The Pokémon GO Ultra Beasts return to raids once again, giving trainers another chance to battle and catch some of the rarest and strangest creatures in the entire game. From Wednesday, May 13, 2026, until Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Buzzwole, Pheromosa, and Xurkitree will appear in 5-star raids across different regions around the world.
While Ultra Beasts have appeared multiple times in Pokémon GO before, they still remain some of the most desirable raid bosses in the game thanks to their unique designs, powerful stats, and limited regional availability.
This latest Ultra Beast rotation also creates a major opportunity for trainers to use Remote Raids and global communities to fill out their Pokédex entries.
Pokémon GO Ultra Beasts Return Raid Dates
The Ultra Beast raid event runs during the following dates:
- Start: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
- End: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
During this period, trainers will find different Ultra Beasts appearing depending on their region.
Which Ultra Beasts Are Appearing in Pokémon GO Raids?
Three Ultra Beasts are returning during the May 2026 raid rotation:
- Buzzwole
- Pheromosa
- Xurkitree
Each one is locked to specific global regions, meaning not every player will naturally have access to all three without remote invitations.
Buzzwole Raids in Pokémon GO
Buzzwole will appear in:
- The Americas
- Greenland
Buzzwole is one of the most physically intimidating Ultra Beasts in Pokémon GO. Known for its absurd muscular appearance and Fighting-type dominance, it remains a very popular raid target whenever it returns.
Buzzwole Type
Buzzwole is:
- Fighting-type
- Bug-type
Buzzwole Weaknesses
Buzzwole is weak against:
- Flying-type attacks
- Fire-type attacks
- Fairy-type attacks
- Psychic-type attacks
Its double weakness to Flying-types makes powerful Flying attackers incredibly effective during raids.
Best Buzzwole Counters in Pokémon GO
Some of the strongest counters against Buzzwole include:
- Rayquaza
- Mega Rayquaza
- Yveltal
- Moltres
- Mega Pidgeot
- Staraptor
Buzzwole is also one of those raid bosses that looks far more intimidating than it actually is once players exploit the Flying weakness properly.
Pheromosa Raids in Pokémon GO
Pheromosa will appear in:
- Europe
- The Middle East
- Africa
- India
Pheromosa is one of the strangest Ultra Beast designs in the entire franchise. Extremely fast, fragile, and elegant-looking, it became instantly recognisable when introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon.
In Pokémon GO, it is especially valuable because of its offensive stats.
Pheromosa Type
Pheromosa is:
- Bug-type
- Fighting-type
Pheromosa Weaknesses
Pheromosa shares many of the same weaknesses as Buzzwole:
- Flying-type attacks
- Fairy-type attacks
- Fire-type attacks
- Psychic-type attacks
However, because Pheromosa is notoriously fragile, raids against it are often surprisingly fast.
Best Pheromosa Counters in Pokémon GO
Strong counters include:
- Rayquaza
- Moltres
- Mega Salamence
- Yveltal
- Ho-Oh
- Tornadus
A strong Flying-type team can melt through Pheromosa incredibly quickly.
Xurkitree Raids in Pokémon GO
Xurkitree will appear in:
- The Asia-Pacific region
Xurkitree remains one of the strongest Electric-type attackers in Pokémon GO and is usually the Ultra Beast players become most desperate to raid whenever it returns.
Its bizarre cable-like appearance makes it stand out even among the Ultra Beasts, but its real value comes from its raw attack power.
Xurkitree Type
Xurkitree is:
- Electric-type
Xurkitree Weaknesses
Xurkitree only has one weakness:
- Ground-type attacks
That means Ground attackers become extremely important during these raids.
Best Xurkitree Counters in Pokémon GO
Top counters include:
- Primal Groudon
- Groudon
- Garchomp
- Excadrill
- Landorus
- Rhyperior
Because Xurkitree has fewer weaknesses than the other Ultra Beasts in this event, it can sometimes feel slightly tougher in raids depending on team size.
Can Buzzwole, Pheromosa, and Xurkitree Be Shiny in Pokémon GO?
At the time of writing, trainers are still waiting for confirmation regarding shiny availability during this specific Ultra Beast raid rotation.
Niantic often rotates shiny availability during returning raid events, so players should keep an eye on official announcements once the event goes live.
Even without shinies, these raids are expected to be extremely popular simply because Ultra Beasts do not appear very often.
Why Ultra Beast Events Are So Popular in Pokémon GO
Ultra Beast events always generate huge interest because they feel very different from standard Legendary Pokémon raids.
The Ultra Beasts originally came from Ultra Space in the Pokémon Sun and Moon games, giving them bizarre designs and unusual lore compared to normal Pokémon.
That strange sci-fi aesthetic translates really well into Pokémon GO, especially during large raid rotations like this one.
For many trainers, Ultra Beasts still feel rarer and more exciting than traditional Legendary Pokémon.
Remote Raiding Will Be Important During the Pokémon GO Ultra Beasts Return Event
Because each Ultra Beast is region-exclusive during this event, many players will rely heavily on Remote Raids to access all three.
That means trainers across the world will likely be searching for:
- International raid invitations
- Online raid groups
- Remote Raid communities
- Friends from other regions
Without remote invitations, many players would only naturally encounter a single Ultra Beast during the event.
Pokémon GO Ultra Beasts Return Raids Could Be Extremely Busy
With powerful Pokémon, regional exclusivity, and strong collector appeal all combined together, this Ultra Beast rotation could easily become one of the busiest raid weeks of May 2026.
Xurkitree alone remains highly sought-after because of its Electric-type damage output, while Buzzwole and Pheromosa continue to attract players who missed them during earlier Ultra Beast events.
For trainers trying to complete their Ultra Beast collection, this is definitely one of the most important raid events currently happening in Pokémon GO.
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