Is Pokemon Go banning cheaters from the new raid battle feature? Here’s what you need to know about the rumored softbans.
Pokemon Go has struggled with cheaters throughout its lifespan. Spoofing has plagued the game since its inception and into generation 2, and gym trackers remain in use. Furthermore, Niantic has struggled to combat them effectively. Shadowbans and marks of shame can only do so much.
However, at least one player has reported being shadowbanned from new raiding features as well, in spite of not cheating. Should you be concerned about accidentally getting banned? Let’s check it out.
Pokemon Go raids softban: Reason for skepticism?
A trainer with the username Rokes insists they’ve been shadowbanned from participating in raids. The evidence? A video capture of them unsuccessfully capturing a 122 CP Magikarp in a raid battle — 15 times:
According to the thread Rokes posted in the Silph Road, they’ve participated in 15 raids to the same effect with similar outcomes. Rokes insists they’re playing the game legitimately, but other players were suspicious of the claims and evidence. One player even called Rokes’s evidence “anecdotal.”
However, other players confirmed similar issues, and all insisted they played legitimately. Rokes’s story was called into question largely because they insisted that they wouldn’t talk to Niantic support about the problem when another player suggested contacting them via email.
@PokemonGoApp @NianticHelp @PokemonGOespana 15 straight raids where the boss fled. Is this a Joke? Lost 15€ to not catch a single Pokemon? pic.twitter.com/dvU1CI5MZ9
— JohnnyRokes TL40 (@Johnnyl990) July 16, 2017
The odd thing about this shadow ban is that it appears to only affect the catch rate for raid Pokemon. Rokes confirmed that they were able to spin PokeStops and catch regular Pokemon. If you think you might have been accidentally shadowbanned, your best bet is to contact Niantic support. At the very least, if there is a new shadowban in effect, reporting what’s happened to you will help Niantic hone the parameters. If you’re using cheats and it happened to you though, good luck. Not much you can do about that without playing yourself.
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