The Pokémon GO March GO Pass has officially arrived, and this month’s progression track feels far more rewarding than some recent rotations. Featuring a Raikou encounter, milestone gameplay bonuses, and the return of the Timed Incubator in the GO Pass Deluxe March upgrade, there’s real incentive to rank up before April.
Running from March 3 at 10:00 a.m. to April 7 at 10:00 a.m. local time, the March GO Pass gives every Trainer a free reward track, with the option to upgrade for additional bonuses and item value.
Here’s everything included in the Pokémon GO March GO Pass, and whether it’s worth pushing hard this month.
Pokémon GO March GO Pass Dates & How It Works
The March GO Pass runs:
Start: March 3 at 10:00 a.m. local time
End: April 7 at 10:00 a.m. local time
Rewards must be claimed by: April 9 at 10:00 a.m. local time
All Trainers automatically receive the free version. By completing Pass Tasks and earning GO Points, you increase your rank and unlock Pokémon GO March rewards along the way.
There are milestone bonuses at higher ranks that actively change gameplay, not just item payouts.
There is also an optional paid upgrade: GO Pass Deluxe March.
Raikou in the Pokémon GO March GO Pass
The headline reward this month is a Raikou encounter in Pokémon GO.
By progressing through the GO Pass ranks, Trainers unlock a Raikou encounter as part of the reward track. This encounter has Shiny potential, making it especially appealing for collectors.
READ MORE: Pokémon GO March 2026 Events – Full Schedule, Raids, Spotlight Hours & Community Day
Why Raikou Matters
Raikou is one of the Legendary Beasts originally discovered in the Johto region. As a pure Electric-type Pokémon, it has consistently been relevant in raids thanks to its strong offensive stats and access to powerful Electric-type moves.
In Pokémon GO, Raikou performs well as:
An Electric-type raid attacker
A counter to Water- and Flying-type raid bosses
A PvE-focused Legendary rather than a PvP specialist
While it isn’t brand new, the Raikou GO Pass encounter provides accessibility for players who may have missed previous raid rotations.
And yes, the Shiny form remains one of the more striking Legendary recolours in the game.
For many Trainers, this alone makes the Pokémon GO March GO Pass worth completing.
READ MORE: Raikou Pokémon GO: Best Moveset, Shiny Odds, Raid Counters & Is It Worth It?
Free Pokémon GO March Rewards (No Upgrade Required)
The free track includes:
Raikou encounter (Shiny possible)
Stardust
XP
Max Particles
Rank milestone bonuses
This is important:
You do not need GO Pass Deluxe March to unlock Raikou. It is part of the free progression path.
That gives this month solid value even for free-to-play Trainers.
READ MORE: Pokémon 30th Anniversary Celebration – Pokémon GO Event – A Complete Guide
GO Pass Deluxe March – What You Actually Get
The GO Pass Deluxe March is the paid upgrade.
Pricing:
US$7.99 – GO Pass Deluxe
US$9.99 – GO Pass Deluxe + 10 Ranks
Upgrading gives you:
One Timed Incubator (Pokémon GO)
One Super Incubator
Additional Pokémon encounters
Access to both reward tracks simultaneously
Optional faster rank progression (if buying +10 ranks)
You can upgrade at any point during the event and retroactively claim Deluxe rewards you’ve already earned.
The Timed Incubator – Why It’s a Big Deal
The Timed Incubator in Pokémon GO is included only in the GO Pass Deluxe March upgrade.
It is not part of the free track.
Timed Incubators allow you to hatch Eggs within a limited-use window, making them particularly valuable during bonus periods.
And this month includes a major synergy.
READ MORE: Timed Incubator Pokémon GO: How It Works & When Exactly to Use It
March GO Pass Milestone Bonuses
As you rank up in the Pokémon GO March GO Pass, you unlock gameplay-altering bonuses.
Rank 25
Open up to 40 Gifts daily
Receive up to 125 Gifts per day from PokéStops and Gyms
Hold 10 additional Gifts
Rank 50
2× Daily Adventure Incense duration
Rank 75
Increased Stardust and XP from hatching Eggs
That Rank 75 hatch boost is where the Timed Incubator becomes especially powerful.
Combine:
Rank 75 hatch bonus
Timed Incubator
Super Incubator
Unlimited GO Points weekend (April 4–5)
And you create one of the strongest Egg-grinding windows we’ve seen in recent months.
Unlimited GO Points Weekend
From April 4 at 12:00 a.m. to April 5 at 11:59 p.m. local time, there is no daily cap on GO Points earned.
If you’re aiming to secure your Raikou encounter or reach Rank 75 quickly, this is the ideal time to push progression.
Is GO Pass Deluxe March Worth It?
It depends on your playstyle.
For free players: The Pokémon GO March GO Pass already offers strong value thanks to Raikou and milestone bonuses.
For hatch-focused players: The Timed Incubator Pokémon GO synergy with Rank 75 makes the Deluxe version far more attractive this month.
For collectors: Shiny Raikou potential adds genuine incentive.
The Pokémon GO March GO Pass feels more substantial than some previous monthly tracks. Between Raikou, meaningful milestone perks, and the Timed Incubator returning in GO Pass Deluxe March, this isn’t just filler progression.
It rewards active play.
