Every Tuesday in October 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time, Pokémon GO will host a Spotlight Hour featuring a specific Pokémon with an added bonus. According to the schedule published by Pokémon GO Hub:
October 7: Featured Pokémon: Ferroseed — Bonus: 2× Evolution XP.
October 14: Featured Pokémon: Petilil — Bonus: 2× Catch Stardust.
October 21: Featured Pokémon: Gastly — Bonus: 2× Catch XP.
October 28: Featured Pokémon: Sinistea — Bonus: 2× Catch Candy.
What to Focus On This Month
Maximize the Bonus
Since each hour has a different bonus, tailor your play:
On October 7 (Ferroseed): focus on evolving ferroseed/training evolution chains to take advantage of 2× Evolution XP.
On October 14 (Petilil): target high-spawn areas and use Pinap Berries if you want to maximise Stardust income.
On October 21 (Gastly): plan for lots of catching to benefit from 2× Catch XP—bonus especially helpful if you're levelling up.
On October 28 (Sinistea): target catching many Sinistea (and its evolutions) or transferring extras to double your Candy gains.
Shiny Chances & Spawn Rates
The featured Pokémon will spawn at higher rates during the hour, which improves your odds of encountering Shiny variants. For example, the Gastly Spotlight Hour article confirms that the increased spawn rate means more chances for Shiny Gastly during the hour.
Also keep in mind the bonus applies only during the hour itself, so make sure you're prepared in terms of Poké Balls, berries, storage space, and a good location ahead of time.
Plan Location & Timing
Since the hour is short, pick a place you know well (with good spawn density) and be ready at 6 p.m. local time. If you're aiming for Candy or Stardust, avoid distractions during that hour—make it focused.
Also check whether your spawn environment favours the featured Pokémon (weather, nearby PokéStops, etc.) so you can maximize catches.
Why This Month's Schedule Matters
October's schedule gives a good mix of bonuses (XP, Stardust, Candy) rather than focusing purely on one resource. That variety means players preparing for different goals—friendship levels, Pokédex completion, Shiny hunting—can pick the Tuesday that helps best.
Additionally, with Halloween season in view, the October 28 spotlight on Sinistea (a Ghost-type) aligns nicely with the theme and offers a fun festive spin for players.
Final Thoughts
If you're playing Pokémon GO this October, set a reminder for each Tuesday 6-7 p.m. local time and go in prepared. Knowing the featured Pokémon and bonus ahead of time lets you make smarter decisions—whether that's stacking Stardust, earning XP, or hunting Shiny catches.
Stay ready, choose your spot, and make the most of each Spotlight Hour.