Kanto Legendary Birds Recommended Counters in Pokémon GO (June 2026)

Discover the best recommended counters for the Kanto Legendary Birds in Pokémon GO. Maximize your raid damage with the top Pokémon counters, optimized movesets, and budget teams. Also, discover the perfect hundo CP stats for each of the Legendary birds.

Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres will return to Five-Star Raids on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 6:00 a.m. to Sunday, July 5, at 9:00 p.m. local time. They will also be featured after the Global Pokémon GO Fest from Monday, July 13, at 6:00 a.m. to Tuesday, July 14, at 9:00 p.m. local time.

Kanto Legendary Birds Recommended Counters

• Articuno: As a dual Ice- and Flying-type Legendary Pokémon, Articuno’s best recommended counters are Pokémon with Rock-type attacks. Because of its typing, it has a massive double weakness to Rock-type attacks, making these counters your absolute primary focus when putting together a raid team. They deal 2.56x damage to Articuno. Furthermore, it is 1.6x weak to Pokémon with Steel-, Fire-, and Electric-type attacks.

• Zapdos: As a dual Electric- and Flying-type Legendary Pokémon, Zapdos has standard 1.6x weaknesses to both Ice- and Rock-type attacks. Bringing your heaviest-hitting Ice or Rock pocket-monsters is your absolute primary focus when putting together a raid team to challenge this legendary bird.

• Moltres: As a dual Fire- and Flying-type Legendary Pokémon, its best recommended counters are Pokémon with Rock-type attacks. Because of its typing, it has a massive double weakness to Rock-type attacks, making these counters your absolute primary focus. They deal 2.56x damage to Moltres. Furthermore, it is 1.6x weak to Water and Electric-type attacks.

One thing is clear. You can use Pokémon with Rock-type attacks to defeat either of these legendary birds.

Best Kanto Legendary Birds Recommended Counters

The best Pokémon with Rock-type attacks that you should use against Articuno, Zapdos, or Moltres include:

Please remember that you can only use one Mega or Primal Pokémon at a time. Ensure you use one of the listed Mega Pokémon in your raid battle party.

Other Counters

Remember that Articuno is also weak to Fire, Steel, and Electric-type attacks, Zapdos to Ice-type attacks, and Moltres to Water and Electric-type attacks. You can use your high-CP Pokémon with these attacks in your battle party.

Strong Budget Options as Recommended Counters

If you don’t have access to Mega Evolutions or Shadow Pokémon, you can still put out incredible damage using these highly effective budget picks:

• Rampardos with Smack Down and Rock Slide.
• Rhyperior with Smack Down and Rock Wrecker.
• Terrakion with Smack Down and Rock Slide.
• Gigalith with Smack Down and Meteor Beam.
• Tyranitar with Smack Down and Stone Edge.
• Glimmora with Rock Throw and Meteor Beam.
• Tyrantrum with Rock Throw and Meteor Beam.

Please note that attacks like Rock Wrecker (Rhyperior) or Smack Down (Tyranitar), require an Elite Fast/Charged TM if they don’t already have them.

Other Raid Tips

• Coordinate Megas: Mega Diancie or Mega Tyranitar offer incredible team-wide Rock-type boosts. Coordinate with your raid group so you always have an active Mega boost on the field.

• Weather Advantage: Rock-type attacks are heavily boosted during Partly Cloudy weather. Plan your teams around the current in-game forecast to shred through Articuno faster.

• Trainer Requirements: Due to the Legendary birds’ weakness to Rock-type attacks, high-level solos are entirely possible with highly optimized, maxed-out counters. For casual or semi-prepared groups, a team of 4 to 5 Trainers will easily secure a comfortable victory.

Hundo CP for Kanto Legendary Birds from Raids

The hundo CP (i.e., the perfect 100% IV CP) for any of these caught from raids depends on the in-game weather condition.

• Articuno:
  • • Weather Boosted (Snow or Windy): 2179 CP
    • Standard Weather: 1743 CP
• Zapdos:
  • • Weather Boosted (Rainy or Windy): 2519 CP
    • Standard Weather: 2015 CP
• Moltres:
  • • Weather Boosted (Sunny or Windy): 2475 CP
    • Standard Weather: 1980 CP

Catching Tips

Securing a Legendary bird from a Five-Star Raid can be tricky, as their movement patterns require patience. Use these proven strategies to maximize your catch rate:

• Moltres has a deceptively large catch circle, but it floats incredibly high on the screen. Wait for it to descend to its default position before throwing.
• Zapdos moves erratically from side to side and attacks frequently. Do not rush your throws; wait until it return to the center of your screen.
• Articuno floats at a steady medium distance but drifts up and down. It is often easiest to time your throw when it is resting at its lower position.

• Master the Circle-Lock Technique: Hold the Premier Ball until the target ring shrinks to an Excellent size, then let go without throwing. Wait for the Pokémon to perform its attack animation. The moment the animation is about to end, spin and throw your ball. The circle will remain locked at the exact size you left it.

• Stack Your Catch Modifiers: Always throw a Curveball and feed the Raid Boss a Golden Razz Berry for every single throw. Combining an Excellent Curveball with a Golden Razz Berry gives you the highest mathematical probability of a successful catch.

• Leverage Type Medals: Ensure you have worked on your typing medals. Having Gold or Platinum medals provides a permanent catch rate bonus during encounters.

Shiny Odds for Kanto Legendary Birds

If you are hunting for a Shiny, you are in luck! Each of these Legendary birds can be encountered in their Shiny forms after defeating them in a Five-Star Raid.

The Shiny odds for Legendary Raid Bosses are roughly 1 in 20. Because these odds are individual per trainer, your chances remain a solid 5% for every single encounter.

Best Moveset: Kanto Legendary Birds

If you land a high-IV Articuno and want to optimize its moveset for general combat, its best attacks are Frost Breath as a Fast Attack and Triple Axel as a Charged Attack. Zapdos’ best attacks are Thunder Shock as a Fast Attack and Thunderbolt as a Charged Attack. Moltres’ best attacks are Fire Spin as a Fast Attack and Fly as a Charged Attack.