Pokemon GO Rayquaza counters and weakness - Rayquaza raid guide (February 2023)

At long last, the weather dragon returns to Pokemon GO. With these Rayquaza counters and weakness details, you'll be able to tackle the tangled treachery with relative ease. It's one of weaker five-star raid battles in the game in terms of defence, meaning it isn't too much of a struggle to take it on with some common critters and fewer trainers.

Down below, we'll quickly go over the best Pokemon to use against Rayquaza, the moves you'll want to equip them with beforehand, and how the serpent's new move changes the game. As its available as a shiny, too, we'll go over how likely you are to see it at the end of your ordeal.

For more Pokemon GO guides, check out the Arlo, Sierra, and Cliff counters you'll want to bring to the latest Rocket Takeover event. It's a great way to battle Giovanni for his Registeel, and our matching Giovanni counters guide will help there, too.

When is Rayquaza coming to Pokemon GO?

Rayquaza will return to Pokemon GO raids from Feb. 22 to March 1, 2023. Any caught within this period will come with the new Breaking Swipe charged attack.

Pokemon GO Rayquaza counters and weakness

Being a dual Flying/Dragon-type Pokemon, Rayquaza takes 4x damage from Ice-type attacks, making a Pokemon with a matching type and attack a perfect counter.

Rock, Dragon, and Fairy-type moves will work well, too. Just note that Dragon-type Pokemon will take massive damage from Rayquaza, so only choose them as filler.

Here are some of the best Pokemon to bring to the Rayquaza raid.

The list above pulls Pokemon from a variety of reasons; mostly type, moves, and ease of access.

For years, Mamoswine and Glaceon has been prime counters, but they're technically outperformed by newer Pokemon like Alolan Darmanitan. But older players will likely have more of these legacy Pokemon ready to go, making them an easier choice for multipe teams.

Pokemon GO Rayquaza counter tier list

For an at-a-glance view of which Pokemon to bring to a loaded Rayquaza fight, refer to the tier list below. Again, you'll at least want to have them use moves that are super-effective against the target, so don't take it at face value.

Mega-evolved Pokemon tend to top the charts regardless of their weakness to Rayquaza. Similarly, consider a Shadow Pokemon one tier above their non-Shadow counterparts if you've managed to TM Frustration into a move that's strong against Rayquaza.

Can Rayquaza be shiny in Pokemon GO?

Yes, shiny Rayquaza has been available for a number of years now, and returns with this raid event.

After you beat Rayquaza in a battle, you'll have the usual 1/20 (or five percent) chance to see a shiny Rayquaza on the catch screen. If you do, just land a ball to catch it. Shiny raid Pokemon have a guaranteed catch rate.

Pokemon GO Rayquaza catch rates

The brief breakdown above shows the Rayquaza catch rates with either a Razz Berry or Golden Razz Berry in effect, with a curveball throw of any accuracy, and with gold Dragon/Flying medals.

In a best-case scenario, you have a 15.65% chance of catching Rayquaza per throw. A worst-case scenario with non of the above modifiers would put it at 1.67%.

Pokemon GO Rayquaza max CP

After a successful raid, you'll want to hope for 2,191 CP on the catch screen. That would denote a max IV Rayquaza. In favourable weather, which essentially boosts its level by five, you'll want to look for 2,739 CP.

Pokemon GO Rayquaza raid team size - Can you duo Rayquaza?

Even years ago, it was entirely possible for two players to take on Rayquaza. With a stacked team of Glaceon, Mamoswine, and Mewtwo, it was an attainable challenge at level 30 with some dodging.

You'll want to have a backup team ready if that's your aim, or just bring a third player to make it much, much easier.

For more Pokemon GO guides, check out the raid roster right now. We even have an updated Pokemon GO egg chart to show what to expect from your hatches. Lastly, grab yourself a Ditto with our Ditto disguises guide.