How do I find a raid train to join?

Ask in your category's Whatnot seller communities, Discords, and Facebook groups, or browse a raid train directory. Many hosts share a single link where you can see the train and claim a slot.

Do I need a minimum number of followers to ride a raid train?

Not usually. Hosts care more about whether you'll be live and ready on time and whether your inventory fits the train's category than about your follower count.

What happens when it's my turn in a raid train?

The seller before you raids into your live show, sending their viewers to you. You sell for your slot, then raid into the next seller so the audience keeps moving down the train.

How to join a raid train on Whatnot

New to raid trains? Here's how to find one, claim your slot, prepare your show, and be ready the moment it's your turn — so you make the most of the audience.

Riding a raid train is the fastest free way to put your show in front of new buyers. If you’ve never done it, here’s exactly how to get on one and make it count.

1. Find a train

Raid trains are organized inside seller communities — your category’s Whatnot circles, Discords, Facebook groups, and group chats. The easiest way is to browse trains that are open for riders and claim a slot directly. You can find a train to join here, or ask hosts in your niche when their next one runs.

When you’re choosing a train, look for:

A category that matches your inventory so the incoming viewers actually want what you sell.
A host who runs things on time — a well-organized train is worth far more than a big chaotic one.
A slot time you can reliably be live for.

2. Claim your slot

Once you find a train, claim your spot and note your start time, not just your position in the order. Add it to your calendar so it doesn’t sneak up on you. With Backstage Raid Trains, claiming a slot also means you’ll get a heads-up the moment you’re up next — so you’re never caught off guard.

3. Prepare your show

The audience arrives all at once, so make a strong first impression:

Have your best, most accessible items ready for the start of your slot.
Set the energy high — incoming viewers decide in seconds whether to stay.
Welcome the raid out loud and thank the seller who sent them.
Make it easy to follow you — call it out, pin a deal, give new viewers a reason to stick around.

4. Be ready when you’re up

Nothing wastes a raid like landing on a show that isn’t live yet. Be streaming before the seller ahead of you raids in, so the audience arrives to an active show. If your train tells you when you’re next, use that as your cue to go live.

5. Raid into the next seller

At the end of your slot, raid the next person in the order so the train keeps moving. Double-check they’re live before you send your viewers — handing the audience to a dead show breaks the chain for everyone after you.

6. Keep the followers you earned

The point of riding isn’t just the live sales — it’s the new followers who come back to your future shows. Thank new buyers by name, deliver fast, and they’ll remember you. A single good raid can seed weeks of repeat buyers.

A quick word on etiquette

Trains run on trust. Be on time, be ready, raid into the right person, and don’t poach. For the full list, read raid train etiquette: the unwritten rules.

Next steps

Curious how the whole thing works? Start with what is a raid train.
Ready to ride? Find a train to join.