Link Charges are one of the newest resources in Pokémon GO, and they have quickly become important for players who enjoy taking on Mega Raids. Instead of relying only on Premium Battle Passes, Trainers can now use Link Charges in specific raid situations. Because they are a limited resource, knowing how to earn them efficiently can save both PokéCoins and valuable raid items over time.
What Are Link Charges?
Link Charges are a special in-game currency stored inside the Link Holder. Once you earn your first Link Charges, the Link Holder is automatically added to your Item Bag.
Unlike most items, Link Charges are mainly used for entering Mega Raids. They act as an alternative to Premium Battle Passes during eligible in-person raids. They cannot completely replace every raid requirement, so understanding their limitations is just as important as collecting them.
Ways To Get Link Charges
There are several official methods to collect Link Charges in Pokémon GO. Some are guaranteed, while others depend on luck or special events.
1. Complete Weekly Challenges
The easiest and most reliable free method is finishing the Weekly Challenge.
Each completed Weekly Challenge rewards a large amount of Link Charges, making it the primary source for free-to-play Trainers. If you regularly finish your weekly objectives, you can steadily build your supply without spending PokéCoins.
2. Open Gifts From Friends
Opening Gifts sent by friends gives you a chance to receive Link Charges.
This reward is not guaranteed, so you should not expect to earn them from every Gift. However, opening Gifts every day increases your chances over time while also providing useful items like Poké Balls and Stardust.
3. Participate In Special Research
Certain Special Research, Timed Research, seasonal events, and GO Pass rewards include Link Charges.
Whenever a new event begins, check the available research tasks carefully. Event rewards frequently rotate, and Link Charges may appear as milestone prizes during special celebrations.
4. Attend Community Ambassador Events
Official Community Ambassador meetups can reward Link Charges after checking in through Campfire.
These events are not available everywhere, but players who have access to them should take advantage of the bonus rewards whenever possible.
5. Buy Link Charges
Players who want immediate access can purchase Link Charges from the in-game Shop or the Pokémon GO Web Store whenever they are available.
Buying them is the fastest method, although free players can still collect enough over time through regular gameplay.
How To Use Link Charges
Link Charges are mainly designed for Mega Raids.
Here is how they work:
- Use them instead of a Premium Battle Pass during eligible in-person Mega Raids.
- A standard Mega Raid generally requires 150 Link Charges.
- Super Mega Raids require 200 Link Charges.
- Remote Super Mega Raids still require both Link Charges and a Remote Raid Pass.
- Your free daily Raid Pass is always used before the game offers the option to spend Link Charges.
Because of these rules, Link Charges work best after your daily free pass has already been used.
Link Holder Capacity
Your Link Charges are stored inside the Link Holder rather than taking up normal Item Bag space.
While the Link Holder has a storage limit, current versions of the game allow certain rewards to exceed the normal cap in specific situations. It is still a good habit to spend Link Charges regularly instead of letting them sit unused for long periods.
