Can You Play Raids Solo? A Comprehensive Guide to Raiding Alone
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
The question of whether you can tackle raid content solo is a complex one, varying significantly based on the game, raid tier, and your own capabilities. The short answer is: it depends. While some raid encounters are explicitly designed for multiple players, others can be overcome with the right preparation, strategy, and even a bit of luck. This article will delve into the nuances of solo raiding, primarily focusing on Pokemon Go and Pokemon Scarlet & Violet examples, while also touching on other games where applicable, providing a thorough understanding of when and how it might be possible to raid alone.
Understanding the Challenges of Solo Raiding
Raids, by their very nature, are often intended to be a cooperative experience. They are designed with increased difficulty and health pools that typically require multiple players working together to overcome. This means that a single player attempting a raid solo faces several inherent challenges:
- Damage Output: Most raid bosses are extremely durable, with massive health pools and high defense. This makes it difficult for a single player to deal enough damage within the time limit to secure victory.
- Survival: Raid bosses deal considerable damage. Without allies to absorb some of that damage, a solo raider is more likely to be knocked out quickly.
- Mechanics: Some raids feature mechanics that are explicitly designed for multiple players. These mechanics can make it impossible for a single person to succeed, no matter how strong their team is.
Despite these challenges, certain raid scenarios do present an opportunity for solo play. Success often relies on understanding game-specific mechanics, having highly-optimized teams, and exploiting any available weaknesses.
Solo Raiding in Pokemon Go
In Pokemon Go, the feasibility of solo raiding varies heavily depending on the raid tier. Here’s a breakdown:
- 1-Star & 3-Star Raids: These are generally considered soloable by most players who have a decent roster of Pokémon and understand type matchups. 3-star raids can require a stronger team but are usually achievable with strategic team selection.
- 4-Star Raids: 4-Star raids are notoriously difficult to solo. They often require very specific counters and/or weather boosts, and even then, success isn’t guaranteed. For the most part, you should not expect to win 4-Star raids solo.
- 5-Star and Mega Raids: 5-Star raids are not soloable under normal circumstances. They are designed for multiple players. Even with optimal teams, the damage output and health of the bosses is prohibitive for a solo player. While some players have accomplished remarkable solo victories in Mega Raids with very specific and well-prepared teams, these are exceptions rather than the rule. For example, Mega Manectric has been soloed, but it requires a very strong team.
- Remote Raids: In Pokemon Go, remote raids exist, but whether they are done solo or with a group does not change the difficulty. Participating in raids remotely will not make the raid any easier, and you will still deal less damage using a remote raid pass.
Ultimately, Pokemon Go’s raid difficulty scales sharply with raid tier, meaning that relying on group play is almost always needed.
Solo Raiding in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet feature Tera Raids, which introduce another layer to solo raiding possibilities:
- 1-Star to 4-Star Tera Raids: These raids are often manageable solo, with the AI companions filling in some gaps, although they may not be optimal allies. These lower-star raids provide a good practice ground for the more challenging higher-star raids.
- 5-Star and 6-Star Tera Raids: While technically soloable, 5 and 6-star Tera Raids represent a substantial difficulty increase. While the game will provide NPC allies, they are not always reliable. These raids usually require a well-constructed Pokemon with the appropriate counter type moves for success. Many players are finding that Iron Hands is an excellent choice due to its attack power and access to the Belly Drum ability. Success can require “blood, sweat, and tears.”
- 7-Star Tera Raids: 7-Star Tera Raids are designed for the post-game and are intended to be a challenge for players working with friends. They are extremely difficult and were designed with co-op play in mind, and players cannot even access the 7-star raids without completing the main story, winning the post-game rematches, and beating a number of 5-star Tera Raids.
- Soloing 6-star raids is possible, and there are even methods that guarantee a win with the correct strategy.
In both Pokemon Go and Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, solo raiding is a challenge, a test of skill, and a significant achievement. But it’s rarely the way the games are intended to be played.
General Principles for Successful Solo Raids
If you’re determined to tackle raids alone, here are some general tips:
- Understand Type Matchups: Know the weaknesses of the raid boss.
- Optimize Your Team: Use your strongest Pokémon with moves that are super effective against the boss’s type.
- Leverage Power Ups: Boost your Pokémon’s stats using items or abilities. Iron Hands for example, uses Belly Drum to drastically increase its attack.
- Learn Raid Mechanics: Some raids have specific mechanics. Knowing these mechanics is key to survival.
- Weather Boosts: Take advantage of weather boosts whenever possible to give your pokemon a significant advantage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding solo raiding that provides additional detail on the topic:
1. Can you physically complete a raid alone in all games?
No. Many games, particularly MMOs, have raids that are designed for multiple players, and it’s impossible to complete these alone due to mechanics and sheer difficulty. Games like Destiny 2 and other RPGs have these issues with many of their raids.
2. Is it possible to solo a 50,000 CP raid?
No, not in Pokemon Go. Raids with bosses around 50,000 CP are generally not designed to be soloed and will require the help of other players. These high CP raids feature powerful Legendary and exclusive Pokémon.
3. Can one person beat a 5-star raid in Pokemon Go?
Generally no, it is extremely challenging and almost impossible for one person to beat a 5-star raid boss in Pokemon Go. They are designed for groups of three or more players.
4. Can 2 people win a 5-star raid?
Yes, it’s possible for two high-level players with top-tier teams to beat a 5-star raid, but it’s often a close call and requires careful preparation. Less powerful trainers will need more people.
5. Are solo raids hard?
Yes, solo raids increase the difficulty significantly, making strategies more complex and requiring mastery of the game mechanics. It’s an entirely different skill set from team raids.
6. What is the easiest raid to do solo?
In Pokemon Go, 1-star raids are the easiest to solo. In the 3-star bracket, Pokémon such as Passimian are often considered soloable without too much difficulty.
7. What is a raid egg?
In Pokemon Go, a raid egg appears at a Gym. After a countdown, the egg hatches, and the Pokémon inside appears, kicking off the raid battle.
8. Can 2 people do a 4-star raid in Pokemon Go?
Yes, it is possible but not guaranteed. It depends greatly on the specific raid boss and the type advantages of the Pokemon the two players are using.
9. How can I get raid passes for free?
You can get free raid passes in Pokemon Go by spinning the Photo Disc at a Gym, through special research tasks, during certain events, and via special research and events that are occasionally released.
10. What Pokémon are good for taking on a 5-Star raid boss?
It depends on the raid boss. Mega Diancie, Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Tyranitar, Shadow Rhyperior, Rampardos & Tyrantrum are good choices for many raid encounters. The key is to find powerful Pokemon with type advantages against the raid boss.
11. Why is Iron Hands popular for Tera Raids?
Iron Hands’ access to Belly Drum allows it to drastically increase its attack, making it a powerhouse in Tera Raids. Its fighting and electric typing is also useful in many raid battles.
12. Can you do 7-star raids without beating the game?
No. In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, you must complete the main story, win all the post-game gym leader rematches, and beat several 5-star raids before you can access 7-star raids.
13. How can you join a Raid remotely in Pokemon Go?
You can join a remote raid by either tapping the “Nearby” button, selecting the raid tab, and tapping view on a raid battle that you want to join, or by tapping a gym with an ongoing raid.
14. Can Nihilego be soloed in Pokemon Go?
Yes, it’s possible with optimized Pokémon such as a Primal Groudon, but it requires specific strategies and items such as max revives.
15. Are mega raids soloable in Pokemon Go?
Yes, some mega raids, such as Mega Manectric, can be soloed, but it requires specific counters and strategic gameplay.
Conclusion
While the idea of solo raiding can be tempting, it’s essential to understand that most raid content is designed for cooperative play. Success in solo raids requires significant preparation, strong Pokémon, and a deep understanding of game mechanics. While challenging, it’s not impossible in some scenarios, and the feeling of success is extremely rewarding. By understanding the limitations and specific requirements of each raid, you can make informed decisions about whether or not to venture alone, or when to seek out allies to take on the challenge with.