If you play Pokémon GO, you probably know how important Raid Passes are. These special passes let you join Raid Battles, where you team up with other players to fight powerful Pokémon. But what if your friend wants to join a raid and doesn’t have a pass? You might wonder: “Can you gift Raid Passes in Pokémon GO?”
In this article, we’ll explain everything about gift Raid Passes, how they work, and if it’s possible to send them to a friend. We’ll also look at the rules, types of Raid Passes, and what options you have if gifting isn’t allowed yet.
What Is a Raid Pass?
Before we answer the main question, let’s make sure we understand what a Raid Pass is.
A Raid Pass is an item you need to enter a Raid Battle. These battles are special fights against strong Pokémon that appear at Gyms. You can fight these Pokémon with other players. After the battle, if you win, you get a chance to catch the Raid Boss Pokémon.
There are different types of Raid Passes:
| Raid Pass Type | How to Get It | What It’s Used For |
| Free Raid Pass | Spin a Gym once per day | Join 1 in-person raid |
| Premium Battle Pass | Buy in the in-game shop | Join extra in-person raids |
| Remote Raid Pass | Buy in the shop or get from research | Join raids from far away |
Why Do People Want to Gift Raid Passes?
Let’s say your friend wants to join a raid, but they’re out of passes. Or maybe it’s your younger sibling who doesn’t have PokéCoins to buy one. You might want to help by giving them a Raid Pass.
Here are some reasons why people want to gift them:
- To help friends join rare Pokémon raids
- To help low-level players grow
- To raid with family who don’t have coins
- To be kind and support others in the game
It makes sense, right? Gifting passes could help more players join in on the fun.
Can You Gift Raid Passes in Pokémon GO?
No, as of now, you cannot gift Raid Passes directly to someone else in Pokémon GO.
Even though many players want this feature, the game does not allow you to send Raid Passes to another player.
This applies to:
- Free Raid Passes
- Premium Battle Passes
- Remote Raid Passes
You can’t send them like a gift, even if you bought them with your own PokéCoins or real money.
What Does Niantic Say About Gifting?
Niantic, the company that made Pokémon GO, hasn’t added a Raid Pass gifting option yet. However, they have added other gifting features in the past, like:
- Sending gifts with items like Poké Balls and berries
- Sending Postcards
- Trading Pokémon
- Buying items in the shop (but only for yourself)
So, while you can send some things, you can’t send Raid Passes.
Many players have asked Niantic to add this feature. There are Reddit posts, YouTube videos, and Twitter comments full of requests like:
“Please let us gift Raid Passes!”
But so far, there’s no official announcement about it coming soon.
Can You Gift PokéCoins Instead?
No, you cannot gift PokéCoins either.
PokéCoins are the game’s currency, and you need them to buy Raid Passes. But there’s no option in the game to send coins to someone else’s account.
If you want to help someone, you could buy a Google Play or Apple App Store gift card and give it to them in real life. Then, they can use the gift card to buy coins and get Raid Passes.
But that’s outside of the game, not a feature inside Pokémon GO.
Other Ways to Help Friends Join Raids
Even though you can’t gift Raid Passes, there are still a few ways to help your friends take part in raids.
1. Use Free Passes Together
If both you and your friend spin a Gym’s Photo Disc once per day, you’ll get a free Raid Pass. Plan your day to use the pass at the same time and join the same raid.
2. Invite Them to Remote Raids
If you have a Remote Raid Pass, you can invite your friend to join a raid from anywhere. If they have a pass, they can jump in. This is great for friends who live far away.
3. Trade Pokémon Later
If your friend misses a raid, you can always catch the Pokémon and trade it with them later. That way, they still get a chance to add it to their collection.
What Are Players Saying?
Let’s look at what players are saying online.
From Reddit:
“It would be so nice if I could send my cousin a Remote Pass. He’s out and can’t buy coins.”
From Twitter:
“Why can’t we gift Raid Passes? We can gift items in other games. Come on, Niantic!”
Many players agree that gifting would be a great feature. It would help friends raid together, especially during special events or when rare Pokémon appear.
Should Pokémon GO Add Gifting Raid Passes?
Let’s think about the pros and cons.
Pros of Gifting Raid Passes
- Helps new or young players
- Encourages teamwork and friendship
- Makes special raids more accessible
- Boosts the game’s community feel
Cons of Gifting Raid Passes
- Could be abused with too many accounts
- Might lower Niantic’s coin sales
- Needs careful rules to avoid cheating
If Niantic adds it, they might need to limit it. Maybe you can gift only 1 pass a day, or only to Ultra Friends.
How Could Gifting Work in the Future?
Here are some ideas for how Niantic could let us gift passes safely:
| Feature Idea | Details |
| Gifting limit | Only 1 pass per friend per day |
| Only gift to close friends | Like Great or Ultra Friends |
| Must be bought with coins | Free passes can’t be gifted |
| Special gift option | Add a message with the pass |
This would make gifting useful but not too easy to abuse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s answer some more questions about Raid Passes.
Can I trade a Raid Pass?
No, there is no way to trade a Raid Pass with another player.
Can I give a Premium Pass to my friend?
No, Premium Battle Passes are for your own use only.
Can I send items as gifts?
Yes, but only from spinning PokéStops and sending them through the gift feature. These gifts have random items like potions and Poké Balls, not passes.
Tips to Get More Raid Passes
Even if you can’t gift them, here are ways to get more Raid Passes:
- Spin a Gym daily for 1 free pass
- Complete Special Research – sometimes rewards you with passes
- Buy Premium Battle Passes in the shop
- Buy Remote Raid Passes in bundles
- Join special events – sometimes give free Remote Passes
Let’s go over what we learned.
- You cannot gift Raid Passes in Pokémon GO
- You also can’t gift PokéCoins
- Many players want this feature to be added
- You can still help friends join raids in other ways
- Niantic might add gifting in the future
Right now, the best thing you can do is plan your raids together, use your daily free pass, and help each other in other ways like trades and remote invites.
Gifting Raid Passes would be a great way to make Pokémon GO more friendly and fun. While we don’t have that feature yet, there’s always a chance Niantic could add it in the future. Until then, you can still support your friends and have a great time catching awesome Pokémon together.
If you’re looking to stay updated, make sure to check Niantic’s news page and game updates. And who knows? Maybe one day soon, you’ll be able to send a Raid Pass with a “good luck” message to your buddy right from the game.
