Beating raids alone (how to use the solo simulator)
BattleLast checked 2026-10-31
In 3 lines
- Anyone can solo a 1-star raid, and six powered-up Pokémon of the boss's weakness types can solo a 3-star. 5-star raids usually need several players.
- Enter your Pokémon's level, IVs and moves in the solo simulator, and it works out whether you can defeat the boss within the time limit.
- If it's too hard alone, make up the missing damage with weather boost, one Mega Evolution and friend invites.
What to expect by tier
| Tier | Time limit | Can you solo it? |
|---|---|---|
| 1-star | 180 seconds | Anyone, with Pokémon of its weakness types |
| 3-star | 180 seconds | Usually, with six weakness-type Pokémon around level 30 |
| Mega | 300 seconds | 2–4 players, depending on the boss |
| 5-star | 300 seconds | Usually needs several players. Some bosses can be soloed with a strong team |
Boss cards on the site's Raids page show 'players needed (Beginner/Experienced)' and have a difficulty filter, so you can quickly pick bosses worth trying alone.
How to use the solo simulator
- Open the solo simulator and pick a boss.
- Tap 'Suggested teams' to fill in six counters (only one Mega or Primal per team).
- Change the level, IVs and moves to match your Pokémon. Use 'Copy' to quickly fill slots with the same Pokémon.
- In the results, check the time to defeat the boss, the time left over (margin), and each slot's damage share and number of rejoins.
Making up the difference
- Weather boost: if your counters' move types are boosted, damage is 1.2× (Weather boost guide).
- Mega Evolution: Mega Evolve one Pokémon on your team, and attacks of the same type get stronger.
- Shadow Pokémon: their attack is 1.2×, so their damage share is big. But they faint quickly, so you may need more rejoins.
- Friend invites: send remote invites to friends to fill out the group (Raids and Remote Raid Passes).
Checklist
- Pick a boss with the 'Solo' difficulty on the Raids page
- Check your six Pokémon's result in the simulator
- If the margin is thin, add weather, a Mega or friends
Sources
- Site data: raid bosses, time limits and players needed are calculated from LeekDuck's boss list and the moves and stats in the Game Master (PokeMiners) (src/lib/raid-sim.ts)
Raids nowSee all
Related Pokémon & events
- Giratina (Origin Forme)
- Garchomp
- Lucario
More in Battle
- Raids and Remote Raid PassesRaids open at Trainer level 5. Up to 20 Trainers team up to defeat and catch a boss that appears at a Gym.
- Mega Evolution guide (Mega Energy and Mega Level)Mega Evolution spends Mega Energy to make a Pokémon stronger for a set time, and in raids it also powers up everyone attacking with the same type.
- Pokémon GO type chart (multipliers differ from the main series)In GO, super effective is 1.6× and not very effective is 0.625×, and the main series' 'no effect' becomes 0.39× instead.
- Weather boost guide (which types get stronger in each weather)Each in-game weather boosts certain types, and moves of those types deal 1.2× damage.
- Max Battles and Dynamax for beginnersIn a Max Battle, you spend Max Particles at a Power Spot to fight a Dynamax Pokémon. Win, and you can catch that Dynamax Pokémon.
- GO Battle League for beginners (Great, Ultra and Master League)GO Battle League opens at Trainer level 10. You battle other Trainers with 3 Pokémon and 2 shields each.
- Choosing IVs for PvP (low Attack wins in Great and Ultra League)In leagues with a CP cap, the lower the Attack IV, the higher you can level up within the same CP, which makes Defense and HP bigger.
- Team GO Rocket guide (Grunts, Leaders, the Boss and Rocket Radars)Find Grunts at dark, twitching PokéStops or Team GO Rocket balloons. Beat them for a chance to catch a Shadow Pokémon.
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