What Are Link Charges in Pokémon GO? Costs, Uses, and Limits

You open your Item Bag, notice hundreds of Link Charges sitting inside a Link Holder, and then visit a Mega Raid—only for Pokémon GO to show you a Raid Pass instead. This makes it seem as though the Link Charges cannot be used or serve no practical purpose.

In reality, Link Charges are an alternative entry resource for eligible Mega Raids. During an in-person Mega Raid, you can spend Link Charges instead of a Premium Battle Pass, but Pokémon GO will automatically use an available free Raid Pass first. Remote Super Mega Raids work differently because they require both Link Charges and a Remote Raid Pass.

This Link Charges Pokémon GO guide explains exactly where they work, how to use them, how many you need, how to earn more, and why the game may refuse to accept them.

What Are Link Charges in Pokémon GO?

Link Charges are a consumable resource used to enter Mega Raid content. After receiving your first Link Charges, Pokémon GO adds a Link Holder to your Item Bag, where you can view your current balance.

Their purpose is similar to that of a raid-entry ticket, but they do not replace every type of Raid Pass. For an eligible in-person Mega Raid, Link Charges give you another option after your free Raid Pass has been used.

Link Charges are also separate from Mega Energy. Link Charges help you enter the raid, while Mega Energy is used to Mega Evolve a Pokémon or increase its Mega Level after you have obtained it.

Which Pokémon GO Raids Use Link Charges?

Whether you need Link Charges depends on two factors:

The following table shows the basic rules.

For local Mega Raids, Link Charges and Premium Battle Passes are alternatives. You do not normally spend both resources on the same in-person raid.

Remote Super Mega Raids are the major exception. Entering one remotely requires both a Remote Raid Pass and the necessary Link Charges.

Can You Use Link Charges for Remote Raids?

You cannot use Link Charges as a replacement for a Remote Raid Pass. A standard remote Mega Raid still uses a Remote Raid Pass rather than Link Charges.

However, a remote Super Mega Raid requires two resources at once: a Remote Raid Pass for remote access and Link Charges for the Super Mega Raid entry requirement. This is why a player may have enough Link Charges but still be unable to join remotely.

How to Use Link Charges in Pokémon GO

The most common problem is that players expect Link Charges to appear as the first entry option. Pokémon GO instead prioritizes the free Raid Pass.

Follow this process:

1. Visit an eligible Mega Raid and enter within the Gym’s normal interaction range.
2. If you still have a free Raid Pass, use it for your first eligible raid.
3. On a later Mega Raid, select Link Charges instead of the displayed Premium Battle Pass before confirming entry.

The exact position or wording of the selection control may change between Pokémon GO versions. Check that the Link Charge icon and required amount are displayed before entering the lobby.

Why Does Pokémon GO Use My Free Raid Pass First?

This is intended behavior rather than an error. When an unused free Raid Pass is available, Pokémon GO automatically chooses it instead of Link Charges or a Premium Battle Pass.

You generally will not be able to save that free pass while spending Link Charges on the same eligible in-person Mega Raid. After the free pass has been consumed, the alternative entry options become relevant.

How Many Link Charges Does a Mega Raid Cost?

The currently reported Link Charge costs are:

With the normal 600-Link-Charge maximum, you can complete:

For example, two standard Mega Raids and one Super Mega Raid would consume 500 Link Charges.

How to Get Link Charges in Pokémon GO

Link Charges can come from social activities, event rewards, and purchases. Some earning methods guarantee a reward when Link Charges are listed, while others only provide a chance.

Complete Weekly Challenges

Weekly Challenges can award Link Charges as a completion reward. The exact amount may vary between challenges or events, so inspect the displayed reward rather than assuming every Weekly Challenge gives the same amount.

Before claiming the reward, check your Link Holder. If receiving the full reward would push you above the storage limit, Pokémon GO may prevent you from collecting it.

Open Gifts from Friends

Opening Gifts has a chance to provide Link Charges. The reward is not guaranteed, and there is no dependable official drop rate that players can use to calculate how many Gifts they must open.

Friends do not manually place Link Charges inside a Gift. They send a normal Pokémon GO Gift, and the game determines whether Link Charges appear among its contents when it is opened.

Check In at Official Community Meetups

Official meetups hosted by Community Ambassadors can provide guaranteed Link Charges when they are included in the check-in rewards. These meetups may be especially useful during major Mega Raid and Super Mega Raid events.

Super Mega Raids may only appear at certain Gyms, and official event maps or community meetups can help Trainers identify suitable locations and find enough participants.

Research, Events, and the Shop

Link Charges may also appear in Research, GO Pass rewards, promotional distributions, or the in-game Shop. Availability, reward quantities, bundles, and PokéCoin prices can change, so check the current event details and live Shop before relying on a specific offer.

Older promotional codes should not be treated as permanent earning methods. Codes usually have limited redemption periods and may already be expired by the time they appear in a guide or social post.

How to Check Link Charges in Pokémon GO

Your Link Charges are stored inside the Link Holder rather than displayed as a normal stack of items.

To check your balance:

1. Open the main Pokémon GO menu.
2. Enter the Item Bag.
3. Find and tap the Link Holder.

The Link Holder is added automatically after you receive Link Charges for the first time. It shows your stored amount and helps you determine whether you have enough for another Mega Raid.

What Is the Link Charges Pokémon GO Limit?

Under the normal rules, Trainers can hold up to 600 Link Charges at one time. If you are close to the limit, you may be unable to claim a reward that would take your balance above 600.

Suppose you currently have 500 Link Charges and a challenge offers 250. Because the entire reward would exceed the standard limit, Pokémon GO may block the claim rather than simply adding the remaining 100.

Spend enough Link Charges before claiming a large reward. For a 250-Charge reward, reducing your balance to 350 or lower would create sufficient space under the normal 600 limit.

Temporary events may increase the limit or change how excess rewards are handled. These bonuses should not be confused with the standard storage rule.

Why Can’t I Use Link Charges in Pokémon GO?

Having Link Charges does not guarantee that every raid will accept them. Start with the following checks before assuming the feature is broken.

1. You Still Have a Free Raid Pass

An available free Raid Pass is automatically used first for an eligible in-person Mega Raid. Spend the free pass before looking for the Link Charge option.

This is the most likely explanation when the game shows a free orange Raid Pass instead of your Link Holder.

2. You Are Joining the Wrong Raid Type

Link Charges are designed for Mega Raid content. A standard five-star Legendary Raid, one-star Raid, Shadow Raid, or other unsupported battle will continue to require its normal entry resource.

Check the raid label and confirmation screen rather than assuming every high-level raid accepts Link Charges.

3. You Are Joining a Standard Mega Raid Remotely

A normal remote Mega Raid uses a Remote Raid Pass. Your Link Charge balance does not replace the remote pass.

Link Charges become an additional remote requirement specifically when the battle is categorized as a Super Mega Raid.

4. You Do Not Have Enough Link Charges

A nearly full Link Holder does not necessarily contain enough for every raid. Standard and Super Mega Raids have different reported costs, so compare your balance with the amount shown on the confirmation screen.

If your Link Holder contains only 150 Charges, for example, that may cover a standard Mega Raid but not a 200-Charge Super Mega Raid.

5. The Game Is Showing a Premium Battle Pass

After the free Raid Pass has been used, Pokémon GO may initially display a Premium Battle Pass. Look for the option to change the entry resource before joining.

Confirm the Link Charge icon rather than quickly tapping through the raid screen. This helps prevent unintentionally using a Premium Battle Pass.

6. Your Link Holder Is Too Full to Receive More

A full Link Holder prevents you from claiming additional Link Charges. This can affect Weekly Challenges, Research, and task rewards even when you completed all requirements correctly.

Spend enough Charges on eligible Mega Raids, then return to the reward screen.

Link Charges vs Raid Passes and Mega Energy

Several Pokémon GO resources are connected to Mega Raids, but they are not interchangeable.

The easiest way to remember the difference is:

Link Charges get you into the Mega Raid. Mega Energy powers the Mega Evolution.

Defeating a Mega Raid can award Mega Energy for the featured species, but your existing Mega Energy does not pay the Link Charge entry cost.

How to Find More Mega Raids with PoKeep

Earning Link Charges is only useful when you can find eligible Mega Raids. Trainers in areas with few Gyms may hold the maximum number of Charges while rarely seeing a worthwhile Mega Raid nearby.

PoKeep Location Changer can help you explore locations with more Gyms and check additional raid areas from an iPhone or Android device. Its movement options include one-click location changes, a 360-degree joystick, two-spot routes, multi-spot routes, and Jump Teleport between selected locations.

Check Raid-Dense Locations More Efficiently

Instead of checking a single isolated Gym, you can use PoKeep to visit an area with multiple nearby Gyms. The joystick is useful for moving short distances, while multi-spot movement can connect several Gyms in one planned route.

This does not guarantee that a specific Mega Raid will appear or that enough Trainers will join. It simply gives you more control over which locations you can inspect.

Move Between Mega Raid Locations

When raid locations are spread across a city, Jump Teleport can help you switch between selected spots. For clusters of nearby Gyms, a two-spot or multi-spot route provides a more gradual way to travel between them.

PoKeep also includes a cooldown timer for managing waiting periods between distant location changes. Always follow Pokémon GO’s current rules and understand that changing GPS location can carry account risk; no location tool can eliminate that risk completely.

Most importantly, PoKeep does not generate Link Charges, create raid bosses, bypass entry costs, or replace Raid Passes. You must still have the correct resources and select them on the Pokémon GO raid screen.

Link Charges Pokémon GO FAQ

Final Thoughts on Link Charges in Pokémon GO

Link Charges are easier to understand once you separate local Mega Raids from remote ones. For an in-person Mega Raid, Pokémon GO uses your free Raid Pass first and then lets you choose between Link Charges and a Premium Battle Pass. A remote Super Mega Raid is the unusual case that requires both Link Charges and a Remote Raid Pass.

Keep an eye on the 600-Charge limit, leave space before claiming large rewards, and use freely earned Charges before spending more flexible Premium Battle Passes. When the real problem is finding enough eligible raids nearby, PoKeep can help you explore Gym-dense locations and organize movement between raid spots—but it cannot replace the resources required to enter.