Mega Gyardos is making a brief encore appearance in Pokemon Go. The Mega-Evolved Pokemon is back in gyms as part of a special Raid Day mini-event today, giving you another chance to battle it and earn energy to Mega Evolve your own Gyarados. On top of that, there’s an increased chance the Gyarados you encounter in raids will be shiny.
Here are some tips to help you defeat Mega Gyarados before Raid Day ends.
Mega Gyarados raid hours
Mega Gyarados is only appearing in raids today (Oct. 8) as part of Pokemon Go’s Raid Day mini-event. You’ll have a chance to encounter the Mega-Evolved Pokemon in gyms from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. local time.
Mega Gyarados weaknesses
Although Gyarados is normally a water/flying Pokemon, its type changes to water/dark when it Mega Evolves, giving it a different set of weaknesses. In particular, Mega Gyarados is vulnerable to electric, grass, fighting, bug and fairy, so you’ll want to stack your team with Pokemon of those types when battling one.
Best Mega Gyarados counters
Here are some recommended Pokemon and moves to use when joining a Mega Gyarados raid:
Electric
- Zapdos: Thunder Shock, Thunderbolt.
- Raikou: Thunder Shock, Wild Charge.
- Electivire: Thunder Shock, Wild Charge.
- Therian Forme Thundurus: Volt Switch, Thunderbolt.
- Zekrom: Charge Beam, Wild Charge.
Grass
- Mega Venusaur: Razor Leaf, Frenzy Plant.
- Sceptile: Bullet Seed, Frenzy Plant.
- Torterra: Razor Leaf, Frenzy Plant.
- Tangrowth: Vine Whip, Solar Beam.
- Chesnaught: Vine Whip, Solar Beam.
Fighting
- Machamp: Counter, Dynamic Punch.
- Heracross: Counter, Close Combat.
- Breloom: Counter, Dynamic Punch.
- Hariyama: Counter, Dynamic Punch.
- Conkeldurr: Counter, Dynamic Punch.
Bug
- Mega Beedrill: Bug Bite, X-Scissor.
- Mega Scizor: Fury Cutter, X-Scissor.
- Yanmega: Bug Bite, Bug Buzz.
- Genesect: Fury Cutter, X-Scissor.
- Pheromosa: Bug Bite, Bug Buzz.
Fairy
- Clefable: Charm, Dazzling Gleam.
- Granbull: Charm, Play Rough.
- Gardevoir: Charm, Dazzling Gleam.
- Togekiss: Charm, Dazzling Gleam.
- Sylveon: Charm, Moonblast.
Best moveset for Mega Gyarados
Gyarados is already one of the strongest water Pokemon in the game, and it becomes even more fearsome after Mega Evolving. Though it can learn a couple of dark-type attacks, it’ll dish out the most damage if it knows the water-type moves Waterfall and Hydro Pump.