Pokemon GO improving gym battles, adding co-op boss raids

Niantic is ushering in some major changes for the Pokemon mobile game.

It’s been almost a year since Pokemon GO inspired droves of people to go outside and walk more than our average step goal, all in the name of catching Pokemon.

A year later and many people have lost interest in the augmented reality game. But Niantic has plans to make some major changes in the hopes that people will come back to it for its one year anniversary.

First, a set of brand new mechanics will be coming to gym battles. Currently, gyms can hold up to 10 Pokemon and the only way to knock them out is to defeat them enough to lower their Prestige.

In the future, gyms will only hold six Pokemon and each Pokemon in the gym will have to be unique (no more Blissey monster gyms). Additionally, each Pokemon in the gym will now have a motivation meter. As a Pokemon gets defeated in a gym, its motivation meter will dwindle. As its motivation dwindles, so does its CP, which means it will be an easier Pokemon to take on in the next battle. On the flip side, berries can be given to Pokemon in gyms to restore their motivation.

Pokemon GO will also be adding gym badges to the game, obtained by participating in gym battles. You will be able to level up gym badges by battling and giving berries to your Pokemon. Higher level gym badges can earn you better rewards from gyms, which will now have a Photo Disc that you can spin for items, much like at PokeStops.

Niantic also announced a new raid battle feature. Extremely powerful Pokemon will appear at random at gyms, and up to 20 people can band together to attempt to defeat it. If it’s defeated within five minutes, those in the raid will have a chance to also catch the Pokemon.

Even if you don’t defeat the Pokemon within five minutes, raiders will receive special raid items upon completion of the raid, like Rare Candies and Golden Razz Berries. Rare Candies, when given to a Pokemon, will turn into that Pokemon’s candy. Golden Razz Berries are better versions of the regular Razz Berries.

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In order to participate in raids, you will have to obtain a Raid Pass from a gym. Everyone gets one a day for free. Those wishing for more can purchase them from the shop.

Of course, this addition of raiding immediately makes us wonder if Niantic will be adding legendary Pokemon into the game. There are plenty of other rare Pokemon that Niantic can tap to be raid bosses without including any legendaries. However, we hope that raiding is one big step in that direction.