Pokémon GO’s latest Max Raids have stirred frustration among the player base, with many finding the challenges almost impossible to complete, especially without a full 40-member team. Introduced as part of the Max Out season in September 2024, these massive raids allow trainers to battle Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokémon. However, despite their potential to add powerful Pokémon to players’ rosters, the extreme difficulty has left many fans feeling defeated.
Background:
Max Raids, first seen in Pokémon Sword and Shield back in 2019, allowed groups of up to four trainers or AI partners to battle Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokémon. While the original concept offered players a reasonable challenge, Pokémon GO has pushed this further, creating raids that require between 10 to 40 trainers. This level of difficulty, however, has left many rural players or those with fewer local players unable to complete the raids.
Community Concerns:
According to Niantic, a “group of 10-40 trainers should be able to defeat and catch these formidable Power Spot Bosses.” Yet players find the reality quite different, with anything less than the full 40-member team often leading to defeat. This challenge is compounded by the need for high-level Pokémon with compatible movesets. Trainers, even in populated areas, report that despite having up to 40 participants, battles often end with bosses retaining significant HP, rendering the effort futile.
Rural and Remote Players at a Disadvantage:
For many, the lack of a Remote Raid Pass option has heightened the difficulty. Players in less populated areas simply cannot gather enough local trainers to tackle Max Raids, making the feature inaccessible for many. A Reddit user from Australia highlighted that their Campfire group managed to gather 29 trainers, all prepared with high-level Pokémon, yet multiple attempts failed. The player vented, “It totally deflated our players… even with a full lobby of 40 players, similar struggles happened.”
Technical Challenges and Currency Costs:
Further complicating matters, recent raids have suffered from glitches and crashes. The Beldum Max Raids in late September were particularly problematic, with players experiencing repeated issues mid-battle. To enter Max Raids, players must also spend a special in-game currency, Max Particles, which can be costly. Although up to 800 particles are collectible daily for free, some players believe the high difficulty level nudges them toward spending real money for additional particles, sparking concerns of a potential “cash grab.”
Looking Ahead:
There’s still hope for frustrated players. Niantic has previously responded to player feedback by making adjustments, such as tweaking the shiny Galarian bird encounters. Many hope that similar changes will be applied to Max Raids, balancing their difficulty to make them achievable for all players.