Pokebattler’s Comprehensive Deoxys-Defense Raid Guide!

Release History:

• Sep 9nd ➡️ Sep 16th 2019
• Mar 25 ➡️ Jun 28 [EX][2019]

 Deoxys (Defense) in the Meta

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Raid Attacker 

Gym Attacker

 

PVP- 

  Deoxys Defense has no place in Gym or Raid  It is purely designed for Defense. The Regi’s get some scorn for their Defensive Stats making them less useful, but Deoxys Defense fundamentally has no niche in either Gym or Raid attacking that isn’t vastly inferior than many other options.  Uxie and Cresselia at least have usable Psychic Moves, but Psycho Boost is just painful.

PVP is -quite a different story. Attack disproportionately affects CP, so Deoxys keepings theirs so low is actually a blessing to let the SECOND HIGHEST DEFENSE STAT in the game in. Counter is also arguably the very best PVP fast move right now, soooo. it’s got quite the cushy spot as among the absolute very best for Great League. 

 Raid Advice

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Top Raid Counters

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Gengar

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

Gengar isn’t too difficult to acquire with Gastlys nesting and being a common night spawn, as well as being featured in the recent Go Fest global spawns. The main issue comes with Legacy Move Shadow Claw, but Lick at least was made available relatively recently in Gengar Raid Day. Gengar is still great without the legacy move, but much less likely to be optimal. 

With Level 35 Gengar, you need 4 players.

3xResists: Fighting
Weak: Psychic

Giratina Origin

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Giratina-Origin was released April 2019. While it is legendary, it is the best Ghost-Type around and an Okay Dragon-Type, so a worthwhile investment! With Level 35 Giratina Origin, you need 4 players.

2xResists: Fighting
Resists: Electric

Tyranitar

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Accessibility will be a bit tough if you are only starting now as Larvitars do not nest and are rare.  Tier 4 Tyranitar Raids were a staple for quite a while, however. Larvitar can be found in ‘Make 3 Excellent Throws in a Row’ Quests, but you won’t be able to get the legacy move this way. The family was last in raid bosses during Water Festival in Sept 2019. Larvitar community day (the only time you could get Smack Down) was June 2018. With Level 35 Tyranitar, you need 5 players.

2xResists: Psychic
2xWeak: Fighting

Mewtwo

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐☆☆☆☆

Mewtwo is pretty inaccessible, as the useful form hasn’t been released recently. Luckily the moveset, however, isn’t exclusive to its EX raid period! Trading for one is probably the most likely way you’d be able to get one of these, and you can use the candy you got from catching Armored Mewtwo to power it up. That said, if you weren’t lucky enough to get an Ex Raid back during its era Shadow Ball period-you can’t get it now. When Mewtwo was released from its EX shackles for a global event-that move was removed from its TM pool. This used to be more unfortunate, but there are quite a lot of alternative Ghost-Type options at this point so don’t sweat it too much.

With Level 35 Mewtwo, you need 5 players.

Resists: Psychic, Fighting

Scizor

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Scyther and Scizor have also been featured a couple of times recently reducing the difficulty to acquire one. You need a Metal Coat to evolve Scyther into Scizor, which can be acquired either: VERY rarely from spinning a poke stop, in a pool of other evolution items on your 7-day streak spinning Pokestop (guaranteed to get at least one item), or from the Celebi Special Research 4/8 rewards. With Level 35 Scizor, you need 5 players.

Resists: Psychic
Cancelled: Rock, Fighting

Weavile

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Weavile evolves from Sneasel, which is an uncommon Pokemon (that does still nest) and is an occasional 2-star raid boss. It requires a Sinnoh Stone to evolve, which can be acquired at random from your first daily trainer battle. Sneasel has been featured in Winter Time events and Dark Events. Weavile has been a reward from “Catch 5 Poochyena or Houndour” quests. Sneasel can also spawn from Glacial Lure Modules. It’s fantastic as both a Dark and Ice-type, so don’t let its frail appearance fool you. With Level 35 Weavile, you need 5 players.

2xResists: Psychic
Weak: Rock
2xWeak: Fighting

Weather Counters 

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  Here is a list of Pokemon that can perform similar or better than the typical #1 option (in this case, Gengar) with weather bonuses: Here is a list of Pokemon that can perform similar or better than the typical #1 option (in this case, Gengar) with weather bonuses:  

Pokemon		Weather		Fast Move		Charge Move		Estimator @ L35
	Giratina Origin Form		FOG		Shadow_Claw		Shadow Ball	3.32
	Tyranitar		FOG		Bite		Crunch	3.55
	Weavile		FOG		Feint_Attack		Foul Play	3.60
	(Legacy) Mewtwo		FOG		Psycho_Cut		Shadow Ball	3.66
	Absol		FOG		Snarl		Dark Pulse	3.74
	Banette		FOG		Shadow_Claw		Shadow Ball	3.75
	Houndoom		FOG		Snarl		Foul Play	3.81
	Pinsir		RAINY		Bug_Bite		X Scissor	3.81
	(Legacy) Gengar		NO_WEATHER		Shadow_Claw		Shadow Ball	3.88
	Scizor		RAINY		Fury_Cutter		X Scissor	3.91
	Mismagius		FOG		Sucker_Punch		Shadow Ball	3.93
	Giratina Origin Form		NO_WEATHER		Shadow_Claw		Shadow Ball	3.95

Alternate Raid Counters

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Banette

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Supports are uncommon but not too hard to find- and they nest, so getting some hopefully wouldn’t be too outlandish. They aren’t boosted in a common weather like Gastlys though. It’s an ok Ghost-Type but almost always inferior to Gengar. With Level 35 Banette, you need 5 players.

2xResists: Fighting

Absol

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Absol is a Raid (and very rarely, Field Research) exclusive Pokemon. That means you can only get its candy from Raiding usually or walking it as a 5k buddy. Rare candy is an option too but a bit inefficient. The family was last in raid bosses during Sept 2019 (Tier 4). With Level 35 Absol, you need 5 players.

2xResists: Psychic
Weak: Fighting

Pinsir

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Pinsir is one of the most accessible Pokemon, that is nonetheless top tier in its typing. You don’t need to evolve them, they can be found at high levels in the wild, they nest- they got a lot going for them. The Legacy Moveset while often a smidge better isn’t something to stress over. With Level 35 Pinsir, you need 5 players.

Resists: Fighting
Weak: Rock

Houndoom

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It’s got the benefits of being a Dark-type that doesn’t involve a ton of extra work to evolve and find as a high level, and Houndour can be found weather boosted in the common Sunny weather. It’s also a relatively common research reward as well. With Level 35 Houndoom, you need 5 players.

2xResists: Psychic
Weak: Rock, Fighting

Honchkrow

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Murkrow are very common (although less so than they used to be), but are only weather boosted in Windy and Foggy-which are generally rare. Honchkrow also requires a Sinnoh Stone to evolve, which can be acquired randomly from your first Trainer Battle each day. You can also get a Murkrow from the Special Research “A Troubling Situation”  part 1/4.

With Level 35 Honchkrow, you need 5 players.

2xResists: Psychic
Weak: Rock, Electric
Cancelled: Fighting

Mismagius

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Mismagius is pretty expensive to acquire. Misdreavus are uncommon, and you need a Sinnoh Stone to evolve one. You can get it from Trainer Battles, but most of Mismagius use cases are covered by Honchkrow and Weavile. With Level 35 Mismagius, you need 5 players.

2xResists: Fighting

Raikou

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Raikou was recently available during its Raid Day, so it’s actually very likely you are holding onto one right now. That said, it is a legendary Pokemon, which are expensive to get candy for. But it’s the best Electric-Type in the game right now, and even an okay Ghost-Type! With Level 35 Raikou, you need 5 players.

Resists: Electric

Sharpedo

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐☆☆☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Carvana was available in the Quest “Water Festival: Defeat a Team GO Rocket Grunt” in Sept 2019. It also had boosted spawns during Water Festival 2019. The family was last in raid bosses during Water Festival in Sept 2019. With Level 35 Sharpedo, you need 5 players.

2xResists: Psychic
Weak: Electric, Fighting

Haunter

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐☆☆☆☆

Shadow Ball became legacy on Haunter back in February 2017. It’s very very hard to come by, most of all because there’s very little reason not to evolve it for the strictly superior Gengar.

With Level 35 Haunter, you need 5 players.

3xResists: Fighting
Weak: Psychic

Yanmega

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

Yanmega is a Sinnoh Stone Evolution of an uncommon Pokemon, so not the easiest thing to get your hands on from scratch. With Level 35 Yanmega, you need 5 players.

2xResists: Fighting
Weak: Electric
2xWeak: Rock

Cacturne

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cacnea can be found in the common Sunny weather-but is almost non-existent outside of it. If you somehow don’t see much sun, it will be hard to get. With Level 35 Cacturne, you need 5 players.

2xResists: Psychic
Resists: Electric
Weak: Fighting

Alakazam

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Abra nest, are a common egg hatch and is boosted a ton during windy weather. Alakazam has a long history in raid bosses as a 3 star, With Level 35 Alakazam, you need 5 players.

Resists: Psychic, Fighting

Shiftry

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Shiftry evolves from Seedot, which is common in a variety of areas. Shiftry itself has also existed as a Tier 4 Raid Boss. It also gets weather boosted from the very common Sunny weather. With Level 35 Shiftry, you need 6 players.

2xResists: Psychic
Resists: Electric
Weak: Fighting

Drifblim

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

Drifblim are pretty hard to get outside of the Halloween Event. Drifloon spawn very rarely by default, but really they are effectively limited to Windy weather. This weather is rare for most players making this not the most reliable way to get a Floom to evolve. They have rarely been both in Tier 1 raids and “trade a Pokemon” Field Research.

With Level 35 Drifblim, you need 6 players.

3xResists: Fighting
Weak: Rock, Electric

Deoxys Attack

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐☆☆☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐☆☆☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Deoxys(Attacl k made public debut September 2019. It bosts the highest attack stat in the came and the frailty of route 101 bigs. With Level 35 Deoxys Attack, you need 6 players.

Resists: Psychic, Fighting

Muk – Alola

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Alolan Grimer can only be acquired from 7k Alolan Eggs. You can get them if you open a Gift when you have an available Egg Slot, but it is not guaranteed. While at first rare hatch, now it is in the most common category of 7k hatches. Its candy is the same as normal Grimer. Alolan Grimer came to eggs in June 2018.With Level 35 Muk – Alola, you need 6 players.

Resists: Psychic
Cancelled: Fighting

Metagross

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Metagross is a rare pseudo-legendary and doesn’t nest. Beldum can be found in 10k eggs, however. It was made very common and given the legacy move Meteor Mash during its community day in October 2018. With Level 35 Metagross, you need 6 players.

2xResists: Psychic
Resists: Rock
Cancelled: Fighting

Lucario

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐☆☆☆☆

Riolu is an egg exclusive Pokemon sadly, one of the absolute rarest and highly desired ones in fact. It was added October 2018th. It isn’t easy to power up and has a walking distance of 10k. There are increased chances of finding one in a 7k Alolan egg instead of normal 10ks. You also have better chances if you get difficult Adventure Sync eggs. if you collect your weekly adventure sync reward and have earned the 50k distance, AND have an available egg slot, you will get an egg with a skewed hatch pool. With Level 35 Lucario, you need 6 players.

2xResists: Rock
Weak: Fighting
Cancelled: Psychic

Salamence

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Salamence Community Day was April 2019. It’s not really the best at any of the things it can do, but it’s still a top tier Dragon with powerful off-type movesets. With Level 35 Salamence, you need 6 players.

Resists: Fighting
Weak: Rock
Cancelled: Electric

Spiritomb

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐☆☆☆☆

Spiritomb was only available Halloween 2018 as a special research reward. It is likely it will return annually, but that has yet to be confirmed. While everyone only has at most 1, it CAN be traded. With Level 35 Spiritomb, you need 6 players.

2xResists: Psychic
Resists: Fighting

Rayquaza

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Rayquaza despite being beloved by fans has been very rarely available and re-released compared to most legendaries. Then there’s the candy cost to consider on top of that. Still, Raayquaza was featured in Raids last August 2019 which is recent at the time of writing. With Level 35 Rayquaza, you need 6 players.

Resists: Fighting
Weak: Rock
Cancelled: Electric

Scyther

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Scyther are a nesting species, and have been featured as a relatively easy Tier 3 Raid boss a couple times. They also got boosted Spawns during the Bug Out event. With Level 35 Scyther, you need 6 players.

2xResists: Fighting
Weak: Electric
2xWeak: Rock

Closing Thoughts

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 Deoxys-Defense breaks ranks with it’s siblings glassy explosiveness to be-well, pretty much useless in the current state of Raids and Gyms. Don’t feel too bad though, they have a beloved position in the PVP meta.

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Release History:

• Sep 9nd ➡️ Sep 16th 2019
• Mar 25 ➡️ Jun 28 [EX][2019]

 Deoxys (Defense) in the Meta

---

 

Raid Attacker 

Gym Attacker

 

PVP- 

  Deoxys Defense has no place in Gym or Raid  It is purely designed for Defense. The Regi’s get some scorn for their Defensive Stats making them less useful, but Deoxys Defense fundamentally has no niche in either Gym or Raid attacking that isn’t vastly inferior than many other options.  Uxie and Cresselia at least have usable Psychic Moves, but Psycho Boost is just painful.

PVP is -quite a different story. Attack disproportionately affects CP, so Deoxys keepings theirs so low is actually a blessing to let the SECOND HIGHEST DEFENSE STAT in the game in. Counter is also arguably the very best PVP fast move right now, soooo. it’s got quite the cushy spot as among the absolute very best for Great League. 

 Raid Advice

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Top Raid Counters

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Gengar

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

Gengar isn’t too difficult to acquire with Gastlys nesting and being a common night spawn, as well as being featured in the recent Go Fest global spawns. The main issue comes with Legacy Move Shadow Claw, but Lick at least was made available relatively recently in Gengar Raid Day. Gengar is still great without the legacy move, but much less likely to be optimal. 

With Level 35 Gengar, you need 4 players.

3xResists: Fighting
Weak: Psychic

Giratina Origin

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Giratina-Origin was released April 2019. While it is legendary, it is the best Ghost-Type around and an Okay Dragon-Type, so a worthwhile investment! With Level 35 Giratina Origin, you need 4 players.

2xResists: Fighting
Resists: Electric

Tyranitar

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Accessibility will be a bit tough if you are only starting now as Larvitars do not nest and are rare.  Tier 4 Tyranitar Raids were a staple for quite a while, however. Larvitar can be found in ‘Make 3 Excellent Throws in a Row’ Quests, but you won’t be able to get the legacy move this way. The family was last in raid bosses during Water Festival in Sept 2019. Larvitar community day (the only time you could get Smack Down) was June 2018. With Level 35 Tyranitar, you need 5 players.

2xResists: Psychic
2xWeak: Fighting

Mewtwo

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐☆☆☆☆

Mewtwo is pretty inaccessible, as the useful form hasn’t been released recently. Luckily the moveset, however, isn’t exclusive to its EX raid period! Trading for one is probably the most likely way you’d be able to get one of these, and you can use the candy you got from catching Armored Mewtwo to power it up. That said, if you weren’t lucky enough to get an Ex Raid back during its era Shadow Ball period-you can’t get it now. When Mewtwo was released from its EX shackles for a global event-that move was removed from it’s TM pool. This used to be more unfortunate, but there are quite a lot of alternative Ghost-Type options at this point so don’t sweat it too much.

With Level 35 Mewtwo, you need 5 players.

Resists: Psychic, Fighting

Scizor

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Scyther and Scizor have also been featured a couple of times recently reducing the difficulty to acquire one. You need a Metal Coat to evolve Scyther into Scizor, which can be acquired either: VERY rarely from spinning a poke stop, in a pool of other evolution items on your 7-day streak spinning Pokestop (guaranteed to get at least one item), or from the Celebi Special Research 4/8 rewards. With Level 35 Scizor, you need 5 players.

Resists: Psychic
Cancelled: Rock, Fighting

Weavile

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Weavile evolves from Sneasel, which is an uncommon Pokemon (that does still nest) and is an occasional 2-star raid boss. It requires a Sinnoh Stone to evolve, which can be acquired at random from your first daily trainer battle. Sneasel has been featured in Winter Time events and Dark Events. Weavile has been a reward from “Catch 5 Poochyena or Houndour” quests. Sneasel can also spawn from Glacial Lure Modules. It’s fantastic as both a Dark and Ice-type, so don’t let its frail appearance fool you. With Level 35 Weavile, you need 5 players.

2xResists: Psychic
Weak: Rock
2xWeak: Fighting

Weather Counters 

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  Here is a list of Pokemon that can perform similar or better than the typical #1 option (in this case, Gengar) with weather bonuses: Here is a list of Pokemon that can perform similar or better than the typical #1 option (in this case, Gengar) with weather bonuses:  

Pokemon		Weather		Fast Move		Charge Move		Estimator @ L35
	Giratina Origin Form		FOG		Shadow_Claw		Shadow Ball	3.32
	Tyranitar		FOG		Bite		Crunch	3.55
	Weavile		FOG		Feint_Attack		Foul Play	3.60
	(Legacy) Mewtwo		FOG		Psycho_Cut		Shadow Ball	3.66
	Absol		FOG		Snarl		Dark Pulse	3.74
	Banette		FOG		Shadow_Claw		Shadow Ball	3.75
	Houndoom		FOG		Snarl		Foul Play	3.81
	Pinsir		RAINY		Bug_Bite		X Scissor	3.81
	(Legacy) Gengar		NO_WEATHER		Shadow_Claw		Shadow Ball	3.88
	Scizor		RAINY		Fury_Cutter		X Scissor	3.91
	Mismagius		FOG		Sucker_Punch		Shadow Ball	3.93
	Giratina Origin Form		NO_WEATHER		Shadow_Claw		Shadow Ball	3.95

Alternate Raid Counters

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Banette

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Supports are uncommon but not too hard to find- and they nest, so getting some hopefully wouldn’t be too outlandish. They aren’t boosted in a common weather like Gastlys though. It’s an ok Ghost-Type but almost always inferior to Gengar. With Level 35 Banette, you need 5 players.

2xResists: Fighting

Absol

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Absol is a Raid (and very rarely, Field Research) exclusive Pokemon. That means you can only get its candy from Raiding usually or walking it as a 5k buddy. Rare candy is an option too but a bit inefficient. The family was last in raid bosses during Sept 2019 (Tier 4). With Level 35 Absol, you need 5 players.

2xResists: Psychic
Weak: Fighting

Pinsir

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Pinsir is one of the most accessible pokemon, that is nonetheless top tier in it’s typing. You don’t need to evolve them, they can be found at high levels in the wild, they nest- they got a lot going for them. The Legacy Moveset while often a smidge better isn’t something to stress over. With Level 35 Pinsir, you need 5 players.

Resists: Fighting
Weak: Rock

Houndoom

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It’s got the benefits of being a Dark-type that doesn’t involve a ton of extra work to evolve and find as a high level, and Houndours can be found weather boosted in the common Sunny weather. It’s also a relatively common research reward as well. With Level 35 Houndoom, you need 5 players.

2xResists: Psychic
Weak: Rock, Fighting

Honchkrow

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Murkrow are very common (although less so than they used to be), but are only weather boosted in Windy and Foggy-which are generally rare. Honchkrow also requires a Sinnoh Stone to evolve, which can be acquired randomly from your first Trainer Battle each day. You can also get a Murkrow from the Special Research “A Troubling Situation”  part 1/4.

With Level 35 Honchkrow, you need 5 players.

2xResists: Psychic
Weak: Rock, Electric
Cancelled: Fighting

Mismagius

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Mismagius is pretty expensive to acquire. Misdreavus are uncommon, and you need a Sinnoh Stone to evolve one. You can get it from Trainer Battles, but most of Mismagius use cases are covered by Honchkrow and Weavile. With Level 35 Mismagius, you need 5 players.

2xResists: Fighting

Raikou

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Raikou was recently available during it’s Raid Day, so it’s actually very likely you are holding onto one right now. That said, it is a legendary pokemon, which are expensive to get candy for. But it’s the best Electric-Type in the game right now, and even an okay Ghost-Type! With Level 35 Raikou, you need 5 players.

Resists: Electric

Sharpedo

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐☆☆☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Carvana was available in the Quest “Water Festival: Defeat a Team GO Rocket Grunt” in Sept 2019. It also had boosted spawns during Water Festival 2019. The family was last in raid bosses during Water Festival in Sept 2019. With Level 35 Sharpedo, you need 5 players.

2xResists: Psychic
Weak: Electric, Fighting

Haunter

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐☆☆☆☆

Shadow Ball became legacy on Haunter back in February 2017. It’s very very hard to come by, most of all because there’s very little reason not to evolve it for the strictly superior Gengar.

With Level 35 Haunter, you need 5 players.

3xResists: Fighting
Weak: Psychic

Yanmega

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

Yanmega is a Sinnoh Stone Evolution of an uncommon Pokemon, so not the easiest thing to get your hands on from scratch. With Level 35 Yanmega, you need 5 players.

2xResists: Fighting
Weak: Electric
2xWeak: Rock

Cacturne

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cacnea can be found in the common Sunny weather-but is almost non-existent outside of it. If you somehow don’t see much sun, it will be hard to get. With Level 35 Cacturne, you need 5 players.

2xResists: Psychic
Resists: Electric
Weak: Fighting

Alakazam

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Abra nest, are a common egg hatch and is boosted a ton during windy weather. Alakazam has a long history in raid bosses as a 3 star, With Level 35 Alakazam, you need 5 players.

Resists: Psychic, Fighting

Shiftry

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Shiftry evolves from Seedot, which is common in a variety of areas. Shiftry itself has also existed as a Tier 4 Raid Boss. It also gets weather boosted from the very common Sunny weather. With Level 35 Shiftry, you need 6 players.

2xResists: Psychic
Resists: Electric
Weak: Fighting

Drifblim

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

Drifblim are pretty hard to get outside of the Halloween Event. Drifloon spawn very rarely by default, but really they are effectively limited to Windy weather. This weather is rare for most players making this not the most reliable way to get a floom to evolve. They have rarely been both in Tier 1 raids and “trade a Pokemon” Field Research.

With Level 35 Drifblim, you need 6 players.

3xResists: Fighting
Weak: Rock, Electric

Deoxys Attack

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐☆☆☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐☆☆☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Deoxys(Attacl k made public debut September 2019. It bosts the highest attack stat in the came and the frailty of route 101 bigs. With Level 35 Deoxys Attack, you need 6 players.

Resists: Psychic, Fighting

Muk – Alola

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Alolan Grimer can only be acquired from 7k Alolan Eggs. You can get them if you open a Gift when you have an available Egg Slot, but it is not guaranteed. While at first rare hatch, now it is in the most common category of 7k hatches. Its candy is the same as normal Grimer. Alolan Grimer came to eggs in June 2018.With Level 35 Muk – Alola, you need 6 players.

Resists: Psychic
Cancelled: Fighting

Metagross

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Metagross is a rare pseudo-legendary and doesn’t nest. Beldum can be found in 10k eggs, however. It was made very common and given the legacy move Meteor Mash during its community day in October 2018. With Level 35 Metagross, you need 6 players.

2xResists: Psychic
Resists: Rock
Cancelled: Fighting

Lucario

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐☆☆☆☆

Riolu is an egg exclusive pokemon sadly, one of the absolute rarest and highly desired ones in fact. It was added October 2018th. It isn’t easy to power up and has a walking distance of 10k. There are increased chances of finding one in a 7k Alolan egg instead of normal 10ks. You also have better chances if you get difficult Adventure Sync eggs. if you collect your weekly adventure sync reward and have earned the 50k distance, AND have an available egg slot, you will get an egg with a skewed hatch pool. With Level 35 Lucario, you need 6 players.

2xResists: Rock
Weak: Fighting
Cancelled: Psychic

Salamence

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Salamence Community Day was April 2019. It’s not really the best at any of the things it can do, but it’s still a top tier Dragon with powerful off-type movesets. With Level 35 Salamence, you need 6 players.

Resists: Fighting
Weak: Rock
Cancelled: Electric

Spiritomb

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐☆☆☆☆

Spiritomb was only available Halloween 2018 as a special research reward. It is likely it will return annually, but that has yet to be confirmed. While everyone only has at most 1, it CAN be traded. With Level 35 Spiritomb, you need 6 players.

2xResists: Psychic
Resists: Fighting

Rayquaza

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Rayquaza despite being beloved by fans has been very rarely available and re-released compared to most legendaries. Then there’s the candy cost to consider on top of that. Still, Raayquaza was featured in Raids last August 2019 which is recent at the time of writing. With Level 35 Rayquaza, you need 6 players.

Resists: Fighting
Weak: Rock
Cancelled: Electric

Scyther

• ⚔️ Raw Damage: ⭐☆☆☆☆
  🛡️ Survival/Bulk: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
  📉 Consistency: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  🌐 Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Scyther are a nesting species, and have been featured as a relatively easy Tier 3 Raid boss a couple times. They also got boosted Spawns during the Bug Out event. With Level 35 Scyther, you need 6 players.

2xResists: Fighting
Weak: Electric
2xWeak: Rock

Closing Thoughts

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 Deoxys-Defense breaks ranks with it’s siblings glassy explosiveness to be-well, pretty much useless in the current state of Raids and Gyms. Don’t feel too bad though, they have a beloved position in the PVP meta.

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