The Pokémon GO community is divided over Niantic's new systems, which have made the game more complex and less accessible. Features like Shadow Raids and Max Battles require extensive preplanning, farming of special items, and coordination with other players, making it difficult for solo players and those in smaller communities to participate. This shift from the game's original "pick up and go" style has frustrated many players, drawing comparisons to the demanding gameplay of World of Warcraft's early days.
The new Pokémon GO season, Dual Destiny, runs from December 3, 2024, to March 4, 2025, and is themed around Pokémon Black and White, set in the Unova region. The season introduces Pokémon from the Galar region, including Sinistea and Polteageist, and features events like Pokémon GO Tour: Unova with in-person events in Los Angeles and New Taipei City. Players can enjoy bonuses like extra Raid Passes and Stardust, participate in Shadow Raids, and experience Dynamax battles. Community Days and the GO Battle League will also be part of the season's activities.
Players are concerned about the upcoming Pokemon Go Mewtwo raids due to a bug with Purified Gems, which are not appearing properly in Shadow Raids, making it difficult to defeat the boss. Despite Niantic's previous assurance that unused Purified Gems would automatically return to the Item Bag, players are still experiencing the issue and are urging the company to address it. Some players have suggested a workaround by avoiding overlapping purified gems when applying them, which seems to be effective until Niantic finds a permanent fix.
Pokemon Go players are expressing frustration with Shadow Raids, citing the in-person requirements as a major obstacle, particularly for those not based in large cities with many players and gyms. Some players are calling for the addition of Remote Raiding capabilities to make participation more accessible, while others suggest using community platforms like Campfire and local Discord channels to coordinate and enhance the experience. The community's discontent with Shadow Raids highlights a growing demand for more inclusive raiding options in the game.
Pokemon Go players are expressing frustration with the restrictions surrounding Shadow Raids, citing limited windows, inability to participate remotely, bad weather conditions, and difficulties for rural players. These challenges have led to low participation rates and hindered many players from enjoying these Raid battles, ultimately impacting their ability to obtain Shadow Legendaries for PvP and PvE battles.
Pokemon Go players can participate in 5-Star, 3-Star, and 1-Star Shadow Raids during October 2023. Shadow Moltres will only spawn on weekends, while Shadow Zapdos will be available on October 6 as a makeup for a previous event. To join a Shadow Raid, players need to find a Gym taken over by Team Go Rocket and use Standard Raid Passes. Shadow Raids cannot be done remotely.
Pokemon Go trainers are calling on Niantic to reconsider the mechanics of Shadow Raids, citing issues such as blocking regular Raids and Gyms. Fans want changes to keep engagement up, suggesting a more structured approach similar to Elite Raids. Some trainers have noticed a lack of participation in Shadow Raids and hope for a schedule for future events.
Niantic has commented on the recent changes to the Remote Raid Pass system in Pokemon Go, stating that the decision to add limitations and adjust the pricing was difficult but necessary. Internal data showed that some players were doing dozens or even hundreds of legendary raids in a single day without leaving home, which was antithetical to the game's original vision. The changes were made to get the game back to what the team first envisioned, with a focus on physical locations in the real world and fostering local communities. The comments came during an interview discussing the new Shadow Raids, which begin on May 22.
Pokémon Go is introducing Shadow Raids, a new type of in-person-only raid that will allow players to catch Shadow Legendary Pokémon like Mewtwo by battling in gyms. The raids will also introduce Shiny Shadow Legendary Pokémon and a new mechanic that will see players face tougher, "enraged" Shadow Pokémon. The raids will go live on May 22 and will be part of the game's Rising Shadows event. Players can use a new item called a Purified Gem to quell the enraged state of Shadow Raid Bosses. Shadow Raids are designed to be "an evergreen mainstay within Pokémon Go," and are just the tip of the iceberg for new features and development in the game this year.
Pokémon Go introduces Shadow Raids, allowing players to battle and capture Shadow Pokémon in-person only. The raids will come in different difficulty levels and feature Shadow Legendary Pokémon, starting with Shadow Mewtwo. The introduction of Shadow Raids is part of Niantic's push to get people outside and introduce fresh gameplay mechanics. The Remote Raid nerf was necessary to balance the game and make access to rare and powerful creatures more challenging. Shadow Raids will debut next week, with all raids featuring Shadow Pokémon on Saturday, 27th May.
A data mine of Pokemon Go suggests that Shadow Raids and enhanced Avatar Customization options are coming to the game. Shadow Raids will allegedly allow players to obtain powerful Shadow Pokemon, while Avatar Customization will include changing hairstyles separate from headwear. Additionally, Pokemon Contests will make a return, and a new clothing system with more options to customize player avatars may be added. These features are not officially confirmed by Niantic.
