Guide to Twitch Raids: How to Spread the Love and Gain Followers

16 March 2025

Twitch raids are like the ultimate party trick of the streaming world. Imagine you’ve just wrapped up your stream, but instead of saying, "Alright, bye, see ya later," you jump into someone else’s stream with your entire community in tow. Boom—instant hype, overflowing chat activity, and the chance to make someone’s day. But raids aren’t just a feel-good moment; they’re also a powerful way to network, grow your audience, and build tighter bonds within the Twitch community.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Twitch raids—what they are, how to do them right, and how they can help you gain more followers. So, grab a snack, get cozy, and let’s dive into it.

What Exactly Are Twitch Raids?

First things first—what is a Twitch raid? Simply put, a Twitch raid is when one streamer ends their stream by sending their viewers over to another streamer’s channel. It’s like leaving the party at your house and taking everyone to an after-party at someone else’s. The goal? To share the love, support fellow streamers, and keep the energy alive.

Raids are baked right into Twitch’s features—there’s even a handy "raid" button that makes it super simple to initiate one. When you raid someone, your viewers automatically get transferred to their channel, letting them experience a new streamer they might not have discovered otherwise.

Why Should You Raid?

You might be thinking, "Okay, but why should I raid someone?" Oh, let me count the ways. Raids are the Swiss Army knife of Twitch community building. Here’s why they’re such a big deal:

1. Show Love to Fellow Streamers

Raids are a fantastic way to give back to the Twitch community. Whether you’re shining a spotlight on smaller streamers, celebrating your friends, or just hyping up someone whose content you admire, raids allow you to support others in a meaningful way.

2. Grow Your Network

Raiding isn’t just about being nice—it’s also a smart move for your channel. When you raid, it’s like ringing the doorbell and saying, "Hey, I exist!" to another streamer and their community. If the streamer (and their viewers) vibe with you, they might check out your channel and become followers.

3. Build Relationships with Your Viewers

Your audience loves being part of something bigger. Raiding gives them that sense of community and belonging. Plus, it’s exciting! You’re not just ending your stream—you’re leading them on an adventure.

4. Gain Followers

Here’s the kicker—raiding can help you gain followers. When you raid, you're exposing yourself to a new group of people who might love your vibe. If you play your cards right (more on that later), those new faces could turn into loyal followers.

How to Raid on Twitch: Step-by-Step Guide

Alright, so how do you actually raid someone? It’s easier than you think. Let me break it down for you.

Step 1: Pick Your Raid Target

Before you raid, you’ll need to decide who you want to raid. Here are some tips:
- Go Small: Smaller streamers often appreciate raids because it can make a huge impact on their channel. If you’re a smaller streamer yourself, this can help you stand out in their community.
- Go Similar: Choose someone who streams in a similar category (like the same game or genre). This increases the chance that their audience will enjoy your content too.
- Go Friendly: If you have streamer friends, support them with a raid! They might return the favor down the line.

Step 2: Type the Command

Twitch makes raiding super simple. When you’re ready to raid, type the following command into your chat:

/raid [channel name]

Replace `[channel name]` with the username of the streamer you want to raid. For example, if you want to raid someone named "GamerGirl101," you’d type `/raid GamerGirl101`.

Step 3: Get Hyped

Once you type the command, Twitch will give you a countdown. During this time, you can hype up your viewers and let them know who you’re raiding. Try saying something like:
- "Alright gang, we’re about to raid an awesome streamer. Let’s blow up their chat with good vibes and emotes!"
- "We’re raiding my friend [streamer name]! Show them how amazing our community is!"

Step 4: Hit the Button

When the countdown ends, Twitch will automatically send your viewers off to the raided channel. And just like that, you’ve successfully raided!

Twitch Raid Etiquette: Don’t Be THAT Streamer

Okay, raiding is fun and all, but there’s a right way to do it. You don’t want to be the person who storms into a channel and makes it awkward. Follow these golden rules, and you’ll be golden:

1. Be Respectful

Remember, you’re entering someone else’s space. Be polite and follow their channel rules. If they’ve got a "no spam" policy, make sure your community knows to chill with the emotes.

2. Stay for a Bit

Don’t just raid and ghost. Stick around for a little while to engage with the streamer and their chat. It shows that you’re genuinely interested and not just using the raid as a self-promo tool.

3. Don’t Make It About You

Sure, you just brought a bunch of people into their chat, but don’t make the raid all about you. Let the streamer have the spotlight—they worked hard for it!

4. Avoid Raiding Out of Obligation

Don’t raid just because you feel like you "have to." Viewers can sense when something feels forced. Raid because you genuinely want to support another creator.

Tips for Successful Raids That Win Hearts—and Followers

Want to turn your raids into a growth tool for your channel? Here are some pro tips:

1. Choose Your Timing Wisely

Raids work best when they feel natural. If you’re wrapping up your stream and notice someone you like is live, that’s a perfect moment to raid. But don’t force it—if no one you want to raid is online, it’s okay to skip it.

2. Hype Up Your Community

The more excited your audience is about the raid, the more energy they’ll bring to the new stream. Build up the hype before hitting that raid button!

3. Make a Good First Impression

When you raid someone, introduce yourself in their chat. A simple, "Hey, I’m [your name]. Just ended my stream and thought we’d come hang out with you!" is enough to break the ice.

4. Encourage Follows—but Gently

You don’t want to come across as pushy, but you can nudge your community to check out the new streamer. Try saying, "If you like their vibe, drop them a follow!"

What Streamers Should You Raid?

Not sure who to raid? Here’s a short list of raid-worthy streamers:
- Smaller Streamers: Supporting someone with just a handful of viewers can make their day—and lead to lifelong friends.
- Your Followers: Some of your viewers might also stream. Raiding them is a fun way to strengthen your community.
- Streamers with Similar Games/Content: If you’re a Fortnite streamer, raid another Fortnite streamer. It’s like recommending a show to a friend—they’re more likely to enjoy it if they already love the genre.

The Ripple Effect of Raids

What’s really cool about raids? It’s not just about that one moment. Raiding creates what I like to call the "ripple effect" in the Twitch ecosystem. One good raid can lead to:
- New friendships
- Future collaborations
- More exposure for your channel
- And if you’re lucky, a return raid!

Raids can be the start of something much bigger than just a few extra views.

Final Thoughts

Twitch raids are like the high-fives of the streaming world—simple, effective, and guaranteed to put a smile on someone’s face. Whether you’re raiding a friend, a fellow streamer, or someone completely new, you have the power to build connections, grow your audience, and spread positivity. So, the next time you’re about to end your stream, don’t just click “End Stream” and call it a day. Grab your community, find someone awesome to support, and raid the night away.

Remember: streaming is all about community. And nothing builds community quite like showing love to others. So go forth, raid wisely, and watch the magic happen.