How to raid on Twitch – How, why and when to start a raid

If you’ve been on Twitch long enough, you’ve probably heard of raids or been raided. Beyond just a term for when groups of people head to another’s stream, raids are part of Twitch culture.

They’re also one of the ways communities on Twitch grow and support each other, with raids helping smaller streamers and elevating them to greater heights. But what exactly is a raid, and how do you raid on Twitch? Keep reading to find out more.

Raids on Twitch are when viewers of one channel move en masse to watch another streamer’s channel. When a streamer ends their stream, or sometimes during a stream, they’ll post a link or just tell their viewers to raid another stream. Those viewers then head to the other stream and make the viewer count rise much higher.

This is in comparison to a Host, where the viewers will stay on the original streamers’ channel and chat. In general, Raids are seen as better than hosting, as they bolster a streamer’s view count and chat more. But sometimes, a Host is preferable when you don’t want to disrupt another streamer’s chat or disturb their focus!

On Twitch, there are two main ways to raid. The first is to simply tell your viewers and type the destination/streamer you want to raid in chat. This is a more organic option but doesn’t notify the streamer through Twitch. It's also quicker and more casual. The 'traditional' way.

The second way is to use Twitch’s in-app raid options.

Type /raid followed by the channel you want to raid in chat to start a raid. Alternatively, you can set one up on your Twitch dashboard.

Your viewers will have 10 seconds to opt into the raid, you can then launch it by clicking the pop-up over your Twitch chat! Be warned it will end your stream. (So remember to say goodbye!)

A Twitch Raid can do wonders for your stream but you only have a small window to make the most of it. If you're engrossed in your game its possible you miss the alert in chat. This can happen often especially if you have a very active chat.

To avoid this you can install a free widget called Sidekick that has an auto-shoutout function. You can even play have it automatically shoutout Twitch clips of the raider! Which raider wouldn't love that? Sidekick is quick to setup and has several other unique functions so it's worth checking out.

The main reason people raid is because it feels good. It also can definitely help grow your stream. Putting your name in front of a new audience is crucial to sustaining growth! It's also a pretty wholesome way to end your stream by showing love to another creator.

Typically you want to raid either a very small streamer or a streamer of a similar size to you. The reason to raid a smaller streamer is because you can really make their day, and potentially some of your viewers might follow or sub, spreading the good vibes and your reputation!

Whereas raiding a similar size streamer helps you build a connection with them and their community, especially if they stream the same game you plan on playing! They will likely return the favour. It would also make it easier for you to reach out in the future about potentially playing together.

Raiding is usually a positive thing, but raids have sometimes been used maliciously. Hate-raids are an expressly banned behavior on Twitch, but that hasn’t stopped some from using them to galvanize and motivate an active community.

Overall, raids are still a good thing but should be used sparingly. It’s also bad etiquette to ask or beg for raids from larger streamers. Sometimes, smaller streamers will raid a more prominent streamer as a way of advertising. This is also frowned upon, but is still common practice.

You can also check out the latest raids and raid activity on Stream Chart’s Raid & Host finder tool. Simply type in the name of the streamer you want to see the raid activity of, and they’ll tell you if they’ve been raided or hosted recently. It’s a great way to see who supports your favorite streamers and perhaps throw some support back their way.