Pokemon GO: Pocket guide to raids

Pokemon GO is once again gaining popularity, thanks to its newest update. It completely overhauled gyms, making them much closer to what they are in the original Pokemon series for Nintendo consoles. And not only that, but it also introduced a brand new feature – raids.

Every gamer out there is familiar with the term “raid”, but for people who aren't that much into gaming, let us explain – it's an event in which a number of players come together to face a boss battle which would be too hard for solo players.

But what exactly do these raids mean for Pokemon GO, and how do you make the most of them? Here's the quick version of all you need to know.

Where to find raids in Pokemon GO?

Every gym could become a raid location. When a raid is about to start, an egg will appear above the gym, with a countdown timer. When the timer runs out, a Pokemon will hatch from the egg with extremely high Combat Power, with a new timer above it. Players will be able to initiate raid battles with the boss Pokemon as long as the timer ticks.

How do raid battles work?

In order to participate in a raid battle, players must first have a Raid Pass. One will be awarded each day for free by spinning a gym photo disc. If you happen to need additional raid passes in one day, you can purchase them from the in-game shop.

When someone initiates a raid battle, they can either choose to enter a private group, or they can enter a public one. Private groups are protected by a password that consists of three Pokemon. For example, a friend that wants to join your private group, might have to enter three Bulbasaurs as a password.

Then, players will be given two minutes to prepare for the battle, choose their Pokemon, heal them if necessary, and so on. Once the battle itself starts, it works exactly as a gym battle – players can use their Normal and Charged attacks, as well as dodge sideways.

The only difference between gym battles and raids is that players from different teams can work together to bring the boss down.