Pokémon Go: Zacian in the Counter Guide – the 15 best fighters

Update August 17, 2022: If you’ve missed your chance to grab Zacian in his heroic form from Pokémon Go raids, rejoice so far – because from August 18th to August 23rd, 2022, the pocket monster is back in Tier 5 Raids. We’ve updated our Zacian counter guide for you guys; check out which Pokemon are the best to go into battle with!

• Crypto Metagross with bullet slash and star slash
• Mega Gengar with Schlecker and mud bomb
• Mega Bibor with Poison Slash and Sludge Bomb
• meta gross with bullet slash and star slash
• anego with acid and mud bomb
• Crypto Sarzenia with acid and mud bomb
• Crypto Mewtwo with confusion and psychoshock
• Mega Scizor with a bullet and an iron skull
• dialga with metal claw and iron skull
• Roserade with Poison Slash and Sludge Bomb
• jirachi with loading beam and Kismet wish
• Crypto Giflor with acid and mud bomb
• Stalobor with metal claw and iron skull
• Crypto Scherox with a bullet and an iron skull
• Genesect with metal claw and magnetic bomb

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If you play Pokémon Go true to the motto “Catch them all”, you’ll be rubbing your hands, because from August 20, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. the event Hyperbonus: Sword and Shield will start in Niantic’s AR game. As part of this, all sorts of 8th generation Pokémon come into play – including the legendary Zacian in his heroic warrior form, i.e. without a sword. Zacian is one of the two pocket monsters that adorns the cover of the Sword & Shield Edition. Zacian as a Heroic Warrior is not expected to be as strong as Zacian, King of the Sword. Still, players don’t want to miss the chance to get the Legendary. With our Zacian counter guide, you have the best chance of winning the fight against the Tier 5 raid boss. Remember: As part of the Hyper Bonus, Zacian is only in the Raids for one week!

Zacian, Heroic Warrior as a raid boss in Pokémon Go

In his weaker form, Zacian is a fairy-type pocket monster, there aren’t that many legendaries of that yet. When it enters Pokémon Go’s raids as the King of the Sword, it will be Steel-type in addition to Fairy. However, this is a dream of the future. So, as a pure Fairy-type, Zacian is vulnerable to Poison and Steel-type attacks, from which it takes effective damage.

Since it’s not yet known what moves Zacian will have in Pokémon Go, all we know is that due to its type, it will be boosted in cloudy weather. Then it would dish out tremendously against Fighting, Dragon, and Dark-type Pokémon with Fairy-type moves. So you’re on the safe side with poison and steel mon. Basically, you have to beat down 52,195 WP, so you should start the fight with three or more players. The following Pokémon theoretically do best in battle with Zacian:

• Mega Gengar with Schlecker and mud bomb
• meta gross with bullet slash and star slash
• dialga with metal claw and iron skull
• Gengar with Schlecker and mud bomb
• Genesect with metal claw and magnetic bomb
• jirachi with loading beam and Kismet wish
• cleats with iron tail and ram boss
• Stalobor with metal claw and iron skull
• Mega Bibor with Poison Slash and Sludge Bomb
• Roserade with Poison Slash and Sludge Bomb
• Mega pigeon boss with steel wing and dive
• Heatran with fire whirl and iron skull

Zacian, King of the Sword as a raid boss in Pokémon Go

It cannot be completely ruled out that Zacian will eventually make his way into Niantic’s game’s raids in his powerful form. Then its types switch to Fairy and Steel, giving it a weakness to Fire and Ground-type attacks. The sensible counters then change accordingly. Important for the trainers among you: If Zacian carries a sword in his mouth, then take the following counters with him for the fight. If Zacian isn’t wielding a sword, use the recommendations above.

• Mega Charizard Y with fire whirl and tan cannonade
• skeleton with fire whirl and heat fever
• Mega Charizard X with fire whirl and tan cannonade
• Reshiram with Fire Tooth and Heat Fever
• Heatran with fire whirl and flamethrower
• rhyperior with clay clamp and earthquake
• Mega Dogemon with Fire Tooth and Flamethrower
• Mega Gengar with candy and spooky ball
• Lavados with fire whirl and heat fever
• Entei with Fire Tooth and Heat Fever
• Garchomp with clay shot and earth powers
• Stalobor with clay clamp and earthquake