benefits for players during the Final Strike event in Pokémon GO. As an incentive for players to take part in more raids, you will receive 2x XP for any successful raids. This can be a huge amount if you take part in 5-star legendary raids against the strongest Pokémon on offer. There will be an increased chance to encounter Shiny Meditite, Shiny Stunky, and Shiny Mareanie during the event, so if you don't have those versions of Pokémon, it is a great opportunity to add them to your Pokédex.

An uncommon feature is also being added for the event, with five Pokémon having the opportunity to learn new or rare moves that they normally can't. Any Lapras encountered either through raids or field research will know the Charged Attack Ice Beam. Mankey, Seel, Zweilous, and Frogadier's evolved forms will also know special charged attacks when evolved during the event.

As with all events in Pokémon GO, Final Strike: GO Battle Week adds additional items to the in-game store that trainers can purchase with Poke Coins.

Finally, a host of different research options during the event will offer further bonuses to players. Field research tasks, which can be discovered by spinning PokeStops, will provide further encounters with Pokémon showcased in the event. There will also be Special Research and Timed Research for players to take on, alongside two paid ticketed options. Final Strike: GO Battle Week adds a lot of different elements for players to get involved with in Pokémon GO, and the debut of Ursifu means that it's one not to miss.