Pokémon GO Raid Hour September 23 is not the same encounter everywhere in the world. This week’s hour brings back three Ultra Beasts on a regional split, which means the five-star boss you see depends on where you are playing: Pheromosa, Buzzwole or Xurkitree.
That regional setup makes this one worth checking before you start spending passes or arranging invites. The event runs from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday, September 23, and this guide lays out the region map, the key weaknesses and the simplest way to prepare for the boss available in your area.
Pokémon GO Raid Hour September 23 regional boss list
Image credit: Pokémon GO
| Region | Raid Hour boss | Main weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Europe, Middle East, Africa and India | Pheromosa | Flying; also Fire, Psychic and Fairy |
| Americas and Greenland | Buzzwole | Flying; also Fire, Psychic and Fairy |
| Asia-Pacific | Xurkitree | Ground |
The regional split is the most important detail for Pokémon GO Raid Hour September 23. You will not see all three Ultra Beasts spawning locally during the hour. Remote Raid invitations can still make raids in another region accessible where the current Remote Raid rules allow them.
Pheromosa Raid Hour weaknesses
Pheromosa is the local boss for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India during the September 23 hour. Its Bug/Fighting typing makes Flying attacks particularly effective, while Fire, Psychic and Fairy attacks are also super effective.
Pheromosa is also Shiny-eligible in the September rotation. If Europe is your home region, our Pheromosa Pokémon GO guide is the useful page to open before the hour for counters and raid preparation.
Buzzwole Raid Hour weaknesses
Buzzwole appears in the Americas and Greenland during the September 23 hour. It shares the same Bug/Fighting typing as Pheromosa, so Flying-type attacks are again the standout counter choice, with Fire, Psychic and Fairy damage also working.
Players in the Americas can use our Buzzwole Pokémon GO guide for a deeper counter breakdown. Buzzwole is Shiny-eligible in the current raid rotation, but Pokémon GO Raid Hour September 23 does not come with a published guarantee or special Shiny rate.
Xurkitree Raid Hour weaknesses
Xurkitree is the Asia-Pacific boss for the September 23 hour. Unlike the other two Ultra Beasts, Xurkitree is a pure Electric type and its weakness is simple: Ground. Strong Ground attackers are the priority instead of the Flying-heavy teams used against Pheromosa and Buzzwole.
Our Xurkitree Pokémon GO guide covers counters and its value as an Electric attacker. Xurkitree is also Shiny-eligible during this September raid rotation.
How long are the Ultra Beasts available?
The Ultra Beast rotation connected to Pokémon GO Raid Hour September 23 runs from September 23 through September 29, 2026. Raid Hour simply increases the number of five-star raids during the 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. local-time window on Wednesday.
That gives you room to skip Raid Hour if the weather, local Gym density or your group is poor. The regional restriction still applies on the following days, so use remote invitations if you specifically need one of the other two Ultra Beasts.
Best Raid Hour preparation
- Heal and revive your main raid teams before 6:00 p.m.
- Check which Ultra Beast is assigned to your region before spending passes.
- Build a Flying-heavy team for Pheromosa or Buzzwole, or a Ground-heavy team for Xurkitree.
- Leave enough Pokémon storage space for repeated catches and Shiny checks.
- Coordinate a route through several nearby Gyms instead of deciding after the first raid starts.
Pokémon GO Raid Hour September 23 arrives on the same day as Twilight Trails Choose Your Path, so check your new research tasks before you begin raiding. A Battle-path objective may be easier to progress while multiple raids are active.
The regional split is the key detail to remember about Pokémon GO Raid Hour September 23. For the rest of the schedule, see Pokémon GO Events This Week. The official Pokémon GO site remains the best place to verify last-minute event changes before Pokémon GO Raid Hour September 23 begins in your time zone. If you are planning several raids, keep Pokémon GO Raid Hour September 23 open as a quick regional boss check.
