Elite Raids are the most difficult Raid Battles in Pokemon GO. They feature a mighty boss Pokemon which comes from a glowing red Egg.
Once the Egg has hatched after 24 hours, players have just 30 minutes to beat the Elite Raid boss. It is also worth noting you can only take part in Elite Raids in person.
As you have to be at the Gym to battle in Elite Raids, you cannot use Remote Raid Passes to participate in one.
But before you learn more about Elite Raids, find out everything you need about Raids in Pokemon GO. You’ll need to know the basics to understand the differences between normal and Elite Raids!
How Many Players Do You Need to Win Elite Raids?
It is possible to win Elite Raids with five high-level Pokemon trainers who have powerful counters. However, you will ideally have six, seven, or more trainers taking part in the battle to win comfortably.
Of course, the more Pokemon Trainers you have in the Raid, the easier it should be!
Remember that you can’t do these Raids Remotely, though, so every player taking part needs to be at the Pokemon Gym.
Elite Raids are also the perfect time to Mega Evolve your Pokemon or use Primal Reversion. This is because they are some of the most difficult battles in the game at the moment.
How to Battle in Elite Raids
To battle in Elite Raids, you will need to find a Pokemon GO Gym with a red glowing Egg above it and take a note of when the countdown ends.
When the 24-hour countdown ends, the Elite Raid begins. Players have just 30 minutes to battle the boss with other players in-person – Remote Raid Passes cannot be used.
- Find a Gym with a red glowing Egg above it
- These will only appear on certain days, so find out when the next Elite Raids are!
- Note down when the 24-hour Egg-hatching countdown will end
- Return to the Gym with your team of Pokemon trainers when the countdown ends
- Spin the Gym to get a Raid Pass if you don’t have one already
- Take part in the Elite Raid – you only have 30 minutes to beat it!
Pokemon GO Elite Raid Bosses
So far, the only Elite Raid bosses in Pokemon GO are Hoopa Unbound, Regidrago, and Regieleki.
Hoopa Unbound was the first elite Raid boss during the Season of Light and Season 9: Mythical Wishes.
Regidrago was then the second Elite Raid boss on March 11, 2023, and Regieleki made its Elite Raid debut on April 9.
Niantic finally adding more Elite Raid bosses opens the door for more Mythical or Legendary Pokemon to be bosses in future Elite Raids.
When is the Next Elite Raid in Pokemon GO? – May 2023
The next Elite Raids in Pokemon GO will feature Regidrago and are taking place on May 13, 2023, at the following times:
- 11 AM
- 2 PM
- 5 PM
These are the only times that Regidrago will be available to catch, so make sure you don’t miss it!
Before the Raid, make sure to power up the best Regidrago counters in Pokemon GO – it’ll make this brutal battle a breeze!
All Previous Elite Raid Dates & Bosses
Here is a list of all of the dates and bosses for previous Elite Raids in Pokemon GO:
- October 13, 2022 – Hoopa Unbound
- November 12, 2022 – Hoopa Unbound
- December 10, 2022 – Hoopa Unbound
- March 11, 2022 – Regidrago
- April 9, 2023 – Regieleki
If you want to add all of the rare Pokemon to your Pokedex, here’s every Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO!
Also, find out how to catch Galarian Zapdos, Moltres, and Articuno in Pokemon GO. You can’t get these Legendary Birds in Raids!