Pokémon GO’s Halloween GO Pass drops on October 21, 2025, offering free players a shot at Rotom, event-exclusive encounters, and a pile of Stardust without spending a dime. The catch? You’ve got less than two weeks to rack up GO Points, claim your rewards, and decide if the premium Deluxe track is worth the upgrade.

This guide breaks down what’s free versus paid, how to snag Rotom and other Halloween Pokémon, and whether you’re better off grinding the event or trading for what you missed. We’ll also cover the safest ways to trade event Pokémon and avoid the usual pitfalls that come with account swaps or sketchy meetups.

What is the Pokémon GO Halloween GO Pass?

The Pokémon GO Halloween GO Pass is a limited-time reward track running from October 21 through November 2, 2025. It’s free for all players and offers exclusive Halloween-themed Pokémon encounters, items, and bonuses as you earn GO Points through daily activities like catching Pokémon or spinning PokéStops. Unlike the monthly GO Passes, this Halloween version focuses specifically on spooky seasonal content and rare encounters like Rotom.

You’re automatically enrolled when the event starts. No ticket to buy or code to redeem for the basic free track. The pass works on a progression system where you complete tasks to earn GO Points, and as you accumulate points, you unlock rewards at different milestone ranks. There’s also a premium Deluxe version available for purchase, but the free track still offers solid rewards, including exclusive Pokémon encounters and useful items.

The Halloween GO Pass taps into serious FOMO. Rotom is rare, the event window is short, and missing the deadline means waiting months (or longer) for another chance. For collectors and completionists, this two-week window is critical.

One important detail: you do need to claim your rewards before the event ends, or they disappear. Niantic doesn’t offer grace periods or retroactive claiming for event passes, so set a reminder if you’re cutting it close.

Source: pokemongo.com

Event dates & how the Halloween GO Pass works

The Halloween GO Pass runs from October 21, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. local time through November 2, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. local time. You earn GO Points by completing everyday activities like catching Pokémon, spinning stops, completing field research, or participating in raids. Each activity awards a set number of points that count toward your next reward milestone.

During most of the event, there’s a daily cap on how many GO Points you can earn. However, from November 1 through November 2, the daily limit is removed entirely. This gives players a final 48-hour window to grind out any remaining ranks they haven’t completed yet, which is especially helpful if you’ve been busy or started late.

Once you hit a milestone rank, you can claim the reward immediately from the GO Pass menu in-game. If you don’t claim rewards before the event ends on November 2, they’re gone for good, with no exceptions.

Free vs. Deluxe GO Pass: what do you get?

The free Halloween GO Pass includes encounters with event Pokémon, Stardust, XP boosts, and items like Poké Balls and Berries. The premium Deluxe version, which costs around $7.99, adds exclusive encounters, avatar items, faster progression through bonus GO Points, and cosmetic rewards like poses. Both versions follow the same rank structure, but premium users unlock extra rewards at the same milestones.

You can upgrade from free to Deluxe at any point during the event, even on the last day. If you upgrade after already progressing through several ranks, you immediately unlock all the premium rewards you passed. This means you don’t lose anything by waiting to decide if the premium track is worth it.

The main difference comes down to exclusivity and speed. Free players get solid rewards but miss out on certain rare encounters and cosmetic items. Premium users also earn bonus GO Points per activity, letting them hit higher ranks faster without grinding as hard.

Free vs. Deluxe comparison table

Pro Tip: If you’re debating an upgrade, wait until November 1 when the daily point cap is removed. You can see how far you’ve progressed on the free track and decide if the remaining premium rewards justify the cost.

All free Halloween GO Pass rewards: Pokémon, items & bonuses

The free track includes a mix of Pokémon encounters, resources, and event bonuses spread across 50 ranks. Early milestones reward basic items like Poké Balls and Potions, while mid-tier ranks unlock rarer items like Rare Candy and Stardust bundles. The headline reward for free players is a Rotom encounter at Rank 25, which also has a chance to be shiny.

Other notable free rewards include:

• Bonus catch candy during the event window
• Increased transfer candy for specific Pokémon
• XP boosts that stack with Lucky Eggs
• Themed field research tasks leading to additional Halloween Pokémon encounters like Pumpkaboo, Phantump, and Yamask

Higher ranks (35-50) reward larger Stardust bundles, Golden Razz Berries, and Premium Battle Passes. The free track is designed to feel rewarding even if you don’t spend money, though premium users get extra encounters and cosmetics at nearly every milestone.

Key milestones for free players:

• Rank 10: 1,000 Stardust
• Rank 25: Rotom encounter (shiny possible)
• Rank 40: 5 Rare Candy
• Rank 50: 10,000 Stardust

For most active players, reaching Rank 25 for Rotom is achievable without paying, especially with the final two days of unlimited point earning.

Rare Pokémon: how to get Rotom & other Halloween exclusives

Rotom is the standout free reward at Rank 25 of the Halloween GO Pass. It’s a fan-favorite Electric/Ghost-type that’s relatively rare in Pokémon GO, and this encounter also has shiny odds, making it one of the most sought-after rewards. You’ll need to earn enough GO Points to reach Rank 25, which is achievable for most active players even without the premium track.

Beyond Rotom, the event features several other Halloween-themed Pokémon in the wild, raids, and field research:

• Pumpkaboo (various sizes)
• Phantump
• Yamask (both Galarian and standard)
• Litwick (boosted shiny rates)
• Sinistcha and Poltchageist (premium Deluxe track exclusive)

If you’re chasing shinies or rare forms, focus on completing field research tasks tied to the event. Field research often rewards encounters with event Pokémon and sometimes offers better shiny odds than wild spawns. Raids also feature Halloween Pokémon like Mega Banette and Darkrai, though raids require raid passes and coordination with other players.

What if you miss the deadline? If you miss Rotom during this event, it occasionally appears in future events or special research. However, this is one of the easier ways to guarantee an encounter without relying on random spawns or eggs. Missing this window means potentially waiting months for another opportunity.

Should you upgrade to GO Pass Deluxe? Value analysis for free players

The Deluxe version costs about $7.99 and adds exclusive encounters, avatar items, and bonus GO Points that speed up progression. Whether it’s worth it depends on how much you value cosmetics and rare Pokémon. If you’re a completionist or want Sinistcha and Poltchageist, the premium track is the only way to get them during this event.

For casual players or those focused purely on gameplay, the free track offers enough value. You still get Rotom, Stardust, Rare Candy, and event bonuses without spending money. The premium track is more about convenience and exclusivity than raw gameplay advantage.

Value breakdown:

• Worth it if: You’re a collector, want exclusive Pokémon, value avatar items, or have limited playtime and need the point boost
• Skip it if: You’re happy with Rotom, don’t care about cosmetics, or can grind the free track to completion

One thing to consider is the resale or trade value of premium-exclusive Pokémon. Some players buy accounts or trade for rare event Pokémon they missed, and Sinistcha or Poltchageist might become valuable later. However, trading in Pokémon GO requires physical proximity and Stardust costs, so this isn’t as straightforward as other games.

Alternative: If you’re looking for a specific rare Pokémon or account, Eldorado’s Pokémon GO marketplace is a legit alternative to risky trades.

If you’re on the fence, wait until the last few days of the event. You’ll know how far you’ve progressed on the free track and can decide if the remaining premium rewards are worth the cost. Upgrading late still unlocks all previous premium rewards instantly, so there’s no penalty for waiting.

Safe Pokémon trading: tips for Halloween event Pokémon

Halloween GO Pass Pokémon like Rotom can be traded to other players, but trades in Pokémon GO require physical proximity (within 100 meters) and cost Stardust. Special trades, which include legendaries, shinies, and Pokémon the recipient doesn’t have in their Pokédex, are limited to one per day and cost significantly more Stardust unless you’re Best Friends with the other player.

Trading with strangers carries some risk, especially if you’re meeting in person. Stick to public locations, verify the trade details before confirming, and never share your account login information. Some players offer to trade rare Pokémon for real money or through third-party platforms, but this violates Niantic’s Terms of Service and can result in account suspension.

Account and trading safety tips:

• Verify the trade: Always double-check the Pokémon’s stats, moves, and shiny status before confirming.
• Meet in public: If trading in person, choose a safe, well-lit location.
• Never share login info: Legitimate trades happen in-game, not through account sharing.
• Avoid scams: Be wary of too-good-to-be-true offers or sellers demanding payment outside secure platforms.

If you’re looking to acquire event Pokémon you missed or rare shinies, using a trusted marketplace can reduce risk. For safe trading of rare Halloween Pokémon, use trusted marketplaces with buyer protection: see how to buy an account on Eldorado. Platforms like Eldorado offer verified sellers for Pokémon GO accounts, though you’ll want to change credentials immediately after any account trade. Trading accounts is against Niantic’s rules, so there’s always some risk of account review or suspension.

Learn more about how our offer ranking system works and the account order dispute process for extra peace of mind.

Community tips & where to find more info

The Pokémon GO community is active on Reddit, Discord, and forums like Bulbagarden. Players share their Halloween GO Pass strategies and trading experiences daily on r/TheSilphRoad, which posts real-time event updates, optimal strategies for earning GO Points, and trading partner threads. Discord servers often organize local raid groups and trading meetups, making it easier to coordinate for special trades or rare encounters.

Detailed event breakdowns can also be found on Bulbagarden’s forums — a go-to for dedicated trainers.

Want to skip the grind or trade safely for rare Halloween Pokémon? Buy or sell in-game goods securely on Eldorado. Whether you’re chasing Rotom or completing your shiny collection, stay informed, trade smart, and enjoy the event.