Pokémon Go Gyms: How to defend, attack, earn coins, get stardust

Is there anything else I can do at a Gym?

There are two other activities you can perform at a Gym: Spinning a PokéStop, and Raid Battles.

PokéStops

Now, Gyms are also usable as PokéStops. They work exactly like regular PokéStops, though you tend to get fewer items per spin. Access the PokéStop on a Gym by first opening the Gym, then tapping the icon in the bottom right-hand corner to move up to the PokéStop and spin like normal.

Raid Battles

Raid Battles are detailed in other guides, but their effect on how Gyms work is thus: you'll occasionally see an "egg" above a Gym with a timer, which indicates a Raid will appear when the timer runs out. While the egg is above the Gym and the Raid has not yet started, you can continue using the Gym as normal.

When the Raid begins, you'll see the Raid Pokémon above the Gym, and it will appear when you open the Gym. While the Raid is open, you can still use the Gym as a PokéStop, but you cannot add Pokémon to the Gym, battle the Gym, or otherwise interact with it as a Gym. You can participate in the Raid battle, but even once you finish the Raid, you'll have to wait for the Raid to conclude before the Gym will return to normal.

EX Raid Battles

In addition to normal Raid Battles, some select Gyms also host EX Raid Battles. EX Raids are unique from other Raids in that you can only participate if you have an invitation. Invitations can be gained by battling normal Raids at EX Raid Gyms and can be shared between friends. Not all Gyms host EX Raids but luckily, some ambitious players have developed Maps that list all Gyms and specify which are EX Raid Gyms. You can read more about that in our guide on Pokémon Go Maps and Trackers.

Rene Ritchie
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Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.