Thundurus Raid Schedule January 2026

Tracking Thundurus Pokemon Go raid schedules is essential for trainers who want to maximize their opportunities to catch this legendary Pokemon. After participating in Thundurus raids across multiple events and time zones, I've learned that understanding raid schedules, timing windows, and event patterns makes the difference between catching multiple high-IV specimens and missing out entirely. This guide covers everything you need to know about Thundurus raid scheduling.

Thundurus raids appear periodically in Pokemon Go as part of legendary raid events, Community Days, and special celebrations. Unlike regular Pokemon that spawn consistently, legendary raids operate on specific schedules that vary by event and location. Mastering these schedules allows you to plan your raiding efficiently, coordinate with your community, and ensure you never miss a Thundurus appearance. Let me break down how Thundurus raid schedules work and how to make the most of them.

Understanding Legendary Raid Schedules

Before diving into specific Thundurus Pokemon Go schedules, it's important to understand how legendary raid scheduling works in Pokemon Go. Legendary raids operate differently from regular raids, with specific time windows, spawn patterns, and event-based appearances. Understanding these mechanics helps you anticipate when Thundurus will appear and plan accordingly.

Standard Legendary Raid Hours: Legendary raids typically occur during specific hours each day when legendary Pokemon are available as raid bosses. In most regions, these hours are roughly 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM local time, though this can vary by location and event. During these hours, eligible gyms will spawn legendary raid eggs that take 1 hour to hatch, revealing the legendary boss (potentially Thundurus) for 45 minutes. Thundurus only appears during these designated legendary raid hours, not during regular raid times.

Raid Egg Timers: When a legendary raid egg appears at a gym, you have exactly 60 minutes to assemble a raid group before the egg hatches. Once hatched, you have 45 minutes to defeat Thundurus and attempt the catch. This means from egg appearance to catch attempt, you have a total of 1 hour and 45 minutes. I always join Thundurus raids immediately when I see eggs, to ensure I'm in the lobby before it fills up and to coordinate with my raid community.

Gym Selection: Not all gyms spawn legendary raids during Thundurus events. Niantic typically selects a subset of gyms in each area to host legendary raids, with the selection changing periodically. These are usually gyms in high-traffic areas like parks, landmarks, or popular gathering spots. Learning which gyms in your area regularly spawn Thundurus raids helps you plan efficient routes and avoid wasting time checking gyms that never have legendaries.

Current Thundurus Raid Schedule (2026)

As of January 2026, Thundurus Pokemon Go appears in raids during specific events and time windows. The exact schedule varies by region and current in-game events, but I can provide general guidelines for when to expect Thundurus raids. Always check the in-game News section and official Pokemon Go social media channels for the most current schedule information.

Event-Based Appearances: Thundurus most commonly appears during dedicated legendary raid events that last 1-2 weeks. These events are announced in advance through the in-game News section and typically feature Thundurus (often both Incarnate and Therian formes) as the highlighted legendary raid boss. During these events, Thundurus spawns consistently in legendary raid slots at eligible gyms throughout the event duration. This is the best time to raid for Thundurus, as you have multiple days to catch as many as you want.

Raid Hour Events: Pokemon Go occasionally features "Raid Hour" events on Wednesdays from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM local time, where every gym spawns legendary raid eggs featuring a specific Pokemon. If Thundurus is the featured Raid Hour Pokemon, you'll have an incredible abundance of raids for just one hour. These events are prime time for Thundurus hunting, as you can potentially complete 5-10 raids in a single hour if your community is well-organized. I always clear my schedule for Thundurus Raid Hours to maximize catches.

Legendary Raids Weekend: Some weekends feature increased legendary raid spawn rates or special legendary raid events where multiple legendaries (potentially including Thundurus) appear simultaneously. These events often have extended raid hours or special bonuses like free raid passes. Weekend events are excellent opportunities to stock up on Thundurus candy and catch multiple specimens. I've found that Saturday and Sunday during legendary events typically have the most active raiding communities.

Time Zone Considerations for Thundurus Raids

One of the most important aspects of Thundurus Pokemon Go raid scheduling is understanding how time zones affect raid availability. Pokemon Go uses local time for raid schedules, meaning Thundurus raids appear at different real-world times depending on your location. This has important implications for planning and coordinating with trainers in other time zones.

Local Time Basis: All raid schedules in Pokemon Go are based on your device's local time, not a global server time. This means Thundurus raids in New York occur on the same local schedule as raids in Los Angeles, despite the 3-hour time difference. If legendary raids run from 6 AM to 10 PM local time, New York trainers have raids from 6 AM-10 PM EST, while Los Angeles trainers have raids from 6 AM-10 PM PST. This local time system ensures fair access regardless of time zone.

Advantageous Time Zones: Depending on the event, some time zones may have advantages for Thundurus raiding. For example, if a special Raid Hour starts at 6 PM local time globally, East Coast trainers in the US start 3 hours before West Coast trainers. This can affect timing strategies if you're coordinating with friends across time zones. I always convert event times to my local time to avoid confusion and missed opportunities.

International Coordination: If you raid with international friends or follow global raid coordination Discord servers, be aware that their "active" times might be your sleep times and vice versa. European trainers are most active during American evening hours, while Asian trainers are active during American early morning hours. Consider this when organizing remote raiding with friends abroad - you may need to accommodate inconvenient times to raid together.

Daylight Saving Time: Be aware of daylight saving time changes in your region, as these shift raid schedules by one hour. Pokemon Go automatically adjusts for daylight saving time based on your device settings, but the transition can be confusing if you're not prepared. I always double-check raid times during the weeks when clocks change forward or backward to avoid missing Thundurus raids due to time confusion.

Maximizing Thundurus Raid Opportunities

Once you understand when Thundurus Pokemon Go raids occur, the next step is maximizing your opportunities to participate in as many raids as possible. Efficient raid scheduling lets you catch more Thundurus, find better IVs, and stock up on candy for powering up your best specimens. Here are my proven strategies for maximizing Thundurus raid yield during events.

Stockpile Raid Passes: Before any Thundurus event, ensure you have at least 10-15 raid passes available. You get one free raid pass daily from spinning a gym Photo Disc, and you can hold up to 10 free passes at once. Premium raid passes can be purchased with PokeCoins if needed. I start saving free passes about a week before anticipated Thundurus events, ensuring I have a full stock when the event begins. There's nothing worse than having gyms full of Thundurus eggs and no passes to raid them.

Pre-Event Research: Research which gyms in your area historically spawn legendary raids during previous events. Create a route that efficiently hits multiple legendary gyms without backtracking. I use apps and maps that track gym locations to plan optimal routes covering 10-15 gyms in my area. This pre-planning saves tremendous time during events when every minute counts. Knowing your gym ecosystem prevents wasted driving or walking to gyms that never have legendaries.

Community Coordination: Join local Pokemon Go Discord servers, Facebook groups, or WhatsApp chats to coordinate with other trainers. Knowing which gyms have active Thundurus raids and organizing groups in advance dramatically increases your raid throughput. My local Discord typically organizes 5-10 person groups that rotate through multiple gyms during events, defeating each Thundurus quickly and moving to the next. This coordination is essential for maximizing raids during short time windows like Raid Hours.

Remote Raiding Strategy: Even if you can't physically reach gyms, you can participate in Thundurus raids remotely using Remote Raid Passes. These passes let you join any raid within 5 kilometers of your location, regardless of physical presence. During Thundurus events, I use remote raiding to supplement my local raids, joining raids hosted by friends in areas with more active communities. Remote raiding triples your daily raid potential when combined with local raiding.

Special Event Raid Schedules

Pokemon Go occasionally features special event types with unique Thundurus Pokemon Go raid schedules. These events deviate from standard legendary raid patterns and offer enhanced opportunities for catching Thundurus. Understanding these special event schedules helps you prepare for unique raiding opportunities that don't occur regularly.

GO Fest Events: Pokemon GO Fest is an annual event that typically features increased legendary raid spawns. During GO Fest weekends, Thundurus may appear more frequently or have special shiny rates. GO Fest events often have extended raid hours (sometimes 24 hours during event days) and additional raid bonuses like reduced stardust costs or guaranteed candy drops. If GO Fest coincides with a Thundurus event, prioritize raiding during these weekends for maximum yield.

Anniversary Events: Pokemon Go's anniversary in July often features special legendary raid celebrations. Past anniversary events have included legendary raid weekends with increased spawns, shiny rate boosts, or special moves. Thundurus has appeared during previous anniversary events, making late July a potential window for Thundurus raids. Monitor official announcements in July for anniversary event details and featured Pokemon.

Seasonal Celebrations: Pokemon Go now operates on a seasonal model with three-month seasons (like "Season of Legends" or "Season of Alola"). Each season typically features themed events that may include Thundurus raids. Seasonal events often introduce special spawn schedules, sometimes featuring different legendary formes (Incarnate one month, Therian the next). Pay attention to season announcements to anticipate Thundurus opportunities throughout the year.

Pokemon Day Events: February 27th (Pokemon Day) often features special raid events with boosted legendary spawns. While the featured Pokemon varies year to year, Pokemon Day is consistently a good time for legendary raiding. If Thundurus is featured during Pokemon Day celebrations, expect increased spawn rates and potentially shiny boosted rates. This is an excellent time to raid if you've been waiting for Thundurus.

Planning Your Raiding Schedule

Effective Thundurus Pokemon Go raiding requires planning and scheduling to maximize your opportunities. Based on my experience across dozens of legendary events, here's how to structure your raiding schedule for optimal results during Thundurus events. Proper planning ensures you don't waste opportunities or burn out from excessive raiding.

Event Kickoff Strategy: When a Thundurus event begins, I prioritize raiding heavily in the first 24-48 hours. This initial period has the highest community engagement, making it easiest to find full raid groups. Everyone is excited to raid the new legendary, so lobbies fill quickly and groups coordinate efficiently. I typically aim for 10-15 raids on day one of an event to establish a solid Thundurus collection early. This early momentum pays off if you get less active later in the event.

Sustainable Pacing: After the initial rush, settle into a sustainable raiding pace that you can maintain throughout the event. For me, this means 3-5 raids per day on weekdays and 8-12 raids per day on weekends. This pace prevents burnout while still accumulating significant Thundurus catches over a 1-2 week event. Don't feel pressured to raid constantly - consistent moderate effort beats exhausting binge raiding that leads to quitting early.

Raid Hour Prioritization: If Thundurus has a dedicated Raid Hour during the event, clear your schedule for that one hour. Raid Hours offer the highest raid density of any time, with every eligible gym spawning Thundurus simultaneously. I've completed 10+ raids during single Raid Hours by moving efficiently between gyms with a pre-organized group. Treat Raid Hours as must-attend events for maximum Thundurus yield.

Event End Push: In the final 24-48 hours of a Thundurus event, ramp up your raiding for one last push before Thundurus disappears. This end-stage raiding serves two purposes: catching any final Thundurus you want, and capitalizing on the urgency that motivates other trainers to raid heavily. The final days typically have high engagement as trainers rush to get their last catches. I aim for another 10-15 raids in the final two days to finish strong.