Mega Staraptor

Professor Noctowl's Raid Research: Mega Staraptor

A Scholarly Analysis from the Pokebattler Pokémon Research Institute

Raid Introduction

Hello students! My name is Professor Geekbeak, and today, I wish to draw attention to Mega Staraptor. As one of few Pokemon with Flying and Fighting as types, Mega Staraptor can find uses where both of those types are common in your raid team. Also, do note that Mega Staraptor has 8 MEGA SHIELDS so be prepared for that. Grab your notebooks, class is in session. For those who wish to do their research independently, our raw data can be found here. And for those who wish for a simple visual guide, go ahead and take a look at the below visual guide by CaptGoldfish.

Visual Guide

Raid Syllabus

Course Schedule

This raid will be taking place on September 19th from 2pm to 5pm local time.

Course Information

  • Catch CP: 1538 - 1614
  • Boosted (Cloudy): 1922 - 2018
  • Minimum Required Trainers (Lvl 40, best friends, optimal weather): 1
  • Recommended: 3+ with Lvl 20 counters

Type Effectiveness & Moveset List

Fighting covers some of Flying’s weaknesses, while adding some more. Be careful of heat wave, as it is a fire type move, and could hit your counter by surprise.

Effectiveness Types
Double Resist (0.4x) Ground Ground Bug Bug
Resist (0.6x) Fighting Fighting Grass Grass Dark Dark
Neutral Normal Normal Poison Poison Rock Rock Ghost Ghost Steel Steel Fire Fire Water Water Dragon Dragon
Super Effective (1.6x) Flying Flying Electric Electric Psychic Psychic Ice Ice Fairy Fairy
Double Super Effective (2.6x)

Mega Staraptor’s moveset includes the following charge moves:

  • Fire Heat Wave
  • Fighting Close Combat
  • Flying Brave Bird
  • Normal Return
  • Flying Fly

The Dean's List - Top 5 Counters

The Dean’s List consists of the top 5 counters to Mega Staraptor. As always, the Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and the Third Ranked will have their best moveset alternatives in a table with their rankings and a table detailing their defensive prowess against the charge moves listed above.

Mega Mewtwo Y

Mega Mewtwo Y A

Best Moveset: Psychic Psycho Cut / Psychic Future Sight+
DPS
Tank
Reliability
1
Trainers
(Lvl 40)
Quick Move Charge Move Efficacy
Psychic Psycho Cut Psychic Future Sight+ 100%
Psychic Confusion Psychic Future Sight+ 93%
Psychic Psycho Cut Psychic Psystrike 83%
Psychic Confusion Psychic Psystrike 82%
Psychic Confusion Psychic Psychic 76%
Psychic Psycho Cut Psychic Psychic 74%
Mega Rayquaza

Mega Rayquaza A

Best Moveset: Flying Air Slash / Flying Dragon Ascent
DPS
Tank
Reliability
1
Trainers
(Lvl 40)
Quick Move Charge Move Efficacy
Flying Air Slash Flying Dragon Ascent 100%
Dragon Dragon Tail Flying Dragon Ascent 92%
Flying Air Slash Flying Hurricane 74%
Flying Air Slash Flying Aerial Ace 71%
Flying Air Slash Dragon Breaking Swipe 70%
Dragon Dragon Tail Flying Aerial Ace 63%
Mega Mewtwo X

Mega Mewtwo X A

Best Moveset: Psychic Psycho Cut / Psychic Psystrike
DPS
Tank
Reliability
1
Trainers
(Lvl 40)
Quick Move Charge Move Efficacy
Psychic Psycho Cut Psychic Psystrike 100%
Psychic Confusion Psychic Psystrike 96%
Psychic Psycho Cut Psychic Psychic 90%
Psychic Confusion Psychic Psychic 89%
Psychic Confusion Electric Thunderbolt 78%
Fighting Counter Psychic Psystrike 76%

Defensive Grades for Top 3

Boss Move MEWTWO_MEGA_Y RAYQUAZA_MEGA MEWTWO_MEGA_X
Flying Brave Bird
Flying Fly
Fighting Close Combat 🛡 🛡 🛡
Fire Heat Wave 🛡
Shadow Mewtwo

Shadow Mewtwo A

Best Moveset: Psychic Psycho Cut / Psychic Psystrike
DPS
Tank
Reliability
2
Trainers
(Lvl 40)
Mega Raichu-Y

Mega Raichu-Y A

Best Moveset: Electric Thunder Shock / Electric Zap Cannon+
DPS
Tank
Reliability
2
Trainers
(Lvl 40)
Also Noteworthy: A: Mega Raichu-X

Honor Roll - The Bottom 5

We here at Pokebattler Pokémon Research Institute can’t expect you to have the best counters every time. So, here are some of our other best options, most of which will be easier to find than the members of the Dean’s List.

White Kyurem

White Kyurem A

Best Moveset: Ice Ice Fang / Ice Ice Burn
DPS
Tank
Reliability
2
Trainers
(Lvl 40)
Mega Skarmory

Mega Skarmory A

Best Moveset: Flying Air Slash / Flying Drill Peck+
DPS
Tank
Reliability
2
Trainers
(Lvl 40)
Mewtwo

Mewtwo A

Best Moveset: Psychic Psycho Cut / Psychic Psystrike
DPS
Tank
Reliability
2
Trainers
(Lvl 40)
Shadow Moltres

Shadow Moltres A

Best Moveset: Flying Wing Attack / Flying Fly
DPS
Tank
Reliability
2
Trainers
(Lvl 40)
Rayquaza

Rayquaza A

Best Moveset: Flying Air Slash / Flying Dragon Ascent
DPS
Tank
Reliability
2
Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Honorable Mentions

Of course, besides our 10 best counters, there are plenty of Pokémon that also work against Mega Staraptor. Here are a few star choices, worthy of praise.

A Mega LatiosMega LatiosMega AlakazamMega AlakazamMega GardevoirMega GardevoirMega SalamenceMega SalamenceBlack KyuremBlack KyuremShadow SalamenceShadow SalamenceMega DelphoxMega DelphoxMega MalamarMega MalamarShadow RaikouShadow RaikouGalarian ArticunoGalarian ArticunoShadow LugiaShadow LugiaShadow ZapdosShadow ZapdosMega MetagrossMega MetagrossEnamorusEnamorusZacian - Crowned SwordZacian - Crowned SwordZeraoraZeraoraNecrozma - Dawn WingsNecrozma - Dawn WingsShadow LatiosShadow LatiosShadow RegigigasShadow Regigigas

Weather Specialists

Sometimes, the weather can be your most powerful ally. In certain weather conditions, certain Pokémon on our list excel. The most transformative cases are noted below.

RainyRainy
Mega Raichu-X (0.9)
WindyWindy
Mega Skarmory (1.0)Mewtwo (1.0)Mega Latios (1.0)
SnowSnow
White Kyurem (0.9)

Raid Conclusion

Overall, Mega Staraptor is a pretty simple raid. Most of the common counters for Mega Staraptor are strong on their own. However, do be careful of the mega shields, as this rad becomes a lot harder when those shields are up. Of course, if you wish to do more research on your box’s best Pokémon for the job, Pokebattler.com itself can be a great help! Speaking of, we have rolled out a new system that will give a discount to our subscriptions, and I have been graciously granted a code! So, for those lucky readers who make it all the way down here, the code is GEEKBEAK20. This code not only supports the owner of Pokebattler, but also me! And, to be honest, in real life, the presidigious Professor Geekbeak is a broke college student, so I would really appreciate the support. Thank you! Remember, the best counter is the one you have powered up and ready to go. I grant extra credit to those who use their best friend bonus and the weather to their advantage. Class dismissed!