Dondozo Makes Pokémon GO Debut as Sunkissed Shores Event Launches

August 25, 2025 (Niantic News Desk) - Today marks the beginning of the Sunkissed Shores event in Pokémon GO, highlighted by the first-ever appearance of Dondozo, the Big Catfish Pokémon, in three-star raids. Trainers worldwide can now battle and capture Dondozo from 10:00 a.m. local time today through 8:00 p.m. on August 31, 2025.

Event bonuses include double XP for winning raid battles, making it an ideal time for Trainers to level up while seeking out Dondozo’s debut. Alongside Dondozo, players will encounter a variety of beach-themed Pokémon more frequently in the wild, such as Psyduck, Shellder, Marill, Shuckle, Wingull, Tepig, Helioptile, and regional forms of Oricorio.

In addition to the raid battles, PokéStop Showcases featuring Dondozo have gone live today, offering seasonal rewards to top leaderboard participants. Showcases will run from August 25 at 10:00 a.m. until August 26 at 8:00 p.m. local time, giving Trainers a chance to earn Premium Items by spinning event-themed PokéStops.

Niantic reminds all Trainers to stay aware of their surroundings and follow local health guidelines while enjoying the Sunkissed Shores festivities. Make sure to opt in to push notifications and subscribe to official Pokémon GO channels for updates throughout the event.