Pokemon GO Deluxe GO Pass Restricts Shiny Odds to Reward Encounters

Pokémon GO’s 2025 Max Finale event has introduced a new feature, but not without a complication. Niantic launched the “Deluxe GO Pass” as part of the event, a premium pass advertised with enhanced rewards and increased shiny odds. While this initially sounded like a benefit for players, community discussions have revealed that the boost is more limited than expected.

The Max Finale features the first in-game appearance of Eternatus, the Legendary Pokémon from Pokémon Sword and Shield, arriving in its Eternamax form. To encounter Eternatus, players must battle in special Tier 6 Raid Battles, and Niantic has raised the cap to 100 players per raid. This expansion has also applied to Gigantamax Battles more broadly, altering the scope of cooperative raids within the event.

However, the Deluxe GO Pass has caused confusion and disappointment. A player identified as JustKitten_RightMeow shared a conversation with Niantic Support on the official Pokémon GO subreddit. According to that exchange, the increased shiny odds provided by the Deluxe GO Pass only apply to Pokémon earned directly from the pass’s rewards. The support explanation clarified that the boosted shiny odds do not extend to other Dynamax encounters, including Max Finale raid battles. This contrasts with the pass’s description, which had led many players to believe it improved shiny odds for Dynamax Battle encounters more generally. Niantic has not issued an official public statement beyond the support correspondence.

The question of value tied to Pokémon GO events has been closely monitored since the game’s earliest days. In July 2016, Casino.org reported that Las Vegas’s Silverton Casino offered a promotion from July 14–17, with $2 drafts for players who showed the app. At the same time, financial reports cited by the outlet showed Pokémon GO had surpassed 15 million downloads in its first week, generating an estimated $1.6 million per day on iOS, and boosting Nintendo’s stock by more than 20% on the Tokyo exchange. This illustrates how gambling operators and betting firms responded to the game’s rise with their own adaptations and promotions.

The timing of the Deluxe GO Pass discovery comes during what is already a milestone year for Pokémon GO. Earlier in 2025, Niantic added the evolution lines for Snom and Honedge, as well as special “Crowned” forms for Zacian and Zamazenta. The Max Finale now serves as a capstone, pulling together these updates with the long-awaited debut of Eternatus. With Eternamax Eternatus only available in Tier 6 Raids and requiring such large teams, the event has been designed as a true climax of the summer season.

Even with the uncertainty surrounding the Deluxe GO Pass, the game is not slowing down. Niantic has already revealed the next big addition coming immediately after the Max Finale: the “Sunkissed Shores” event scheduled for the following week. This event will introduce Dondozo, a ninth-generation Pokémon, the latest expansion of the Pokédex in Pokémon GO. 

Meanwhile, fans are speculating about what could come after – a few have said that Niantic may soon bring Tera Pokémon into the game, a mechanic from the ninth-generation Pokémon titles, with Max Finale widely expected to conclude the game’s current focus on Pokémon Sword and Shield.

Share: