Heads up, Pokémon Go players: the game's biggest update yet is on the way.
Developer Niantic on Monday temporarily disabled all Gyms to start rolling out the update. Once the update reaches all players around the world, Gyms will return.
"Gyms are undergoing a major facelift," Niantic wrote in a blog post. When they return, you'll be able to spin the Photo Disc at Gyms to acquire items, just like you do at PokeStops. Niantic said that Gyms are no longer based on Prestige and training. Instead, they now feature six permanent slots that can be filled by the controlling team's Pokémon. Each Pokémon assigned to these slots must be unique, so only one Blissey can be assigned to a gym at a time, for instance. Opposing teams will battle the Pokémon in the order they were assigned to the Gym.
"At the heart of the update is a new motivation system that will significantly change how you interact with Gyms," Niantic wrote. "When a Pokémon is assigned to a Gym, a motivation meter will be displayed. Pokémon assigned to defend a Gym lose motivation over time and as they are defeated in battle. As a Pokémon loses motivation, its CP will temporarily decrease, making it easier for opposing teams to defeat."
You can keep your team's Pokémon motivated by giving them berries. If a Pokémon loses all motivation, it will leave the Gym and return to its Trainer the next time it loses a battle.
You'll also soon be able to earn Gym Badges, which "serve as mementos of your Pokémon Go adventures."
In addition to all that, the game is getting a new Raid Battle feature at Gyms.
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"A Raid Battle is a cooperative gameplay experience that encourages you to work with other Trainers to defeat an extremely powerful Pokémon known as the Raid Boss," Niantic explained. "You and up to 20 other Trainers work together to defeat the Raid Boss. If you successfully defeat the Raid Boss within the five-minute time limit, you'll have the chance to catch an extra powerful Pokémon of your own!"
Those who successfully defeat a Raid Boss will also receive "a collection of rewards" including "Rare Candies, Golden Razz Berries, and two types of Technical Machines—Fast and Charged." When used on a Pokémon, a Rare Candy turns into that Pokémon's candy. Golden Razz Berries will increase your chances of catching Pokémon and can be given to a Pokémon assigned to a Gym to fully recover its motivation. Technical Munchies can be used to permanently teach a Pokémon a new Fast Attack or Charged Attack.
To battle the Raid Boss, you'll need a Raid Pass. You can get these for free by visiting Gyms, though you can only keep one Raid Pass at a time. There will also be "Premium Raid Passes" for sale in the in-game shop.