Get ready to battle Zekrom, a formidable Tier 5 raid boss in Pokémon GO! This guide provides the essential information you need to conquer Zekrom, focusing on its weaknesses and the top counters to use in your raid team.
Zekrom, the Deep Black Pokémon, is a dual-type Dragon/Electric Legendary Pokémon originally discovered in the Unova region. As a Tier 5 raid boss in Pokémon GO, Zekrom presents a significant challenge, demanding strategic team composition and knowledge of its weaknesses. This guide will equip you with the necessary tools to effectively battle and defeat Zekrom in raids. Knowing its type weaknesses to Dragon, Fairy, Ground, and Ice-type attacks is key. Assemble a team of powerful counters, paying attention to weather conditions that may boost certain types. Prepare for an electrifying encounter and good luck, trainers!
Zekrom’s Weaknesses and Resistances
Understanding Zekrom’s type matchups is crucial for successful raids. Exploit its weaknesses to Dragon, Fairy, Ground, and Ice attacks, while avoiding its resistances to Electric, Grass, Steel, and Water-type moves for optimal damage output.
Type Weaknesses (Dragon, Fairy, Ground, Ice)
Zekrom, a Dragon and Electric dual-type Pokémon, possesses specific vulnerabilities that astute trainers can exploit in raid battles. Its Achilles’ heel lies in its susceptibility to Dragon, Fairy, Ground, and Ice-type attacks. These elemental weaknesses provide a strategic advantage, allowing players to inflict substantial damage with the right Pokémon and move combinations. To maximize effectiveness, focus on assembling a raid team composed of powerful counters that can leverage these type weaknesses. By exploiting Zekrom’s vulnerabilities, trainers can significantly increase their chances of emerging victorious in these challenging encounters.
Type Resistances
Understanding Zekrom’s resistances is crucial for formulating an effective raid strategy. As a dual-type Dragon and Electric Pokémon, Zekrom exhibits notable resilience against certain attack types. Specifically, it resists Electric, Grass, Steel, and Water-type moves, reducing the damage inflicted by these attacks. Avoiding these types of attacks is essential, as they will be significantly less effective against Zekrom. Instead, focus on utilizing Pokémon with Dragon, Fairy, Ground, or Ice-type moves to exploit its weaknesses. By carefully selecting your attackers and avoiding Zekrom’s resistances, you can optimize your damage output and increase your chances of success.
Top Zekrom Counters
To defeat Zekrom, you’ll need a powerful team. The top counters include Mega Rayquaza, Primal Groudon, Black Kyurem, White Kyurem and Mega Garchomp. These Pokémon can exploit Zekrom’s weaknesses, ensuring a swift victory.
Mega Rayquaza (Dragon Tail, Breaking Swipe/Hurricane)
Mega Rayquaza stands as the premier counter against Zekrom, boasting unmatched attack power and Dragon-type dominance. Its ideal moveset includes Dragon Tail as the Fast Move, providing consistent damage output. For Charged Moves, Breaking Swipe offers a balance of damage and utility, while Hurricane delivers massive damage, especially in windy weather.
Mega Rayquaza’s raw power allows it to quickly deplete Zekrom’s HP, making it an indispensable asset to any raid team. Ensure your Mega Rayquaza is powered up to maximize its effectiveness. Consider its dual typing when planning your strategy!
Primal Groudon (Mud Shot, Precipice Blades)
Primal Groudon is a top-tier Ground-type counter against Zekrom, leveraging its immense attack stat and powerful moves. Mud Shot serves as the preferred Fast Move, generating energy quickly for frequent Charged Move usage. Precipice Blades is the exclusive and devastating Charged Move, dealing massive Ground-type damage.
Primal Groudon’s Ground typing allows it to resist Electric-type attacks, providing additional survivability in the raid. Its sheer power and resilience make it a valuable asset for any team aiming to take down Zekrom efficiently. Remember to consider weather boosts for optimal performance in sunny conditions.
Black Kyurem
Black Kyurem, a Dragon and Ice-type Pokémon, stands out as a formidable counter against Zekrom. Its dual typing grants it access to powerful Dragon-type moves, exploiting Zekrom’s weakness effectively. While it’s also weak to Dragon-type attacks, its high attack stat allows it to dish out significant damage.
Equipping Black Kyurem with Dragon-type Fast and Charged moves maximizes its damage output against Zekrom. Be mindful of Zekrom’s moveset, as Dragon-type attacks can be risky. However, Black Kyurem’s raw power and STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus) make it a valuable asset in your raid team.
White Kyurem
White Kyurem, another Dragon and Ice-type legendary, mirrors Black Kyurem’s effectiveness against Zekrom. Sharing the same dual typing and access to powerful Dragon-type moves, White Kyurem can deal substantial damage. Like Black Kyurem, it’s also vulnerable to Dragon-type attacks, requiring careful consideration of Zekrom’s moveset.
However, White Kyurem distinguishes itself with a slightly different stat distribution. While both forms boast high attack stats, White Kyurem has a more balanced profile. This can translate to improved survivability in the raid, allowing it to withstand more damage. Equip it with Dragon-type moves for optimal performance.
Mega Garchomp (Mud Shot, Earth Power)
Mega Garchomp is a powerhouse Ground and Dragon-type Pokémon, making it an excellent choice against Zekrom. Its dual typing allows it to deal super effective damage with both Ground and Dragon-type moves, maximizing its offensive output. Mud Shot provides fast energy generation, enabling frequent use of Earth Power, a powerful Ground-type charged move.
While Mega Garchomp is vulnerable to Dragon-type attacks, its high attack stat and access to STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) Earth Power make it a top-tier counter. Be mindful of Zekrom’s moveset and potion accordingly. This makes it a good counter.
Shadow Pokemon Counters
Shadow Pokémon can be powerful counters in Zekrom raids due to their increased attack stat. However, they also take more damage, so strategic usage and proper potioning are crucial for success.
Shadow Groudon
Shadow Groudon stands as a top-tier Ground-type attacker, making it an excellent counter against Zekrom. With Mud Shot as its Fast Move and Precipice Blades as its Charged Move, Shadow Groudon deals significant damage. Its increased attack stat, typical of Shadow Pokémon, amplifies its effectiveness in raids. However, be mindful of its increased vulnerability; dodging charged moves and having enough healing items are key to keeping Shadow Groudon in the fight. While expensive to obtain and power up, the investment in Shadow Groudon pays off substantially in raid battles against Zekrom.
Shadow Salamence
Shadow Salamence can be a very strong counter to Zekrom, although it is a risky choice. Its Dragon-type moves, Dragon Tail and Outrage, deal significant damage to Zekrom. However, its dual Dragon/Flying typing makes it doubly weak to Ice-type moves. If Zekrom has access to powerful Ice-type moves, Shadow Salamence will faint rather quickly. If Zekrom has Dragon or Electric-type moves, Shadow Salamence can put out a lot of damage before going down. As with all Shadow Pokémon, its increased attack stat comes at the expense of defense, so dodging is essential to maximize its survival.
Shadow Garchomp
Shadow Garchomp stands as a premier Ground-type counter against Zekrom, wielding the potent combination of Mud Shot and Earth Power. Its Ground typing grants it resistance to Zekrom’s Electric-type attacks. The Shadow boost amplifies its attack power, enabling it to inflict substantial damage. However, Shadow Garchomp is still vulnerable to Zekrom’s Dragon-type moves, so strategic dodging is crucial to prolong its presence in the battle. Shadow Garchomp’s solid stats and powerful moveset make it a top-tier choice for trainers seeking to exploit Zekrom’s weaknesses and secure a swift victory.
Shadow Dragonite
Shadow Dragonite, with its Dragon Tail and Outrage moveset, presents a formidable Dragon-type counter to Zekrom. The Shadow boost amplifies its already impressive attack stat, allowing it to deal significant damage. However, its dual Dragon/Flying typing leaves it doubly vulnerable to Zekrom’s Dragon-type attacks, requiring skillful dodging to maximize its effectiveness. Shadow Dragonite’s high attack power makes it a valuable asset in the raid, but its fragility necessitates careful play. Despite its vulnerability, Shadow Dragonite remains a strong choice for trainers seeking to exploit Zekrom’s weaknesses and contribute substantial damage to the raid effort.
Shadow Mamoswine
Shadow Mamoswine, boasting the moveset Powder Snow and Avalanche, emerges as a powerful Ice-type counter against Zekrom. The Shadow boost significantly enhances its attack potential, enabling it to inflict substantial damage with its Ice-type moves. While Shadow Mamoswine lacks the Dragon-type advantage, its raw power and Ice-type attacks exploit Zekrom’s weakness effectively. However, trainers must be mindful of Shadow Mamoswine’s vulnerabilities, as it may not withstand Zekrom’s attacks as readily as some other counters. Despite this, its high damage output makes it a valuable addition to any raid team seeking to quickly defeat Zekrom and secure victory.
Other Viable Counters
Beyond the top-tier and Shadow Pokémon, several other viable counters can contribute significantly to a Zekrom raid. These include Pokémon with strong Dragon, Ground, or Ice-type attacks, providing diverse options for trainers.
Therian Forme Landorus (Mud Shot, Sandsear Storm)
Therian Forme Landorus, with the moves Mud Shot and Sandsear Storm, stands as a powerful Ground-type contender against Zekrom. Its Ground-type attacks exploit Zekrom’s weakness, dealing significant damage. Mud Shot provides fast energy generation, allowing for frequent Sandsear Storm usage. Landorus’s strong attack stat and access to these moves make it a valuable asset in any raid team. While it may not reach the heights of Primal Groudon, Therian Forme Landorus is still a reliable choice for trainers looking to exploit Zekrom’s vulnerabilities. Its accessibility and effectiveness make it a popular pick.
Palkia (Dragon Tail, Draco Meteor)
Palkia, wielding Dragon Tail and Draco Meteor, emerges as a strong Dragon-type option against Zekrom. Its Dragon-type attacks capitalize on Zekrom’s weakness, delivering substantial damage. Dragon Tail provides a balance of damage and energy generation, while Draco Meteor unleashes a devastating burst of damage. Palkia’s high attack stat and access to these powerful moves make it a valuable asset in any raid team. Although it may not surpass Mega Rayquaza in terms of raw power, Palkia remains a reliable choice for trainers seeking to exploit Zekrom’s vulnerabilities and secure victory.
Raid Strategy and Tips
To effectively battle Zekrom, consider team composition and weather conditions. Building a team with optimal type matchups and being mindful of weather boosts can significantly increase your chances of success against this powerful raid boss.
Team Composition
Crafting the perfect team is paramount for a successful Zekrom raid. Prioritize Pokémon with Dragon, Ground, Ice, and Fairy-type attacks to exploit Zekrom’s weaknesses. Mega Rayquaza, Primal Groudon, and powerful Shadow Pokémon like Shadow Groudon and Shadow Salamence can be invaluable assets; Balance your team with a mix of high DPS attackers and Pokémon with good survivability to withstand Zekrom’s attacks. Coordinate with your raid group to avoid overlapping types and ensure diverse coverage. Consider including a Mega Evolution to boost the attack power of your teammates’ Pokémon of the same type, further enhancing your raid efficiency. Remember to power up your Pokémon and unlock their optimal movesets for maximum impact.
Weather Considerations
Weather conditions in Pokémon GO significantly influence raid battles. Windy weather boosts Dragon-type attacks, making your Dragon-type counters even more potent against Zekrom. Sunny weather enhances Ground-type attacks, benefiting Pokémon like Primal Groudon and Therian Forme Landorus. Snow boosts Ice-type attacks, while Cloudy weather powers up Fairy-type moves. Be mindful of the weather forecast and adjust your team accordingly to maximize your damage output. However, be cautious of weather that boosts Zekrom’s moves, such as Rainy weather boosting Electric-type attacks. Adapt your strategy to the prevailing weather to gain an advantage and ensure a successful raid. Always prioritize safety and be aware of your surroundings while playing.
Zekrom’s Moveset
Knowing Zekrom’s moveset is crucial for a successful raid. Understanding its potential Fast and Charged moves allows you to anticipate attacks and build a team that can effectively resist or avoid them.
Possible Fast Moves
Zekrom, a Dragon and Electric-type Pokémon, has a couple of possible Fast Moves that it can use in raids. These moves determine how quickly it charges its powerful Charged Moves and can influence your strategy. Knowing these moves will help you anticipate incoming damage and choose your Pokémon accordingly.
One potential Fast Move is Dragon Breath, a Dragon-type attack that deals damage quickly. The other possible Fast Move is Charge Beam, an Electric-type move. Be prepared for either of these moves when you enter the raid battle.
Possible Charged Moves
Zekrom possesses a range of potent Charged Moves that can significantly impact the raid battle. Understanding these moves is crucial for effective dodging and strategic counter selection. One of its most fearsome Charged Moves is Outrage, a powerful Dragon-type attack that deals massive damage.
Zekrom also has access to Wild Charge, an Electric-type move, and Crunch, a Dark-type attack, providing diverse coverage. Additionally, it can use Draco Meteor, another devastating Dragon-type move. Being aware of these potential attacks will allow you to anticipate and mitigate damage, improving your chances of success against Zekrom.
Duoing Zekrom
Duoing Zekrom is possible with optimal conditions. It requires top-tier counters, high-level trainers, and favorable weather. Coordination and perfect dodging are essential for a successful duo raid attempt against Zekrom.
Requirements for a Duo Raid
To successfully duo a Zekrom raid, several requirements must be met. First, both trainers need a team of six extremely powerful Pokémon, ideally maxed out level 50 counters. These counters should exploit Zekrom’s weaknesses, focusing on Dragon, Ground, Ice, and Fairy-type attacks. Weather boost is extremely important, Windy or Sunny weather can significantly increase the damage output of your Pokémon.
Each trainer needs to know Zekrom’s move set and have excellent dodging skills to minimize damage taken. Having Best Friend status will grant a damage boost, making the battle easier. Communication is key, coordinate charged move usage.