Easy at trainer level 30 with optimized counters or weather boost
| HP | 15,000 | ATK | 211.72 | DEF | 160.37 |
|---|
| CP Range | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Lvl 20 | 1930 - 2015 | Lvl 25 | 2413 - 2519 |
Notable Weather
| Boosts Boss's Moves | Boosts Counters' Moves |
|---|---|
| Rain | Snow, Windy, Partly Cloudy |
Fast Move Difficulty
| Move |
|---|
| Charge Beam |
| Thunder Shock |
Charge Move Difficulty
| Move | Difficulty |
|---|---|
| Thunder | Easy |
| Thunderbolt | Challenging |
| Zap Cannon | Intermediate |
Overview
With weaknesses only to Rock and Ice, Smack Down Tyranitar once again leads the pack in laying the hurt on this legendary bird. Former staples in this raid such as Golem and Piloswine aren’t useless, however. They are still viable by themselves in the trio, and their doubled resistances to Electric can sometimes make them a preferred pick over a 5th or 6th Tyranitar.
Like Articuno, Zapdos can be beaten with 2 in partly cloudy weather with teams of Smack Down Tyranitar. Zapdos is the harder of the two, and a high friendship level can make a big difference.
Approach
Team composition
-
Smack Down Tyranitar is supreme; ideal at level 30, even with bad IVs
-
Golem is the best counter that’s not event limited, legacy, or legendary
-
Anchoring a Tyranitar team with 1-2 Golem can help prevent a re-entry
Dodging strategy
-
In the 180 s raid timer scenario, optimal lineups don’t have to re-enter
-
Dodging is unnecessary, but it may benefit teams featuring 6 Tyranitar
Note: "Good" movesets are not necessarily viable at the level indicated.
Best Raid Boss Counters
Tyranitar
| Fast Move | Charge Move | Rating |
|---|
| Smack Down | Stone Edge | Best |
Pros:
-
The highest DPS vs. Zapdos, with great durability to boot
-
Many players have one, as it featured on Community Day
Cons:
-
Needs Smack Down to excel; some trainers may lack one
Golem
| Fast Move | Charge Move | Rating |
|---|
| Rock Throw | Stone Edge | Best |
| Rock Throw | Rock Blast | Good |
| Rock Throw | Ancient Power | Good |
Pros:
-
The best pick of all currently obtainable Zapdos counters
-
Highly accessible as prior raid boss and previous events
Alolan Golem
| Fast Move | Charge Move | Rating |
|---|
| Rock Throw | Stone Edge | Best |
| Rock Throw | Rock Blast | Good |
Cons:
-
Less electric resistance compared with Kantonian Golem
-
Not very accessible, is currently hatched from 7 km eggs
Rayquaza
| Fast Move | Charge Move | Rating |
|---|
| Dragon Tail | Outrage | Best |
Pros:
-
Does excellent neutral DPS useful in numerous matchups
-
Many players have one, as it is a historical tier 5 raid boss
Cons:
-
Low candy accessibility due to legendary Pokemon status
Mewtwo
| Fast Move | Charge Move | Rating |
|---|
| Confusion | Shadow Ball | Best |
Pros:
-
Does excellent neutral DPS useful in numerous matchups
Cons:
-
Limited EX raid availability and difficult to obtain candy for
Dragonite
| Fast Move | Charge Move | Rating |
|---|
| Dragon Tail | Outrage | Best |
| Dragon Tail | Draco Meteor | Good |
Pros:
-
Has excellent neutral DPS, useful in numerous matchups
-
Many players have one, as it featured on Community Day
Cons:
-
Low candy access for those who missed Community Day
Piloswine
| Fast Move | Charge Move | Rating |
|---|
| Powder Snow | Avalanche | Best |
Pros:
-
Average bulk is augmented by double Electric resistance
-
Obtainable at a high level in locations with clear weather
Latios
| Fast Move | Charge Move | Rating |
|---|
| Dragon Breath | Dragon Claw | Best |
Pros:
-
Many players have one, as it was a former tier 5 raid boss
Cons:
-
Low candy accessibility due to legendary Pokemon status
Salamence
| Fast Move | Charge Move | Rating |
|---|
| Dragon Tail | Draco Meteor | Best |
Pros:
-
Has excellent neutral DPS useful in numerous matchups
Cons:
-
Difficult to obtain and power up for less privileged players
Jynx
| Fast Move | Charge Move | Rating |
|---|
| Frost Breath | Avalanche | Best |
Cons:
-
Burns through Revives; can struggle vs. Zap Cannon sets
