Pokémon GO just added a new in-game currency that decides who gets to join the biggest raid fights: Link Charges. If you plan to tackle Mega Raids or the incoming Super Mega Raids (rolling out globally with the Kalos events at the end of February), you’ll need these charges to enter – and they change how raids feel for solo, remote and free-to-play trainers.
Niantic introduced Link Charges as a new gating mechanic for Mega-level content. Every trainer gets a free Link Holder item added to their bag that passively collects charges from social and event activities. To join an in-person Standard or Super Mega Raid you can either use a traditional Raid Pass or spend 200 Link Charges instead. If you want to join remotely, you still need a Remote Raid Pass plus 200 Link Charges – so remote participants pay both costs (reporting from Massively Overpowered and VidaExtra).
The system intentionally nudges social play. Link Charges are primarily earned through social activities: opening friend gifts, completing weekly challenges, Campfire check-ins at meetups, and similar community-driven tasks (JeuxVideo and VidaExtra detail these sources). There’s no public daily cap announced yet, and early coverage emphasizes free earning routes for active players.
Storage-wise, the Link Holder holds 600 charges by default. Coverage of the Kalos event notes temporary boosts tied to event tickets and Pass Go upgrades that can push that capacity higher during the event — early reports mention task-driven bonuses that can raise it into the thousands for a short window (figures like 1,000 or 1,600 have been cited in event write-ups and vary by source).
Finally, yes — Niantic is selling charges as part of event passes in some locations and during Kalos-ticketed events. That means trainers attending paid in-person Tour stops, or buying deluxe passes, can get a chunk of charges up front (JeuxVideo and Massively Overpowered coverage flags this as a major point of friction).
Super Mega Raids are a new, tougher tier debuting with Kalos. They’re designed for larger groups — Niantic and outlets report a recommended 7-8 players for these fights — and add mechanics like per-player shield breaks tied to Mega Pokémon. Because Link Charges gate access to these raids, they directly affect who can join tougher content and how often (VidaExtra and Massively Overpowered both flagged the group size and shield mechanics as core changes).
This caught my attention because it changes raid math at the moment of highest friction: cost and time. Community creators and sites are already raising flags. The complaint is straightforward — Niantic is adding another resource to manage, and it increases the effective cost of raiding, especially for remote players who now need both a Remote Raid Pass and 200 Link Charges per Mega attempt. That multiplies expenses for trainers who can’t attend in-person events. Sources agree that free earning paths exist, but they also point out that getting enough charges for repeated Mega 4-level pushes could be grindy or paywalled without the event ticket boosts.
There’s also some confusion around the new “Mega 4” level stamina or energy costs for powering up Mega Pokémon. Coverage calls it expensive — one outlet quoted a need for thousands of Mega Energy; others use different figures. Both the scale and the long-term resource balance are things Niantic will likely have to tune fast once Kalos goes global.
Link Charges are a new, required energy to enter Standard and Super Mega Raids. They’re stored in a free Link Holder (default 600 capacity), earned through social play and weekly tasks, and can be topped up by event-pass purchases during Kalos events. One raid costs 200 charges; remote play still requires a Remote Raid Pass on top of that. Sources agree on core mechanics, but details around event bundles and long-term tuning are still in flux — expect Niantic to respond after the global rollout.
Get access to exclusive strategies, hidden tips, and pro-level insights that we don't share publicly.
Ultimate Gaming Strategy Guide + Weekly Pro Tips