Raid Battles are an essential part of the Pokémon GO experience, and in August 2024, there are some excellent Raid Bosses that you can battle and catch. Whether you're looking to add a Legendary Pokémon like Xerneas to your collection, or stock up on Mega Energy for the likes of Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Kangaskhan, there's something for you in this month's schedule.

In Pokémon GO, Raid Bosses are rotated on a regular basis, so it's important to keep track of the current Raid schedule and plan ahead for which Pokémon you want to battle. While One-Star and Three-Star Raid Bosses are fairly easy to defeat, 5-Star Raid Bosses and Mega Raid Bosses require careful strategy to defeat. You'll also need to team up with several other Trainers to win.

Pokémon GO 5-Star Raid Bosses In August 2024

A Kanto-Region Classic Returns

During the month of August, Trainers will be able to take on Incarnate Forme Thundurus, Moltres, Incarnate Forme Thundurus, and Xerneas in 5-Star Raid Battles in Pokémon GO. You can see the dates these Legendary Pokémon will be appearing in Raids, as well as their weaknesses, in the table below.

The first three Raid Bosses of the month are all weak to Rock-type attacks, which is handy as you can just focus on powering up Pokémon of that type. Some of the best Rock-type Pokémon include Terrakion, Rampardos, Rhyperior, Diancie, and Tyranitar.

As for Xerneas, its weaknesses are Poison-type and Steel-type attacks. Some of the best Pokémon you can use here are Nihilego, Naganadel, Roserade, and Vileplume for Poison-type damage, or Dialga, Metagross, Excadrill, and Scizor for Steel-type damage.

All of the Legendary Pokémon appearing in 5-Star Raids this month have a chance of being shiny (if you're lucky), so even if you've already caught these Pokémon before, you can still take part to try and find a rare shiny variant.

Pokémon GO Mega Raid Boss Schedule In August 2024

Catch A Region Exclusive Pokémon

There are four Mega Raid Bosses to take on throughout August in Pokémon GO. First up is Mega Aggron, which is rolling over from last month's Raid schedule, followed by Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Kangaskhan, and Mega Salamence. You can see the dates each Mega Raid Boss is appearing in the game, as well as their weaknesses, in the table below.

Mega Aggron and Mega Kangaskhan can both be countered by strong Fighting-type Pokémon such as Terrakion, Conkeldurr, and Machamp. This would also be the perfect opportunity to show off your Mega Lucario, if you managed to take part in the recent Raid Day event and earn enough Mega Energy to Mega-Evolve one for your team.

Kangaskhan is usually region-locked in Pokémon GO, so if you've not added one to your Pokedex yet, this is the perfect time to do so, as defeating a Mega Kangaskhan will reward you with a chance to catch a regular Kangaskhan.

Some of the best counters for Mega Aerodactyl are Xurkitree, Kyogre, Zekrom, Metagross, Rhyperior, and Greninja. Finally, if you want to take on Mega Salamence, avoid Dragon-type Pokémon and focus on Ice-types like Baxcalibur, Mamoswine, Galarian Darmanitan, and Weavile.

Pokémon GO Shadow Raid Bosses In August 2024

The Aurora Pokémon Gets A Shadowy Makeover

Every weekend during August, Pokémon GO players will be able to take on Shadow Suicune in Shadow Raids. These are more difficult than regular Raid Bosses, so you'll need to team up with several other Trainers for a chance at victory. Suicune is vulnerable to Electric and Grass-type attacks, so focus on Pokémon like Kartana, Zekrom, Xurkitree, Zarude, and Electivire.

It's also important to use Purified Gems when taking on Shadow Raid Bosses. These rare items help take them out of their enraged state, making them easier to defeat. You can piece together a Purified Gem once you've collected four Shadow Shards, which are earned as rewards for successfully beating of Team GO Rocket in Pokémon GO.