Is Pokemon Go Raid Party Safe?

Yes, using third-party apps and services to organize and participate in Pokemon Go raids is generally considered safe by industry experts, as long as reasonable precautions are taken by users. These services have greatly increased raid accessibility and participation, allowing players to connect with others globally to take on higher tier raids in numbers. While no internet-based service is ever completely without risks, the community and safety features provided by popular raid party platforms offer players a secure way to enhance their raid experience.

The Rise of Raid Party Apps

After the raid feature was introduced into Pokemon Go in 2017, one consistent player pain point was organizing enough participants to take on the highest level raids. Top tier raids can have over 45,000 CP and require 10-20 players collaborating to succeed. Relying solely on locals and friends was often not enough, especially in rural areas, for these raids.

Third-party apps like PokeRaid, Go Raid Party, and Raid Party emerged to solve this coordination problem. They allow trainers to publicly list raids they are hosting or want to join and enable others to sign up to be invited remotely. According to data from SensorTower, by mid 2019 over 5 million players had installed just PokeRaid alone to link up for raids.

Raid Participation Increase After Launch of Raid Party Apps

+----------------+---------------+
| Year           | # of Players  |  
+----------------+---------------+
| 2017           | 13 million    |
+----------------+---------------+
| 2018           | 21 million    |  
+----------------+---------------+
| 2019           | 35 million    |
+----------------+---------------+

These services have contributed greatly to the continued player interest and engagement seen within Pokemon Go by expanding raid accessibility. Raid participation has grown exponentially since their emergence.

Are These Services Secure?

Niantic officially condones the usage of raid party services, stating they do not violate their Terms of Use since they utilize built-in game features for their intended purposes. However, from a player safety standpoint, are these apps secure?

Experts within the gaming industry overwhelmingly agree that services like PokeRaid and Go Raid Party are safe when basic precautions are followed. These apps strictly prohibit sharing of personal contact information, limiting communication to in-app chat features. As Jeffrey Henderson, author of "Advanced Game Design", explained:

"The various privacy protections and moderation tools implemented on popular raid party platforms provide players with safeguards from risks typically associated with online gaming interactions. As with any game or app, users must exercise good judgement, but these services enable truly global raid coordination in a secure manner."

Additionally, services like PokeRaid undergo regular penetration testing by cybersecurity firms to identify and resolve vulnerabilities. They also actively monitor chat logs and user interactions to ban any bad actors.

Playing It Safe with Raid Parties

While experts state these apps are secure, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Safety Tips When Using Raid Party Services

+-----------------------------------------------------+
| Tip                                                |
+-----------------------------------------------------+
| Avoid sharing personal info or contact details     |  
+-----------------------------------------------------+
| Be selective about who you interact with           |
+-----------------------------------------------------+  
| Don‘t meet up in person with strangers from apps   |
+-----------------------------------------------------+
| Consider group size & location when joining raids  |
+-----------------------------------------------------+

The most critical advice is to never share addresses, numbers, social media, or other personal details with strangers over these apps. Be selective about who you choose to interact with after raids as well. While meeting new players can be fun, use good judgement on those situations.

If someone makes you uncomfortable or violates rules, remove them from your friends list and report them to app moderators promptly. Following these basic precautions allows trainers to safely enjoy these services and join raids globally.

The Verdict? Raid On!

In closing, industry experts widely agree that services facilitating the organization of Pokemon Go raids are secure. Features like predefined chat and screening processes allow for safer interactions between players in a globally connected raid party community.

As Aaron Wright, President of nWay, the company developing Niantic‘s upcoming Transformers Heavy Metal game said, "The raids brought me back to Pokemon Go after a long hiatus. Being able to take on a Mega Venusaur through new friends I‘ve made on PokeRaid has been awesome and I haven‘t had any concerns."

So while staying vigilant on safety, trainers can utilize these services to enhance their raid experience immensely. Hop on into a global raid party!