NIANTICAfter a season of training, Kubfu is ready to evolve into Urshifu’s two forms, and it will do so during the Pokemon Go Final Strike: Go Battle Week event. Check out all the details before it starts!
The Might and Mastery season kicked off with the debut of the Legendary Kubfu. However, to everyone’s surprise, the Wushu Pokemon was not allowed to evolve in Niantic’s game. Yet.
This season’s final stretch is bringing a special event called Final Strike: Go Battle Week, where players will finally be able to turn their strongest Kubfu into either Urshifu Single Strike Style or Rapid Strike Style.
The celebration will also feature plenty of Raid battles, wild encounters, bonuses, and the final installment of the Season Special Research story.
Final Strike: Go Battle Week event – Date & time
The Pokemon Go Final Strike: Go Battle Week event will run from Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 10:00 AM until Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 8:00 PM local time.
This means players will have a complete week to enjoy all the event bonuses and rewards. They will also have plenty of time to gather enough Candy and fulfill the special requirements to evolve Kubfu into Urshifu Single Strike Style or Rapid Style Strike – or both.
Pokemon debuts
As mentioned above, the event will focus on Kubfu and its evolution, Urshifu. However, it won’t appear as a Raid boss or through a Special Research.
The only way players can obtain either Urshifu form is through the evolution process:
- Single Strike Style: To evolve Kubfu into Urshifu Single Strike Style, players must gather 200 Kubfu Candy and defeat 30 Dark-type Pokemon in Raids or Max Battles with Kubfu as their Buddy.
- Rapid Strike Style: To evolve Kubfu into Urshifu Rapid Strike Style, players must gather 200 Kubfu Candy and defeat 30 Water-type Pokemon in Raids or Max Battles with Kubfu as their Buddy.
It’s worth noting that even though players must have Kubfu as their Buddy, they do not have to use the Wushu Pokemon to defeat the 30 Dark or Water-type opponents.
DEXERTOShould I get Urshifu Single or Rapid Strike Style?
It’s hard to determine if Urshifu Single Strike Style or Urshifu Rapid Strike Style is better, as they both have the same stats. However, they boast different type combinations, which will ultimately determine who has better coverage and a superior move pool.
Related
The first is a dual Fighting/Dark-type Pokemon and the second is a Fighting/Water-type Pokemon – which explains their evolution requirements.
| POKEMON | SPRITE | WEAKNESSES | RESISTANCES |
|---|---|---|---|
| URSHIFU SINGLE STRIKE STYLE |  | – Fairy – Fighting – Flying | – Ghost – Psychic – Rock – Dark |
| URSHIFU RAPID STRIKE STYLE |  | – Fairy – Flying – Electric – Grass – Psychic | – Bug – Dark – Fire – Ice – Rock – Steel – Water |
Even though Rapid Strike Style has more resistances, in Pokemon Go, Single Strike Style is a bit superior – for now. This is mainly because of its access to Sucker Punch, a high damage Fast Move with high energy generation that will allow it to shine in PvP.
Plus, the Water-type market is highly saturated by now, with better options than Rapid Strike Style.
Might and Mastery Special Research
After a long season, the fifth and final installment of the Seasonal Special Research will become available during the event.
Those who manage to complete all the tasks will earn Mysterious Components, Kubu Candy, encounters with event-themed Pokemon – such as Charcadet – with a Special Background, and more.
The Special Research will be available until the end of the season, on June 3, 2025, at 10:00 AM local time.
Event bonuses
The Pokemon Go Final Strike: Go Battle Week will feature the following bonuses:
- x2 XP for winning Raid battles.
- Increased chance to encounter Shiny Meditite, Shiny Stunky, and Shiny Mareanie.
Once players complete the free Timed Research, they will also get:
- x1 extra Raid Pass per day.
DEXERTOWild encounters
These are the Pokemon that will appear more frequently in the wild:
- Mankey*
- Seel*
- Galarian Zigzagoon*
- Meditite*
- Froakie*
- Deino*
- Nickit
Note: Pokemon marked with an (*) can be encountered as Shiny
Raids
The event will have new Raid rotations, featuring the following Pokemon:
1-Star Raids
- Carvanha*
- Stunky*
- Mareanie*
3-Star Raids
- Lapras*
- Hisuian Samurott*
- Bombirdier*
Featured Attacks
Trainers who evolve some of the Pokemon being featured in the event will get their evolutions with new attacks!
| EVOLVE | INTO | TO LEARN | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Mankey | ⇨ |  Primeape | Charged Move “Rage Fist” |
 Seel | ⇨ |  Dewgong | Fast Move “Ice Shard” |
 Zweilous | ⇨ |  Hydreigon | Charged Move “Brutal Swing” |
 Frogadier | ⇨ |  Greninja | Charged Move “Hydro Cannon” |
Lapras encountered in Raid battles and Field Research will also know the Charged Move “Ice Beam”.
Field Research task rewards
An event-themed Field Research will be available, and players who complete the tasks will earn additional encounters with event-themed Pokemon.
| TASK | REWARD | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Make 3 Great Throws | Seel* | Mankey* |  Carvanha* |
| Power up a Pokemon 10 times |  Galarian Zigzagoon* |  Froakie* |  Nickit |
| Win a Raid |  Mareanie* |  Stunky* | |
| Win 2 Raids |  Lapras* |  Hisuian Samurott* |  Bombirdier* |
Timed Research
A free Timed Research opportunity will be available for all trainers who participate in the Final Strike event.
Final Strike Go Battle Week (1/3)
| TASK | REWARD | |
|---|---|---|
| Power up a Fighting-type Pokemon 10 times |  | x1,000 XP |
| Catch 30 Pokemon |  | x1,000 Stardust |
| Evolve 3 Fighting-type Pokemon |  | x2 Rare Candy |
Rewards: Meditite encounter, x1,000 XP, x2 Kubfu Candy
Final Strike Go Battle Week (2/3)
| TASK | REWARD | |
|---|---|---|
| Power up a Water-type Pokemon | | x1,000 XP |
| Win 3 Raids | | x1,000 Stardust |
| Evolve 3 Water-type Pokemon | | x2 Rare Candy |
Rewards: Mareanie encounter, x1,000 XP, x2 Kubfu Candy
Final Strike Go Battle Week (3/3)
| TASK | REWARD | |
|---|---|---|
| Power up Dark-type Pokemon 10 times | | x1,000 XP |
| Win 3 Max Battles | | x1,000 Stardust |
| Evolve 3 Dark-type Pokemon | | x2 Rare Candy |
Rewards: Stunky encounter, x1,000 XP, x2 Kubfu Candy
As the name suggests, the Timed Research expires. This means players will have to complete all the tasks and claim the rewards before the event ends on May 27, 2025, at 8:00 PM local time.
Paid Timed Research
Trainers can access an event-exclusive Timed Research during the event for US$ 1.99 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency).
Final Strike: Go Battle Week Premium Timed Research (1/2)
| TASK | REWARD | |
|---|---|---|
| Explore 2km |  | Meditite encounter |
| Power up Pokemon 5 times | | Stunky encounter |
| Catch 10 Pokemon | | Meditite encounter |
| Evolve a Pokemon | | Stunky encounter |
| Earn 5,000 XP |  | x2 Lucky Egg |
Rewards: x2 Premium Battle Pass, x3,000 XP, x1,500 Stardust
Final Strike: Go Battle Week Premium Timed Research (2/2)
| TASK | REWARD | |
|---|---|---|
| Explore 2km | | Meditite encounter |
| Power up Pokemon 5 times | | Mareanie encounter |
| Catch 10 Pokemon | | Meditite encounter |
| Evolve a Pokemon | | Mareanie encounter |
| Earn 5,000 XP | | x2 Lucky Egg |
Rewards: x1 Max Particle Pack, x3,000 XP, x1,500 Stardust
Those who wish to can purchase and gift this Paid Timed Research ticket to their friends. However, a Friendship level of Great Friends or higher must be achieved first.
As mentioned above, this Paid Timed Research also expires, so it must be completed before the end of the Pokemon Go Final Strike: Go Battle Week event.
Paid Special Research – Fuzzy Fighter
For US$ 7.99 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency), players can play through separate Special Research and encounter Dynamax Kubfu again.
NIANTICFuzzy Fighter Special Research (1/5)
| TASK | REWARD | |
|---|---|---|
| Catch 30 Pokemon |  | x2 Golden Razz Berry |
| Collect 500 Max Particles |  | Stufful encounter |
| Spin 10 PokeStops or Gym Photo Discs |  | x20 Poke Ball |
Rewards: x1 Incense, x10 Pinap Berry, x1,000 Stardust
Fuzzy Fighter Special Research (2/5)
| TASK | REWARD | |
|---|---|---|
| Explore 5km |  | x20 Great Ball |
| Spin 20 PokeStops or Gym Photo Discs |  | Teddiursa encounter |
| Power up Fighting-type Pokemon 10 times |  | x2 Silver Pinap Berry |
Rewards: x1 Premium Battle Pass, x5 Revive, x1,000 XP
Fuzzy Fighter Special Research (3/5)
| TASK | REWARD | |
|---|---|---|
| Use 10 Berries to help you catch Pokemon |  | x20 Ultra Ball |
| Win 3 Raids |  | Tyrogue encounter |
| Power up Water-type Pokemon 10 times |  | x10 Kubfu Candy |
Rewards: x1 Star Piece, x5 Hyper Potion, x1,000 Stardust
Fuzzy Fighter Special Research (4/5)
| TASK | REWARD | |
|---|---|---|
| Catch 15 different species of Pokemon | | x2 Golden Razz Berry |
| Defeat 5 Team GO Rocket members |  | Cubchoo encounter |
| Power up Dark-type Pokemon 10 times | | x10 Kubfu Candy |
Rewards: x1 Premium Battle Pass, x5 Rare Candy, x1,000 XP
Fuzzy Fighter Special Research (5/5)
| TASK | REWARD | |
|---|---|---|
| Earn 5 candies exploring with your Buddy | | x2 Silver Pinap Berry |
| Make 2 Excellent Throws |  | Pancham encounter |
| Level up a Max Move | | x10 Kubfu Candy |
Rewards: Dynamax Kubfu, x10 Kubfu Candy XL, x1,000 Stardust
Keep in mind that if you already purchased or received this Special Research during the Powerful Potential event, you cannot do it again.
The ticket for this will be available from May 19, 2025, at 10:00 AM until May 27, 2025, at 8:00 PM local time.
PokeStop Showcases
As with most events, PokeStop Showcases will be taking place in different PokeStops, so search for them to enter event-themed competitions.
Avatar items
During the Pokemon Go Final Strike: Go Battle Week event, two new Avatar items will be available to purchase in the in-game shop and will continue to be available after the event ends.
- Urshifu (Single Strike Style) Pose
- Urshifu (Rapid Strike Style) Pose
NIANTICPokemon Go Web Store – Ultra Ticket Box
During the event, a Fuzzy Fighter Ultra Ticket Box will be available at the Pokemon Go Web Store for US$ 7.99 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency).
The Ultra Ticket Box will include:
- x1 event ticket
- x3 Rare Candy
- x3 Max Revive
That’s all there is to know about the Final Strike: Go Battle Week event in Pokemon Go. Don’t forget to check the other events like the Spotlight Hour schedule and all of the Raid Bosses and Shadow Raid bosses available.