Two of Pokémon Go’s most formidable raid bosses have arrived: Black Kyurem and White Kyurem, the icy dragon fusions from Unova. Their dual Dragon and Ice typing gives them both devastating power and a unique set of weaknesses-making them tough opponents, but not invincible. With the right counters and movesets, you can turn the tide of battle and claim victory against these legendary threats. Ready to melt the ice? Here’s how to exploit their weaknesses and the best Pokémon to bring to the fight.
Black Kyurem and White Kyurem will be available in raids for the Go Tour: Unova event on March 1 and 2. It’s likely that it will return as part of a raid day or another event, the same way Dusk Mane and Dawn Wings Necrozma did after its initial launch.
Below, we explain Black and White Kyurem’s weaknesses, counters, best movesets, and more.
Black Kyurem and White Kyurem weaknesses
Black Kyurem and White Kyurem are both Dragon- and Ice-type Pokémon, which means they share the same core weaknesses in Pokémon Go. Specifically, they are vulnerable to Fighting-, Rock-, Steel-, Dragon-, and Fairy-type attacks. However, using Dragon-type Pokémon as counters is risky, as both Kyurem forms have strong Ice-type moves that can quickly knock out opposing dragons. Instead, Steel-type Pokémon are particularly effective, as they resist both Dragon and Ice moves and can exploit Kyurem’s weaknesses. Additionally, both forms resist Water-, Grass-, and Electric-type moves, so it’s best to avoid using those types against them. While White Kyurem has access to Fusion Flare, giving it an edge against Steel-types, both forms remain highly susceptible to the five main weaknesses listed above.
Both Black Kyurem and White Kyurem (and also regular Kyurem) are dragon- and ice-type, meaning they have the same fighting-, rock-, steel-, dragon–, and fairy-type weaknesses.
That all being said, keep your dragon-types at home for this one, as Kyurem’s powerful ice-type moves will send those packing immediately. There are a ton of really powerful steel-type Pokémon nowadays, so we recommend using those (as we’ll talk about below), but bring what you can to the fight.
Kyurem will resist water-, grass-, and electric-type moves, so don’t bring those.
Black Kyurem and White Kyurem counters
Black Kyurem and White Kyurem are both Dragon- and Ice-type Pokémon, sharing weaknesses to Dragon, Fairy, Fighting, Rock, and Steel-type moves. The most effective counters for both forms are powerful Steel- and Fighting-type Pokémon, as these types exploit their vulnerabilities while resisting many of their attacks. Top counters include Dusk Mane Necrozma with Metal Claw and Sunsteel Strike, Mega Lucario with Force Palm and Aura Sphere, Shadow Metagross with Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash, Mega Rayquaza with Dragon Tail and Outrage, and Mega Garchomp with Dragon Tail and Outrage. Crowned Shield Zamazenta and Crowned Sword Zacian are also excellent choices, especially in larger raid groups. Avoid using Dragon-types unless they are exceptionally strong, as Kyurem’s Ice-type moves can quickly knock them out. Coordinating with other trainers and focusing on Steel- and Fighting-type attackers will give you the best chance at defeating these formidable raid bosses.
Given what we said above, here’s some of the strongest Pokémon you can bring against Kyurem:
- Dusk Mane Necrozma with Metal Claw and Sunsteel Strike
- Mega Lucario/Lucario with Force Palm and Aura Sphere
- Origin Forme Palkia with Dragon Tail and Spacial Rend
- Origin Forme Dialga with Metal Claw and Roar of Time
- Terrakion with Double Kick and Sacred Sword
- Palkia with Dragon Tail and Draco Meteor
- Metagross with Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash
- Dawn Wing Necrozma with Metal Claw and Moongeist Beam
- Dialga with Metal Claw and Draco Meteor
I know what you’re thinking. “Didn’t you say to leave the dragon-types at home? Why would I bring Dialga or Palkia to this if they’re dragon-types?” Elementary, my dear reader – they are dual type with Palkia being dragon/water and Dialga being dragon/steel. Their secondary types help them resist those ice-type moves, so they’ll only deal normal damage to it, not doubled. Yippee!
While Rayquaza and Garchomp (and their respective Megas) will dish out serious damage, they’ll also both take a lot of damage from Kyurem, since both of their dual types (dragon/flying and dragon/ground, respectively) are weak against ice.
Best moveset for Black Kyurem and White Kyurem
For Black Kyurem, the best moveset in Pokémon Go is Dragon Tail as the Fast Move paired with Fusion Bolt as the Charged Move, offering the highest total DPS and making it optimal for both raids and PvP battles. Some sources also highlight Freeze Shock as a top Charged Move, especially if your base Kyurem had the legacy move Glaciate before fusing, as this unlocks Freeze Shock for Black Kyurem. An alternative Fast Move, Shadow Claw, can provide faster energy gain for PvP, but Dragon Tail remains the strongest overall for damage.
For White Kyurem, the best moveset is Ice Fang as the Fast Move and Fusion Flare as the Charged Move, maximizing its offensive potential in both raids and PvP. If your base Kyurem knew Glaciate before fusing, Ice Burn becomes available as a Charged Move and is considered the top choice for White Kyurem, making it an apex Ice attacker. In PvP, pairing Ice Fang with both Ice Burn and Fusion Flare provides excellent coverage and damage output.
In summary, prioritize Dragon Tail + Fusion Bolt (or Freeze Shock if available) for Black Kyurem, and Ice Fang + Fusion Flare (or Ice Burn if available) for White Kyurem for the best results in all battle scenarios.
So, Kyurem’s moves are a little funky with regard to how they work when fused, so let’s break it down a little bit.
Regular Kyurem’s best moveset is by far Dragon Breath and Glaciate, with Glaciate being a legacy move you can only get during the Go Tour: Unova event. As usual with legacy moves, you can use an Elite Charged TM to change your Kyurem’s charge move into Glaciate.
Now, if your regular Kyurem has Glaciate and you fuse it, the fusions will get special moves that take Glaciate’s place. Both of the fusions best movesets come from the base version having Glaciate, so all you really need to know is: don’t TM over Glaciate. Remember, if you want to guarantee White or Black Kyurem will have Glaciate from raids during the event, choose that respective colour in the “It’s Not Over Yet” branching research.
Black Kyurem’s best moveset is Dragon Breath and Freeze Shock (a move that only shows up if base Kyurem knows Glaciate) and White Kyurem’s best moveset is Ice Fang and Ice Burn (again, a move that only shows up if base Kyurem knows Glaciate).
However, if you plan on using your Kyurem in PvP, it’s another story. You do still want to keep their Glaciate moves, but you’ll want to alsoadd a second charged move and unlock their respective signature moves. That being said, according to the Pokémon Go Database, you’ll want your Black Kyurem to have Shadow Claw with Freeze Shock and Fusion Bolt and your White Kyurem to have Ice Fang with Ice Burn and Fusion Flare.
Can Kyurem be shiny in Pokémon Go?
Kyurem can be shiny in Pokémon Go, but only under specific conditions. Players can encounter shiny Kyurem by defeating it in 5-star raids, where the shiny rate is approximately 1-in-20, or 5%. To obtain a shiny Black Kyurem or White Kyurem, you must first catch a shiny Kyurem from these raids. When fusing Kyurem with either Zekrom (for Black Kyurem) or Reshiram (for White Kyurem), the resulting fusion will be shiny if the original Kyurem used in the fusion is shiny. This means that shiny Black Kyurem and shiny White Kyurem are only possible if you start with a shiny Kyurem, as the shiny status carries over during the fusion process.
Yes, if you’re lucky, you can find a shiny Kyurem in Pokémon Go.
When you beat Black Kyurem or White Kyurem, it’ll return to its normal unfused form to catch. You’ll see if its shiny or not from the catch screen.
Keep in mind if you do plan on fusing it into a Black or White Kyurem, it’s Kyurem that will need to be shiny – not Zekrom or Reshiram. Save your shiny Zekrom and Reshiram for something else.
If you’re wanting to get Black Kyurem and White Kyurem yourself, our dedicated explainer can help.
How can I exploit Black and White Kyurem’s weaknesses in raids
To exploit Black Kyurem and White Kyurem’s weaknesses in Pokémon Go raids, focus on using Pokémon and moves of the following types: Fighting, Steel, Rock, Fairy, and Dragon. These types are all super effective against their dual Dragon/Ice typing.
Key Strategies:
-
Use Pokémon with high CP and strong Fast and Charged Attacks of the above types. Prioritize Pokémon that receive a Same Type Attack Bonus (STAB) for even more damage.
-
Top counter choices include:
-
Mega Rayquaza (Dragon Tail + Outrage or Breaking Swipe)
-
Mega Lucario (Force Palm + Aura Sphere)
-
Dusk Mane Necrozma (Metal Claw + Sunsteel Strike)
-
Shadow Metagross (Bullet Punch + Meteor Mash)
-
Mega Gardevoir (Charm + Dazzling Gleam)
-
Terrakion (Double Kick + Sacred Sword)
-
-
Be cautious when using Dragon-type Pokémon, as they are also weak to Kyurem’s own Dragon- and Ice-type moves.
-
Bring Mega-Evolved Pokémon to boost the damage of all allies using the same type attacks during the raid.
-
Raid in groups when possible to maximize Party Power, which charges faster with more players and boosts your next Charged Attack.
-
Avoid using Electric, Grass, or Water-type Pokémon, as Kyurem resists these types.
By leveraging these weaknesses and assembling a team with optimal counters and movesets, you can efficiently defeat both Black and White Kyurem in raids.
Which types of Pokémon deal the most damage to Black and White Kyurem
The types of Pokémon that deal the most damage to both Black Kyurem and White Kyurem in Pokémon Go are:
-
Fighting
-
Rock
-
Steel
-
Fairy
-
Dragon
These types exploit the dual Dragon/Ice typing of both Kyurem forms, making them especially effective in raids.
However, while Dragon-type moves are super effective, using Dragon-type Pokémon can be risky because Kyurem’s own Dragon- and Ice-type attacks will hit them hard. Steel- and Fighting-type Pokémon are generally safer and still deal significant damage. Top choices include Mega Lucario (Fighting), Dusk Mane Necrozma (Steel), Metagross (Steel), and Terrakion (Rock).
Avoid using Electric, Grass, or Water types, as Kyurem resists these attacks.
