Can you solo or duo Mega Rayquaza raids in Pokemon GO?

Mega Rayquaza is easily one of the most hyped critters in Pokemon GO, and almost everyone wants to have this Pokemon in their collection. Considering its popularity, you should not have much difficulty in finding ample fellow raiders to take down the Mega Raid Boss. The process is further eased with Remote Raids which ensures you have enough people to take it down.

If you prefer in-person Raids and live in an area with fewer players, you may think about defeating Mega Rayquaza on your own or with a duo when it finally appears. The straightforward answer to both questions is no. It is near impossible to defeat Mega Rayquaza on your own or with a duo, even if you have the most optimized counters to it. With a duo, the outcome is closer, but still not possible.

Mega Rayquaza made its Pokemon GO debut during the in-person events of GO Fest 2023. Following this, it appeared on Raids globally on August 27, 2023. Almost a year later, Mega Rayquaza returned to Elite Raids on June 29, 2024. For its latest appearance, this critter will once again be available on Raids on August 3, 2024, as a part of the makeup event for technical issues from the June appearance.

Check out the current Pokemon GO raid bosses that you can encounter in-game

How many people are needed to defeat Mega Rayquaza raid boss in Pokemon GO?

To defeat Mega Rayquaza raids in Pokemon GO, you need at least 3-4 high-level players. High level, in this case, implies at least level 40 trainers who have substantial experience in raiding. You will also need highly optimized raid counters, which have either been maxed out or are at least level 40 themselves.

If you are a low to mid-level trainer with decent counters to Mega Rayquaza, you can get away with 7-8 raiders. However, if most people raiding with you are beginners, it is highly recommended that you have at least 10 people raiding at once, to make sure you don't waste Raid Passes.

What is the best counter for Mega Rayquaza?

Mega Rayquaza might have a CP of 70,000+ in Mega Raid, but it is nevertheless a Flying- and Dragon-type Pocket Monster. This means it is still double weak to Ice-type attacks.

Moreover, Mega Rayquaza is not known for its bulk. So powerful, offensively oriented critters will be able to take it down under the right conditions.

By far, the best counter for Mega Rayquaza raids is Shadow Mamoswine. The ideal moveset for the critter for this fight is Fast Attack Powder Snow along with Charged Attack Avalanche.

A team of five maxed-out Shadow Mamoswine, along with one Ice-type Mega Evolution, will give you a solid chance of defeating Mega Rayquaza raids during Pokemon GO Fest 2023 with 2-3 fellow raiders.

Other counters for Mega Rayquaza raid in Pokemon GO

You can also use the following critters. While they are less effective than Shadow Mamoswine, they may still do the trick:

Shadow Weavile: Ice Shard + Avalanche
Galarian Darmanitan: Ice Fang + Avalanche
Mamoswine: Powder Snow + Avalanche
Shadow Mewtwo: Psycho Cut + Ice Beam
Shadow Articuno: Frost Breath + Ice Beam

How to dodge in Pokemon GO?

A very important skill to have when trying to take down Mega Rayquaza with as few raiders as possible is the ability to dodge the raid boss' Charged Attacks. While it doesn't let you avoid taking damage completely, it reduces damage from strong attacks like Outrage by 75%, allowing you to stay in the battle for longer.

To dodge, swipe left or right when an attack is incoming. Make sure to switch between attacking and dodging and keep track of Rayquaza's Charged Attack usage to make the best out of this battle mechanic in Pokemon GO.

Best Mega Evolution for Mega Rayquaza raid in Pokemon GO

Mega Rayquaza in Pokemon anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Since you need STAB-boosted Ice-type attacks to defeat Mega Rayquaza easily in Pokemon GO, you should seek to mega evolve Glalie or Abomasnow before the raid.

If you are participating in the raid with many other trainers, and Ice-type attacks are not your priority, you can also reap the benefits of additional damage by Mega Evolving Gardevoir, Salamence, or Tyranitar.

Players with tickets to the in-person event in Osaka, London, and New York City can Mega Evolve Rayquaza during the events in their city. For the remaining players from across the world, the chance will come during Pokemon GO Fest 2023: Global.

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About the author

Abhipsito is an Esports and Gaming Journalist at Sportskeeda. A self-identified pop culture enthusiast, he spends his time thinking, reading, doing theatre, watching films, or trying to wiggle his way out of Valorant elo-hell.

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Edited by Angshuman Dutta