How do you raid someone on Twitch?

To raid on Twitch, type '/raid [username]' in your chat (e.g., '/raid streamername'). A 10-second countdown begins, then your viewers are automatically redirected to the target channel. You can only raid while you're live, and there's a minimum viewer count of 1.

What's the difference between a raid and a host on Twitch?

Raids actively send your viewers to another channel with a notification in their chat, while hosting (now deprecated) displayed another stream on your channel page. Raids are interactive community events that transfer your audience; hosting was passive viewing on your page. Twitch removed the host feature in 2022, making raids the only way to share viewership.

Can you raid while offline?

No, you can only raid while actively streaming. Raids are designed as a way to end your stream by sending your community to another live channel. You must be live with at least one viewer to initiate a raid.

Is there a raid cooldown on Twitch?

Yes, there's a 10-minute cooldown between raids. This prevents raid spam and ensures raids remain meaningful events. You can cancel a raid during the 10-second countdown by typing '/unraid' if you change your mind.

How do I block raids on my channel?

Go to Creator Dashboard > Settings > Stream > Raids. You can choose to allow raids from everyone, only friends and teammates, or block all incoming raids. You can also block specific users from raiding you through their profile.

Twitch Raids Explained: Complete Guide to Raiding, Hosting & Community Building (2026)

Key Takeaways

Raids transfer your viewers to another live channel at the end of your stream using the /raid username command.
10-second countdown allows cancellation via /unraid before execution.
Community building tool - raids create networking opportunities and expose your viewers to new content.
Growth strategy - consistent, thoughtful raiding builds relationships that lead to reciprocal raids.
Raid settings in Creator Dashboard let you control who can raid your channel.

Raids are one of Twitch's most powerful community-building features, allowing streamers to send their entire audience to another live channel at the end of a broadcast. Unlike passive features, raids create active, memorable moments that benefit everyone involved - the raiding streamer gives a graceful stream ending, the receiving streamer gets an audience boost, and viewers discover new content they might love.

According to Twitch's official documentation, raids were introduced to "help streamers support one another" by sharing audiences. This guide covers everything about raids: the mechanics, best practices, growth strategies, and how to handle both giving and receiving raids effectively.

What Is a Twitch Raid?

A raid is a Twitch feature that allows a live streamer to send their viewers directly to another live channel. When you raid someone, your stream ends and your viewers are automatically redirected to the target channel, where a notification appears in chat announcing the incoming raid.

Core Raid Mechanics

Understanding how raids work technically helps you use them effectively:

Initiation: Type /raid username in your chat while live
Countdown: A 10-second countdown begins, visible to your chat
Execution: After countdown, viewers are redirected to the target channel
Notification: The receiving channel sees "[Your name] is raiding with [X] viewers!"
Stream ends: Your stream concludes after the raid executes

The process is intentionally simple - one command transforms your stream ending into a community event that supports another creator.

Who Can Raid?

Raids are available to all Twitch streamers, regardless of Affiliate or Partner status:

Any streamer can initiate a raid while live
Minimum requirement: At least 1 viewer (yourself counts)
Must be live: Cannot raid from an offline channel
Target must be live: You can only raid active streams

This accessibility makes raids a universal tool for community building, available from day one of your streaming journey.

How to Raid on Twitch

Executing a raid is straightforward, but understanding all the options helps you raid smoothly.

The Raid Command

The primary method uses the /raid chat command:

Command	Function
`/raid username`	Starts a raid to the specified channel
`/unraid`	Cancels a pending raid during countdown

Example: /raid CozyGamer would initiate a raid to the channel "CozyGamer".

Raiding via Stream Manager

You can also raid through the Twitch interface:

Open Stream Manager (dashboard.twitch.tv while live)
Click the "Raid Channel" quick action
Search for or select a channel from suggestions
Confirm to start the countdown

According to Twitch Creator Camp, the Stream Manager interface offers raid suggestions based on similar content, making it easier to find relevant channels.

The 10-Second Countdown

After initiating a raid, a countdown provides opportunity for last-minute changes:

Chat notification: Your viewers see the countdown and target channel
Cancellation window: Type /unraid to cancel before execution
Viewer preparation: Gives audience time to prepare for the transition
Hype building: Creates anticipation for the raid moment

Use this time to verbally hype the raid - tell your viewers about the channel you're sending them to and why they'll enjoy it.

Raid Settings and Controls

Twitch provides controls for both sending and receiving raids, allowing you to customize your raid experience.

Configuring Incoming Raids

Access these settings through Creator Dashboard > Settings > Stream > Raids:

Setting	Effect	Best For
Allow raids from everyone	Any channel can raid you	Most streamers (default)
Friends and teammates only	Only approved contacts can raid	Streamers wanting controlled raids
Block all raids	No incoming raids permitted	Rarely recommended

Blocking Specific Raiders

If you experience negative raids from specific channels:

Visit the offending user's profile
Click the three dots menu
Select "Block" - this prevents them from raiding you
Report if the raid was harassing or violated Terms of Service

Twitch's Safety Center documentation provides guidance on handling hate raids and malicious raid behavior.

Raid Cooldown

Twitch implements a cooldown to prevent raid abuse:

10-minute cooldown: After a raid, you must wait before raiding again
Per-session limit: Applies each time you go live
No target restrictions: You can raid the same channel on different streams

The cooldown ensures raids remain special events rather than spam, maintaining their impact and meaning.

Raid vs Host: Understanding the Difference

Many streamers remember hosting and wonder how it differs from raiding. Understanding this history helps clarify raids' current role.

What Was Hosting?

Hosting was a feature that allowed your channel page to display another streamer's content:

Passive viewing: Viewers stayed on your channel page while watching another stream
Could work offline: You didn't need to be live to host
Auto-host lists: Channels could automatically host from a predefined list
No notification: The hosted streamer often didn't know they were being hosted

According to Twitch's official blog announcement, hosting was discontinued in October 2022.

Why Raids Replaced Hosting

Twitch chose to focus on raids because they better serve community goals:

Feature	Hosting (Deprecated)	Raids
Viewer Location	Stay on host's page	Move to target's page
Notification	None to target	Prominent chat message
Engagement	Passive viewing	Active community transfer
Requires Live Stream	No	Yes
Community Impact	Low visibility	Memorable event

Raids create more meaningful connections between communities, which aligns better with Twitch's focus on community building.

Receiving Raids: Best Practices

How you handle incoming raids significantly impacts whether those viewers stay, follow, or return. First impressions during a raid are crucial.

Immediate Raid Response

When you see "[Channel] is raiding with [X] viewers!" in chat:

Acknowledge immediately: Stop what you're doing and welcome the raiders
Thank the raider by name: "Thank you so much [Raider]! Welcome everyone!"
Introduce yourself briefly: New viewers need context about your content
Engage the raiders: Ask a question or invite them to participate in current activity

Raid Alerts and Notifications

Many streamers use alerts to enhance the raid experience:

Visual alerts: On-screen graphics celebrating the incoming raid
Sound effects: Audio cues that make raids feel celebratory
Text-to-speech: Automatic announcement of raider's name and viewer count
Chatbot messages: Automated welcome messages in chat

Tools like StreamElements, Streamlabs, and Twitch extensions can create custom raid alert experiences.

The Raid Appreciation Formula

Maximize raid retention with this approach:

Acknowledge: Thank the raider within 30 seconds of arrival
Context: Give a 10-second summary of what you're streaming
Engage: Ask raiders a question ("What were you watching before?")
Include: Make raiders part of current activity immediately
Follow-up: Mention the raider's channel positively throughout the stream

Raid Etiquette for Streamers

Following unwritten rules of raid etiquette builds your reputation and leads to better community relationships.

Who to Raid

Choosing raid targets thoughtfully benefits everyone:

Similar content: Your viewers are more likely to enjoy similar streamers
Similar size or smaller: Small channels appreciate raids more than huge ones
Active streamers: Choose channels in the middle of their stream, not about to end
Welcoming communities: Check if the channel seems friendly and interactive
Friends and networking contacts: Raid people you want to build relationships with

Raid Timing Considerations

When you raid matters as much as who you raid:

Don't raid channels about to end: Check how long they've been live
Avoid mid-boss fights: If someone's in an intense moment, they may miss your raid
Consider time zones: Late-night streamers may have fewer raid options
Give warning: Tell your chat who you're raiding and why before initiating

After the Raid

Good etiquette extends beyond the raid moment:

Stick around: Stay in the raided channel for at least a few minutes
Engage in chat: Model good viewer behavior for your community
Follow if you enjoy: Genuine follows from streamers are valuable
No self-promotion: Don't advertise your channel in their chat after raiding

Using Raids for Channel Growth

Strategic raiding is one of the most effective networking tools available to Twitch streamers. Understanding how to leverage raids for growth requires consistency and genuine relationship building.

Building a Raid Network

Consistent raiding creates a network of mutually supportive streamers:

Raid regularly: End every stream with a raid, making it habit
Track who you raid: Keep a list to ensure you're building genuine relationships
Reciprocity develops naturally: Streamers you raid often will start raiding you back
Join communities: Discord servers for your category often organize raid trains

Raid Trains

Raid trains are organized events where multiple streamers raid each other in sequence:

How they work: Streamer A raids B, B raids C, C raids D, etc.
Community organized: Usually coordinated through Discord or Twitter
Mutual benefit: Everyone gets exposure to new audiences
Category-specific: Often organized within game or content categories

Participating in raid trains introduces you to creators you might not find otherwise and builds your network faster than individual raiding.

The Compound Effect

Consistent raiding creates compounding returns over time:

Month 1: You raid others, building recognition
Month 2: Some streamers start raiding you back
Month 3: You're part of an informal raid network
Month 6: Regular incoming raids from multiple trusted streamers

This organic growth is more valuable than follower counts because raid viewers are pre-qualified - they're already engaged Twitch users who enjoy similar content.

Raid Safety and Moderation

While most raids are positive, understanding safety tools protects your community from malicious raids.

Understanding Hate Raids

"Hate raids" are malicious raids designed to harass streamers:

Bot accounts: Often involve automated bot accounts flooding chat
Targeted harassment: May include slurs, threats, or spam
Organized attacks: Sometimes coordinated against specific streamer demographics

Twitch has implemented tools to combat hate raids, documented in their safety moderation guide.

Protection Tools

Use these features to protect your channel:

Follower-only chat: Requires following for specified time before chatting
Email/phone verification: Require verified accounts to chat
AutoMod: Twitch's automatic moderation catches many harmful messages
Banned word lists: Block specific terms from appearing in chat
Moderators: Having active mods during streams provides human oversight

Emergency Mode

If you experience a hate raid:

Enable Emote-only mode: /emoteonly immediately stops text spam
Enable Subscriber-only mode: /subscribers limits chat to subs
Clear chat: /clear removes harmful messages
Document: Screenshot for reports
Report: Use Twitch's reporting tools with evidence

Raids and Monetization

While raids themselves don't directly generate revenue, they can significantly impact your channel's earning potential.

Indirect Revenue Impact

Raids influence monetization through several channels:

Viewer discovery: Raiders who stay may become subscribers
Community growth: Larger communities generate more Bits and subs
Average concurrent viewers: More viewers means better ad revenue potential
Affiliate/Partner progress: Raids help meet milestone requirements

Hype Trains and Raids

Large raids can trigger Hype Trains on the receiving channel:

Enthusiastic raiders: Incoming raiders may sub or cheer upon arrival
Momentum creation: The excitement of a raid can spark support
Community celebration: Raids create perfect Hype Train trigger moments

However, raids don't directly contribute to Hype Train progress - only the subsequent Bits and subscriptions count.

Common Raid Mistakes to Avoid

Learning from common mistakes helps you raid more effectively.

Mistakes When Raiding

Raiding without context: Always tell your chat who you're raiding and why
Raiding offline channels: Double-check the target is actually live
Raiding very large streamers: Your raid may go unnoticed in a stream with 10k+ viewers
Expecting reciprocation: Raid because you want to support, not as a transaction
Raiding controversial content: Consider if the content fits your community's values

Mistakes When Receiving Raids

Ignoring raids: Always acknowledge incoming raids, even small ones
Over-thanking: A brief, genuine thank you is better than excessive gushing
Begging for follows: Let people follow naturally; don't immediately ask
Abandoning your content: Return to your stream activity after acknowledging the raid
Not recognizing the raider's community: The raiders are people too, not just numbers

Raid Analytics and Tracking

Understanding your raid patterns helps optimize your networking strategy.

What to Track

Outgoing raids: Who you raid and when
Incoming raids: Who raids you and viewer count
Retention: How many raid viewers stay vs. leave immediately
Follows from raids: New followers gained during raid windows
Reciprocal relationships: Who raids you back after you raid them

Using Data to Improve

Analyze your raid data to optimize:

Best raid times: When do you receive the most retention from raids?
Content match: Which types of channels send viewers who stay longest?
Networking ROI: Which relationships generate the most value?
Growth correlation: How do raid patterns correlate with overall growth?

Conclusion

Raids are more than just a way to end your stream - they're one of Twitch's most powerful networking and community-building tools. When used thoughtfully, raids create genuine connections between streamers and expose audiences to new content they'll love.

The key to successful raiding is authenticity. Raid channels you genuinely enjoy, welcome incoming raiders warmly, and focus on building real relationships rather than transactional exchanges. Over time, consistent raiding creates a network of mutually supportive streamers who help each other grow.

Whether you're a new streamer looking to build your first connections or an established creator optimizing your community strategy, raids offer value at every stage. Start ending your streams with thoughtful raids, and watch your network - and your community - grow.

Related Resources

Twitch Affiliate vs Partner Guide - Understanding growth milestones
Hype Train Complete Guide - Community engagement events
Channel Points Guide - Building viewer loyalty
Stream Growth Calculator - Project your channel's growth trajectory

Written by James Miller — Twitch Partner & Streaming Expert with 5+ years of experience. Learn more about the author.