The Looming Shadow: A Guide to Eternatus in Pokémon GO

Published in Humor and Quirks on Saturday, August 23rd 2025 at 14:15 GMT by Polygon
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The skies above Pokémon GO are darkening with the arrival of Eternatus, a colossal Legendary Pokémon previously only seen in Pokémon Sword and Shield. This isn’t just another raid boss; Eternatus presents a unique challenge requiring significant preparation and strategic teamwork. Understanding how to acquire enough Charged Candy for this behemoth is paramount to success, and that's where things get surprisingly complex. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about battling and powering up Eternatus in Pokémon GO, from the initial research tasks to maximizing your raid performance.

Eternatus: A Brief Introduction & Why It’s Different

Eternatus is a Poison/Dragon-type Legendary Pokémon, making it resistant to several common attack types while also vulnerable to others. Its presence marks the beginning of an event tied to the Crown Tundra DLC for Sword and Shield, introducing new research tasks and gameplay mechanics. What makes Eternatus particularly tricky isn't just its sheer power; it’s the tiered system surrounding obtaining enough Charged Candy to fully power it up.

The Research Tasks: Your First Hurdle

Unlike most Legendary encounters, you can’t simply raid Eternatus and start collecting candy. You must complete a series of research tasks first. These tasks are divided into four stages, each unlocking after completing the previous one. The difficulty ramps up considerably with each stage, requiring increasingly difficult Pokémon encounters and specific actions within the game.

Here's a breakdown of what you need to accomplish:

Stage 1 (Easy): This initial stage focuses on relatively simple tasks like catching three Shadow Pokémon, spinning five PokéStops, and sending three Pokémon to your buddy.
Stage 2 (Moderate): Things get slightly more challenging here. You'll need to defeat three Team GO Rocket Grunts, catch five Fire-type Pokémon, and power up two different Pokémon.
Stage 3 (Difficult): This is where the real work begins. Expect tasks like defeating a Team GO Rocket Boss with at least one Charged Attack, catching three Ice-type Pokémon using a Snowball, and earning three Rainbow team flags.
Stage 4 (Challenging): The final stage throws the toughest challenges your way. You’ll need to defeat three Tier Five Raid Bosses, catch five Dragon-type Pokémon, and power up three different Legendary or Mythical Pokémon.

Completing all four stages unlocks the Eternatus raid encounter. The tasks refresh daily, so if you miss a day, you'll have to start over from Stage 1.

Charged Candy Requirements: The Real Challenge

Once you’ve completed the research tasks and can finally battle Eternatus, the candy acquisition process becomes its own mini-game. This is where the tiered system comes into play. Eternatus has three distinct forms – Eternamax Eternatus, Eternatus (Regular), and Eternatude – each requiring a different amount of Charged Candy to power up fully.

Eternatude Form: This is the initial form you’ll encounter after completing the research tasks. It requires only 50 Charged Candy to reach Level 40.
Eternatus (Regular) Form: After defeating Eternatus in its Eternatude form, it transforms into the regular form. Powering this form up to Level 40 requires a whopping 300 Charged Candy!
Eternamax Eternatus Form: This is the ultimate goal – and the most demanding. Reaching Level 40 on Eternamax Eternatus necessitates an astounding 1,000 Charged Candy!

Strategies for Acquiring Charged Candy

Given these substantial candy requirements, here's how to maximize your collection efforts:

Pinap Berries: Always use Pinap Berries during raids. They double the amount of Pokémon Candy you receive.
Mega Evolution: Mega Evolving a Pokémon that shares a type with Eternatus (Poison or Dragon) will grant an attack boost and increase the candy received from defeating Eternatus. Consider Mega Gengar (Ghost/Poison), Mega Tyranitar (Rock/Dark – provides a significant damage boost against Eternatus’s weaknesses), or Mega Salamence (Dragon/Flying).
Lucky Eggs: Activate a Lucky Egg before participating in raids to earn double XP and, crucially, double Candy XL. While Candy XL doesn't directly contribute to Charged Candy, it helps power up your Pokémon for the raid itself.
Friendship Bonuses: Having strong friendships with other players can also provide bonuses during raids, potentially increasing candy gains. Best Counters & Raid Strategy

While powering up Eternatus is a long-term goal, you still need to defeat it in order to start collecting those Charged Candy! Here are some top counters:

Strong Dragon-types: Dialga, Zekrom, and Rayquaza are excellent choices.
Powerful Fairy-types: Magearna and Tapu Koko can deal significant damage.
Ice-type attackers: Articuno and Mamoswine offer good coverage against Eternatus’s weaknesses.

Remember to coordinate with your raid team, use effective movesets, and prioritize dodging attacks to maximize your chances of victory.

Conclusion: A Marathon, Not a Sprint

Battling and powering up Eternatus in Pokémon GO is a significant undertaking that requires dedication, teamwork, and strategic planning. The tiered candy system adds a layer of complexity not seen in previous Legendary encounters. By understanding the research tasks, mastering candy acquisition techniques, and assembling a strong raid team, you can conquer this formidable foe and claim your place among the elite trainers who have faced down Eternatus! Good luck, Trainers – the shadow is rising!

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The Looming Shadow: A Guide to Eternatus in Pokémon GO