The biggest Pokémon GO update is almost here. You can expect raid battles with strong bosses, cooperative battles, badges, new items, and more!
The wait has clearly been worth it: The largest Pokémon GO update ever is about to arrive. New gym features with cooperative elements, collect items from gyms, gym badges, unique Pokémon, and much more. The new update has a lot to offer.
Gym Rework in Pokémon GO
The gyms in Pokémon GO will soon be heavily revised. You will be able to, just like at PokéStops, spin the photo disc to find items in gyms. This will turn gyms into another opportunity to acquire useful items in the game.
- Six permanent Pokémon slots: You no longer need to increase the prestige of a gym through training, but have six permanent slots to choose from that the defending team can occupy. However, the Pokémon used must be unique – You cannot place six Snorlax in the gyms. Opposing teams must fight against the Pokémon in the order in which they were placed in the gym.
- Motivation system: Pokémon placed in a gym will have a motivation meter. When defending Pokémon are defeated, their motivation decreases and their CP is temporarily reduced, making them easier to defeat.
- To increase motivation, trainers can feed their Pokémon with berries.
- Once motivation is completely lost, the Pokémon returns to its trainer after the next battle.
Gym Badges and Raid Battles in Pokémon GO
You can now earn gym badges and show that you are the very best. The badges show you how much you have contributed to the success of your team in a gym. You increase the level of the badges through battles, feeding berries, and spinning photo discs at gyms.
The higher the level of the gym badge, the greater the chance of receiving rare items when spinning the photo disc. There are also higher rewards for interacting with gyms.
Raid Battles
A raid battle is a cooperative in-game event where you work together with other trainers to defeat an extremely strong Pokémon (Raid Boss). (We are reminded of the trailer featuring Mewtwo)
Before a raid battle begins, all Pokémon currently in the gym are returned to their trainers. A large egg appears above the gym and shows a countdown. When the time is up, the Raid Boss appears!
To participate in a raid boss battle, you need a raid pass. You can pick up one free pass at a gym each day. However, you can only carry one pass at a time. Premium raid passes are available in the shop.
If you use your raid pass, you can work with up to 20 other trainers to defeat the raid boss. If you succeed within the 5-minute time limit, you can then catch the extremely strong Pokémon!
New Items in Pokémon GO
If you defeat the raid boss, you can expect great rewards. These include new items that are only available for defeating a raid boss:
- Rare candies – A rare candy is a mysterious candy that turns into the candy of the Pokémon you give it to.
- Golden Razz Berries – Greatly increases the catch rate of a wild Pokémon or fully restores the motivation of a gym defender.
- Two types of TMs – Technical machines (fast and charged) – TMs can permanently teach your Pokémon a fast or charged attack.
To prepare the game for the update, all gyms will be shut down worldwide. Once the update is available in every country, the gyms will be reactivated.
The raid battles will be gradually activated in the coming weeks. Initially only as a test phase for trainers with high accounts and sponsored gyms.
How do you like the biggest Pokémon GO update so far? Have your wishes been fulfilled?
