Pokémon Go offers players four primary methods of encountering Pokémon, with one of them being Raids. Raids are cooperative events where players gather at a gym location and collaborate to defeat a powerful Pokémon that emerges from a large egg after a visible countdown. These Raids typically last for 45 minutes and require either a Raid Pass or a Premium Raid Pass for access. Players can obtain one free Raid Pass per day by visiting a gym, while Premium Raid Passes are available for purchase and can be used multiple times within a day.
Remote Raids are also available, allowing players to use a Remote Raid Pass to join a Raid displayed on their nearby screen or at a gym where they have a stationed Pokémon, within a four-kilometer distance.
Successful completion of a Raid offers various rewards, including items like Golden Razz Berries, Rare Candy, and TMs, along with the opportunity to capture the Raid Boss using Premier Balls. Players also earn experience points based on their Raid performance.
Niantic regularly rotates the Pokémon available in Raids, introducing new options during events and updating monthly lists. Here is the Raid rotation for October 2023:
- Five-star Raids: Guzzlord* (Oct. 6 to 20), Darkrai* (Oct. 20 to Nov. 3)
- Mega Raids: Mega Gengar* (Oct. 6 to 20), Mega Banette* (Oct. 20 to Nov. 3)
- Shadow Raids: One and three-star Shadow Raids rotate daily, with Moltres appearing in five-star Shadow Raids on Saturdays and Sundays throughout October.
Additionally, Raid Hours are held every Wednesday throughout the month, featuring various Raid Bosses. These events take place from 6pm to 7pm local time and provide opportunities for players to participate in Raids.
