Pokémon GO's Raid Boss is Haunting Players

Many players of Pokémon GO are facing challenges when trying to battle Groudon, the current five-star raid boss. As part of the September events calendar, the game has introduced a fresh rotation of raids featuring fan-favorite Pokémon, but one particular creature is proving to be quite a nightmare.

Raids are a hallmark of Pokémon GO, allowing players to join forces at Gyms to take down powerful versions of various monsters, with the chance to catch them after the battle. Over the years, Niantic has expanded the raid system to include various types—Mega, Primal, Shadow, Elite, and EX raids—each presenting unique challenges. In September, trainers encountered some Legendary Pokémon in the five-star raids, but Groudon is making waves for all the wrong reasons.

Many players are struggling in Groudon raid battles, largely due to its frequent use of Solar Beam. Reddit user Ghent_Florin, who participated in a recent Groudon raid, reported that Hoenn's Legendary Pokémon knocked out nine of their team members in less than 30 seconds. They noted that while typically three players can handle Groudon, this particular raid required a full team of seven to make any headway.

What’s Causing the Spike in Raid Difficulty?

It’s easy to find numerous posts online venting frustrations or humorously commenting on the toughness of Groudon raids, primarily due to its relentless Solar Beam attacks, which leave trainers little chance to retaliate. The difficulty seems to stem from a recent update that allows raid bosses to charge their attacks more quickly. Now, bosses unleash their charged attacks whenever they have enough energy, contrasting with the previous mechanics. Trainers experienced similar issues with Kyogre, the prior five-star raid boss, which unexpectedly used Blizzard more frequently than anticipated.

Despite adjustments made by developers to the frequency of raid bosses' charged attacks, it appears these changes haven't sufficiently alleviated player frustration. For those looking to tackle Groudon, it will appear during Raid Hour on September 25 and in regular five-star raids until September 26. After that, it will be replaced by Zacian, available until October 4. Zacian will also be featured in the upcoming Legendary Heroes event, where trainers will have a chance to catch the shiny variant of this Generation 8 Legendary for the first time.