Shadow Lugia is back in Legendary Shadow Raids. It will be available sparingly in Five-Star Shadow Raids from Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 6:00 a.m. to Sunday, August 11, 2024, at 10:00 p.m. local time. If you are lucky, you will be able to encounter Shiny Shadow Lugia.
Shadow Lugia raids can only be done in-person. This means, in addition to having a minimum of 5 Level 40+ trainers/players in each battle, you need to have the best Shadow Lugia counters in your battle team.
Lugia (and Shadow Lugia) is a Psychic- and Flying-type Legendary Pokémon that is single-weak to Dark-, Rock-, Electric-, Ghost- and Ice-type moves. Based on its weakness, you may want to either have a mix of Dark-, Rock-, Electric-, Ghost- and Ice-type moved Pokémon in your battle team or create separate teams of each move type.
A Mix of Recommended Counters
You need the following in your battle team of 6 Pokémon
- Dawn Wings Necrozma with Shadow Claw as a Fast Move and Moongeist Beam as a Charge Move.
- Tyranitar with Smack Down as a Fast Move and Stone Edge as a Charge Move.
- Xurkitree with Spark as a Fast Move and Discharge as a Charge Move.
- Giratina (Normal Forme) with Shadow Claw as a Fast Move and Shadow Force as a Charge Move.
- Mega Tyranitar with Bite as a Fast Move and Brutal Swing as a Charge Move.
- Weavile with Snarl as a Fast Move and Avalanche as a Charge Move.
Recommended Counters with similar moves/attacks
You need the following in your Rock-type battle team of 6 Pokémon
- 2x Tyranitar with Smack Down as a Fast Move and Stone Edge as a Charge Move.
- 2x Tyranitar with Bite as a Fast Move and Brutal Swing as a Charge Move.
- Rampardos with Smack Down as a Fast Move and Rock Slide as a Charge Move.
- Mega Aerodactyl with Rock Throw as a Fast Move and Rock Slide as a Charge Move.
You need the following in your Dark-type battle team of 6 Pokémon
- Yveltal with Snarl as a Fast Move and Dark Pulse as a Charge Move.
- Darkrai with Snarl as a Fast Move and Dark Pulse as a Charge Move.
- Hydreigon with Bite as a Fast Move and Brutal Swing as a Charge Move.
- Weavile with Snarl as a Fast Move and Avalanche as a Charge Move.
- Dawn Wings Necrozma with Shadow Claw as a Fast Move and Moongeist Beam as a Charge Move.
- Giratina (Normal Forme) with Shadow Claw as a Fast Move and Shadow Force as a Charge Move.
You need the following in your Electric-type battle team of 6 Pokémon
- Xurkitree with Spark as a Fast Move and Discharge as a Charge Move.
- Zekrom with Charge Beam as a Fast Move and Fusion Bolt as a Charge Move.
- 2x Zapdos with Thunder Shock as a Fast Move and Thunderbolt as a Charge Move.
- Raikou with Volt Switch as a Fast Move and Wild Charge or Shadow Ball as a Charge Move.
- Electivire with Thunder Shock as a Fast Move and Wild Charge as a Charge Move.
The above-recommended counters are with moves/attackers that do real damage to the tanky Lugia (Shadow Lugia). If you can, use the shadow versions on Tyranitar, Weavile, Rampardos, Zapdos, and Electivire in your team instead of the non-shadow ones. Likewise, ensure the Pokémon in your team are with great stats (90%+ IV) and powered-up to at least their level 35. You can’t go wrong with this team of raid attackers. You will always need them.
After defeating Shadow Lugia, keep an eye on the CP of the encounter. A 2115 CP Shadow Lugia is the one with the perfect IV (i.e. 100%). However, in a boosted weather condition (i.e. Windy Weather in-game), the perfect Shadow Lugia is with 2645 CP.
