Ever walk past a Gym and see a legendary Pokémon you couldn’t catch? Those are Raid Bosses, and they change on a regular schedule. Knowing who is available is the first step to catching one (Legendary Pokemon Go Schedule).
The current 5-Star and Mega Raid bosses for this month are:
- 5-Star Raids: Kyogre (Available until January 18)
- Mega Raids: Mega Steelix (Available until January 18)
What is a Pokémon GO Raid Battle?
When you see a giant egg on a Gym, that’s a Raid Egg counting down to a special battle. When the timer ends, a powerful Raid Boss hatches. This is a temporary, super-strong version of a Pokémon that takes over the Gym, waiting for you and other trainers to challenge it together.
Defeating the boss gives you a chance to catch it. This is the main way to get many rare and Legendary Pokémon that you can’t find anywhere else in the wild, making raids a crucial part of the game.
What Do The Raid “Stars” Mean?
The stars above a Raid Boss aren’t just for show—they tell you the difficulty. This system, known as Tiers, helps you decide if you can battle alone or need to team up. Before you spend a Raid Pass, check the egg color or star rating to know what you’re up against.
- 1-Star (Pink Egg): Easy. You can comfortably beat these by yourself.
- 3-Star (Yellow Egg): Tougher. You’ll likely need at least one or two friends.
- 5-Star (Legendary Egg): Very Hard. Features Legendary Pokémon and needs a group of 4-6+ trainers.
- Mega Raids (Swirling Egg): Top-tier difficulty. Also requires a large group to win.
How to Beat January’s Toughest Bosses: Kyogre & Mega Steelix
To win against tough bosses like Kyogre, you need the best counters—that’s the term for Pokémon with a type advantage. Using the right counters is far more important than just using Pokémon with high CP.
Think of it like rock-paper-scissors. As a pure Water-type, Kyogre is weak against Electric and Grass attacks. This makes strong Electric-types like Raikou or powerful Grass-types like Roserade fantastic choices to bring to the fight, as they will deal much more damage.
This same strategy works for every boss. Mega Steelix, for instance, takes extra damage from Fire and Water Pokémon. Picking the right team is the secret to victory.
How to Join a Raid Battle (Even From Home!)
To join a raid you’re physically near, you need a Raid Pass. You get one free pass every day just by spinning the photo disc at any Gym. When you’re ready, simply tap on the raid and hit the ‘Battle’ button to use your pass.
But what if the raid is across town? That’s where a Remote Raid Pass comes in. These special green passes, which you can get from the in-game shop, let you join any raid you can see on your map from the comfort of your couch.
Best of all, you never have to raid alone. Once you’re in a raid lobby, you can tap the ‘Invite Friends’ button to bring up to five people from your friends list into the battle with you. This is the secret to taking down those tough bosses together.
Plan Your Next Raid Adventure
With this knowledge, raids transform from random encounters into predictable opportunities. Gyms become a schedule for adventure, and that legendary Pokémon isn’t just a lucky find—it’s an appointment you can now plan for and keep.
Your first step is simple: check your game this Wednesday evening. Find a gym during the upcoming Raid Hour and notice how many other trainers are there. You don’t even have to fight—just seeing the community in action is your first win.