You've been there. It’s 9:00 PM, the weather is finally cooling down, and you’ve got a Remote Raid Pass burning a hole in your virtual pocket. You open the app, scan the horizon, and... nothing. Just empty gyms and the gentle glow of PokeStops. It’s frustrating because the game doesn’t exactly give you a closing time sign. So, when do raids stop in Pokemon Go, and why does Niantic insist on pulling the plug just when many adults actually have free time to play?
The short answer is that raids generally wrap up around 9:30 PM local time. But "generally" is doing a lot of heavy lifting there. Depending on where you live in the world, your gym might go dark as early as 9:00 PM or stay active until nearly 10:00 PM. It’s not a global switch that flips all at once; it’s a rolling curtain that follows the sun.
The Clock is Ticking: Understanding the Raid Schedule
The standard rhythm of a Pokemon Go day starts early. Eggs begin flickering into existence on top of gyms around 5:00 AM. By 6:00 AM, the first Tier 1 through Tier 5 bosses are ready for battle. This early bird special is great if you're a jogger or a commuter, but for the night owls, the cutoff feels abrupt.
Usually, the last raid eggs of the day spawn around 7:45 PM or 8:00 PM. Since eggs take 45 minutes to hatch and the raid boss sticks around for another 45 minutes, you’re looking at a hard stop before 10:00 PM. If you see a Mega Rayquaza or a Dialga egg pop up at 7:50 PM, that’s likely your "last call" for the evening.
Niantic has never been super vocal about the why behind this, but the community consensus points to a mix of safety concerns and local noise ordinances. They don't want crowds of fifty people huddling in a dark public park at midnight. It’s a liability thing. Plus, in many regions, parks technically close at dusk or 10:00 PM. Niantic plays it safe by keeping their game hours roughly aligned with when society expects people to be heading home.
Why Your Time Zone Might Be Different
Time zones are weird in Pokemon Go. While most of the world follows the 9:30 PM-ish cutoff, some regions have seen variations. For a long time, raids in Europe and parts of Asia seemed to run slightly later than those in the United States.
There’s also the "Raid Hour" factor. Every Wednesday from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, almost every gym hosts a high-level raid. On these days, the sheer volume of raids makes it feel like the action is lasting longer, but the final cutoff remains the same. You won't find a Raid Hour boss lingering at 11:00 PM just because the event was busy.
When Do Raids Stop During Special Events?
Everything I just said? Throw half of it out the window when a "Raid Day" or a "Go Fest" happens.
During massive global events, Niantic occasionally tweaks the clock. We’ve seen instances during City Safari events or Go Fest where raids have been extended slightly to accommodate the influx of players. However, even then, they rarely push past the 10:00 PM barrier. They really, really like that 10:00 PM limit.
Remote Raiding changed the game, though. Honestly, it’s the only reason the "closing time" doesn't matter as much as it used to. If it's midnight in New York, it's midday in Tokyo. By using apps like PokeGenie or checking Discord servers, you can raid 24/7. Your local gyms might be asleep, but someone, somewhere, is staring at a 5-star egg about to hatch.
The Mystery of the Late Spawns
Have you ever seen a raid active at 10:15 PM? It happens. It’s rare, but it happens. Usually, this is the result of a "forced" spawn or a glitch following a server update. Sometimes, if an event ends at 8:00 PM, the game refresh triggers a wave of new eggs that ignore the standard sunset logic.
Don't count on it, though. If you're planning a late-night grind, you're better off looking West.
The Curfew Controversy
A lot of players hate the raid curfew. They argue that adults work late, or that in hot climates like Arizona or Spain, it’s literally too dangerous to play during the day. Playing at 11:00 PM is the only way to avoid heatstroke in July.
Pokemon Go researcher "The Silph Road" (before their primary site sunsetted) documented thousands of raid start and end times. Their data consistently showed that while spawn rates vary, the "end" is remarkably consistent. The game wants you off the streets at night. It’s a fundamental design choice that prioritizes the "family-friendly" image over the hardcore night-grinder’s schedule.
Maximizing Your Evening Raids
If you're trying to squeeze in one last battle before the gyms go dark, you need a strategy. You can't just wander around hoping for the best at 8:15 PM.
- Watch the Egg Timer: If you don't see an egg by 8:00 PM, that gym is likely done for the night.
- Use the "Nearby" Tab: The raid radar has a decent range. If you see a silhouette, haul it over there immediately.
- Camp Local Hotspots: Areas with high gym density (like downtown squares or large parks) are statistically more likely to have that one "late" egg.
- Go Remote: Honestly, just save your gold for Remote Passes if you’re a night person. The stress of chasing a closing gym isn't worth it.
It’s also worth noting that Shadow Raids follow the same rules. Those high-tier Shadow Mewtwos or Birds aren't going to stick around late just because they’re "edgy." They go to bed when the standard bosses do.
The Impact of Local Gym Hours
Did you know some gyms have custom hours? This is a little-known fact that catches people off guard. Some locations, particularly sponsored gyms or those in sensitive areas like cemeteries or private malls, have requested "quiet hours."
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In these cases, a gym might stop spawning raids at 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM, regardless of what the rest of the city is doing. If you notice a specific gym is always empty in the evening, it’s not bad luck. It’s likely been manually restricted by Niantic at the request of the property owner.
Actionable Steps for the Late-Night Trainer
So, the sun is down, and you want to catch something legendary. What do you actually do?
First, check the time. If it’s past 8:00 PM, stop looking at your local map and start looking at your friends list. See who is online in different time zones. Sending a gift to someone in Australia or Hawaii is a great way to signal that you’re "active" and looking for an invite.
Second, leverage third-party apps. Sites like LeekDuck or apps like PokeGenie allow you to queue for raids globally. If it’s 11:00 PM in London, you can easily hop into a raid in San Francisco. It costs a bit more in terms of pass value, but it beats driving around a dark park and getting side-eyed by security.
Third, prep for the morning. If you missed the evening window, remember that the "reset" happens fast. Those 6:00 AM raids are often the easiest to solo or duo because the servers aren't bogged down, and the gym turn-over is lower.
Raids aren't going to be 24/7 locally anytime soon. Niantic has doubled down on their "get out and explore (safely)" mantra for years. Understanding that 9:30 PM is the functional "last call" saves you gas, time, and the disappointment of staring at a grayed-out gym. Plan your raids for the late afternoon, or get comfortable with the global remote raiding scene to keep your Pokedex growing after dark.
Next Steps for Efficient Raiding:
Check your local "Campfire" app map around 7:30 PM. This is the "Golden Hour" where you can see every final egg spawning in your city. It’s the most effective way to plot a route for those last-minute captures before the 9:00 PM shutdown begins. If you’re eyeing a specific Legendary, this 30-minute window is your final chance to find a lobby before you have to rely on remote invites.