Pokémon Go: Zekrom Guide | iMore

For Pokémon Go Fest 2021, Niantic is bringing back each Legendary Raid for just one day. On Sunday, July 18, Zekrom will return to Raids, alongside dozens of other Legenday Pokémon. Luckily, at iMore, we’ve got everything you need to know to win this fight and add Zekrom to your roster. And don’t forget to check out our best Pokémon Go accessories, so you can be fully equipped for your Pokémon adventure!

Who is Zekrom in Pokémon Go?

One of the Tao Trio of the Unova region, Zekrom is a legendary Dragon and Electric type Pokémon. The Tao Trio is based on the concepts of Yin, Yang and Wuji. Zekrom represents Yin with its Electric type, while Reshiram represents Yang with its Fire type, and Kyurem, with its Ice type, represents Wuji, which is the absence of Yin and Yang. Zekrom is also the mascot of Pokémon White.

Zekrom has a huge CP cap – we’re talking over 53,000 in raids! He’s one of the best Electric-type attackers in the game, thanks to his stats and secondary typing. As one Dragon guy says, it’s not quite like amazing, but still pretty solid. Either way, this has only been in raids once before and it was at the height of a global pandemic, so many players don’t even have them yet.

What are the best counters for Zekrom in Pokémon Go?

As a Dragon and Electric-type Pokémon, Zekrom is weak against Ground, Ice, Dragon, and Fairy. It is capable of inflicting Dragon, Electric, Steel, and Dark damage.

Palkia

The legendary mascot of Pokemon Pearl, Palkia is the best non-Shadow counter for Zekrom. As a Water and Dragon-type, he resists Zekrom’s Steel-type attack, but like most counters, he takes super effective damage from Dragon-type moves. It hasn’t seen widespread availability with a single run in Legendary Raids and Pokémon Go Fest 2020, so you might not have fully fueled one. If you bring Palkia to this raid, Dragon tail and Draco Meteor are the moves you are looking for.

Garchomp

Originally found in the Gen IV Sinnoh region, Garchomp is an excellent choice for this raid. As a Ground and Dragon-type, Garchomp takes super effective damage from Zekrom’s Dragon-type attacks, but resists his Electric-type attacks. Thanks to its recent Community Day, most active players already have a few energized. Dragon tail and Contempt are the moves you’ll want your Garchomp to know for this fight.

Zekrom

As is often the case with Dragon-types, Zekrom makes a great counter for itself, especially if the Zekrom you’re up against doesn’t have Dragon-type moves. Sadly, Zekrom has only had one round in raiding and it was at the height of a global pandemic, so many players don’t even have one, let alone the Candy to fuel it. If you have one, you’ll want him to know Dragon breath and Contempt.

Reshiram

Source: The Pokémon Company

The legendary mascot of Pokémon Black, Reshiram is behaving very well in this Raid. As a Dragon and Fire-type, he takes increased damage from Dragon-type moves, while resisting both Steel and Electric. Much like his counterpart, however, Reshiram has only had one run in the raids and it was during the pandemic that many players don’t even have one, let alone Candy to fuel him. However, if you have one, the moveset you’ll want to face against Zekrom is Dragon breath and Draco Meteor.

Dialga

The legendary mascot of Pokémon Diamond, Dialga is a great tanky option for this raid. Dragon and Steel type, it is resistant to Electric and Steel type moves, and it is the only Dragon type in Pokémon Go that is not weak against Dragon type moves. Unfortunately, Dialga only had one round in Raids and Pokémon Go Fest 2020, so many players don’t have it or the Candy to power it up. Yet if you bring Dialga to fight Zekrom, Dragon breath and Draco Meteor is the moveset you are looking for.

Rayquaza

The Gen III mascot Pokemon Emerald Rayquaza remains an excellent counter for Zekrom, even if it is no longer the best. As a Dragon and Flying-type, he does not provide any resistance in combat, but the only weakness Zekrom can exploit is Dragon-type damage. Rayquaza has also been on several raids and has been featured in Special Research, so most players had plenty of opportunities to add him to their roster. Dragon tail is the fast movement you want your Rayquaza to experience and Contempt is the best charged attack.

Mega Charizard X

Source: The Pokémon Company

While it doesn’t perform as well as some of the other top counters, if it’s possible you’ll want Mega Charizard X to be part of your squad for this raid. This will give a significant boost to other types of dragons on the court, so if it’s possible to coordinate safely with other trainers, do it! As a Dragon and Fire-type, he resists Electric and Steel-type attacks, while sharing Dragon-type weakness. You will want your Mega Charizard to know Dragon breath and Dragon claw facing Zekrom.

Dragonite

The original Gen I pseudo-legendary, Dragonite is a solid counter with great uptime. It has benefited from the Community Day treatment, has been featured in Special Events and Research, and is even available as a Shadow Pokémon. As a Dragon and Flying type, he doesn’t bring any useful resistance to this fight, and he’s weak for Dragon-type moves, but he’s still a great counter that most players have. Dragon tail and Dragon claw are the ideal moveset for Dragonite in this battle, but Contempt is extremely close. Draco Meteor can also work if you don’t have TMs to spare.

Mamoswine

At Sinnoh Stone Evolution, Mamoswine does well against Zekrom. As a Ground and Ice type, he is super resistant to Electric type movement, but weak against Steel. It has also been featured in a community day, as well as several other events, so most players already have a few. Able to get STAB on two of Zekrom’s weaknesses, slap of mud and avalanche are the ideal moveset, but Powder snow and Demolish also work well.

Salamence

Pseudo-legendary of the Hoenn region, Salamence is the last of our best counters. Having been the star of his own Community Day, as well as appearing in raids and other events, most players have at least one really powerful Salamence. He’s a Dragon and Flying type, so his only relevant weakness is Dragon. Dragon tail and Draco Meteor are the movements you are looking for but Contempt may also work well.

Backups?

While most players are able to make a top scorer squad, if you find a gap in your squad there are plenty of substitutes out there who work well in larger groups. Just make sure you dodge and one of the following could be a decent save:

Shadow Pokémon

The rebalancing of the Dark Pokémon saved from Team GO Rocket makes them excellent glass cannons. Not only are their stats improved, but during special events it is possible to modify their movements with TMs. If you happen to have any of the following Pokémon with the correct moveset, they will work just fine in this Raid:

• Shadow Mamoswine with Mud-Slap and Avalanche
• Shadow dragonite with dragon tail and dragon claw
• Shadow Salamence with Dragon Tail and Outrage
• Shadow Gardevoir Charm and Dazzling Glow
• Shadow Mewtwo * with Psycho Cut and Ice Beam
• Shadow Weaville with Ice Shard and Avalanche
• Shadow Granbull with Charm and Play Rough
• Shadow Flygon with Dragon Tail and Dragon Claw
• Shadow Swampert with Mud Shot and Earthquake
• Shadow Porygon Z with Hidden Power and Blizzard

Note: Shadow Mamoswine and Shadow Dragonite outperform all other Pokémon on the top counter list. Shadow Salamence, Shadow Gardevoir, and Shadow Mewtwo also behave on a par with the other top counters.

If you have a Shadow Mewtwo with Psystrike or Shadow Ball, don’t these movements! Both are legacy moves that make Shadow Mewtwo the best Psychic and Ghost type attacker in the entire game.

How many players does it take to beat Zekrom in Pokémon Go?

Under perfect conditions, it is possible for two players to face Zekrom alone. However, that’s a lot of pieces that need to snap into place. If you are playing with high level players, four should be able to handle this Raid. For lower level players, you’ll want to aim for at least six. Adding invitations to the raid should make a huge difference.

Weather conditions that may impact this raid include:

• Rain stimulates Zekrom’s electric-like movements
• The wind will increase its Dragon-type movements, as well as your Dragon-type counters
• Snow will increase its Steel-type movement, as well as your Ice-type counters
• Fog will increase Zekrom’s dark type movement
• Sunny / Clear Weather Will Increase Your Ground Type Meters
• Cloudy weather will increase your fairy types counters

Questions about Zekrom in Pokémon Go?

Do you have questions on how to face the Legendary Zekrom in Pokémon Go? Do you have any advice for your fellow trainers? Drop them in the comments below and don’t forget to check out our full Pokédex, as well as our many Pokémon Go guides so you too can become a Pokémon Master!