Pokemon Go Raids: Current Raid Bosses, Raid Schedule & Raid Tips

Pokemon Go Raids are one of the best ways to catch Legendary Pokémon, collect Mega Energy, hunt stronger Pokémon, and play with other Trainers. The problem is that raids are also time-limited, location-based, and sometimes confusing if you do not know which pass, counter, or raid finder to use.

A Raid Battle begins when a powerful Boss Pokémon takes over a Gym. Trainers battle together to defeat the boss, and if they win, they receive rewards and a chance to catch that Pokémon. Raid difficulty depends on the raid type, boss strength, team size, counters, and whether you join in person or remotely.

This Pokemon Go Raids guide explains how raids work, how to check current Pokemon Go raids, how to join local and remote raids, which raid pass you need, and how to prepare better counters. It also covers how PoKeep Location Changer can help you plan raid routes more efficiently when you want better access to Gym-dense areas.

What Are Pokemon Go Raids?

Pokemon Go Raids are cooperative battles that take place at Gyms. When a Raid Egg appears above a Gym, it shows that a Raid Boss will appear after the countdown ends. Once the raid starts, Trainers can enter the raid lobby, choose a battle party, and work together to defeat the boss within the time limit.

After a successful raid, you enter a bonus encounter where you can try to catch the defeated Raid Boss. The number of Premier Balls you receive depends on several factors, including how quickly your group defeated the boss. In regular raids, faster clears can give extra Premier Balls; in Mega Raids, faster clears can give extra Mega Energy.

Raids matter because many high-value Pokémon appear mainly through raid rotations. Legendary Pokémon, Ultra Beasts, Mega Pokémon, Shadow Legendaries, Primal Pokémon, and event-exclusive bosses often become available through raids before they appear through other methods.

Pokemon Go Raids Today: How to Check Current Raid Bosses

Current Pokemon Go raids change often, especially during major events, Raid Hours, Raid Days, and GO Fest periods. Instead of relying on an old static list, check the current raid boss rotation before spending raid passes. Leek Duck maintains a current raid boss page with active raid bosses, typing, and perfect CP values, which is useful for quick planning.

As of early July 2026, Pokemon Go is in a raid-heavy period leading into Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Global. The Road of Legends event runs from July 6 to July 10, 2026, featuring Legendary Pokémon, Ultra Beasts, daily Raid Hours, Mega Raid Hours, stronger Premier Balls after raids, faster Party Power charging, and up to two free Raid Passes from Gym Photo Discs during the event.

Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Global follows on July 11 and July 12, 2026. Mega Mewtwo X appears in Super Mega Raids on Saturday, while Mega Mewtwo Y appears in Super Mega Raids on Sunday. Mewtwo caught from those raids can have at least one Mega Level unlocked, and the raids award Mega Energy.

Pokemon Go Raid Schedule and Raid Hour Explained

The Pokemon Go raid schedule usually rotates through different raid bosses across the month. Five-star raids often feature Legendary Pokémon or Ultra Beasts, Mega Raids feature Mega Pokémon, and Shadow Raids may feature Shadow Legendary Pokémon during specific periods. Event weeks can completely change the normal rotation.

Raid Hour is a recurring raid-focused window where featured raid bosses appear more frequently at eligible Gyms. The most common Raid Hour format is 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time, but event weeks can adjust the schedule. During Road of Legends, featured five-star raid Pokémon appear in daily Raid Hours from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time, while Monday’s Raid Hour runs from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time.

Before Raid Hour begins, prepare your raid passes, healing items, Mega Pokémon, and battle parties. Good preparation matters because you often have less than one hour to complete several raids, move between Gyms, invite friends, and catch each Raid Boss.

Raid Hour vs Raid Day

Raid Hour is usually a short evening event focused on one or several featured bosses. Raid Day is usually longer and may include extra free passes, increased shiny chances, special moves, or event bonuses. The exact bonuses vary by event, so always check the latest in-game news before planning.

For casual players, Raid Hour is the easiest way to complete one or two high-value raids. For active players, Raid Day and GO Fest-style raid events are better opportunities to farm Candy, Candy XL, special backgrounds, shiny Pokémon, or Mega Energy.

Pokemon Go Raid Types Explained

Not all Pokemon Go raids work the same way. Understanding raid types helps you avoid wasting passes and choose the right team.

1-Star and 3-Star Raids

1-Star raids are the easiest and can usually be completed solo by most active players. They are useful for event Pokémon, shiny hunting, beginner rewards, and quick research tasks.

3-Star raids are harder but still soloable for many prepared Trainers. The key is using the correct counters, not just high-CP Pokémon. A lower-CP Pokémon with the right type and moves can perform better than a high-CP Pokémon with poor moves.

5-Star Legendary Raids

5-Star raids usually feature Legendary Pokémon, Mythical-like special bosses, or Ultra Beasts depending on the event. These raids usually require multiple Trainers unless the boss has a major double weakness and your counters are very strong.

Most players should coordinate 5-Star raids through local groups, Campfire, Discord, Reddit, or remote raid invitations. A strong team, Mega boost, Party Power, and friendship bonuses can reduce the number of players needed.

Mega, Primal, and Super Mega Raids

Mega Raids reward Mega Energy and a chance to catch the standard form of the defeated boss. Primal Raids work similarly but reward Primal Energy for Kyogre or Groudon’s Primal Reversion.

Super Mega Raids are a newer, more difficult Mega Raid format. These raids can include shield or enraged mechanics and are designed for larger, better-prepared groups. Pokémon GO’s 2026 Mega Evolution update describes Super Mega Raids as highly challenging battles where at least seven other Trainers with Mega-Evolved Pokémon are recommended for many bosses.

Shadow Raids

Shadow Raids take place at Gyms controlled by Team GO Rocket. Shadow Raid Bosses can become enraged during battle, making them harder to defeat. Special Shadow Raid mechanics can require specific items or teamwork, so they are usually harder than standard raids of the same tier.

Shadow Raids are important because they can feature powerful Shadow Pokémon, including Shadow Legendary Pokémon. However, many Shadow Raids are not as flexible as standard remote raids, so check the latest raid rules before assuming you can join from far away.

Elite Raids

Elite Raids are extra-challenging raids featuring rare Pokémon. These raids are in-person only, and Remote Raid Passes cannot be used. An Elite Raid Egg appears 24 hours before the boss takes over the Gym, giving Trainers time to coordinate locally.

Elite Raids should be planned ahead. Do not wait until the final minutes to find a group, because remote invitations will not solve the problem.

Pokemon Go Raid Passes Explained

You need a raid pass to join most Pokemon Go raids. The pass type depends on how you join.

Free Raid Pass

A free Raid Pass is used for in-person raids. You can get one by spinning a Gym Photo Disc, and during some events, extra free passes may be available. During Road of Legends in July 2026, Trainers can receive up to two free Raid Passes from Gym Photo Discs during the event.

This is the best option for daily raiding if you are near active Gyms. Since free passes are limited, use them on raids that provide real value, such as useful Legendary Pokémon, Mega Energy, rare event bosses, or Pokémon you still need for the Pokédex.

Premium Battle Pass

A Premium Battle Pass can be used for extra in-person raids after your free pass is gone. It can also be used for other battle-related features depending on the current game system.

Premium passes are best for Raid Hour, Raid Day, or event weekends when you plan to do multiple local raids. They are also useful when you want more chances at a shiny, high-IV Legendary, or specific Mega Energy.

Remote Raid Pass

A Remote Raid Pass lets you join supported raids from a distance. You can join raids visible on your Nearby screen, raids shown on the map, raids from friend invitations, and certain raids available through friend list features. Remote Raid rules change during events, but normal gameplay includes a daily remote participation limit and a remote-player limit per lobby.

Remote raids are convenient, especially if you do not have many Gyms nearby. However, remote Trainers may have reduced attack power compared with in-person Trainers, so difficult bosses can require more people or stronger counters.

How to Join Pokemon Go Raids

There are several ways to join Pokemon Go raids, and the best method depends on your location, pass type, and whether you already have a group.

Use the Nearby Raid Tab

The Nearby feature shows raids close to your current location. If you are close enough to the Gym, you can enter with a free Raid Pass or Premium Battle Pass. If the raid supports remote participation and is within remote visibility, you may be able to enter with a Remote Raid Pass.

This is the simplest method for local raids. It works best in areas with many Gyms, such as parks, downtown areas, shopping districts, campuses, and popular community play zones.

Join Through a Friend Invitation

A Trainer who joins a raid in person can invite friends to the raid. The current invitation rules allow up to five friends to be invited at a time, and after a short cooldown, more friends can be invited to the same lobby. Invited friends need a Remote Raid Pass if they are not within interactable distance of the Gym.

Friend invitations are one of the best ways to join 5-Star and Mega Raids from other cities. To avoid missing invites, turn on raid invitation notifications and keep your online status visible when coordinating with friends.

Join From Your Friend List

Pokemon Go also supports joining some raids through the friend list when raid attendance sharing is enabled. This can help you see when friends are waiting in a raid lobby and join them directly, but certain raid types that do not support remote participation cannot be joined this way.

This method is useful when you have active friends in different time zones. It can also help during major raid events when many Trainers are raiding at the same time.

Best Ways to Find Pokemon Go Raids

Finding raids is often harder than winning them. A great counter team does not help much if there are no nearby Gyms, no active lobbies, or no one to invite you.

Use Campfire Team Up

Campfire Team Up is a raid matchmaking system that helps Trainers host or join nearby raid groups. You can open Campfire through the Campfire Map icon in Pokémon GO or through the Campfire app, tap Team Up, and either create a raid group or join an existing one.

For hosting, Campfire can help you form a group with nearby Trainers, add them as friends, return to Pokémon GO, and invite them to the raid. This makes it one of the most practical official options for finding raid help.

Use Local Discord or Community Groups

Local Discord servers, Facebook groups, Telegram groups, and city-based Pokémon GO communities are still useful for raid coordination. They are especially helpful for Elite Raids, Shadow Raids, in-person Raid Days, and Community Celebration events.

A good local group helps you know which Gyms are active, which parks have reliable players, and which raid routes are realistic before the timer ends. For in-person-only raid types, local communities are often more useful than global remote raid apps.

Use Reddit and Raid Finder Tools

Reddit communities and raid finder tools can help you join remote raids quickly. These options are especially useful when you need a specific boss, different time zone, or more players for a difficult Legendary raid.

Use them with basic caution. Stick to communities with clear posting rules, avoid suspicious links, and do not share unnecessary account information. For most players, Campfire and trusted local groups should come first, while third-party raid finders can be backup options.

How to Plan Better Raid Routes with PoKeep Location Changer

Raids are not only about battle strength. They are also about location. A player in a Gym-dense area can check more raid eggs, join more lobbies, and complete more Raid Hour battles than someone in a low-Gym neighborhood.

PoKeep Location Changer can help with raid planning by letting you change GPS location on iPhone and Android, use a 360° GPS joystick, and simulate movement through two-spot, multi-spot, or jump teleport modes. It also supports Pokémon GO, no jailbreak/root positioning, cooldown timer features, favorite routes, historical records, GPX import, and multiple-device control.

This makes PoKeep useful when you want to explore raid-dense areas, save productive Gym clusters, or plan movement between nearby Gyms during Raid Hour. Instead of randomly checking one Gym at a time, you can build a route around parks, city centers, or event hotspots where more raids are likely to appear.

Practical PoKeep Raid Planning Ideas

Use PoKeep to save favorite raid areas after you find strong Gym clusters. This is especially useful for weekly Raid Hour, major raid weekends, or events like GO Fest where raid bosses rotate quickly.

For local-style movement, joystick mode can help you move around nearby Gyms without constantly resetting your position. For bigger raid scouting sessions, jump teleport mode and route tools can help you check multiple points more efficiently while staying mindful of cooldown behavior.

Pokemon Go Raid Rewards and Catch Tips

Winning the raid is only the first part. Catching the Raid Boss is the second challenge.

After the battle, use Golden Razz Berries for high-value bosses, especially Legendary, shiny-capable, or high-IV Pokémon. Aim for consistent Great or Excellent throws rather than rushing. If the Pokémon attacks or jumps often, wait for the right throw window instead of wasting Premier Balls.

Speed also matters before the catch phase. Faster raid clears can give extra Premier Balls in regular raids or extra Mega Energy in Mega Raids, which means stronger teams and better coordination can improve both your battle success and your post-raid rewards.

Pokemon Go Raids FAQ

Final Thoughts on Pokemon Go Raids

Pokemon Go Raids are most rewarding when you plan ahead. Check the current raid schedule, understand which pass you need, prepare the right counters, and know where active Gyms or raid groups are before the timer runs out.

For daily play, focus on useful bosses and spend free passes wisely. For Raid Hour and major events, prepare teams in advance and coordinate with friends or local groups. For location-based raid planning, PoKeep Location Changer can help you explore Gym-dense areas, save productive routes, and move between raid spots more efficiently.