Is joining raids from your friend list feature in Pokemon GO temporary?

Niantic has released a test version of an upcoming quality-of-life feature for Pokemon GO. Players' ability to join a raid directly from their friend list is something many did not know they wanted until it was added to the mobile title. However, the feature will not be in the game forever.

Niantic has confirmed that the Raid Sharing feature will only be available until the end of the Wild Area event. This means players can only enjoy this mechanic until November 24, 2024.

Here is everything to know about the Raid Sharing feature in Pokemon GO.

---

What is Raid Sharing in Pokemon GO?

Raid Sharing can only be done with Great Friends or higher (Image via Niantic)

The ability to join raids directly from one's friend list, or Raid Sharing, is an experimental feature introduced for Pokemon GO's 2024 Wild Area event. It makes remote raiding much easier, so only standard Raid Battles will benefit from it.

With Raid Sharing, players can enter their friend list to see if any other trainers ranked as Great Friends or better are in a raid lobby. They can then choose to spend a Remote Raid Pass to join their lobby without the need to exchange lobby codes. This greatly streamlines the process of grinding out Raid Battles with friends.

The feature is currently in its trial run, only being implemented until November 24, 2024. Afterward, it will be removed from the game, and Niantic will begin its last stages of development.

This will ensure that Raid Sharing is mostly bug-free when Niantic decides to add it to the game permanently.

Also check: Pokemon GO CP calculator

---

Limitations of Raid Sharing in Pokemon GO

Only standard raids can be joined with this feature (Image via Niantic)

With Raid Sharing primarily being a feature to make Raid Battles easier to do remotely, the feature only benefits raids that can be done under such circumstances. One-, Three-, and Five-Star Raids can be shared through one's friend profile, as can Mega and Primal Raids.

However, Max Battles, Gigantmax Battles, as well as Elite and Shadow Raids, cannot be shared as they do not allow remote raiding. With Niantic's focus being on Max Battles at the moment, it is understandable why this feature has yet to be released. It will likely come out when more standard raid content comes to the game.

Moreover, Niantic requires two players to be Great Friends before they can use Raid Sharing. This means trainers must have at least two of the heart icons filled out on their social menu, which takes at least a week of consistent interaction like exchanging gifts, raiding, and trading Pocket Monsters together.

Also check: Pokemon GO Evolution Calculator

---

For more information on the game, check out the articles below:

• Ditto disguises
• Sierra counters
• Cliff counters
• Arlo counters
• Giovanni counters
• Team GO Rocket Grunts