Pokémon Horizons Celebration Event Raids feature Pikachu wearing Cap’s hat in one-star raids and Charizard wearing Friede’s goggles, Meowscarada, Skeledirge and Quaquaval in three-star raids from September 16 to 22, 2026.
All Pokémon Horizons Celebration Event Raids
The event raid pool is focused entirely on one-star and three-star battles. There are no event-specific five-star or Mega bosses announced as part of this crossover pool.
| Raid tier | Pokémon |
|---|---|
| One-Star | Pikachu wearing Cap’s hat |
| Three-Star | Charizard wearing Friede’s goggles |
| Three-Star | Meowscarada |
| Three-Star | Skeledirge |
| Three-Star | Quaquaval |
Charizard Wearing Friede’s Goggles Raids
Charizard wearing Friede’s goggles is the standout target in the Pokémon Horizons Celebration Event Raids. This is the final evolution of the new event costume and gives you a direct way to obtain it without spending 125 Charmander Candy to evolve a fresh Charmander all the way to Charizard.
Raid encounters can potentially be Shiny or have a Special Background where eligible, making Charizard particularly valuable for collectors chasing the new costume in multiple versions.
If your main goal is simply filling the costume collection, catching Charmander in the wild and evolving it may be more resource-efficient than repeated raiding. If you want the Shiny, a background encounter or a ready-made Charizard, the three-star raid has a clearer reason to spend passes.
Pikachu Wearing Cap’s Hat Raids
Pikachu wearing Cap’s hat is the only one-star boss in the Pokémon Horizons Celebration Event Raids. The costume returns for this event and is also a rare wild encounter.
That makes the raid useful if the wild version refuses to appear or if you want extra chances at a Shiny or Special Background encounter. One-star raids are also the simplest event battles to clear without building a dedicated group.
Meowscarada, Skeledirge and Quaquaval Raids
The remaining three-star Pokémon Horizons Celebration Event Raids feature the final Evolutions of the Paldea first partner Pokémon: Meowscarada, Skeledirge and Quaquaval.
These three bosses are useful for players who want direct final-stage encounters without spending Sprigatito, Fuecoco or Quaxly Candy. They are less unique than the new costumed Charizard, but they give the raid pool some practical evolution value alongside the crossover theme.
Can You Solo the Event Raids?
The event only uses one-star and three-star raids, so there are no five-star style group requirements built into this crossover pool. One-star Pikachu is the easiest target, while the three-star bosses are the ones to prepare counters for if you want reliable clears.
Your best counters will depend on the individual boss, especially because Charizard, Meowscarada, Skeledirge and Quaquaval all have different typings and weaknesses. If you are short on Raid Passes, it makes more sense to build around the boss you actually want than to raid the whole pool just because it is event themed.
Can Pokémon Horizons Celebration Raid Bosses Be Shiny?
The listed Pokémon Horizons Celebration Event Raids include Pokémon that can be encountered as Shiny where their Shiny forms are available. The new Shiny to pay closest attention to is Charizard wearing Friede’s goggles because the costume family debuts with its Shiny active.
Pikachu wearing Cap’s hat also has a Shiny version, while the official event wording notes that raid encounters may also come with a Special Background.
Which Raid Boss Is Worth Using Passes On?
If you are choosing only one of the Pokémon Horizons Celebration Event Raids to prioritize, Charizard wearing Friede’s goggles has the strongest case. It is new, costumed, Shiny-capable and skips the Candy cost required to evolve the event Charmander family.
Pikachu wearing Cap’s hat is worthwhile if you need the costume or Shiny, while Meowscarada, Skeledirge and Quaquaval are better treated as convenience raids unless one of those Pokémon is a personal target.
When Are Pokémon Horizons Celebration Event Raids Available?
The Pokémon Horizons Celebration Event Raids are available during the main event window from September 16 at 10:00 a.m. to September 22 at 8:00 p.m. local time.
