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Pokemon Go Zamazenta Raid Guide: Best Counters, Weaknesses and Moveset

The Pokemon Shield mascot is back in Pokemon Go for a limited time.

Kevin Knezevic Former staff writer
Kevin has been covering video games and tech since 2010, with a particular focus on Nintendo and Pokemon. Squirtle is the best starter and nothing will convince him otherwise.
Kevin Knezevic
2 min read
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Zacian and Zamazenta are both appearing in raids once again until the end of the month.

Niantic

Pokemon Go has brought not one, but two legendary Pokemon back for a limited time. Pokemon Sword and Shield's cover monsters, Zacian and Zamazenta, are both appearing in five-star raids through the end of the month, giving you another chance to add them to your collection if you missed them last summer.

Here are some tips to help you beat and catch Zamazenta before it leaves the raid rotation again.

Zamazenta Raid Hours

Both Zacian and Zamazenta are appearing as a five-star raid boss until 10 a.m. local time on Aug. 31, giving you almost two full weeks to catch them.

If you're hoping to get Zamazenta in particular, you'll have your best chance to encounter one on Aug. 31, during Pokemon Go's Raid Hour event. More gyms will be hosting Zamazenta raids from 6 to 7 p.m. local time that evening, giving you more opportunities to battle the legendary Pokemon.

Zamazenta weaknesses

Zamazenta's Hero of Many Battles form is a pure fighting type, which means it's vulnerable to three types of Pokemon: psychic, flying and fairy types. Stack your team with fully evolved and legendary Pokemon of those types and you should have little trouble toppling Zamazenta.

Best Zamazenta counters

Here are some recommended Pokemon to use against Zamazenta:

Psychic

  • Alakazam: Psycho Cut, Psychic
  • Mewtwo: Confusion, Psystrike
  • Metagross: Zen Headbutt, Psychic
  • Latios: Zen Headbutt, Psychic
  • Gallade: Confusion, Psychic

Fairy

  • Clefable: Charm, Dazzling Gleam
  • Alolan Ninetales: Charm, Dazzling Gleam
  • Granbull: Charm, Play Rough
  • Gardevoir: Charm, Dazzling Gleam
  • Sylveon: Charm, Moonblast

Flying

  • Mega Pidgeot: Wing Attack, Brave Bird
  • Rayquaza: Air Slash, Hurricane
  • Staraptor: Wing Attack, Brave Bird
  • Braviary: Air Slash, Brave Bird
  • Tornadus: Air Slash, Hurricane

Best moveset for Zamazenta

As with Zacian, you'll want to teach Zamazenta a different moveset depending on what form it's in. Hero of Many Battles Zamazenta will excel if it knows the Fast Attack Snarl and the Charged Attack Close Combat. Crowned Shield Zamazenta is not yet available in Pokemon Go, but it'll make a great steel-type attacker if it knows Metal Claw and Iron Head.

There's still a lot happening in Pokemon Go this month, including more Spotlight Hours and the Pokemon Go Fest: Finale event. You can see everything going on in the game over the next few days in our August events roundup.