Pokemon Go Mega Rayquaza Raid Guide: Weaknesses & best counters
NIANTICMega Rayquaza will be storming into Pokemon Go‘s Elite Mega Raids during the Shared Skies season, so we’ve put together a guide with details of its weaknesses and the best counters to help you defeat it.
What’s more powerful than a Legendary Pokemon? A Mega-Evolved Legendary Pokemon, of course. And with plenty of Mega Legendaries coming back to the game, it was about time Mega Rayquaza took back the spotlight.
This fearsome foe first appeared at in-person Pokemon Go Fest 2023 events in Osaka, London, and New York before it made its worldwide debut at the Global event. Now, it’s coming back as a Raid Boss for a special Elite Mega Raid that will take place on June 29, 2024.
Wherever you’re taking on Mega Rayquaza, it’s going to be an incredibly difficult battle, so you’ll need to know its weaknesses and best counters if you want to win.
Mega Rayquaza weaknesses in Pokemon Go
Mega Rayquaza is a Dragon/Flying-type Pokemon which means it’s weak against Dragon, Fairy, Ice, and Rock-type attacks. It’s especially weak against Ice-type attacks, which makes that a good focus.
On the other hand, Mega Rayquaza is resistant to Bug, Fighting, Fire, Grass, Ground, and Water-type attacks, so avoid those wherever possible as they won’t deal much damage during battle.
Mega Rayquaza counters in Pokemon Go
Here are some of the best counters you can use to defeat Mega Rayquaza in the game:
| POKEMON | SPRITE | BEST MOVESET |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Gardevoir |  | Charm & Triple Axel |
| Mega Glalie |  | Frost Breath & Avalanche |
| Mega Garchomp |  | Dragon Tail & Outrage |
| Shadow Mamoswine |  | Powder Snow & Avalanche |
| Shadow Mewtwo |  | Psycho Cut & Ice Beam |
| Shadow Weavile |  | Ice Shard & Avalanche |
| Kyurem |  | Dragon Breath & Glaciate |
| Cetitan |  | Ice Shard & Avalanche |
| Baxcalibur |  | Ice Fang & Avalanche |
| Galarian Darmanitan |  | Ice Fang & Avalanche |
The list includes a mix of Megas, Legendaries, Shadow, and standard Pokemon, so there should be something for every trainer.
However, don’t worry if you don’t have any of the counters from above – simply focus on your strongest Pokemon that can target Mega Rayquaza’s weaknesses.
How to get Mega Rayquaza in Pokemon Go
As with any other Mega Pokemon, you must first defeat Mega Rayquaza during a Mega Raid to get a chance to catch it with the Premier Balls you’re given after the encounter.
Mega Rayquaza will be featured in Elite Mega Raids on June 29, 2024, and it will appear more frequently at 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 5:00 PM, and 6:00 PM, local time.
If you manage to snatch this Pokemon, you’ll receive a regular Rayquaza, so in order to Mega Evolve it, you must gather 400 Mega Energy. After you’ve done this for the first time, the Mega Energy cost will drop to 80, then 40, and finally 20.
Players can earn Mega Energy by defeating Mega Evolved Pokemon or by completing particular Field, Special, or Timed Research Tasks. However, Mega Rayquaza has an additional requirement that must be met: It needs to know the attack Dragon Ascent.
Can Mega Rayquaza be Shiny in Pokemon Go?
Yes, Mega Rayquaza can be Shiny in Pokemon Go and players who take on this mighty beast during its time as an Elite Mega Raid boss will have the chance to encounter this special version.
NianticShiny Mega Rayquaza was added to Pokemon Go the same day its regular form debuted, and players can recognize it by its black body and bright red details.
It’s worth noting that the odds of finding a Shiny Pokemon are quite slim, even more so when it’s a Mega Evolution. All you can do is take down every Mega Rayquaza available until you find what you’re looking for.
That’s all there is about Mega Rayquaza in Pokemon Go. For more about Mega Evolutions, check our guide about costs and bonuses, as well as the list of all the Mega Evolutions missing from the game.