Pokemon Go Shadow Lugia Raid guide: Weaknesses & best counters
NianticShadow Lugia is set to appear in Shadow Raid Battles in Pokemon Go, but it’s not going to be easy to defeat. Here are its weaknesses and some of the best counters to help you win.
August 2024 marks yet another Team Go Rocket takeover event in Pokemon Go. The upcoming event means some fantastic Shadow Pokemon will be ready for players to catch.
This time, Giovanni will use Shadow Cresselia, and trainers can attempt the Five-star Shadow Lugia raids during the event.
Of course, Shadow Raids are by no means a walk in the park, and Shadow Lugia poses a threat thanks to its bulky nature and great typing. As such, let’s break down everything trainers should know about Shadow Lugia beforehand, like its weaknesses and the best counters to bring along.
How to defeat Shadow Lugia in Pokemon Go
Shadow Lugia will appear in Five-star Shadow Raids from Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 10 AM local time until Sunday, August 11, 2024, at 8 PM local time. This means trainers have just under two days to take on this Shadow Legendary.
Shadow Lugia will likely be a pretty difficult raid, thanks to the enraged mechanic. If you didn’t know, Shadow Raid Bosses grow enraged over time, increasing their Attack and Defense stats.
While taking on this Shadow Raid with other trainers and bringing effective counters to the Shadow Lugia raid will be as important as ever, you’ll likely have to rely on Purified Gems to take down this Shadow Pokemon.
Purified Gems are special items that can be used to subdue Shadow Raid Bosses, reducing their power in the process. If your group uses enough Purified Gems, you’ll be able to revert them to their non-enranged form, which will make Shadow Lugia much easier to bring down.
Those wondering how to obtain Purified Gems will need to collect a total of four Shadow Shards. Shadow Shards can be obtained by defeating members of Team Go Rocket or winning Shadow Raid Battles. Once you’ve collected enough, you’ll automatically get a Purified Gem.
Finally, it’s important to note that Remote Raid Passes cannot be used for Shadow Raid Battles, so you’ll need to find a nearby Gym hosting a Shadow Lugia Raid in person and use a regular Raid Pass to take part.
Shadow Lugia weaknesses in Pokemon Go
Shadow Lugia is a Psychic/Flying-type Pokemon, which means it’s weak against Rock, Ghost, Electic, Ice, and Dark-type attacks.
On the other hand, Shadow Lugia is resistant to Fighting, Grass, and Psychic-type attacks. Additionally, it’s fully immune to Ground-type attacks, so it’s best to avoid using those wherever possible.
Best counters for Shadow Lugia in Pokemon Go
Here are some of the best counters you can use to defeat Shadow Lugia in Pokemon Go:
| POKEMON | SPRITE | BEST MOVESET |
|---|---|---|
| Dawn Wings Necrozma |  | Shadow Claw & Moongeist Beam |
| Mega Tyranitar |  | Bite & Brutal Swing |
| Mega Banette |  | Shadow Claw & Shadow Ball |
| Mega Diancie |  | Rock Throw & Rock Slide |
| Mega Manectric |  | Thunder Fang & Wild Charge |
| Mega Gengar |  | Lick & Shadow Ball |
| Raikou |  | Thunder Shock & Wild Charge |
| Xurkitree |  | Spark & Discharge |
| Weavile |  | Snarl & Avalanche |
| Luxray |  | Spark & Wild Charge |
| Zapdos |  | Thunder Shock & Thunderbolt |
We’ve included a mix of Megas, Legendaries, and regular Pokemon above, so hopefully, there’s something everyone can use there.
Don’t worry if you don’t have any of the counters we’ve listed, though — focus on the strongest Pokemon you have that can target Shadow Lugia’s weaknesses and team up with fellow trainers for the best chance of success.
Remember that bringing along Purified Gems is just as important as having the right counters or teammates, so we recommend taking on some low-level Shadow Raid Bosses or members of Team Go Rocket to stock up on those first.