The Paldea region has finally arrived in Pokemon GO! The Journey to Paldea event brings exciting new Pokemon, valuable bonuses, and limited-time challenges that every trainer needs to know about. If you’re wondering how to make the most of this week-long celebration, you’ve come to the right place. This complete guide will walk you through every aspect of the event, from the new Nacli debut to the best strategies for maximizing your rewards.
Key Takeaways
- The Journey to Paldea event runs from December 2-9, 2025, giving you a full week to participate
- Nacli makes its Pokemon GO debut as a new Rock-type Pokemon with a three-stage evolution line
- Event bonuses include 2x XP for winning raids and evolving Pokemon, plus increased shiny chances for Larvitar and Bagon
- Two collection challenges (Scarlet and Violet) offer valuable rewards including encounters with rare Pokemon
- Paldean Tauros variants appear in raids for the first time, with different forms available in different regions
What is the Pokemon GO Journey to Paldea Event?
The Journey to Paldea event is Pokemon GO’s celebration of the Paldea region introduced in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. This event marks the beginning of the Precious Path season and brings several Generation 9 Pokemon to the mobile game for the first time. During this week-long event, trainers can encounter new Pokemon, complete special challenges, and take advantage of valuable bonuses that make it the perfect time to level up and expand your Pokemon collection.
The event runs from Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. local time to Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. local time. This gives you exactly seven days to participate in all the event activities and claim your rewards. Whether you’re a casual player or a dedicated trainer, this event offers something for everyone with its mix of new content, boosted spawns, and special challenges.
New Pokemon Debut: Meet Nacli and Its Evolutions
The star of the Journey to Paldea event is undoubtedly Nacli, the Rock Salt Pokemon making its Pokemon GO debut. Nacli is a pure Rock-type Pokemon that resembles a chunk of rock salt, and it brings with it a complete evolution line that wasn’t previously available in the game.
Nacli evolves into Naclstack with 25 candies, and then Naclstack can further evolve into Garganacl with 100 candies. This three-stage evolution line means you’ll need to catch quite a few Nacli or use Pinap Berries to maximize your candy gains. Unfortunately, Nacli doesn’t have a shiny version available during this event, so you can focus on collecting candies without worrying about shiny hunting.
To efficiently collect Nacli candies, try these strategies:
- Use Pinap Berries every time you catch a Nacli to double the candy rewards
- Keep a Rock-type Mega Evolution active (like Mega Tyranitar or Mega Aerodactyl) for bonus candy
- Trade extra Nacli with friends to earn additional candies per trade
- Set Nacli as your buddy Pokemon to earn candies while walking
Event Bonuses and Rewards
The Journey to Paldea event includes three major bonuses that can significantly boost your progress in Pokemon GO:
2x XP for winning Raid Battles: This bonus makes raid battles more valuable than ever for gaining experience. If you have a Lucky Egg, activate it before participating in raids to maximize your XP gains. Raids are also a great way to earn rare candy and other valuable items, making this bonus doubly beneficial.
2x XP for evolving Pokemon: If you have a backlog of Pokemon waiting to be evolved, now is the perfect time to do it. Combine this bonus with a Lucky Egg to earn massive amounts of XP. Consider saving up common Pokemon that require low candy amounts to evolve, then evolve them all at once during a Lucky Egg session for maximum efficiency.
Increased shiny chance for Larvitar and Bagon: These popular Dragon-type Pokemon have boosted shiny rates during the event. Both Larvitar and Bagon evolve into powerful Pokemon (Tyranitar and Salamence), making them valuable additions to any trainer’s collection. Focus on catching these during their respective spawn days to increase your chances of finding a shiny.
Complete Pokemon Spawn Schedule
The Journey to Paldea event features a variety of Pokemon spawns, with some appearing throughout the event and others only on specific days. Here’s the complete spawn schedule:
Base Spawns (Available Daily):
- Nymble (Bug-type) – Shiny available
- Pawmi (Electric-type) – Shiny available
- Smoliv (Grass/Normal-type) – Shiny available
- Nacli (Rock-type) – No shiny available
Alternating Spawns – December 2, 4, 6, and 8:
- Larvitar (Rock/Ground-type) – Shiny available with increased rates
- Drifloon (Ghost/Flying-type) – Shiny available
- Stunky (Poison/Dark-type) – Shiny available
- Skrelp (Poison/Water-type) – Shiny available
- Oranguru (Normal/Psychic-type) – Shiny available
Alternating Spawns – December 3, 5, 7, and 9:
- Misdreavus (Ghost-type) – Shiny available
- Bagon (Dragon-type) – Shiny available with increased rates
- Gulpin (Poison-type) – Shiny available
- Clauncher (Water-type) – Shiny available
- Passimian (Fighting-type) – Shiny available
Note that on December 6 and 7, the Community Day event will run from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time, during which the Journey to Paldea spawns won’t be active. Plan your gameplay accordingly to make the most of both events.
Raid Battles: Paldean Tauros and More
Raid battles during the Journey to Paldea event feature several exciting Pokemon, including the debut of Paldean Tauros variants. Here’s what you’ll find in three-star raids:
Paldean Tauros Variants:
- Combat Breed (Fighting-type) – Available in the Iberian Peninsula
- Blaze Breed (Fighting/Fire-type) – Available in the Eastern Hemisphere
- Aqua Breed (Fighting/Water-type) – Available in the Western Hemisphere
These regional variants of Tauros are exclusive to raids during this event, so raiding is your only chance to catch them. Each form has different typing and strengths, making them valuable additions to your collection regardless of where you live.
Other Raid Bosses:
- Bombirdier (Dark/Flying-type) – Shiny available
- Dondozo (Water-type) – Shiny available
All of these raid bosses are single-stage Pokemon that can’t be found in the wild, making raids essential for completing your Pokedex. When preparing for these raids, consider bringing Pokemon that counter their types. For example, use Fighting-type moves against Bombirdier and Grass-type moves against Dondozo.
Collection Challenges: Scarlet vs Violet
The Journey to Paldea event features two collection challenges inspired by Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Completing these challenges will earn you valuable rewards, including encounters with rare Pokemon.
Scarlet Collection Challenge:
- Catch a Larvitar
- Catch a Drifloon
- Catch a Stunky
- Catch a Skrelp
- Catch an Oranguru
- Catch a Nacli
Rewards: Larvitar encounter, 5,000 XP, 3,000 Stardust
Violet Collection Challenge:
- Catch a Bagon
- Catch a Misdreavus
- Catch a Gulpin
- Catch a Clauncher
- Catch a Passimian
- Catch a Nacli
Rewards: Bagon encounter, 5,000 XP, 3,000 Stardust
To complete these challenges efficiently, focus on catching the required Pokemon during their designated spawn days. For example, Larvitar appears on December 2, 4, 6, and 8, while Bagon appears on December 3, 5, 7, and 9. Nacli appears throughout the event, so you can catch it anytime. The challenge rewards include encounters with Larvitar and Bagon, which are valuable for both completing the challenges and for their shiny potential.
Field Research Tasks and Rewards
Spinning PokeStops during the Journey to Paldea event will give you access to special field research tasks with valuable rewards. Here are the tasks and their rewards:
Field Research Tasks:
- Catch 5 different species of Pokemon – Reward: Nacli encounter
- Power up Pokemon 10 times – Reward: Nacli encounter
- Make 10 Great Throws – Reward: Larvitar or Bagon encounter
These tasks are relatively simple to complete and offer great rewards, especially the chance to encounter Nacli, which is the event’s featured new Pokemon. The “Make 10 Great Throws” task is particularly valuable as it gives you a chance to encounter either Larvitar or Bagon, both of which have increased shiny rates during the event.
Focus on completing these tasks early in the event to give yourself more time to take advantage of the rewards. If you’re trying to complete both collection challenges, these field research tasks can help you obtain some of the required Pokemon more easily.
Is the Paid Timed Research Worth It?
For $1.99 (or equivalent in your local currency), you can purchase the Journey to Paldea timed research. But is it worth the cost? Let’s break down what you get:
Paid Timed Research Tasks and Rewards:
- Catch 3 Pokemon – Larvitar encounter
- Catch 3 Pokemon – Bagon encounter
- Catch 5 Pokemon – Larvitar encounter
- Catch 5 Pokemon – Bagon encounter
- Catch 10 Pokemon – Larvitar encounter
- Catch 10 Pokemon – Bagon encounter
- Catch 12 Pokemon – Larvitar encounter
- Catch 12 Pokemon – Bagon encounter
- Catch 16 Pokemon – Larvitar encounter
- Catch 16 Pokemon – Bagon encounter
- Catch 18 Pokemon – Larvitar encounter
- Catch 18 Pokemon – Bagon encounter
- Catch 20 Pokemon – Larvitar encounter
- Catch 20 Pokemon – Bagon encounter
Final Rewards: Nacli encounter, 2 Premium Battle Passes, 3,000 Stardust
The paid research is essentially a series of simple catch tasks that reward you with multiple encounters with Larvitar and Bagon. If you’re a shiny hunter or want to build up candy for these Pokemon, this could be worthwhile. The Premium Battle Passes and Stardust add some additional value. However, if you’re not particularly interested in Larvitar or Bagon, you might want to skip this paid content and focus on the free aspects of the event.
Additionally, the Pokemon GO Web Store offers a Journey to Paldea Ultra Ticket Box for $1.99, which includes both the event ticket and five Ultra Balls. This is a slightly better value if you were planning to purchase the timed research anyway.
How to Maximize Your Event Experience
To get the most out of the Journey to Paldea event, follow these strategies:
Candy Farming Tips:
- Use Pinap Berries on every Nacli you catch to double your candy rewards
- Keep a Rock-type Mega Evolution active for additional candy bonuses
- Set Nacli as your buddy Pokemon to earn candies while walking
- Trade extra Nacli with friends to earn three additional candies per trade
Lucky Egg Usage:
- Save your Pokemon evolutions for when you can activate a Lucky Egg
- Combine the 2x evolution XP bonus with a Lucky Egg for 4x total XP
- Time your Lucky Egg usage with raid battles for maximum XP gains
Raid Party Coordination:
- Coordinate with local friends or community groups to take down raids efficiently
- Focus on raids featuring Paldean Tauros variants, as they’re event-exclusive
- Use the 2x raid XP bonus during your Lucky Egg sessions for massive XP gains
Time Management:
- Plan your gameplay around the alternating spawn schedule
- Remember that Community Day on December 6-7 will override event spawns from 2-5 p.m.
- Complete collection challenges early to avoid missing out on time-limited Pokemon
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Journey to Paldea event last in Pokemon GO?
The Journey to Paldea event runs for exactly one week, from Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. local time to Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. local time. You have this entire window to participate in event activities, catch special Pokemon, and complete collection challenges. After 8:00 p.m. on December 9, the event will end and all special spawns, bonuses, and challenges will no longer be available.
Can Nacli be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Nacli cannot be shiny during the Journey to Paldea event. The Rock Salt Pokemon is making its debut in Pokemon GO without a shiny variant available. However, other Pokemon featured in the event do have shiny versions, including Nymble, Pawmi, Smoliv, Larvitar, Bagon, and several others. Notably, Larvitar and Bagon have increased shiny rates during the event, making them excellent targets for shiny hunters.
Which days should I play for specific Pokemon spawns?
The event features alternating spawn schedules for certain Pokemon. On December 2, 4, 6, and 8, you’ll find increased spawns of Larvitar, Drifloon, Stunky, Skrelp, and Oranguru. On December 3, 5, 7, and 9, you’ll encounter more Misdreavus, Bagon, Gulpin, Clauncher, and Passimian. Nacli, Nymble, Pawmi, and Smoliv appear throughout the entire event. Remember that December 6-7 from 2-5 p.m. will feature Community Day spawns instead of the Journey to Paldea spawns.
How do I get Paldean Tauros in Pokemon GO?
Paldean Tauros can only be obtained through raid battles during the Journey to Paldea event. There are three different forms available: Combat Breed (Fighting-type) in the Iberian Peninsula, Blaze Breed (Fighting/Fire-type) in the Eastern Hemisphere, and Aqua Breed (Fighting/Water-type) in the Western Hemisphere. These regional variants are exclusive to three-star raids and cannot be found in the wild or through other means during this event.
Are the Collection Challenges worth completing?
Yes, the Collection Challenges are definitely worth completing. Each challenge rewards you with 5,000 XP, 3,000 Stardust, and an encounter with either Larvitar or Bagon. These rewards are valuable for leveling up, powering up Pokemon, and potentially finding shiny versions of these popular Pokemon. The challenges also encourage you to catch a variety of Pokemon, helping you make progress on your Pokedex and take advantage of the event’s special spawns.
What’s the best way to get Nacli candy?
The most efficient way to get Nacli candy is to use Pinap Berries every time you catch one, which doubles the candy reward. Additionally, keeping a Rock-type Mega Evolution active will give you extra candy for each catch. Setting Nacli as your buddy Pokemon will earn you candy as you walk, and trading extra Nacli with friends will give you three additional candies per trade. You can also complete field research tasks that reward Nacli encounters for more opportunities to catch them.
Should I buy the paid timed research?
Whether the paid timed research is worth it depends on your goals as a player. For $1.99, you get multiple encounters with Larvitar and Bagon, plus a Nacli encounter, two Premium Battle Passes, and 3,000 Stardust. If you’re interested in shiny hunting Larvitar or Bagon (which have increased shiny rates during the event), or if you want to build up candy for these Pokemon, the paid research offers good value. However, if you’re not particularly interested in these Pokemon, you might prefer to focus on the free aspects of the event.
Conclusion
The Pokemon GO Journey to Paldea event offers a wealth of content for trainers of all levels. From the debut of Nacli and its evolutions to the valuable XP bonuses and collection challenges, there’s something for everyone during this week-long celebration. Whether you’re a casual player looking to catch some new Pokemon or a dedicated trainer aiming to complete every challenge, this event provides plenty of opportunities to progress in the game.
Remember to plan your gameplay around the alternating spawn schedule, take advantage of the double XP bonuses with Lucky Eggs, and consider which aspects of the event are most important to you. With the strategies and information in this guide, you’re well-equipped to make the most of the Journey to Paldea event and emerge with a stronger Pokemon collection and plenty of rewards.
