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Pokemon Go Raids put your PvE abilities to the test, requiring you and other Trainers to assemble teams of top-tier Pokemon to take out powerful Raid Bosses. This has been taken to the next level with one of Pokemon Go's latest updates, adding Elite Raids to their game.
Surpassing the difficulty level of both Five-Star and Mega Raids, this new Raid tier proves to be the most challenging PvE feature that has been introduced to the game yet. Although Elite Raids function similarly to other Raids, there are several key differences that set it apart from the rest - fear not, we've got you covered with all you need to know.
Updated on April 11, 2023: Since the debut of Elite Raids in Pokemon, there have been a handful of additions and changes made to this feature. We have updated this guide so that you're up-to-date on exactly how Elite Raids work in Pokemon Go.
What Is An Elite Raid?
As mentioned previously, this new Raid tier proves to be one of the most challenging PvE experiences brought to the game thus far. Like other Raids, you will need to group up with other Trainers to battle and defeat a powerful Boss Pokemon in Elite Raids.
Elite Raids will appear in various Pokemon Go Gyms, giving you a 24-hour countdown until the Raid actually begins. Once this countdown has expired, you will only have a 30-minute window to enter and complete this new type of Raid.
Battling In An Elite Raid
Unlike other types of Raids that are currently in the game, Elite Raids are strictly local encounters, meaning that you are unable to use Remote Raid Passes to join in from distant locations. Because of this, you will need to group up with other players in-person to successfully complete Elite Raids, proving to be impossible when attempting this alone.
Additionally, you will want to make sure that you are creating a team of six top-tier Pokemon that specifically counter the Raid Pokemon. This is especially necessary for Elite Raids, as it may be difficult to find a large group to Raid with due to this new local-only restriction.
Elite Raid Rewards
Like with other Raids in Pokemon Go, Elite Raids will provide you with a handful of rewards if it is successfully completed. This includes XP, Stardust, and other in-game items like Poffins, Revives, and Golden Razz Berries.
In addition to this, the most notable reward is an encounter with the Elite Raid Pokemon that you defeated. This gives you the opportunity to catch these rare Pokemon and add it to your Pokemon Go collection. When attempting to secure these Pokemon, it's recommended that you use Golden Razz Berries and go for Excellent Throws, as Elite Raid Pokemon are typically hard to catch.
Lastly, if an Elite Raid is completed successfully, players can expect a unique bonus on top of the standard Raid rewards provided. For a short time, you can expect to encounter rare Pokemon spawns within a 50-meter radius of the Pokemon Gym where the Raid took place.
Pokemon Currently In Elite Raids
As of right now, there have only been three Pokemon that have appeared in Pokemon Go Elite Raids, Hoopa Unbound, Regidrago, and Regieleki. With Hoopa Unbound being chosen as an Elite Raid Pokemon multiple times, you can expect the same for Regidrago and Regieleki in the future.
That being said, it's expected that Pokemon Go will continue to add onto these three Elite Raid Pokemon as time progresses. Keep your eye out for Pokemon Go announcements to see which Pokemon will be used for this feature next!