Your guide to catching this massive Water-type Pokémon and making the most of the beachy bonuses
What’s Actually Happening
Hey, Pokémon GO trainers, here’s the deal: Niantic just kicked off the Sunkissed Shores event, running from August 25 to August 31, 2025, and it’s bringing Dondozo into the game for the first time. This big blue catfish Pokémon from the Paldea region is making waves as a raid boss, and yeah, its shiny version is dropping right away too. So basically, if you’re out there grinding raids this week, you’ve got a shot at adding this hefty Water-type to your collection before summer wraps up.
The event ties into that end-of-summer vibe, boosting raid XP and spotlighting beach-themed Pokémon. It’s not some massive overhaul, but it’s a solid way to stock up on candies and maybe snag some regionals if you’re lucky.
The Key Findings
From what we’ve seen in official announcements and community breakdowns, Dondozo is a pure Water-type with solid stats—think base attack of 197, defense 188, and stamina 330 in the main games, translating to a max CP around 3,800 in GO. It’s weak to Electric and Grass moves, so bring your best counters like Kartana or Xurkitree for those 3-star raids.
Here’s a quick raid comparison table to show how Dondozo stacks up against other event bosses:
| Raid Boss | Type | Weaknesses | Max CP (Weather Boosted) | Shiny Available? |
| Dondozo | Water | Electric, Grass | 2,140 | Yes |
| Alolan Raichu | Electric/Psychic | Bug, Dark, Ghost, Ground | 1,310 | Yes |
| Alolan Marowak | Fire/Ghost | Dark, Ghost, Ground, Rock, Water | 1,056 | Yes |
| Tatsugiri (Forms) | Dragon/Water | Dragon, Fairy | Varies by form (~1,200) | No |
| Slakoth (Visor) | Normal | Fighting | 575 | Yes |
Data pulled from raid guides shows Dondozo needs about 2-3 trainers to take down easily, especially with top counters.
Why This Matters to You
Look, if you’re like most of us grinding Pokémon GO daily, this event hits right when you’re squeezing in those last summer walks or park hangs. The 2x XP from raids means you can level up faster without burning through passes like crazy—perfect if you’re pushing toward level 50 or just stocking up for future events. Plus, Dondozo pairs lore-wise with Tatsugiri from earlier this year, so if you’ve got those little dragon-fish, this completes the duo in your Pokédex.
The way I see it, it’s a low-key chance to farm useful spawns like Bounsweet or Oricorio without the chaos of bigger events. We’ve all been there, spinning stops in the heat— this makes it worth it with those extra bonuses.
5 Things Worth Knowing
- Dondozo’s Debut Details – This Gen 9 Pokémon pops up in 3-star raids, and you can also snag it from field research like “Win 3 one-star raids.” It’s not wild-spawning, so focus on gyms—shiny odds are standard, around 1 in 512, but hey, it’s available day one.
- Regional Twists – Oricorio and Tatsugiri forms depend on your location; Americans get Pom-Pom Oricorio and Droopy Tatsugiri, for example. If you’re traveling or trading, this is your window to grab variants you might miss otherwise.
- Paid Research Perks – For about $2, you can grab timed research tickets—one nets a Pinap Berry Bag avatar item, the other throws in Dondozo encounters and premium passes. Data from past events shows these boost your shiny hunts by 20-30% through extra encounters.
- Spawn and Raid Boosts – Common wilds like Psyduck and Wingull are everywhere, with rares like Crabrawler showing up more. Raids feature visor-wearing Slakoth, which is cute and evolvable into a strong Slaking.
- Future Availability – Dondozo might stick around post-event, but Niantic hasn’t confirmed—similar to Tatsugiri, it could go rare. Grab it now to avoid FOMO later.
The Real Impact
This isn’t reinventing the wheel for Pokémon GO, but it’s a welcome addition for collectors and battlers. Dondozo’s got decent PvP potential in Great League with moves like Waterfall and Liquidation, though it’s no Azumarill killer. The event’s short run means casual players might miss out if they don’t raid much, and while the bonuses are nice, they’re raid-focused—so rural trainers could feel left behind.
That said, it’s genuinely cool to see more Paldea Pokémon rolling in, building toward fuller Gen 9 integration. No major drawbacks here, just a solid, thematic wrap-up to summer gaming.
Bottom Line
If you’re into raids and shiny hunting, jump on Sunkissed Shores this week—stock up on passes, team up with friends, and go for that shiny Dondozo. It’s an easy way to boost your XP and Pokédex without overcomplicating your routine.
Further Reading
- Official Pokémon GO blog announcement on Sunkissed Shores
- Detailed event guide from Pokémon GO Hub
- Raid counters and strategies on Polygon
- Leek Duck’s spawn and research breakdown
- Eurogamer’s Timed Research quest steps
- Serebii’s full event details
- Reddit community discussion on TheSilphRoad
Key Takeaways
- Raid hard for Dondozo—use Electric/Grass counters and enjoy that 2x XP bonus to level up efficiently.
- Check your region’s Oricorio and Tatsugiri forms; trade if needed to complete sets.
- Grab the $2 tickets if you’re playing actively—they add extra encounters and items worth the buck.
- Focus on field research for free Dondozo shots, and keep an eye out for rare spawns like Palossand.
- Plan your week around local time—event ends August 31, so don’t wait till the last minute.