How to Get FREE Raid Passes in Pokémon GO — 9 INSANE Ways

Part 1: What is A Free Raid Pass in Pokémon Go? Raid Pass Types

Before exploring free methods, it’s important to understand the different types of Raid Passes in Pokémon GO, which serve as entry tickets to powerful raid battles at nearby Gyms.

What Is a Raid Pass?

A Raid Pass is a consumable item required to enter a Raid Battle in Pokémon GO. Each raid attempt consumes one Raid Pass, regardless of whether you defeat the raid boss or not.

There are three types of Raid Passes available in Pokémon GO:

• Free Raid Pass
• Premium Battle Pass
• Remote Raid Pass

Types of Raid Passes

Free Raid Pass (Orange)

• Used for in-person raids only
• Obtained by spinning a Gym
• Limited but renewable

Premium Battle Pass (Green)

• Works for raids and GO Battle League
• Usually paid, but occasionally obtainable through free means

Remote Raid Pass (Blue)

• Used for remote raids, Shadow Raids, or Max Battles from anywhere
• Rarely free, but sometimes included in promotions or research
• Use up to 5 remote raid passes each day, but can only stack 3 at any given time

This article focuses primarily on free Raid Passes, with bonus tips on earning paid passes without spending real money.

How to Use Raid Pass in Pokémon Go

To use a Raid Pass in Pokémon Go, you first need a pass in your inventory (free orange, Premium Battle Pass, or Remote Raid Pass), then you join a raid at or near a Gym (or remotely) and the pass is consumed when you queue for that raid.

How to Use Free and Premium Battle Pass (In‑Person)

• Look for a Gym with a raid egg or active raid, tap the Gym to view raid details.
• Tap “Battle”, Pokémon GO will automatically select the appropriate Raid Pass.
• Confirm and spend the pass, Select up to five Pokémon, wait for the raid to start, then battle the boss;
• Catching the raid Pokémon does not require another Raid Pass.

How to Use a Remote Raid Pass

• Have a Remote Raid Pass in your bag.
• Open the Nearby tab, tap a raid you want to join, or tap a Gym with a raid on the map.
• Tap the purple “Battle” button and spend one Remote Raid Pass to enter the lobby.

Part 2: 9 Ways to Get Free Raid Passes in Pokémon GO

Every trainer knows how important raid passes are but spending PokéCoins every time can get expensive. The good news? There are several ways to get raid passes for free in Pokémon Go without paying a single coin.

• Get a Free Raid Pass Every Day
• Event-Based Free Raid Passes
• Free Raid Passes from Research
• Free Raid Passes from the Shop
• Using PokéCoins to Get Raid Passes for Free

Method 1: Spin a Gym for a Daily Free Raid Pass

The most consistent way to get free Raid Passes is simple:

• Spin any Gym
• Receive 1 free Raid Pass per day
• Only works if you currently have zero free Raid Passes

This pass can only be used for in-person raids.

Method 2: Stack Free Raid Passes (Carryover Trick)

You can actually hold up to two free Raid Passes at once by timing your spins correctly. How it works:

• Don’t use yesterday’s free Raid Pass
• Spin a Gym today
• You now have two free Raid Passes
• This is especially useful before raid-heavy events.

Method 3: Raid Days & Raid Hours

Niantic frequently increases free Raid Pass availability during special events. During Raid Days, Trainers often receive:

• Up to 5–6 free Raid Passes
• Spun from Gyms during the event window
• Raid Hours may also occasionally feature bonus passes.

Method 4: 2026 GO Fest and GO Tour Events

Every year, events like GO Tour and GO Fest are among the best opportunities to participate in raids without spending money, as major annual events usually offer:

• Multiple free Raid Passes per day
• Bonus passes for ticket holders
• Occasionally free passes for non-ticket players

You Might Be Interested In:

Is Pokémon Go Tour 2026 Global Ticket Worth Buying?

Method 5: Seasonal & Special Events

Always check the Today View for event bonuses, as some recurring events are known to offer Raid Pass rewards, including:

• Pokémon GO Anniversary, such as the 10th Anniversary event in 2026.
• Lunar New Year events
• Ultra Unlock events

Method 6: Special & Timed Research

Niantic sometimes offers Raid Passes as rewards for Timed Research, and these passes may be Premium Battle Passes, which are more valuable than regular free passes.

• Event-exclusive Timed Research
• Seasonal Special Research

Method 7: Field Research Tasks

Although less common, some events reward Raid Passes through Field Research tasks, and completing all event-related tasks can increase your chances of receiving them.

• Field Research rewards
• Collection Challenge completion rewards

Method 8: Using PokéCoins to Get Raid Passes for Free

Earn PokéCoins by defending Gyms, then use them to purchase Raid Passes, Premium Battle Passes, and Remote Raid Pass bundles. PokéCoins can be earned without spending real money.

• Defend Gyms with Pokémon
• Earn up to 50 PokéCoins per day
• Coins are awarded when Pokémon return

Method 9: Free Raid Passes from the Shop

The in-game shop usually offers free boxes and promotional rewards that may include Raid Passes, and since these rewards are time-limited, logging in daily is important.

• Daily free boxes may contain Poké Balls, Berries, Premium Battle Passes, or Remote Raid Passes.
• Free Raid Passes may also be given through promotions such as sponsored events, in-game celebrations, or limited-time login rewards.

Part 3: Advanced Strategies to Maximize Free Raid Passes in Pokémon GO

Free Raid Passes may be limited, but with the right timing, planning, and event awareness, you can raid far more often than most players without spending a single PokéCoin.

These advanced strategies are designed for experienced Trainers, free-to-play players, and anyone who wants peak efficiency.

1. Bank and Double‑Dip Your Daily Pass

Use the “hold up to two passes” trick by claiming today’s free Raid Pass without using it; then the next day, use the stored pass and spin a Gym to get a new one, allowing you to join two raids in a single day.

This strategy is especially effective during Raid events, Community Days, or weekends when raids occur more frequently.

2. Time Your Gym Spins Precisely

If an event gives extra passes from Gym spins, spinning too early may lock you out of bonus passes. Spinning Gyms at the wrong time can waste potential passes. Optimal Spin Timing:

• Do not spin a Gym early in the day if you still have a free pass
• Spin only after using your current free pass
• During events, spin Gyms after event bonuses go live

3. Coordinate with Local or Online Communities

Free passes go further when raids succeed quickly. Why Coordination Matters:

• Faster clears = more raids per hour
• Less risk of failed raids (which waste time)
• Better scheduling of Gym spins

4. Prioritize High-Value Raids Only

Every free pass is an investment—don’t waste it.

Best Targets for Free Passes

• Legendary Pokémon
• Mega Pokémon (for energy farming)
• Meta-relevant attackers or PvP staples

Low-Value Targets to Avoid

• Tier 1–3 raids with common Pokémon
• Non-shiny-eligible raid bosses
• Pokémon available frequently in the wild

5. Save Premium & Remote Passes for Emergencies Only

To truly maximize free passes, treat paid passes as backups.

Best Use of Paid Passes

• Last raid of the day when free passes are exhausted
• Rare or time-limited Pokémon
• Remote-only opportunities

Part 4: Best 10 Places & Hotspots for Pokémon GO Raids

How can you use Raid Passes most effectively? To maximize free Raid Passes, focus on high-traffic Gyms with frequent raids and join high-value raids where victory is more reliable.

Here’s a top 10 list of cities, parks, and districts that are widely recognized as excellent locations to participate in Pokémon GO raids — places with high gym density, active raid communities, and lots of PokéStops. These are great for both local play and when you’re traveling for events or meetup raids.

Bonus Tip: How to Join Raids Anywhere Without a Remote Raid Pass

Not all Pokémon Go trainers live in the top cities, parks, and commercial districts that we’ve mentioned in the previous section. In fact, the majority of trainers are from places where there are few to no Gyms nearby.

For them, we recommend PoGoskill, a top-tier location spoofer app for Pokémon Go. With it, you can trick the game into thinking you’re somewhere else by altering your GPS coordinates to practically any location in the world and even create custom walking routes there using the Joystick Mode.

PoGoskll Key Features

• Auto-Catch Pokémons: Automatically catch Pokémons while walking virtually.
• Real-Time Control: Adjust your walking speed and movement in real-time and in 360-degree freedom.
• Global Access: PoGoskill is available globally for trainers, with no region restrictions.

Use PoGoskill to Fly to Best Spoofing Location

• Step 1Click on the Download button above and install PoGoskill

  

• Step 2Connect your device and choose “Game Mode”

  

• Step 3Find a good raid location on the PoGo Map and hit Teleport. Start participating in raids.

  

FAQs about How to Get Free Raid Pass Pokémon Go

How many free Raid Passes a day in Pokémon Go?

You receive one free Raid Pass per day, and you can store up to two at once if you don’t use one before your next Gym spin. During special events like Raid Days, GO Fest, or GO Tour, Niantic may grant extra free Raid Passes—sometimes five to six or more in a day—but these are event bonuses beyond the standard daily limit.

Where to get free raid pass in Pokemon Go?

You get free Raid Passes from Gyms in Pokémon Go.

• Spin any Gym’s Photo Disc
• Nearby‑range collection
• Any Gym works
• Event bonuses
• Research rewards
• Free shop boxes

Can you get a free raid pass if your bag is full?

If your item bag is full, you cannot receive a free Raid Pass. When you spin a Gym Photo Disc, The game will show a message like “Your Item Bag is full”, and no pass is granted.

Can I Hold Unlimited Remote Raid Passes?

No. You can only hold up to three Remote Raid Passes at a time unless Niantic increases the limit during special events.

Can I Solo A 20,000 CP Raid?

Raids with around 20,000 CP often require at least 2–3 trainers. Soloing them is nearly impossible unless it’s an extremely weak Tier 1 boss.

Conclusion

From daily spins to events, now you know how to get a free raid pass in Pokémon Go. Use these methods and never miss exciting raid battles again. In case there are not enough in your area, simply use PoGoskill and teleport yourself to any of the above-mentioned places full of gyms and PokeStops.

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