Types of Raid Battles (All Raid Formats You’ll See)
Standard raid tiers (the everyday raids)
- Tier 1: easiest, good for solo
- Tier 3: mid difficulty (some solo-able with strong counters, many easier with 2+)
- Tier 5: the “big boss” tier (Legendary / Ultra Beast / high-end bosses), usually best with a group
- Mega Raids and Mega Legendary Raids: you earn Mega Energy and catch the normal form afterward
Special raid types (important differences)
Ultra Beast Raids
- Identified by an Ultra Wormhole above the Gym before it starts
- The catch uses Beast Balls (not regular Poké Balls)
Primal Raids
- Special raids that award Primal Energy for Kyogre/Groudon’s Primal Reversion
- You still catch the standard form afterward
Shadow Raids
- Gyms taken over by Team GO Rocket
- Often includes an enraged phase
- Uses special items like Purified Gems to make the boss easier
Elite Raids
- Extra-challenging, limited-time raid windows
- Show up from 24-hour eggs and then appear for a short battle window
- In-person only (no Remote Raid Pass)
Super Mega Raids (the “shield” Mega raids)
- Mega boss becomes enraged and deploys Shields
- Shields can only be broken by Mega Pokémon charged attacks, with strict rules (explained later)
EX Raids (legacy / rarely relevant for modern play)
You may still see EX Raid info in older menus and help pages, but most players treat EX Raids as a legacy format and plan around Elite Raids instead.
Raid Timers Explained (Egg Timer vs Raid Timer vs Battle Timer)
Raid Egg countdown (before the raid begins)
A Raid Egg appears on top of a Gym. The countdown shows when the boss will hatch.
Raid availability window (how long the raid stays active)
Once the boss hatches, the raid remains available for a limited time. In standard raids, you typically have a window to enter and fight before it disappears.
Lobby timer (before battle starts)
When you enter the raid, the lobby starts a countdown. You can:
- adjust your team of 6
- invite friends (if eligible)
- join a private lobby
- use the Ready button (when available)
Battle timer (the actual fight)
Inside the battle, you have a fixed time limit to defeat the boss. If time runs out, you fail that attempt—but you can usually retry during the raid’s active window without spending another pass.
Raid Passes (Which One to Use and When)
Raid Pass (free daily pass)
Best for: in-person raiding
- You can get up to one free Raid Pass per day by spinning a Gym Photo Disc
- You can’t hold more than one free Raid Pass at a time, so use it regularly
Premium Battle Pass
Best for: extra in-person raids beyond your free pass
- You can hold multiple
- Works like a Raid Pass for standard raid tiers
Remote Raid Pass
Best for: joining raids from the Nearby menu or via invites without being at the Gym
- Great for rural players, busy days, or joining friends in other areas
- Has daily participation limits and lobby limits (explained below)
Key “pass saving” rule
Your pass is generally consumed when the battle begins, not when you simply enter the lobby. So if you enter a lobby and leave before the raid starts, you usually keep your pass.
How to Find Raids Fast (Map, Nearby, and Notifications)
Map method (quick check)
Open the map and tap any Gym with a raid egg or an active boss. You’ll see:
- the boss (if hatched)
- the time remaining
- the join button
- your pass options
Nearby method (best for planning)
The Nearby menu helps you spot raids around you without tapping every Gym.
Raid invitations (best for remote play)
Friends can invite you to raids. If you have a Remote Raid Pass, you can join from the invite—especially useful for Tier 5 and Mega bosses.
RSVP Planner (the “raid scheduling” tool)
What it does:
- lets you schedule a raid time slot
- shows how many Trainers plan to join
- sends reminders (depending on your settings)
- This is very useful for raids that need coordination (Elite Raids, Super Mega Raids, or busy Tier 5 rotations).
Joining a Raid (Public vs Private, Ready Button, and Group Codes)
Public lobby (fastest)
Tap Battle and the game matches you with others automatically (up to the lobby cap).
Private lobby (best for friends)
Tap Join Privately and enter the group code.
Use private lobbies when:
- you have a planned group and don’t want random players splitting the lobby
- you’re coordinating a short-man attempt (duo/trio)
- you’re helping a newer friend and want the same lobby
Ready button (huge time-saver)
In raids with more than two participants, a Ready button can appear. When everyone taps Ready, the timer jumps forward to a short countdown—no more waiting the full lobby time.
Quick lobby checklist
- Make sure your team of 6 is correct (counters + correct moves)
- Make sure you’re not using a “gym defense” team by accident
- Invite friends early if you need more players
- If you’re doing a Super Mega Raid, confirm you have a Mega Pokémon in your party (more on this later)
Remote Raids (Rules, Limits, and How to Avoid Wasting Passes)
How remote raiding works
With a Remote Raid Pass, you can join raids:
- from the Nearby Raid tab
- by tapping a Gym that’s “reachable” from your map view
- via friend invitations
Important remote limits
Daily remote raid limit:
There is a daily maximum number of remote raids you can participate in, and it can increase during special events.
Remote lobby cap:
Only a limited number of Trainers can be in the same lobby remotely at the same time; if the remote slots fill, you may be placed into a new lobby.
Remote pass inventory limit:
If you already have multiple Remote Raid Passes in your bag, you may be blocked from acquiring more until you use some.
Remote damage difference (big beginner surprise)
Remote Trainers’ Pokémon can have reduced attack power compared to in-person participants. This can be adjusted during specific events, but as a general mindset:
If you want the easiest possible clear, in-person raiding is stronger.
Remote raid “don’t waste your pass” rules
- Don’t join the lobby unless you believe the group can win
- If the lobby looks weak, leave and rejoin another lobby (before the fight starts)
- If you’re unsure, try to join when at least a few strong Trainers are already in the lobby
Building Your Raid Team (The #1 Skill That Wins More Raids)
Type advantage is everything
Raids are not like gym defense. You don’t win by “high CP.” You win by:
- hitting the boss’s weaknesses
- using the best moves for that type
- staying alive long enough to keep dealing damage
The simple team-building formula
Step 1: Identify the boss’s weaknesses
Step 2: Pick a type that hits those weaknesses hard
Step 3: Use your best attackers of that type with the correct moves
Step 4: Add one Mega/Primal strategy if possible
Step 5: Save the team as a preset for future raids
What level should your attackers be? (practical answer)
You do not need maxed Pokémon to raid successfully. A realistic path is:
- build a “budget team” first (high-level wild catches + easy evolutions)
- then power up long-term attackers over time
- Raids are meant to be playable while you grow.
Moves matter more than IVs for raids
A “not perfect” Pokémon with the right moves often outperforms a “perfect IV” Pokémon with bad moves. Don’t get stuck waiting for perfection.
Raid Battle Mechanics (How the Fight Actually Works)
Fast Attacks
Tap to deal damage and build energy.
Charged Attacks
When your meter fills, tap the charged move to deal big damage.
Dodging (optional, but useful)
Swipe left or right to dodge incoming attacks.
When dodging helps most:
- in small groups (duos/trios), where every second matters
- when your best attacker is fragile and keeps fainting
- when the boss has a one-shot style charged move
Switching and relobbying
If your team faints, you can:
- rejoin quickly with another team
- heal with potions/revives and re-enter
- Key rule: you can usually retry and re-enter without spending another pass while the raid is still active.
Mega and Primal Strategy (Boost Your Whole Raid, Not Just Yourself)
Why Mega/Primal is a raid power-up
A well-chosen Mega can boost damage and make your team (and sometimes your group) clear faster.
Speed bonus matters
Raid rewards often include a speed bonus: defeating the boss faster can grant extra Premier Balls (or extra Mega/Primal-related rewards in those raid types).
Mega Raids (normal Mega format)
What you earn: Mega Energy
What you catch: the boss in its normal form (it de-Mega Evolves for the encounter)
Mega Legendary Raids (harder Mega format)
These bosses are more difficult than normal Mega raids.
Practical tip: Mega Evolving a Pokémon in your raid party helps a lot.
Super Mega Raids (shield mechanic)
What changes:
At a certain point the Mega boss becomes enraged and gains Shields that greatly reduce damage.
How shields are broken (critical rules)
- Shields can be broken by using a Charged Attack from a Mega Pokémon during the shield phase
- Each Trainer can only break 1 shield in that raid battle, even if they use multiple charged moves
- If you do not have a Mega Pokémon in your battle party, the raid can become dramatically harder
Ready button restriction (Super Mega raids)
If you don’t have a Mega Pokémon in your party, you may be blocked from tapping Ready until you include one (you can still wait out the lobby timer, but it’s strongly recommended to bring a Mega).
Primal Reversion note (important)
Primal-reverted Pokémon may not count as Mega Pokémon for shield breaking in Super Mega raids. If you’re doing Super Mega raids, always bring a true Mega in your party.
Party Play and Party Power (A Hidden Raid Damage Boost)
What Party Play is
Party Play lets a small group of Trainers form a party and unlock shared bonuses and challenges.
Party Power in raids (the big benefit)
When raiding with your Party, you can build Party Power. When it’s full, your next Charged Attack receives a major damage boost.
Practical result: Party Play can make small groups feel much stronger—especially in hard raids.
How to use Party Power well
- Call out when your Party Power is ready
- Try to use it on your biggest charged move (not a tiny spam move)
- If your Pokémon faints, the bonus applies to the Trainer (so it can carry to your next Pokémon)
Shadow Raids (Enrage, Purified Gems, and What to Do)
What makes Shadow Raids different
- They’re tied to Team GO Rocket taking over gyms
- The boss can become enraged, making it harder to defeat
- You need Purified Gems to subdue the boss during the enraged phase
Purified Gems (how they work)
How to get them (simple path):
- Battle Team GO Rocket Grunts/Leaders/Giovanni to earn Shadow Shards
- Combine shards into Purified Gems using the in-game refiner
How to use them
- Use Purified Gems when the boss is enraged
- Multiple Trainers using gems stacks the effect
- Each Trainer can use a limited number per Shadow Raid
Shadow raid success checklist
- Don’t enter with random teams—use real counters
- Bring enough players if the boss is high difficulty
- Save Purified Gems for the enraged phase (don’t panic-use early)
- If you’re short-manning, coordinate gem timing so you don’t waste them
Ultra Beast Raids and Beast Balls (How the Catch Phase Changes)
How to recognize Ultra Beast raids
You’ll see an Ultra Wormhole appear above the Gym before the boss arrives.
Beast Balls (special catch balls)
After winning, you may receive Beast Balls instead of Premier Balls. You can only use them in that encounter.
What determines how many Beast Balls you get
Common factors include:
- how much damage you deal
- whether your team controls the Gym
- how quickly you defeat the boss
Catch reminder
Even if you’re great at throws, if you run out of Beast Balls, the boss flees. Treat Beast Balls like a limited “ammo” resource and throw carefully.
Elite Raids (How to Prepare for the Hardest In-Person Raids)
How Elite Raids work
- An Elite Raid Egg appears 24 hours before the battle
- When it hatches, the boss is available for a short raid window
- Elite Raids are in-person only (no Remote Raid Pass)
How to succeed in Elite Raids
Arrive early
Elite Raid windows are short, so you don’t want to show up late and miss the group.
Treat it like a scheduled meetup
- Use the RSVP tool if available
- Coordinate with friends or local communities
- Have your counters pre-built before the egg hatches
Bring real counters
Elite Raid bosses punish casual “recommended teams.” Build the right type counters in advance.
Raid Rewards (What You Get for Winning)
Item rewards
Raids can drop valuable items such as:
- Golden Razz Berries
- Rare Candy
- Fast and Charged TMs
- Other high-value resources depending on raid type and events
Mega/Primal rewards
- Mega raids award Mega Energy based on speed
- Primal raids award Primal Energy, also tied to performance
Medals and achievements
Raids also advance raid-related medals and sometimes highlight fun achievement screens after the battle.
Premier Balls and Speed Bonus (How to Get More Catch Attempts)
Your number of Premier Balls matters because more balls = more chances to catch.
What affects Premier Balls
Common factors include:
- how much damage you personally deal
- whether your team controls the Gym
- how quickly the boss is defeated (speed bonus)
Mega raid difference
In Mega raids, speed contributes to Mega Energy rather than extra Premier Balls.
Practical ways to earn more Premier Balls
- Use the correct counters (higher damage)
- Raid with friends and strong groups (faster clears)
- Prefer gyms controlled by your team when possible
- Avoid joining the last few seconds of a raid if it puts you into a weaker lobby
How to Catch Raid Bosses More Often (Simple, Repeatable Catch Technique)
Catching is where many Trainers lose value. You can win raids all day—but if you fail catches, your progress feels slow.
The most reliable method: “circle-lock” throws
Step-by-step
- Hold the ball until the target circle shrinks to an Excellent-size you can hit
- Release (don’t throw yet)
- Wait for the boss to attack
- Throw during the attack so the ball lands as the circle returns
Berry choices (when to use each)
Golden Razz: best for tough catches and high-value bosses
Razz: good when you want better odds but want to save Golden Razz
Pinap: best when the catch is easy enough and you want extra candy
Silver Pinap: candy + better catch odds than regular Pinap
Throw priorities
- Curve throws help consistency
- Excellent throws improve your odds (especially with Golden Razz)
- Don’t rush: a bad throw wastes a precious Premier/Beast Ball
Calm your catching environment
If AR mode makes catching harder, keep it off. More consistent throws beat “cool visuals.”
Weather Boost, CP Ranges, and IV Expectations (What Good Raid Catches Look Like)
Weather-boosted raid bosses
Weather boost increases the boss’s catch level and CP. If you’re hunting strong battle-ready catches, weather boost helps.
Raid IV floor (why raids are good for IV hunting)
Raid catches have a minimum IV floor, which means you’re more likely to get good IVs from raids than from random wild catches.
Hundo hunting mindset
Perfect IVs are exciting, but don’t let hundo hunting block your progress. Moves, typing, and team building usually matter more for actual raid performance.
Short-Manning Raids (How Duos and Trios Win More Often)
If you want to duo or trio raids reliably, you need strategy.
What matters most in duos/trios
- Perfect counters and correct moves
- High damage uptime (fewer relobbies)
- Mega/Primal planning
- Party Power usage (if you can use Party Play)
Duo/trio raid checklist
- Use a Mega that boosts the main damage type your team is using
- Bring 6 strong attackers, not 2 strong + 4 random
- Consider dodging big charged attacks if you keep fainting
- Relobby fast: wasted time is the real enemy
When to avoid short-manning
If the boss is extremely bulky (or has moves that delete your best counters), it can be smarter to raid with a larger group to avoid wasting passes and time.
Raid Day and Raid Hour Strategy (How to Use Passes Efficiently)
Use your free daily pass consistently
One free raid pass per day is a steady flow of rewards. Over weeks, it’s massive value.
Plan your “raid goals”
Before you spend extra passes, choose one goal:
- chase a shiny
- farm candy/candy XL
- farm Mega/Primal energy
- hunt high IVs
- build a specific raid attacker team
Prepare your inventory
- Keep Revives and Potions ready
- Keep enough bag space
- Keep enough Pokémon storage space so you don’t miss catches or rewards
Speed matters on raid days
Fast clears = more raids per hour = more rewards per pass. Use strong counters and don’t waste time rebuilding teams mid-session.
Common Raid Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
Mistake: using the recommended team without checking moves
Recommended teams are sometimes okay—but often not optimal. Always sanity-check typing and moves.
Mistake: joining a lobby with too few players and hoping
If the group clearly can’t win, back out before the fight starts and look for another lobby.
Mistake: wasting Golden Razz on low-value catches
Use Golden Razz for bosses you truly care about (rare, meta-relevant, or limited-time). Use Razz/Pinap smartly otherwise.
Mistake: forgetting remote limits
If you’re using Remote Raid Passes, remember daily limits and remote lobby rules so you don’t get blocked mid-grind.
Mistake: ignoring speed bonus
A slow clear often means fewer Premier Balls and fewer Mega/Primal rewards. Build real counters to win faster.
Mistake: not building a “raid preset”
If you rebuild teams every raid, you waste time and lose opportunities. Save your best teams by type and reuse them.
How BoostRoom Helps You Win More Raids (And Catch More Bosses)
If you want raids to feel easy and organized instead of stressful, BoostRoom can turn this guide into a personal plan.
What BoostRoom can do for your raiding
Counter teams built around your account: You get realistic teams based on what you actually own—not fantasy “perfect” lineups.
Boss-by-boss planning: Know which raid bosses to prioritize and which ones you can skip.
Mega/Primal strategy: Pick the best Mega for your raid group and learn when it’s worth investing.
Super Mega + Shadow raid coaching: Practical advice for shields, enraged phases, Party Power timing, and Purified Gem usage.
Catch improvement: Simple routines to improve consistency and reduce wasted Premier/Beast Balls.
If your goal is to raid smarter (more wins, more catches, less wasted time), BoostRoom makes raiding feel straightforward.
FAQ
Can I do raids alone in Pokémon GO?
Some Tier 1 raids are designed to be solo-friendly. Many Tier 3 raids can be soloed with strong counters, but Tier 5, Mega/Primal, Shadow Legendary, Elite, and Super Mega raids usually require a group.
Do I lose my Raid Pass if I fail a raid?
If you fail the battle, you can usually retry without using another pass as long as the raid is still active at that Gym.
How do Remote Raid Pass limits work?
Remote raiding has daily participation limits, and only a limited number of remote Trainers can join the same lobby. These limits can increase during special events.
Why do I sometimes get fewer Premier Balls than my friends?
Premier Balls are influenced by factors like personal damage contribution, Gym control, and speed of the clear. Different performance = different ball counts.
What’s the difference between Mega Raids and Primal Raids?
Mega raids award Mega Energy for Mega Evolution, while Primal raids award Primal Energy for Primal Reversion (Kyogre/Groudon). Both let you catch the normal form afterward.
