Ready to take on Zamazenta, the legendary Fighting-type powerhouse of Pokémon Go? Mastering its weaknesses and counters is your key to victory in these intense 5-star raids. Discover which Flying, Psychic, and Fairy-type Pokémon will crush Zamazenta’s defenses, and learn the best moveset to unleash its full potential in battle. Whether you’re hunting for the shiny variant or aiming to dominate raids, this guide equips you with everything you need to conquer the Hero of Many Battles.
Like fellow Sword and Shield legendary Zacian, Zamazenta notably has two different forms. Its plain “Hero of Many Battles” version is only fighting-type, whereas it gains a steel-typing with its “Crowned Shield” form. The Crowned Shield version of Zamazenta is not yet available in Pokémon Go yet, so this guide will only provide information on its “Hero of Many Battles” form until it gets added to the game.
This guide explains Zamazenta’s weakness and the best counters as it returns as part of the Max Out Finale event, which runs from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, 2024.
Zamazenta weakness
Zamazenta, being a pure Fighting-type Pokémon in Pokémon Go, has clear weaknesses to Flying, Psychic, and Fairy-type moves. These types exploit its vulnerabilities, making them the most effective choices for countering Zamazenta in raids. Trainers are advised to bring strong Flying, Psychic, or Fairy-type Pokémon to maximize damage and improve their chances of success. However, caution is necessary as Zamazenta may also use Steel-type attacks, which can be super-effective against Fairy-types, so a balanced team focusing on Flying and Psychic types is often recommended for the best results.
In its “Hero of Many Battles” form, Zamazenta is a pure fighting-type Pokémon, which means it’s weak against fairy-, flying-, and psychic-type moves. Focus on these when building your team to dish out super-effective damage.
On the other hand, Zamazenta is resistant to bug-, dark-, and rock-type moves. Avoid using these types where possible, as they’ll deal reduced damage and won’t be very effective.
Zamazenta best counters
Zamazenta’s best counters in Pokémon Go are primarily strong Psychic, Fairy, and Flying-type Pokémon due to its pure Fighting typing and corresponding weaknesses. Top counters include Mega Rayquaza with Air Slash and Dragon Ascent, Shadow Mewtwo with Psycho Cut and Psystrike, Mega Alakazam with Confusion and Psychic, and Mega Gardevoir with Confusion and Psychic. Other effective counters are Lunala, Hoopa (Unbound), Braviary, Staraptor, and Metagross. Using these Pokémon with powerful moves that exploit Zamazenta’s vulnerabilities can significantly ease the challenge of defeating it in raids.
Here are some of the best counters you can use when battling Zamazenta in Pokémon Go:
- (Mega) Rayquaza with Air Slash and Dragon Ascent
- Mewtwo with Confusion and Psystrike
- Lunala with Confusion and Psychic
- Hoopa with Confusion and Psychic
- Braviary with Air Slash and Fly
- Staraptor with Gust and Fly
- Metagross with Zen Headbutt and Psychic
- (Mega) Alakazam with Confusion and Psychic
If you’ve got enough Mega Energy, the best Mega Pokémon to use against Zamazenta are Mega Rayquaza and Mega Alakazam with the same movesets recommended in the list above. Other great choices are Mega Gardevoir with Confusion and Psychic or Mega Pidgeot with Gust and Brave Bird.
Fairy-type moves get a weather boost when it’s cloudy, while flying and psychic-type moves get a weather boost when it’s windy. Keep an eye out for these weather conditions and alter your choice of counters accordingly.
Zamazenta best moveset
The best moveset for Zamazenta in Pokémon Go, particularly for its “Hero of Many Battles” form, is Metal Claw as the fast move paired with Close Combat as the charged move. This combination offers the highest damage per second (DPS) and total damage output (TDO), making it ideal for both raids and PvP battles. Metal Claw benefits from the Steel-type same-type attack bonus, while Close Combat delivers powerful Fighting-type damage, maximizing Zamazenta’s offensive potential with a DPS of around 13.65 to 14.9 and strong overall performance in battle.
Unlike its counterpart Zacian, the fighting-type Zamazenta doesn’t have much use in raids or gyms. There are much better options out there like Terrakion, Lucario, and Machamp. If you still want to use Zamazenta in PvE gameplay, go with Snarl and Close Combat.
Things look a little better in the Master League, where Zamazenta has potential to take out big names like Dialga and Melmetal. It’s not a top-tier choice by any means, but it’s worth a go. You’ll want to teach it Snarl with Close Combat and Crunch for the best outcome here.
It’s worth mentioning that Zamazenta’s “Crowned Shield” form is expected to be a big improvement if it ever gets added to Pokémon Go. It’s unknown when (or if) this will happen, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind. Don’t write Zamazenta off just yet.
Is Zamazenta shiny in Pokémon Go?
Yes, Zamazenta can be shiny in Pokémon GO. The shiny variant, known as Zamazenta (Hero of Many Battles), was introduced during the Galarian Expedition event starting October 4, 2024, and appears as a 5-Star Raid Boss. The chance to encounter a shiny Zamazenta after defeating it in a raid is roughly 1 in 20, but it is not guaranteed and requires persistence to obtain. The shiny form features a distinctive fuchsia body with burgundy details, making it visually unique compared to the standard version. Players aiming to catch a shiny Zamazenta should focus on participating in multiple raids during events when Zamazenta is available as a raid boss.
Yes, Zamazenta can be shiny in Pokémon Go. This rare variant made its debut during the Galarian Expedition event in October 2024.
How can I exploit Zamazenta’s weaknesses to defeat it easily in raids
To exploit Zamazenta’s weaknesses and defeat it easily in Pokémon Go raids, focus on using Pokémon with strong Psychic-, Flying-, and Fairy-type moves, as Zamazenta is vulnerable to these types due to its Fighting typing. Some of the best counters include:
-
Mewtwo with Confusion and Psystrike
-
Mega Gengar with Lick and Psychic
-
Mega Pidgeot with Gust and Brave Bird
-
Metagross with Zen Headbutt and Psychic
-
Moltres with Wing Attack and Sky Attack
-
Rayquaza with Air Slash and Hurricane
-
Gardevoir with Charm and Psychic
-
Togekiss with Charm and Aerial Ace
Bringing a well-prepared team of these counters, ideally with recommended movesets optimized via Elite TMs, will maximize your damage output and make the raid more manageable. Additionally, teaming up with at least three other trainers who also have strong counters is advised for a smoother victory. Weather conditions like Cloudy weather can boost Zamazenta, so plan accordingly.
What are the top Psychic, Flying, and Fairy moves to use against Zamazenta
The top Psychic, Flying, and Fairy moves to use against Zamazenta in Pokémon Go raids are:
Psychic Moves:
-
Psychic (used by Mewtwo, Mega Alakazam, Mega Gardevoir, Metagross)
-
Psystrike (Mewtwo)
-
Confusion (Mega Gardevoir, Lunala, Hoopa)
-
Zen Headbutt (Metagross, Mega Latios)
Flying Moves:
-
Air Slash (Mega Rayquaza, Rayquaza, Shadow Lugia, Lugia)
-
Hurricane (Mega Rayquaza, Rayquaza)
-
Brave Bird (Mega Pidgeot, Shadow Ho-Oh, Galarian Articuno)
-
Gust (Staraptor)
-
Sky Attack (Shadow Moltres)
Fairy Moves:
-
Charm (Togekiss, Sylveon)
-
Fairy Wind (Tapu Koko)
-
Play Rough (alternative for coverage)
These moves exploit Zamazenta’s Fighting-type weakness effectively, making them the best choices for raid counters. Additionally, weather conditions like Windy weather boost Flying and Psychic moves, while Cloudy weather enhances Fairy moves, so consider this when selecting your team.
