Beating Zacian raids inPokémon GOcan fetch you an incredible reward and, if you’re lucky enough, a special version of that reward. Zacian, the Legendary mascot for Generation 8’sPokémon Sword, debuted in the mobile title a while ago but is making its long-anticipated return. The availability ofZacian inPokémon GOis very limited, which is why the return of the Zacian raids is such an important moment for players. Zacian is a Fairy-type Pokémon and one with incredible strength among the creatures of the same type. Zacian is one of the best Fairy-type attackers in the game.
Currently, the only way of obtaining the Gen 8 Legendary is through 5-star raids that occasionally occur. As a 5-star raid, this challenge is often tough and not only requires multiple Trainers facing the creature at the same time, but you also need to take advantage of its weaknesses and build the best team of counters for Zacian. By doing so, you increase your chances of beating theZacian raids inPokémon GOand, upon doing so, you have a chance of capturing it. After this, you are free to use Zacian as a Fairy-type striker to counter other Pokémon.
The new Zacian raids run from September 26 through October 4.
Zacian’s Weaknesses In Pokémon GO
The Legendary Is A Pure Fairy-Type
As a pure Fairy-type Pokémon in its Hero of Many Battles form,Zacian is weak against Steel- and Poison-type moves. Attacks of these types cause supereffective damage against the creature. As such, your party will mostly be composed of Steel- and Fairy-type Pokémon, as well as tougher creatures of other types that can use Steel- and Fairy-type moves. Since Zacian’s debut in the game, several other powerful creatures have been added, some of which are great counters for it, such asDusk Mane Necrozma inPokémon GO. Other creatures are a bit older.
Taking advantage of counters in the game can help you deal more damage in less time, optimizing your performance and giving you a better chance at beating Zacian before the raid’s timer runs out. The same plan should be used by any allies that enter the raid lobby.It isn’t completely necessary to always use moves that exploit Zacian’s weaknesses, but it is recommended to do it as often as possible. Some Pokémon’s Fast Attacks may not exploit its weaknesses, though that could be compensated for with a Charged Attack inPokémon GOthat does cause supereffective damage.
Best Counters For The Zacian Raids In Pokémon GO
Use Pokémon With Steel- & Poison-type Moves
The best team of counters for the Zacian raids will be mostly composed of Pokémon Steel- and Poison-type moves, though some other creatures will stand out due to how heavily they hit and how sturdy they are in battle.Dusk Mane Necrozma is currently one of the absolute best Steel-type Pokémon to use in battle, so if you’ve fused your Necrozma with your Solgaleo throughSolar Fusion inPokémon GO, be sure to take it into battle. Classic Steel-type attackers like Metagross, Mega Aggron, and Excadril also stand out during raids, and Shadow Pokémon hit especially hard.
The table below lists a few counter recommendations for Zacian raids and their best movesets to use:
Psychic-type and Steel-type
Steel-type and Psychic-type
Ghost-type and Poison-type
Psychic-type and Ghost-type
Steel-type and Dragon-type
Ground-type and Steel-type
Bug-type and Poison-type
Bug-type and Steel-type
Dawn Wings Necrozma is also a good Pokémon to have in your party if you are facing Zacian, even if their Charged Attack will not deal supereffective damage.Mega Gengar is also listed among the best counters because it can tank a lot of damage and quickly use its Charged Attackfor maximum efficiency. In general, any Mega Pokémon with moves that are supereffective against Zacian’s Fairy-type is good, though you should remember that you can only have one Mega Pokémon or Primal Reversion active. Between these options, Mega Gengar and PrimalGroudon inPokémon GOare the best counters.
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Primal Groudon is the biggest exception to the rule of taking advantage of weaknesses because of its Ground-type moves. While neither its Fast nor Charged Attacks deal supereffective damage,the Pokémon’s Primal Reversion and its already heavy-hitting moves are worth having in your team. Aside from these recommended counters, remember to use your strongest Pokémon with Steel- and Poison-type attacks, as well as other reliable tanks, such as Kyogre. Zacian has a wide range of possible Fast and Charged Attacks, so some of your chosen counters may take supereffective hits.
Dusk Mane Necrozma could take supereffective damage from Zacian’s possible Snarl attack, for example – though that should not be your main concern when building a party. Remember that raids inPokémon GOare all about hitting heavy and as quickly as possible. This, oftentimes, results in your party fainting quickly through the battle. However,with the help of other Trainers using similar types of Pokémon and type-based strategies, you should not have much trouble beating the Zacian raidsand getting the chance to capture the Legendary Pokémon.
Is Shiny Zacian Available In Pokémon GO?
Know The Odds Of Getting Shiny Zacian
As of August 02, 2025, Zacian’s Shiny form can be acquired inPokémon GO. The creature was previously Shiny-locked – in fact, Shiny Zacian was only made available inPokémon Sword and Shieldvia a limited distribution event and was not obtainable in the game through any other regular means. As such,when you beat a Zacian raid in the mobile title, you will have a chance of encountering a Shiny Zacian. If this occurs, the capture is guaranteed.
If you encounter a Shiny Zacian after a raid, whose capture is guaranteed, be sure to use a Pinap Berry on it before the capture, as this will result in more Zacian Candies.
The chances of finding Shiny Zacian are the same for any Legendary creature in 5-star raids. As perPokémon GO’s Shiny odds,you will normally have a one in 20 (or 5%) chance of finding a Shiny Zacian at the end of a regular raidagainst the creature. While the odds are low, this is currently the only way of getting Shiny Zacian inPokémon GO.
