When Niantic announced the premier of Legendary Pokémon, they suggested powering-up our Pokémon to adequately counter the monstrous Raids we will soon face. This article will highlight what species need to be powered up to counter each specific Legendary.
Articuno
A Golem with Rock Throw and Stone Edge is the best counter to Articuno, dealing four times the normal damage. A good Electric-type (Jolteon, Ampharos, and Magneton), Fire-type (Flareon, Arcanine, etc.), and / or Steel-type (Scizor and Steelix) are other viable options.
zapdos
Zapdos will be harder to defeat than the other two Legendary birds. Being an Electric-type, the Flying-type's weakness to moves like Thunderbolt or Zap Cannon is negated. This means that the best counter is Golem with Rock Throw and Stone Edge.
Zapdos is also weak to Ice-type attacks. If you need some filler Pokémon, go with a Jynx that has Frost Breath and Avalanche. Jynx is a glass cannon, so be careful. Also, do not use Lapras. Lapras' Water-typing makes it weak to Electric attacks. Dragonite's Flying-type also makes it weak to Electric-type attacks.
Zapdos is also weak to Ice-type attacks. If you need some filler Pokémon, go with a Jynx that has Frost Breath and Avalanche. Jynx is a glass cannon, so be careful. Also, do not use Lapras. Lapras' Water-typing makes it weak to Electric attacks. Dragonite's Flying-type also makes it weak to Electric-type attacks.
moltres
Like the two other Legendary birds, a Golem with Rock Throw and Stone Edge is the best counter. A Jolteon with Thunder Shock and Thunderbolt and a Vaporeon with Water Gun and Hydro Pump are also good counters.
mewtwo
Scizor and Heracross are the best and safest counters to Mewtwo. Those two Pokémon deal super-effective damage to Mewtwo and are not weak to any of Mewtwo's possible attacks. Be careful when using Dark-types (such as Tyranitar), as Mewtwo can learn Focus Blast.
Gengar is a terrible choice against Mewtwo. It's not tanky, and Psycho Cut, Confusion, Psychic, and Shadow Ball all deal super-effective damage.
Gengar is a terrible choice against Mewtwo. It's not tanky, and Psycho Cut, Confusion, Psychic, and Shadow Ball all deal super-effective damage.
mew
Mew is a very interesting Pokémon. Its only possible quick move is Pound. However, it has eight possible charge moves (each a different type). Countering Mew will be difficult if its charge move is not known in advance. Mew is weak to Bug, Dark, and Ghost-type attacks.
BUG: Scizor and Heracross deal the most Bug-type damage. Heracross is weak to Mew's Psychic and Fire Blast moves. Scizor is also weak to Fire Blast, having a double weakness.
GHOST: Gengar is the only viable Ghost-type currently in Pokémon GO. It will take super-effective damage from Psychic. In any case, Gengar is very frail. One hit from any of Mew's charge attacks will likely finish it.
DARK: Tyranitar, Umbreon, and Houndoom with Dark-type moves are good against Mew. Many of Mew's charge moves (Solar Beam and Focus Blast, for example) do deal super-effective damage, so be careful.
BUG: Scizor and Heracross deal the most Bug-type damage. Heracross is weak to Mew's Psychic and Fire Blast moves. Scizor is also weak to Fire Blast, having a double weakness.
GHOST: Gengar is the only viable Ghost-type currently in Pokémon GO. It will take super-effective damage from Psychic. In any case, Gengar is very frail. One hit from any of Mew's charge attacks will likely finish it.
DARK: Tyranitar, Umbreon, and Houndoom with Dark-type moves are good against Mew. Many of Mew's charge moves (Solar Beam and Focus Blast, for example) do deal super-effective damage, so be careful.
raikou
Raikou is an Electric-type Pokémon. This means that it is basically a super-powered Jolteon. Rhydon and Golem with Mud Slap and Earthquake are the two best counters.
entei
Ground, Water, and Rock-type moves deal super-effective damage on the Fire-type Entei. Golem with Rock Throw and Stone Edge, Rhydon and Golem with Mud Slap and Earthquake, or a Vaporeon with Water Gun and Hydro Pump are the best counters.
suicune
Suicune is a pure Water-type Pokémon. This means you can treat it almost like you would a defending Vaporeon. A Jolteon with Thunder Shock and Thunderbolt would be best. Magneton and Ampharos also make good choices.
A quick note on some Grass-type Pokémon. Venusaur, Victreebel, and Vileplume's Poison-typing make them take super-effective damage if the Suicune has Extrasensory as a quick move. Exeggutor's Psychic-typing would make it take super-effective damage if the Suicune has Snarl as a quick move. Tangela and Meganium, both pure Grass-types, are the best Grass-type choices.
A quick note on some Grass-type Pokémon. Venusaur, Victreebel, and Vileplume's Poison-typing make them take super-effective damage if the Suicune has Extrasensory as a quick move. Exeggutor's Psychic-typing would make it take super-effective damage if the Suicune has Snarl as a quick move. Tangela and Meganium, both pure Grass-types, are the best Grass-type choices.
lugia
Lugia does not have a double weakness as a Psychic and Flying-type, meaning it is more difficult to defeat. Lugia is weak to Electric, Ice, Dark, Ghost, and Rock-type attacks. This means that the following Pokémon are viable:
- Jolteon, Magneton, and Ampharos with an Electric-type moveset
- Houndoom, Tyranitar, and Umbreon with a Dark-type moveset
- Lapras with Frost Breath and Blizzard
- Golem with Rock Throw and Stone Edge, or a Tyranitar with Stone Edge
Gengar's Ghost-type moves would be super effective against Lugia. However, Gengar's Poison-type is weak to Psychic-type moves. Dragonite is also a bad DPS counter. Lugia can learn Dragon Tail, which is super effective against it. This means that, if you decide to go for DPS, do not use a Gengar or Dragonite.
- Jolteon, Magneton, and Ampharos with an Electric-type moveset
- Houndoom, Tyranitar, and Umbreon with a Dark-type moveset
- Lapras with Frost Breath and Blizzard
- Golem with Rock Throw and Stone Edge, or a Tyranitar with Stone Edge
Gengar's Ghost-type moves would be super effective against Lugia. However, Gengar's Poison-type is weak to Psychic-type moves. Dragonite is also a bad DPS counter. Lugia can learn Dragon Tail, which is super effective against it. This means that, if you decide to go for DPS, do not use a Gengar or Dragonite.
ho-oh
Ho-Oh, like Moltres, is a Fire and Flying-type. This means that a Golem with Rock Throw and Stone Edge deals four times the normal damage.
Other viable options include strong Electric-types (like a Jolteon with Thunder Shock and Thunderbolt) or a strong Water-type with Water Gun and Hydro Pump.
Other viable options include strong Electric-types (like a Jolteon with Thunder Shock and Thunderbolt) or a strong Water-type with Water Gun and Hydro Pump.
celebi
Scizor and Heracross are the best counters to Celebi. Bug-type attacks will deal double super effective damage against this Psychic and Grass-type. Scizor's ideal moveset is Fury Cutter and X-Scissor. Heracross' best Bug-type moveset is Struggle Bug and Megahorn.
Other viable counters include Charizard, Flareon, Arcanine with Fire-type (or Flying, in Charizard's case) movesets. Dark-types, such as Umbreon and Houndoom, are also good counters.
Other viable counters include Charizard, Flareon, Arcanine with Fire-type (or Flying, in Charizard's case) movesets. Dark-types, such as Umbreon and Houndoom, are also good counters.