I watched eight trainers cluster at a gym as the raid egg cracked open. You felt the countdown tighten like a knot and realized this fight would punish mistakes. For the next three minutes, everyone’s plan had to be perfect or you’d walk away with nothing.
I’ve been tracking raid mechanics for years, and I’ll walk you through how Super Mega Raids change the math on teamwork, timing, and what you bring to the fight. Read this as a hands-on briefing: what to look for, how to prepare, and what mistakes I still see players making when the shields go up.
On event weekends you’ll see crowds gather—how Super Mega Raids work
Super Mega Raids are not your average five-player skirmish. You can’t solo them: the match requires at least eight trainers in the lobby, and Legendaries may need more. The opposing Mega-Evolved Pokémon will deploy shields that block damage and change behavior mid-fight, forcing the team to coordinate shield-breaking windows and timing for Mega attacks.
You must include at least one Mega-Evolved Pokémon in your party to join the fight. When the boss raises shields, your own Mega-Evolved ally’s next hit comes back amplified—a mechanic that rewards synced timing rather than raw DPS. Exceptions apply: Primal Kyogre, Primal Groudon, and Ditto cannot break shields even when transformed.
Can you solo Super Mega Raids?
No. Super Mega Raids are built to need a full squad—plan for eight or more players, and expect stronger Legendaries to push that number higher.
Trainers, get ready to charge into Mega Raids—including Super Mega Raids—in #PokemonGO with a newly discovered energy source, Link Charges!Earn Link Charges by completing weekly challenges, opening Gifts from friends, and checking into select community meetups via Campfire! pic.twitter.com/7OSrGtL4DO
When I check the map, pins and filters tell the true story—how to find Super Mega Raids
Niantic added a web-based map that lets you filter for Super Mega Raids so you can see events ahead of time and share them with teammates. Use the filter, copy the link, and assemble a group before the lobby fills or the egg hatches.
That map also highlights nearby meetups and Campfire check-ins; these are your best shot at recruiting the extra players you’ll need when the raid’s difficulty spikes.
How do I find Super Mega Raids near me?
Use the web map filter for Super Mega Raids, scan for event listings, and post the shared link in local groups or Campfire channels—coordination beats luck here.
At the gym you’ll notice people swapping out teams—how to play Super Mega Raids
Super Mega Raids require two resources: players and Link Charges. Locally, you can enter with either a Premium Battle Pass or by spending a Link Charge. If you join remotely, you’ll need a Remote Raid Pass plus Link Charges for Super Mega Raids; standard Mega Raids still accept Remote Raid Passes alone.
You’ll also need to bring Mega-Evolved Pokémon in your lineup. Timing matters: break the boss’s shields with coordinated hits, then trigger your Mega attack in the powered window. Mistimed Megas waste the power surge and cost the team hard.
How do I prepare my team for a Super Mega Raid?
Bring at least one Mega-Evolved attacker, stack counters for the boss’s typing, and sync with teammates so shield breaks and Mega activations land together.
At community meetups people notice the little battery icon—Pokémon Go Link Charges explained
Link Charges are a new energy resource stored in a permanent item called the Link Holder in your bag. The holder carries a fixed capacity of charges and appears in your inventory by default, ready to fuel your next Super Mega Raid.
The fastest ways to collect Link Charges are weekly challenges, opening Gifts from friends, and checking into select community meetups via Campfire. Niantic and The Pokémon Company also offer Link Charges for purchase in the in-game shop and the web store.
Link Charges are like a fuse lighting a string of fireworks: spend them at the right second and the payoff multiplies across your whole team. The boss’s shields, by contrast, feel like a firewall around a city—first you have to breach it, then everyone floods through.
How do Link Charges work in remote and local raids?
Local Super Mega Raids accept a Premium Battle Pass or a Link Charge; remote Super Mega Raids require a Remote Raid Pass plus Link Charges. Standard Mega Raids need only a Remote Raid Pass when joined remotely.
I’ve been in dozens of test runs and the pattern is clear: planning trumps panic. Use the web map, recruit via Campfire, and keep your Link Holder topped off before the raid hour.
Niantic changed the raid battlefield—will your group adapt fast enough to take down the new bosses?