List of Raid Bosses changes/2018

This page is the list of changes of Raid Bosses occurred in 2018.

In this year, Kyogre, Rayquaza, Latias, Latios, Regice, Registeel, Regirock, Giratina Altered Forme, Cresselia and Heatran were introduced. Mewtwo stopped being EX Raid Battle exclusive, which was replaced by Normal and Attack Forme Deoxys.

January 12th
Kyogre became available along with Groudon.

January 16th
Groudon left.

January 23rd
Aggron was added to replace Victreebel in tier 4 with the release of desert Hoenn Pokémon.

February 9th
The whole raid pool was updated with the release of sky Hoenn Pokémon, releasing Rayquaza and notably reducing amount of Raid Bosses.

February 15th
Kyogre left.

February 23rd
Kyogre and Groudon returned in Legendary Week alongside Rayquaza until March 5th. The following egg and raid pool would depend on which Legendary Pokémon was defeated more in this event.

March 5th
Rayquaza won the Legendary Week event, the raid pool featured some Pokémon that typically preferred windy weather.

March 16th
Lugia returned to Raid Battles with shiny variant available, making it the first Shiny Legendary Pokémon in the game. Mainly the types of tier 1 to 4 Raid Bosses are strong against Lugia.

April 2nd
The Eon Duo was available for the first time. At first, Latias appeared in Asia and Europe while Latios appeared in America and Africa and then they would switch locations on May 8th. Shuppet, Granbull and Houndoom were only available in Latias regions while Duskull, Pinsir and Walrein only appeared in Latios regions. Mainly the types of tier 1 to 4 Raid Bosses are strong against the duo.

April 10th
The Kanto Celebration updated the tier 1 to 4 raid pool to all Kanto Pokémon, marking the first removal of Tyranitar, Mawile and Absol.

April 18th
Raid Bosses returned to previous layout after the end of Kanto Celebration.

May 1st
The Battle Showdown 2018 featured Fighting-type Raid Bosses.

May 15th
After the end of Battle Showdown, Niantic accidentally used the Raid pool of Lugia in March. Later it returned to the Raid pool of Latias and Latios.

May 19th
Ho-Oh returned to Raid Battles with shiny variant available. Its addition did not affect other Raid Bosses.

May 24th
The Adventure Week 2018 featured Rock-type Raid Bosses. Region-exclusive Pokémon Lunatone only appeared in Europe, Asia and Australia, and Solrock only appeared in the Americas and Africa, just like their distribution in wild at that time.

June 6th
After the end of Adventure Week and Eon Duo, Raid Bosses returned to previous layout with only Ho-Oh available in Legendary Raid.

June 7th
The Water Festival 2018 featured Water-type Raid Bosses, highlighting shiny Kyogre. It is noted that Croconaw was previously a tier 1 Raid Boss, making it the first Pokémon to have tier changed.

June 21st
Regice became available. Mainly the types of tier 1 to 4 Raid Bosses are strong against Regice.

July 14th
Lugia replaced Regice to celebrate Pokémon GO Fest 2018.

July 16th
Raid Bosses returned to previous layout of Regice.

July 19th
Registeel became available. More Alolan variants were made into Raid Battles. Mainly the types of tier 1 to 4 Raid Bosses are strong against Registeel.

August 16th
Regirock became available. Mainly the types of tier 1 to 4 Raid Bosses are strong against Regirock.

August 20th
The Johto Festival featured Johto Pokémon with removal of some tier 1 Raid Bosses and Tangela.

August 25th
Ho-Oh replaced Regirock at the end of Johto Festival.

August 28th
Raid Bosses returned to previous layout of Regirock after Johto Festival.

September 13th
The Ultra Bonus Event 2018 rewarded Trainers with a series of Kanto-themed Pokémon. All Raid Bosses were changed to Kanto Pokémon, the Legendary Birds were available in the first week with shiny variant possible. EX Raid Battle was suspended for a few weeks.

September 20th
Mewtwo became available in normal Raid Battles.

October 1st
After the end of Ultra Bonus Event, the theme of Raid Bosses was changed to be Psychic-type, marking the first removal of Machamp. Normal Forme Deoxys was the new boss of EX Raid Battle. Shiny Drowzee was released on October 5th with the start of Psychic Spectacular 2018.

October 16th
The launch of Sinnoh region updated the raid pool.

October 23rd
The Halloween 2018 featured Ghost and Dark-type Raid Bosses, highlighting the introduction of Giratina Altered Forme, which became the first Sinnoh region Legendary Pokémon in the game.

November 6th
Buizel was released in tier 1. Shiny Alolan Marowak was released a day before, becoming the first shiny Alolan form.

November 16th
The Let's Go Celebration featured Electric and Steel-type Raid Bosses. Alolan Exeggutor was changed to tier 4 Raid Boss.

November 20th
Cresselia became available.

November 23rd
Both forms of Raichu and Eeveelutions took place in tier 3. Shiny Alolan Raichu was released.

November 27th
New raid pool was updated at the end of Let's Go Celebration. It was same as Regice set.

November 28th
The correct raid pool was implemented. Mainly the types of tier 1 to 4 Raid Bosses are strong against Cresselia.

November 29th
Raid pool was changed for the third day in three days. The only difference this time was the addition of Buizel and Alolan Raichu. Shiny Misdreavus was released on December 1st with the monthly update of Field Researches.

December 14th
Lugia and Ho-Oh returned in Special Raid Weekend until December 17th.

December 18th
Heatran became available. The Holiday 2018 featured Ice-type Raid Bosses. Alolan Exeggutor was changed back to tier 2.

December 28th
Deoxys Attack Forme started to appear in EX Raid Battle, which was announced earlier.