Dynamax Raikou, the first legendary Pokémon from the Johto Region will be featured in Max Battles in Pokémon GO. This is the first time Trainers will be experiencing the Dynamax legendary in Pokémon GO. Here is how to defeat Dynamax Raikou.
As we progress into the new Season titled Might and Mastery, Dynamax Raikou will be making its debut in Pokémon GO during the Max Battle Weekend. This is scheduled for Saturday, March 15, at 6:00 a.m. to Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 9:00 p.m. local time.
Defeating Dynamax Raikou
The first thing you need to know is that Dynamax Battles are not as difficult as Gigantamax Battles. However, you need a maximum of 4 Pokémon GO Trainers to defeat a Dynamax Pokémon. You need a maximum of 40 Pokémon GO Trainers to defeat a Gigantamax Pokémon.
Getting four (4) Trainers for a Dynamax Battle makes it difficult in terms of organizing and strategizing. In addition, many Trainers do not currently have proper Dynamax and Gigantamax counters for Dynamax Raikou. This will make it tricky to defeat. Do not worry because what you find here will help a great deal.
Raikou weakness
Raikou is a Legendary Electric-type Pokémon. It is weak to Ground-type Pokémon attacks/moves. Thankfully, we have a Ground-type Pokémon in the Dynamax form. This is Excadrill. Excadrill is a Ground- and Steel-type Pokémon that can learn Ground-type attacks/moves. Another is the Steel- and Psychic-type Metagross that can learn Ground-type Charged Attack/Move. With these, defeating Dynamax Raikou should be easier.
Recommended Dynamax Raikou Counters
- Dynamax Metagross with Steel-type Fast Move i.e. Bullet Punch and Ground-type Charged Move i.e. Earthquake.
- Dynamax Excadrill with Ground-type Fast Move i.e. Mud-Slap and Ground-type Charged Move i.e. Scorching Sands.
- Gigantamax Venusaur with Grass-type Fast Move i.e. Vine Whip and Grass-type Charged Move i.e. Frenzy Plant.
Please note that Dynamax Raikou takes reduced damage from Steel-, Electric- and Flying-type moves/attacks. So, you can replace Dynamax Metagross with a Gigantamax Toxtricity that has an Electric-type Fast Move i.e. Spark, and an Electric-type Charged Move i.e. Wild Charge. Also, you can replace Dynamax Metagross with a Gigantamax Gengar that has a Ghost-type Fast Move i.e. Lick, and a Ghost-type Charged Move i.e. Shadow Ball. You could also use a 3-Pokémon team full of Dynamax Excadrills.
Whichever, team you go for, make sure you create a battle party with them before going into the Max Battle. Also, you will want to level up their max moves before you start a battle. The recommended minimum level for the Max Attack, Max Guard, and Max Spirit moves is level 2.
Tips to defeating Dynamax Raikou
You will need to master team position, dodging, charging, and swapping.
- Team Position: Put your bulky Pokémon in the first and second spot e.g. Dynamax Metagross and Gigantamax Toxtricity.
- Attack Dodging: Pay attention to when Dynamx Raikou is “preparing to attack” and start dodging. It can be hard to dodge all the attacks but you ONLY need to dodge each attack once. Also note, you cannot dodge the “preparing for large attack”
- Attack Charging: Rather than charging your Pokémon’s Charge Move/Attack, focus on charging the Max Meter instead. You can do this by tapping on the charging button on your screen. This helps to charge up the max moves faster.
- Pokémon Swapping: Swap your Pokémon to the ones with the right Max Attack that can do effective damage to Dynamax Raikou i.e. Dynamax Excradril or Gigantamax Venusaur. You should do this when the Max Meter is about to get full or before your Pokémon dynamaxes or gigantamaxes. In addition, you will want to throw 2 Max Attack and 1 Max Guard or Max Spirit. Make sure you swap back to your bulky Pokémon after you’re done with the max moves.
In addition to the above, you will want to do the following
- Level up your Dynamax or Gigantamax Pokémon (i.e. its CP) at least level 40.
- Use at least one Max Mushroom. Each lasts for 15 minutes.
- Look out for Community Ambassador-hosted Campfire events for the Max Battle Weekend. Join one of these events to meet with other Trainers for the Max Battles.
- The CP for a hundo or perfect Dynamax Raikou is 1972 CP.
Other details you should know about the Max Battle Weekend
The following bonuses will be active during the event.
- Max Particle collection limit will be increased to 1,600.
- You can receive Max Particles (from the nearby menu) after walking 0.5 km instead of 2km
- Power Spots will refresh every 30 minutes.
- You can also receive 960 Max Particles from each Power Spot.
In addition, the following bonus will be active from Monday, March 10, at 6:00 a.m. to Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 9:00 p.m. local time.
- You can unlock and or power up a Max Moves with 3/4 Max Particle cost.
There will also be a free Timed Research available to Trainers starting Monday, March 10, 2025, at 6:00 a.m. local time. You can complete the Timed Research to encounter a Dynamax Drilbur that you can evolve into Dynamax Excadrill. The Timed Research tasks will also award Drilbur Candy, Max Particles, and more to help power up your battle team.
All my best wishes as you defeat this Legendary Pokémon in Max Battles.
