Legendary Raids FAQ

Legendary raids are one of the more group-oriented parts of Pokémon GO, and they generate a lot of the same questions from new raiders. The basics, in question-and-answer form.

What is a Legendary raid?

Legendary raids are timed battles against a powerful wild Pokémon occupying a Gym, using a raid pass to join. Legendary and Mythical species are generally only available through raids (or occasionally research), rather than appearing as normal wild spawns, which is part of what makes raiding them worthwhile.

Do I need a group?

Almost always, yes. Legendary raid bosses have significantly higher effective stats than a wild Pokémon of the same species would, and defeating one solo is rarely realistic unless you have an exceptionally strong, well-matched team. Coordinating with other trainers at the Gym, or through a local community group, is the normal way these raids get completed. Our guide on finding local events and meetups covers how to connect with other raiders near you.

How do I know which Legendary is currently raidable?

Legendary raid bosses rotate on a schedule set by the game's developer, and which species is featured changes periodically rather than staying fixed. The in-game raid listing at any Gym, and the official events feed, are the accurate way to check what's currently active — this changes too often for a written guide to track reliably.

What should I bring?

The most useful preparation is bringing Pokémon strong against the raid boss's type, since type effectiveness has a large impact on how much damage your team deals. Checking the boss's type before you arrive, and bringing a few different attackers if your options are limited, gives you more flexibility than relying on a single "best" Pokémon.

What happens after I win?

Defeating a raid boss gives you a chance to try catching it, along with other rewards like Stardust and items. Catch odds and specific reward amounts are adjusted periodically by the game's developer, so we won't list numbers here that could be outdated by the time you read this — your in-game results screen shows exactly what's on offer for that specific raid.

Can raids fail?

Yes. If the group doesn't deal enough damage before the battle timer runs out, there's no catch opportunity from that attempt. The pass you used isn't refunded, but it isn't wasted either: as long as the raid itself is still active at the Gym, you can re-enter the same raid without spending another pass, so groups usually heal up, swap in better attackers, and try again. A raid only truly fails when the Gym's raid timer expires with the boss still standing. This is one reason group coordination and well-typed attackers matter, especially for the tougher Legendary bosses.

Are all Legendary raids equally hard?

No — difficulty varies noticeably between different Legendary species, generally corresponding to their stat totals and typing. Some can realistically be handled by a small group of skilled attackers, while others benefit from a large, well-coordinated group. There isn't a universal group-size rule, since it depends on both the specific boss and how strong your attackers are.

Do I need to be at the Gym in person?

Historically, raiding required being physically present at the Gym. Remote participation options have existed at various points, letting trainers join a raid without being on location, though availability and any associated cost for that option can change over time. Checking the raid screen itself will show whether remote participation is offered for a given raid.

What if I don't have anyone to raid with?

This is one of the most common obstacles for newer raiders, especially in quieter areas. Showing up at a popular local Gym around a time when other players tend to be active, or connecting with a local group through our guide on finding local events and meetups, are the two most reliable ways to solve this over time.

What are Premier Balls?

After a win, the boss is caught with Premier Balls rather than anything from your bag, and you get a limited number of them for that encounter. The count depends on how much damage your group did, how much of it came from you, whether your team controls the Gym, and how many friends you raided with. Because the supply is fixed, a Legendary catch rewards careful throws far more than a wild encounter does: a Golden Razz Berry and a well-timed curveball on each throw are the standard approach.

Are Legendary Pokémon ever available outside raids?

Occasionally, a Legendary or Mythical Pokémon has been made available through a Special Research storyline instead of a raid, though this is the exception rather than the norm. Checking your research journal alongside the raid listing is worth doing if you're specifically hunting a particular species and haven't seen it in raids recently.

Related guides

For a form-specific example of how raid strategy interacts with a Legendary's variants, see our Deoxys guide. For raid day and raid hour events specifically, see our Raid Day and Raid Hour FAQ.

New to raiding altogether? The beginner guide on Trainer Hub covers Gyms and raids from the ground up.