The Pokémon GO Raid Battles are exciting cooperative events where players come together to battle powerful Pokémon that appear at Gyms. To participate, Trainers use Raid Passes, and up to twenty players can join forces to take down a high-CP boss within a set time limit. Successful completion of a raid rewards players with valuable items, such as rare resources, and Premier Balls that can be used to catch the defeated Raid Boss, which boasts enhanced stats compared to regular Pokémon.
There are different types of raids, including special events like EX Raids and Shadow Raids, each introducing unique mechanics and challenges. Additionally, Remote Raiding enables Trainers to participate in raids from a distance, though there are specific limitations to this feature. Players can check the current list of available Raid Bosses, which vary in difficulty, ensuring there’s always a new challenge to take on. By following the strategies outlined in the Pokémon GO Raid Battles, Trainers can enhance their battle performance, maximize rewards, and improve their chances of capturing powerful Pokémon.
This will walk you through everything you need to know to participate in and conquer these exciting and rewarding battles. Unlike the solitary exploration of the game, Raids focus on teamwork as you and other players work together to defeat incredibly powerful Pokémon that appear at Gyms. Whether you’re a seasoned Trainer or just starting your journey, understanding Raids is essential to catching rare Pokémon and earning valuable rewards. By collaborating with fellow Trainers and mastering the mechanics of Raid Battles, you’ll be well on your way to success in these challenging encounters.
What Exactly Are Raid Battles?
Imagine walking by a local Gym and noticing a massive Egg perched on top, ticking down the minutes. This isn’t just any Egg; it marks the upcoming arrival of a Raid Boss, a formidable Pokémon that has temporarily taken control of the Gym.
Raid Battles are cooperative events where you and up to 19 other Trainers come together to take down this powerful opponent within a set time limit. Successfully defeating the Raid Boss not only earns you bragging rights but also gives you the chance to catch the Raid Boss itself, along with a bundle of valuable items. These Raid Bosses can range from relatively strong Pokémon to rare Legendary and even Mythical creatures, making Raids a fantastic opportunity to expand your Pokédex with some truly exceptional finds.
By keeping an eye on Raid Eggs, using the Nearby feature, and coordinating with other Trainers, you can ensure that you never miss out on the action. Whether you’re tackling a high-level Legendary Raid or a simpler 1-Star challenge, Raid Battles offer a thrilling way to test your skills, earn rewards, and strengthen your team with powerful new Pokémon. For a deeper understanding of raid mechanics, strategies, and the different types of raids available, refer to the Pokémon GO Raid Battles, which provides essential tips to help Trainers maximize their success.
Finding and Joining the Fight
Keeping an eye on Raid Eggs is essential for preparing for battles, as their color and pattern provide clues about the difficulty level of the upcoming Raid Boss. When the countdown on a Raid Egg reaches zero, the Raid Boss emerges, ready for Trainers to challenge. To stay updated on nearby raids, use the in-game notifications and the Nearby feature, which highlight active and upcoming raids in your vicinity. Additionally, if a friend comes across a raid they think you’d be interested in, they can send you a remote raid invitation, allowing you to participate even if you’re not physically near the Gym.
When you arrive at a Gym hosting a raid, simply tap on it to enter. You’ll then have the option to battle in a public group, where the game will automatically pair you with other Trainers in the lobby, or you can choose to join a private group if you have a group code to team up with specific friends. Private groups are useful for coordinating strategies, ensuring that you’re battling alongside trusted allies who can help take down the Raid Boss efficiently.
Once you’ve joined a raid lobby, a two-minute countdown begins, giving you time to prepare by selecting a team of six Pokémon best suited for the battle. Choosing Pokémon with type advantages against the Raid Boss is key to maximizing damage and improving your chances of victory. If all Trainers in the lobby tap the Ready button, the countdown shortens to just 10 seconds, allowing the battle to begin sooner.
During the raid battle, work with your team to deplete the Raid Boss’s health before time runs out. Use Charged Attacks strategically and dodge powerful moves to extend your Pokémon’s survival. If your Pokémon faint, you can either revive them or select a new team to continue the fight. If your team successfully defeats the Raid Boss, you’ll have a chance to catch it using Premier Balls, which are awarded based on your performance and contributions to the raid. Participating in raids regularly can help you obtain powerful Pokémon, earn rewards, and collaborate with other Trainers for an exciting and rewarding experience.
The Key to Entry: Raid Passes
To participate in a Raid Battle, you’ll need a Raid Pass, and there are several types available, each with unique benefits and limitations.
A raid pass is the most common and can be obtained for free once per day by spinning the Photo Disc at any Gym. However, you can only hold one at a time, so if you haven’t used your current pass, you won’t be able to collect another. This pass grants access to standard raids ranging from Tier 1 to Tier 5.
For those who want to participate in multiple raids in a single day, the premium battle pass is a great option. These passes can be purchased from the in-game Shop and, unlike the free raid pass, you can hold multiple at once. Premium battle passes work the same way as standard raid passes, allowing access to Tier 1 through Tier 5 raids, but they also have the added benefit of being usable for premium rewards in the GO Battle League.
When you’re unable to visit a Gym in person, the remote raid pass provides an alternative. This pass allows you to join any raid that appears on your Nearby screen, is tappable from the Map View, or one that a friend invites you to—regardless of distance. However, some limitations apply, particularly for Shadow Raids, which often require physical presence. Remote raid passes can be purchased from the in-game Shop, and they’re occasionally distributed as free rewards.
For exclusive, high-level battles, there’s the EX raid pass. Unlike the other passes, EX raid passes are invitation-only and grant access to special EX raids at specific Gyms during scheduled times. To earn one, you typically need to have recently completed a standard raid at the Gym where an EX raid is set to occur. Increasing your Gym Badge level and frequently participating in raids at those locations can improve your chances of receiving an invitation.
Once you use a raid pass to join a battle lobby, it won’t be consumed until the battle officially starts. If the Raid Boss defeats your team, you won’t get the pass back, but you can re-enter the raid as many times as needed until the battle timer expires. This system ensures that Trainers have multiple opportunities to strategize, adjust their teams, and work together for victory.
Engaging in the Raid Battle
Once the lobby timer reaches zero or all Trainers hit the ‘Ready’ button, the battle against the Raid Boss begins. Trainers will have 45 minutes to work together to defeat the powerful opponent, whose CP is significantly higher than that of standard Pokémon. During the battle, use Fast Attacks by tapping the screen repeatedly and activate Charged Attacks when your meter is full by tapping the charged attack button. To minimize damage, remember to dodge incoming attacks by swiping left or right at the right moment.
Up to 20 Trainers can participate in a single raid, regardless of team affiliation, with everyone working together toward the shared goal of defeating the Raid Boss. Coordination and strategy are key, as using Pokémon with type advantages can greatly improve the chances of success. If all six of your Pokémon faint during the fight, you’ll automatically return to the lobby, where you can heal them with Potions and Revives before rejoining the battle. Alternatively, you can select a fresh team of Pokémon to continue the fight.
It’s important to stay engaged in the battle, as leaving the raid intentionally will prevent you from rejoining that specific attempt. However, as long as the raid remains active, Trainers can keep returning after fainting until the Raid Boss is defeated or time runs out. Working together, selecting the right Pokémon, and timing attacks effectively can make all the difference in securing victory.
A Variety of Raid Encounters
Pokémon GO features a variety of Raid Battles, each with its own unique mechanics and challenges, providing Trainers with numerous opportunities to engage in battles and earn rewards.
Standard raids are the most common and are categorized by a star system to indicate difficulty. One-star raids are typically easy enough to complete solo, while three-star raids require a small group of Trainers. Five-star raids are significantly more difficult, often featuring Legendary Pokémon that require a larger team to defeat. Mega raids introduce Mega-Evolved Pokémon, offering challenging encounters that reward Trainers with Mega Energy, which is used to Mega Evolve their own Pokémon.
Shadow raids are organized by Team GO Rocket and feature Shadow Pokémon as the Raid Bosses. These raids come in one-star, three-star, and five-star difficulties, with the highest tier featuring Legendary Shadow Pokémon. In three-star and five-star shadow raids, the Boss will become enraged mid-battle, significantly increasing its attack and defense. Trainers can counter this by using Purified Gems, which are crafted from Shadow Shards obtained by defeating Team GO Rocket members. Unlike most other raids, remote raid passes usually cannot be used for shadow raids, making them in-person challenges.
EX raids are invitation-only battles that take place at select Gyms, offering Trainers the chance to battle rare and powerful Pokémon. Participation in raids at these Gyms increases the likelihood of receiving an EX Raid Pass.
Elite raids present some of the toughest challenges, featuring powerful Pokémon with high HP. These battles are strictly local, meaning remote raid passes cannot be used. They require a well-coordinated group of Trainers to succeed.
Primal raids function similarly to mega raids but feature Pokémon that have undergone Primal Reversion, such as Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre. Trainers who successfully complete these raids earn Primal Energy, which is required to activate Primal Reversion in their own Pokémon.
Community Day raids take place after Community Day events and feature the evolved form of that day’s spotlight Pokémon. These raids offer Trainers an additional opportunity to obtain the special Pokémon and its exclusive move.
Legendary Raid Hours occur every Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time, significantly increasing the number of five-star raids featuring the current Legendary Pokémon. If multiple Legendary Pokémon are in rotation, Trainers may encounter all of them during the event.
Max Battles, also known as Max Mondays, take place on Mondays from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time, increasing the number of Max Battles available at Power Spots. These battles currently feature one-star bosses, including Dynamax Pokémon. While they don’t typically offer exclusive rewards, they provide Trainers with more opportunities to earn XL Candy for the featured Pokémon, along with XP and Stardust. Participation in Max Battles requires Max Particules, which function similarly to Raid Passes.
Each type of raid battle presents different challenges and rewards, giving Trainers a variety of ways to engage in cooperative gameplay, strengthen their Pokémon, and work towards building a more powerful team.
The Spoils of Victory: Raid Rewards
Successfully defeating a Raid Boss comes with a variety of rewards that make the battle well worth the effort. In addition to the excitement of victory, Trainers earn a significant amount of XP, helping to level up their account, as well as Gym Badge XP, which strengthens their connection to the Gym where the battle took place.
One of the most valuable rewards is rare candies, which can be converted into candy for any Pokémon, making them incredibly useful for powering up or evolving rare and Legendary Pokémon. Golden Razz Berries are another sought-after reward, as they greatly increase the chances of catching Pokémon encountered in the wild or after a raid battle, ensuring Trainers have the best possible shot at securing the Raid Boss.
Technical Machines, or TMs, allow Trainers to modify their Pokémon’s movesets. Fast TMs change a Pokémon’s Fast Attack, while Charged TMs alter its Charged Attack, giving Trainers the ability to optimize their Pokémon for battle. These are particularly useful for preparing Pokémon for PvP battles, raids, or Gym defense.
Additional rewards often include healing items such as Super Potions, Hyper Potions, and Revives, which help restore Pokémon to full strength after battle. The quantity and type of items received vary depending on the raid’s difficulty and the Trainer’s performance during the fight. Higher-tier raids generally offer better rewards, providing even more incentives to challenge tougher Raid Bosses and work with other Trainers for a successful outcome.
The Bonus Challenge: Catching Your Prize
Once the Raid Boss has been defeated, it will shrink to its normal size, signaling the start of the bonus challenge—the chance to catch the Raid Boss. Unlike regular wild Pokémon encounters, this battle-tested Pokémon can only be caught using Premier Balls, which are awarded based on various performance factors.
The number of Premier Balls a Trainer receives depends on several key aspects, including the amount of damage they personally inflicted on the Boss, the total damage dealt by their team, and whether their team controlled the Gym where the raid took place. Trainers can also earn additional Premier Balls based on their Friendship level with others in the raid group. In standard raids, finishing the battle quickly provides extra Premier Balls, while in Mega Raids, it instead grants additional Mega Energy.
Since only Premier Balls can be used, maximizing catch chances is essential. While Great Balls and Ultra Balls aren’t an option, Berries can still be used. Razz Berries increase the likelihood of a successful catch, while Golden Razz Berries offer the highest boost. Landing excellent throws and using curveballs further improve catch rates, so practicing throw techniques can be a valuable skill.
Trainers must be mindful of their remaining Premier Balls, as the Raid Boss will flee if all of them are used without a successful capture. However, in some special cases, catching a Raid Boss is guaranteed. For example, if a Trainer encounters a Shiny Legendary Pokémon during a Raid Hour or another Legendary raid event, it will always be caught on the first successful throw that lands. With careful aim and strategic use of items, Trainers can turn their hard-fought victories into valuable additions to their Pokémon collection.
Recognizing Your Efforts: Trainer Achievements
During a Raid Battle, Trainers have the opportunity to earn Trainer Achievements, which are displayed at the end of the battle. These achievements recognize specific contributions made during the raid and serve as a fun way to highlight individual performance.
Some of the most common achievements include Hardest Hitter for the Trainer who dealt the most damage, Final Strike for the one who delivered the finishing blow, and Mega Master for using a Mega-Evolved Pokémon in battle. Other achievements include Charged and Ready for using the most Charged Attacks, Traveler for the Trainer who joined the raid from the farthest distance, and Style Savant for having the most fashionable avatar based on outfit and pose.
While Trainer Achievements don’t directly impact the rewards received after a raid, they add an extra layer of engagement and friendly competition. Additionally, earning these achievements contributes to progress on the Raid Expert Medal, which tracks a Trainer’s overall raid performance. Whether battling for fun or striving to earn as many achievements as possible, these recognitions provide a way to celebrate individual and team efforts in every raid battle.
Tips for Raid Success
To maximize success in Raid Battles, it’s important to approach each battle with strategy and preparation. Raids, especially higher-tier ones, are designed for group play, so teaming up with friends or local players greatly improves the chances of victory. Coordination allows Trainers to form balanced teams and take advantage of key battle mechanics.
Understanding type matchups is crucial when selecting Pokémon for battle. Each Raid Boss has specific weaknesses and resistances, so preparing a team with Pokémon that can deal super-effective damage will make the battle more efficient. Having high-CP Pokémon with optimized Fast and Charged Attacks further increases the chances of success.
Taking advantage of battle bonuses can also provide a significant edge. Raiding with friends grants extra damage bonuses based on Friendship level, while having a Mega-Evolved Pokémon in battle boosts the attacks of all allies using moves that share a type with the Mega Pokémon. Even if the Mega Pokémon doesn’t match the Raid Boss’s weakness, it still provides a general damage boost to all allies.
Controlling the Gym where the raid is taking place offers another advantage. If a Trainer’s team owns the Gym, they will receive extra Premier Balls at the end of the raid, increasing their chances of catching the Raid Boss.
By utilizing these strategies, Trainers can increase their efficiency in raids, defeat powerful Pokémon, and maximize their rewards. Keeping an eye on nearby Gyms, coordinating with fellow Trainers, and preparing the right battle team will ensure the best possible raid experience. So, gather your team, stock up on resources, and get ready to take on the next Raid Boss!
