In Pokémon GO, there have been significant changes to the raid system. Fundamental mechanics have been altered, which have considerable effects.
Raids are a fundamental part of Pokémon GO, likely utilized by most trainers. Here, legendary Pokémon can be found, defeated, and caught.
Now, there have been major changes to the raid system in Pokémon GO, which have been compiled on Reddit. These changes have significant consequences – if they remain in the game.
Changes to your Pokémon
What changes are there for my Pokémon? If you use charge moves in raids, they take a certain amount of time before the damage reaches the opposing Pokémon. During this time, the attack animation plays.
These timings have now been adjusted. Previously, there were charge moves that, for example, took 0.7 seconds or 0.8 seconds to execute; now, there are only attacks executed in intervals of 0.5 seconds.
Accordingly, the charge moves have been adjusted to be executed in these intervals. Moves that used to take 0.7 seconds will now be executed after 0.5 seconds. Moves that used to take 0.8 seconds now have a duration of 1 second.
This means that you can perform significantly more charge moves over the course of a raid – or significantly fewer. As a result, the usefulness of moves and corresponding Pokémon may change dramatically.
Which charge moves have been changed? The post on Reddit also mentions several charge moves that will be executed faster or slower due to the update.
Faster moves (changed from 0.7 to 0.5 seconds):
- Foul Play
- Thunder Punch
- Dark Claw
- Metal Claw
- Leaf Tornado
Faster moves (changed from 1.2 to 1 second):
- Thunder Fang
- Aerial Ace
- Weight
- Icy Wind
- Catapult
- Bubble
- Waterfall
Slower moves:
- Target Shot (0.3 s to 0.5 s)
- Wrath Blade (0.4 s to 0.5 s)
- Wing Attack (0.8 s to 1 s)
- Poison Fang (0.8 s to 1 s)
- Counter (0.9 s to 1 s)
- Power Wave (0.9 s to 1 s)
- Fire Fang (0.9 s to 1 s)
- Rock Throw (0.9 s to 1 s)
- Bullet Punch (0.9 s to 1 s)
These changes will shake up some of the meta Pokémon for raids and alter the list of the best attackers in Pokémon GO .
Which Pokémon are affected? In another post on Reddit, some Pokémon from each type have been compiled along with the percentage changes noted.
According to these numbers, most of the top 10 poison attackers suffer significant losses (-13.88% to -15.27%). Crypto-Lavados as a flying attacker (-12.25%) and Reshiram as a fire attacker (-6.45%) take quite a hit.
The major winners of the update include the two fusion forms of Necrozma (up to +29.41%), Giratina in both forms (up to +29.80%), and many grass attackers.
Changes to Raid Bosses
Changes to charge moves: Raid bosses will now use their charge moves immediately when they have enough energy. In the past, charge moves from raid bosses were sometimes used immediately, but other times with a delay.
Changes to energy: When you attack a raid boss, it receives energy depending on the damage you cause. This energy seems to have been drastically reduced now.
Considering both changes, this means it will take raid bosses longer to use their charge moves. However, once they have gathered the necessary energy, they will attack immediately without delay.
Health bars of bosses: Additionally, the Reddit post reports that the health bars of raid bosses now have a different size. This only has visual effects.
What does Niantic say about these changes? So far, there has been no official statement from Niantic regarding these changes. The changes have not yet been communicated. Therefore, it is still unclear whether these changes are part of the introduction of Dynamax Raids or if it is merely an unintentional activation.
What do you think of these changes? Are you benefiting from them or not? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments and discuss with other trainers. If you want to know what events are coming in September 2024 in Pokémon GO, we have the right overview for you.
