Pokémon GO July Events: Raid Day Counters & Honedge Meta Guide*

🌸⚔️ **Pokémon GO July 2025 Event Explosion: Hisuian Lilligant Raid Day & Honedge Evolution Debut!**

*Your Complete US Strategy Guide for Rare Shinies, Meta Moves, and Event Rewards*

Niantic is igniting summer with back-to-back events that will shake up your PvP teams and Pokédex! From a **dance-battle raid spectacle** to a **haunted sword evolution quest**, here’s everything you need to dominate July 2025.

🌸 **PART 1: Hisuian Lilligant Raid Day (July 20)**

**⏰ Event Hours:** 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Local Time

🔥 **Key Features & Limited-Time Bonuses**

- **✨ Shiny Hunt:** First-ever chance to catch **Shiny Hisuian Lilligant** (1 in 10 odds!)

- **💥 Exclusive Move:** *Victory Dance* (Grass-type Charged Move: 90 power + self-ATK boost)

- **🎉 Bonuses:**

- 5 free Raid Passes from Gyms

- 2× Candy for catching evolved Pokémon

- Increased Grass-type spawns (Petilil, Sunkern)

⚔️ **Raid Counter Guide (US Meta Focus)**

**🔥 Top Fire Destroyers:**

- **Mega Charizard Y** (Fire Spin + Blast Burn)

- **Reshiram** (Fire Fang + Fusion Flare)

- **Chandelure** (Fire Spin + Overheat)

> *Why?* Hisuian Lilligant is **Grass/Fighting** – double weak to Fire!

**🛡️ Budget Squad (No Legendaries):**

- **Darmanitan** (Incinerate + Overheat)

- **Blaziken** (Fire Spin + Blast Burn)

- **Typhlosion** (Shadow Claw + Blast Burn)

💎 **Catch Strategy**

- **🍓 Use Silver Pinaps:** Guarantees 12 Candy per catch

- **🎯 Aim for Weather Boost:** Sunny/Clear = 2100+ CP catch potential

- **🔄 Trade Trick:** Swap low-IV Lilligants for Lucky rerolls!

⚔️ **PART 2: Honedge Ultra Unlock Event (July 22-29)**

**🔓 Unlock Trigger:** Global GO Fest 2025 challenges completed!

📜 **Event Highlights**

- **🗡️ Honedge Debut:** Ghost/Steel-type from Kalos

- **🔮 Evolutions Unlocked:**

- **Doublade** (50 Candy)

- **Aegislash** (Requires *"Kingslayer" Special Research*)

- **👻 Wild Spawns:** Duskull, Golett, Phantump (shiny rates up!)

- **🎁 Rewards:**

- 2× XP for evolving Pokémon

- Free event-themed avatar pose *"Blade Stance"*

🛡️ **Aegislash Evolution Secrets**

1. **📜 Complete "Kingslayer" Research:**

- Win 10 raids → Catch 30 Ghost-types → Evolve Doublade

2. **⚖️ Choose Your Forme:**

- *Shield Forme* (Tank): High DEF stats for PvP

- *Blade Forme* (Attacker): 250+ ATK for raids

> ⚠️ **Warning:** Forme choice is PERMANENT – pick wisely!

> 🔥 **Key Matchups:**

> - *Aegislash (Shield)* hard-counters Sableye/Medicham

> - *Aegislash (Blade)* deletes Fairy-types like Togekiss

🗓️ **July 2025 Event Timeline (US Timezones)**

1. **July 20 (Sat):** Hisuian Lilligant Raid Day 🔥

2. **July 22-29:** Honedge Ultra Unlock ⚔️

3. **July 25:** Raid Hour (Hisuian Lilligant returns!)

4. **July 28:** Spotlight Hour (Doublade + 2× Evolve XP)

💰 **Resource Management Guide**

- **💎 Save Rare Candy:** Aegislash needs 100+ for movesets

- **🔄 Trade Fodder:** Stockpile 2016-2017 Pokémon for Lucky Honedge

- **🌫️ Stardust Priority:**

1. Power up Aegislash (Shield) for PvP

2. Teach Lilligant *Victory Dance* (Elite TM)

🚨 **US-Exclusive Tips**

- **⏰ West Coast Advantage:** Raid Day ends at 8 PM ET – grind extra hours!

- **📍 Biome Boost:** Parks/historic sites spawn 30% more Honedge

- **🎮 Community Hubs:** Join Discord groups like *"GO West Coast"* for raid trains