Refreshing Max Raid Dens: A Comprehensive Guide for Pokémon Trainers

The thrill of encountering powerful Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokémon in Max Raid Dens is a core part of the Pokémon Sword and Shield experience. But what happens when you’re not satisfied with the Pokémon appearing? Thankfully, there are several ways to refresh Max Raid Dens, allowing you to hunt for specific Pokémon, Shiny versions, or simply enjoy a fresh set of challenges.

The most straightforward method for refreshing Max Raid Dens is to advance the date on your Nintendo Switch console. By changing the system’s date, you effectively trigger a respawn of the raid dens, changing the Pokémon contained within. This is the most commonly used method and can be done repeatedly until you find the desired Pokémon. This works even if you haven’t cleared all the current raids!

Detailed Methods for Refreshing Max Raid Dens

Here’s a breakdown of the primary methods for refreshing Max Raid Dens, each offering a slightly different approach:

• Date Skipping: This is the most popular and effective method.
  1. Save your game.
  2. Close the game completely.
  3. On your Nintendo Switch, go to System Settings.
  4. Scroll down to System and then select Date and Time.
  5. Turn off Synchronize Clock via Internet.
  6. Advance the date forward by one day.
  7. Re-open Pokémon Sword or Shield.
  8. Check the Max Raid Dens in the Wild Area to see the new Pokémon spawns.
  9. Repeat the process as needed.
• Wishing Piece Reset: If you’ve already interacted with all the dens for the day but want to force a refresh, use a Wishing Piece on an empty den. This will force the den to re-roll its Pokémon spawn, even if it had previously been “used” for the day. You can purchase Wishing Pieces from Watt Traders in the Wild Area.
• Clearing All Active Dens: This is a more time-consuming method, but it naturally refreshes the Wild Area. When you defeat or fail to catch every Pokémon in currently active Max Raid Dens, the Wild Area will automatically refresh with new raids.
• Waiting for the Daily Reset: Each day at midnight (based on your console’s set time), the Max Raid Dens automatically reset. This requires no action on your part, but it’s the slowest method if you’re actively hunting.

Understanding Den Mechanics

Before embarking on your quest to refresh Max Raid Dens, it’s helpful to understand some key mechanics:

• Den Activation: Dens are activated by using a Wishing Piece. Once activated, they will have a beam of light shooting into the sky. A red beam indicates a standard raid, while a purple beam (with swirling clouds) indicates a rarer raid.
• Rarity of Spawns: The Pokémon that appear in Max Raid Dens are determined by a set spawn table. Some Pokémon are common, while others are rare. Events can also influence the spawn rates, making certain Gigantamax Pokémon more likely to appear.
• Shiny Rolling: The shiny status of a raid Pokémon is determined when the den is activated. This means you cannot soft reset during the battle to make a Pokémon shiny; the shiny status is locked in from the moment the den becomes active. If you fail to catch a shiny, you can soft reset to try the encounter again, but the shiny status will not change.
• Event Raids: From time to time, Game Freak hosts special events featuring specific Pokémon in Max Raid Dens. These events often increase the chances of encountering certain Gigantamax forms or even Shiny Pokémon.

Date Manipulation Considerations

While date manipulation is a widely used and accepted method, it’s worth noting a few potential side effects:

• Time-Based Events: Advancing the date can affect other time-based events in the game, such as berry growth, Watt Trader stock, and the availability of specific NPCs.
• Real-World Consequences: Be mindful that changing your console’s date can affect other applications and services that rely on accurate time information. Remember to re-enable Synchronize Clock via Internet when you’re finished.
• Game Stability: While rare, excessive date skipping could potentially cause minor glitches or inconsistencies. However, this is generally not a major concern.

Max Raid Den FAQs

1. How often do Max Raid Dens reset naturally?

Max Raid Dens naturally reset every day at midnight, based on the time zone set on your Nintendo Switch.

2. Can I reset a Max Raid Den multiple times in a day?

Yes, you can reset a Max Raid Den as many times as you like in a single day by using the date-skipping method or using a Wishing Piece on an empty den.

3. Does weather affect the Pokémon that spawn in Max Raid Dens?

Yes, weather conditions in the Wild Area can influence the types of Pokémon that appear in Max Raid Dens. For example, Water-type Pokémon are more likely to appear during rain.

4. How do I get a purple beam Max Raid Den?

Purple beam Max Raid Dens indicate rarer and stronger Pokémon. To increase your chances of finding one, activate more dens using Wishing Pieces. The appearance of a purple beam is random.

5. Are Max Raid Dens always a 100% catch rate?

No, not always. When you initiate the raid yourself, the Pokémon have a 100% catch rate. However, raid Pokémon encountered through online invites or event raids follow the normal catch rates.

6. Can you get Shiny Pokémon in Max Raid Dens?

Yes, you can encounter Shiny Pokémon in Max Raid Dens. The odds are significantly better than wild encounters, especially with the Shiny Charm.

7. What are the shiny odds in Max Raid Dens?

Without the Shiny Charm, the shiny odds are approximately 1 in 300. With the Shiny Charm, the odds improve to roughly 1 in 100.

8. Are all Pokémon in Max Raid Dens shiny eligible?

No, some Legendary Pokémon and event-specific Pokémon are shiny locked, meaning they cannot be obtained as shiny through Max Raid Dens.

9. What does it mean when a Max Raid Den has a dark purple beam?

A dark purple beam with swirling clouds signifies that the Pokémon within the den is rarer and stronger than those found in standard red beam dens.

10. How do I activate a Max Raid Den?

To activate a Max Raid Den, interact with an empty den and use a Wishing Piece.

11. How many Max Raid Battles can I do per day?

There is no limit to the number of local Max Raid Battles you can participate in per day. However, there might be restrictions on remote raids during special events in Pokémon GO.

12. If I fail a Max Raid Battle, can I try again?

Yes, if you fail to defeat the Dynamax or Gigantamax Pokémon, you can retry the battle.

13. Can I soft reset for a Shiny Pokémon in a Max Raid Den?

While you can’t soft reset to change the shiny status (as it’s determined when the den activates), you can soft reset to retry the battle if you fail to catch a Shiny Pokémon.

14. Do Max Raid Dens count as caves for evolution purposes?

No, Max Raid Dens do not count as caves for Pokémon evolutions that require being in a cave environment.

15. Does the time of day affect Max Raid Dens?

The time of day does not directly affect Max Raid Den spawns, but weather, which can influence spawns, changes throughout the day. Hopefully, this comprehensive guide and FAQ section will help you maximize your Max Raid Den experience in Pokémon Sword and Shield. Happy hunting, trainers!

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