Pokemon Go Team Go Rocket takeover (October 2023): Dates, Shadow Lugia, Raids & more

Ezequiel Leis
Team Rocket Takeover October 2023

The October 2023 Team Go Rocket takeover in Pokemon Go has gone live, and here’s what you need to know about this special event featuring Shadow Lugia, Shadow Raids, and more.

The Team Go Rocket takeover event is live in the current season of Pokemon Go, Adventures Abound, and players are wondering how to beat Giovanni, Team Leaders, and Grunts with their new Shadow Pokemon lineups.

There are also a lot of new Shadow Pokemon up for grabs during this event, and trainers are up for a big surprise with the debut of Shadow Lugia in 5-Star Raids.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Team Go Rocket takeover event for October 2023 in Pokemon Go.

Pokemon Go Team Go Rocket takeover October 2023 schedule

The new Team Go Rocket takeover event in Pokemon Go is running from Thursday, October 26, 2023, at 10 AM until Tuesday, October 31, at 8 PM (local time).

Pokemon Go Shadow Lugia debut in Team Go Rocket takeover

Shadow Lugia will be available in Pokemon Go five-star Shadow Raids from Saturday, October 28, 2023, at 10 AM to Sunday, October 29, 2023, at 8 PM (local time). Trainers will be able to party up to try to take down this powerful Legendary Pokemon, which can also be shiny.

Shadow Lugia Pokemon Go
Shadow Lugia will be available in 5-Star Raids during the Team Rocket Takeover event.

Pokemon Go Team Go Rocket takeover Shadow Pokemon

Pokemon Go Team Rocket Grunts, as well as Leaders Cliff, Arlo, and Sierra, have changed their lineups and will feature some of the Pokemon in the following list:

  • Shadow Gastly
  • Shadow Rhyhorn
  • Shadow Barboach
  • Shadow Cranidos
  • Shadow Shieldon
  • Shadow Drilbur
  • Shadow Litwick
  • Shadow Dratini (Cliff)
  • Shadow Bellsprout (Arlo)
  • Shadow Sableye (Sierra)
Shadow Pokemon Pokemon Go
Shadow Pokemon have a greater attack score than regular Pokemon.

Pokemon Go Team Go Rocket takeover Shadow Raids

Here’s a list of all the Pokemon that will be featured in Shadow Raids during the Pokemon Go Team Go Rocket takeover event:

One-Star

  • Shadow Gastly
  • Shadow Grimer
  • Shadow Misdreavus
  • Shadow Litwick

Three-Star

  • Shadow Nidorina
  • Shadow Nidorino
  • Shadow Golbat

Five-Star

  • Shadow Lugia

Pokemon Go Team Go Rocket takeover Special Research

A new Special Research story is available in this Pokemon Go Team Go Rocket takeover event. Players that take down all three Team Go Rocket Leaders will receive a Super Rocket Radar to find and face Giovanni with a Shadow Regigigas.

The Special Research will be available for all players to claim until the end of the Adventures Abound season, on December 1, 2023, at 10 AM.

Pokemon Go Team Go Rocket takeover bonuses

The Pokemon Go Team Go Rocket takeover event features the following bonuses:

  • Team Go Rocket will appear more frequently at PokeStops and in balloons.
  • You can use a Charged TM to help a Shadow Pokemon forget the Charged Attack Frustration.
team go rocket leaders in pokemon go
Team Go Rocket Leaders change their lineups with every new takeover event.

Pokemon Go Team Go Rocket takeover 12 Km Egg pool

During the Team Go Rocket takeover event, trainers can earn 12 Km Eggs by defeating Team Go Rocket Leaders in Pokemon Go. The following Pokemon are hatching from those Eggs:

  • Larvitar*
  • Sandile
  • Pawniard*
  • Vullaby*
  • Deino*
  • Pancham*
  • Salandit

Sandile, Pawniard, Vullaby, Pancham, and Salandit are among the rarest Pokemon in Pokemon Go and can only be obtained by hatching 12 Km Eggs. This is a good chance to get these rare Pokemon for your collection.


That’s all you need to know about the Team Go Rocket takeover event in October 2023. For more Pokemon content, check our other articles:

How to connect Pokemon Go to Pokemon Scarlet & Violet | How to heal Pokemon in Pokemon Go | How many Pokemon are there? | Best Pokemon for PvP battles in Pokemon Go | How to get revives in Pokemon Go | Pokemon Go best attackers ranked | All Pokemon Go free rewards | How to get Master Ball in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet | Everything we know about Pokemon Scarlet & Violet DLC | How many Pokemon types are in Scarlet & Violet?

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