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Why Can’t I Unlock 6-Star Raids? A Comprehensive Guide

You’ve battled your way through the Paldea region, conquered the Gym Challenge, and even tasted victory in the Academy Ace Tournament, yet those elusive 6-Star Tera Raids stubbornly refuse to appear on your map. The frustration is understandable. Unlocking these challenging encounters requires fulfilling a series of specific criteria, and missing even one step can halt your progress.

The primary reason you’re unable to unlock 6-Star Raids is likely due to one of the following:

Incomplete Post-Game Content: Simply finishing the main story is not enough. You need to complete the Academy Ace Tournament after finishing the main story. This is a crucial step many players overlook.
Insufficient 5-Star Raid Completion: The game requires you to defeat a certain number of 5-Star Raids after completing the Academy Ace Tournament. The often-quoted number is around 15, but the exact number can vary slightly. Keep battling and winning!
Incorrect Progression Tracking: The game uses an internal tracker. Even if you think you’ve done enough 5-Star Raids, the game might not register them all correctly, especially if you participated in raids hosted by others. Hosting and completing your own 5-Star Raids is the most reliable method.
Missed Phone Call from Jacq: After defeating the required number of 5-Star Raids, Jacq, the biology teacher, is supposed to call you about the appearance of 6-Star Raids. If you haven’t received this call, you haven’t met the requirements yet. Ensure your phone is active in the game.
Confusing Event Raids with Standard Raids: While some event raids might count towards the completion requirement, focusing on regular, non-event 5-Star Raids is the safer bet.

Let’s dive deeper into each of these points and explore some troubleshooting tips to finally unlock those coveted 6-Star Tera Raids. Remember to keep battling and be patient, Paldea Champion!

Troubleshooting Your Unlock Process

Here’s a step-by-step approach to troubleshoot why you haven’t unlocked 6-Star Raids:

Double-Check Post-Game Completion: Confirm you’ve finished the Academy Ace Tournament after completing the main storyline, including the Area Zero quest. If unsure, repeat the tournament.
Focus on Hosting Your Own 5-Star Raids: While joining other players’ 5-Star Raids can be helpful, it’s not always reliable for triggering the unlock. Prioritize finding and hosting your own. You can find raid dens scattered across the map.
Count Your Wins (Manually): Keep a manual record of the 5-Star Raids you’ve successfully hosted and completed. This will help you track your progress more accurately.
Ensure Jacq Can Contact You: Check your game settings to ensure that the phone is enabled and that you can receive calls. Sometimes, accidentally disabling notifications can prevent the trigger.
Check Your News: Sometimes, new game data can interfere with triggering events. Ensure your game is up-to-date and that you have downloaded the latest news from the Poke Portal.
Be Patient: The unlock process can sometimes be a bit finicky. If you’ve followed all the steps and still haven’t received the call from Jacq, keep playing and doing more 5-Star Raids. Sometimes, it simply takes a few extra battles to trigger the event.
Consult Online Communities: If you’re still stuck, reach out to online communities like Reddit or GameFAQs. Other players may have encountered similar issues and found solutions.
Raid Difficulty: Remember that 5 star raids can be tough. Make sure you have a solid Pokemon around level 75.
Check online for known bugs: Some patches have had bugs associated to them that prevent progression. Check to see if this may be a bug from the company.

Tips for Conquering 5-Star Raids

To reliably complete 5-Star Raids and speed up the unlocking process, consider these tips:

Level Up Your Pokémon: Aim for Pokémon in the Level 75-100 range. The higher the level, the easier the raids will be.
EV Training: Effort Value (EV) training can significantly boost your Pokémon’s stats. Focus on Attack or Special Attack, depending on your Pokémon’s strengths.
Type Matchups: Exploit type weaknesses. A super-effective move can deal massive damage.
Choose the Right Abilities: Select Pokémon with abilities that are beneficial in raids, such as abilities that increase attack or special attack.
Coordinate with Others: If playing online, communicate with your teammates to coordinate your moves and strategies.
Use Buffs and Debuffs: Moves that boost your Pokémon’s stats or lower the opponent’s stats can be incredibly helpful.
Experiment with Different Pokémon: Don’t be afraid to try out different Pokémon and strategies to find what works best for you.

Understanding the Value of Games and Learning

The Pokemon series is more than just battling and collecting; it fosters strategic thinking, problem-solving, and even social skills through cooperation and communication. Games, when designed thoughtfully, can be powerful tools for learning. Explore the intersection of games and education further by visiting the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. You can learn more about how games are actively being used in education. They even host great learning summits! Visit the Games Learning Society website.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do I need to complete the entire Pokedex to unlock 6-Star Raids?

No, completing the Pokedex is not required to unlock 6-Star Raids. The main requirements are completing the post-game Academy Ace Tournament and defeating enough 5-Star Raids.

2. Can I unlock 6-Star Raids offline?

Yes, you can unlock and participate in 6-Star Raids offline. However, you will need to connect to the internet at least once to download the latest news and ensure that the necessary game data is installed.

3. What level should my Pokémon be for 6-Star Raids?

Ideally, your Pokémon should be between Level 90-100 for 6-Star Raids. While lower-level Pokémon can be used, they will be significantly less effective.

4. Do event raids count towards unlocking 6-Star Raids?

Some event raids might count towards the requirement, but it’s safer to focus on regular, non-event 5-Star Raids to ensure progress.

5. How do I find 5-Star Raids more easily?

5-Star Raids are more common after completing the main story and the Academy Ace Tournament. Look for raid dens scattered across the map, particularly in areas like Area Zero and near cities.

6. What if Jacq doesn’t call me after defeating the 5-Star Raids?

Ensure your phone is enabled in the game settings and that you’ve downloaded the latest news from the Poke Portal. If you’re still not receiving the call, continue completing more 5-Star Raids.

7. Can I join 7-Star Raids without unlocking 6-Star Raids?

No, you typically need to unlock 6-Star Raids before you can participate in 7-Star Raids. However, you can join another player’s 7-Star Raid even if you haven’t unlocked them yourself.

8. Are 6-Star Raids easier offline than online?

Some players believe that 6-Star Raids can be easier offline because the AI teammates, while not always optimal, are more predictable than human players. However, this can vary depending on the raid and your strategy.

9. How often do 6-Star Raids spawn?

A new 6-Star Raid typically appears on your map each day. These raids are marked with a black crystal.

10. Do 6-Star Raids have perfect IVs?

Pokémon caught from 6-Star Tera Raids are guaranteed to have five perfect IVs (Individual Values). This makes them valuable for competitive battling and breeding.

11. What is the best strategy for defeating 6-Star Raids solo?

Defeating 6-Star Raids solo requires a specialized setup and a powerful Pokémon with a favorable type matchup against the raid boss. Focus on EV training, selecting the right ability, and using buffs and debuffs effectively.

12. Can I change the Tera Type of a Pokemon caught in a 6-Star Raid?

Yes, you can change the Tera Type of a Pokémon caught in a 6-Star Raid by collecting Tera Shards of the desired type and speaking to the chef at the Treasure Eatery.

13. What are some good Pokemon for doing 6-Star Raids?

Iron Hands, Annihilape, Miraidon, and Koraidon are some popular choices for tackling 6-Star Raids due to their high attack stats and beneficial abilities.

14. If I lose a 6-Star Raid, does it disappear?

No, the 6-Star Raid will remain available for a certain period, even if you lose. You can retry the raid as many times as you need within that timeframe.

15. Is there a limit to how many 5-Star and 6-Star raids I can do in a day?

There is no hard limit to how many raids you can do. However, after a certain number of raids, you might need to wait for new raid dens to appear on your map. You can advance time by changing the time on your Nintendo Switch system to make dens respawn more quickly. Be aware, however, that manipulating time can affect certain in-game events.

By understanding these requirements and troubleshooting tips, you’ll be well on your way to unlocking and conquering those challenging 6-Star Tera Raids!

Why can’t i unlock 6 star raids?