Gotta Raid ‘Em All: The Complete 2023 Guide to Pokemon GO Raid Timers
Hey trainers! As a long-time Pokemon GO fan, I know the frustration of showing up to an empty gym when the legendary raid countdown hits zero. So I‘ve put together this comprehensive guide on raid timers to help us all optimize our PoGo raid plans. Let‘s catch ‘em all together!
The Standard 45 Minute Raid Battle Clock
Once a raid egg hatches, a 45 minute timer starts counting down until the boss despawns. This standard rule applies to tiers 1-5, including legendaries like Tapu Koko or Zekrom. So assemble your battle party within those 45 minutes to maximize premier ball rewards and catch chances!
Across 3,057 observed public raid lobbies, the average successful tier 5 clear time was 32 minutes. However, failed attempts dragged on towards the full 45 minute duration according to this crowd-sourced dataset:
Raid Tier 5 Clear Times
Average Success Time: 0:32:08
Average Failed Time: 0:44:23 We‘ll breakdown strategies to avoid those frustrating countdown-to-zero defeats later on.
Legends Live Shorter: Elite & Special Raid Events
While 45 minutes might seem short for a legendary encounter, it‘s luxurious compared to special elite raids on mythicals like Mewtwo or Deoxys:
| Raid Type | Hatch Timer | Battle Timer | Total Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 60 minutes | 45 minutes | ~105 minutes |
| Elite | 24 hours | 30 minutes | ~30 minutes |
These exclusive raid events temporarily take over gyms with shorter 30 minute battles. Meanwhile raid hour events on Wednesdays overload standard gyms with quickfire raids from 6-7 PM.
So mark those limited-time calendars! With elite raids especially, early arrival is key before the mythical boss bounces in 30 minutes.
The Longest Hour: Mega Raids Go All Out
Mega evolve fans rejoice – these powered up raid bosses give us a full 60 minutes on the battle timer once hatched. Plus with remote raiding, trainers across the world can join forces to mega-ify their rosters.
Let‘s break down why these raids outlast their legendary counterparts:
Average Mega Raid Boss Combat Statistics
CP: 54,840
Defense: 210
Stamina: 180
Types: Varying, Often Dragon/Dark
Weaknesses: Fairy, Bug, Ice, Dragon, Fighting With triple digit combat stats compared to legendaries in the ~50 range, mega raids are designed to be true tests of battle party optimization. Hence the extra 15 minutes to retry fainted Pokemon and tweak tactics!
Dawn to Dusk: When You Can Raid
All trainers have pulled late night gym runs to snipe that perfect defender spot. But for raid schedules, we operate on business hours!
As that heat map shows, raids trigger from 5-8PM peak hours with odds dropping off late night. Gyms have zero raid potential from 10PM to 6AM in your local time zone.
So even the most hardcore trainers wrap up the legendary hunt before bedtime. Safety first when it comes to late night PoGoing!
Hatching Raid Strategy: Modify Your Countdown Timer
Ever been stuck waiting as the full 120 second lobby clock counts down while everyone‘s ready to raid? Good news – we can now accelerate countdowns with the "Ready" button:
By syncing readiness in the new dynamic lobbies, raiders can launch into battle the moment all icons blink green. This has sped up tier 5 clear rates by nearly 6% as scanners pick up more early "Ready" launches.
Meanwhile for EX raids, no amount of button mashing cuts Mewtwo a break. The 30 minute fixed timer ensures elite raids keep their expedited and exclusive vibe.
Conclusion: Optimal Raid Hour Strategy
With raid timers ranging 45-60 minutes typically between 5AM-9PM, here are my tips for planning efficient raid hours:
Be Early, Set Alerts: Give yourself room for lobby delays, gym crashes, buggy counters.
Sync With Community: Raid chats and Discord groups for your area. Joint lobby readiness is key!
I hope this guide helps you make the most of raid hours for catching legendary favorites like Giratina and Primal Kyogre. See you out there raiding, trainers!
Eve, PoGo Raid Expert since 2016
