Pokémon GO Necrozma Raid Guide (August 2025): Best Counters, Strategies & Shiny Tips

The wait is over for Pokemon GO trainers as Necrozma makes its long-anticipated return to 5-star raids. From August 25 to September 2, 2025, this legendary Psychic-type Pokemon will once again take center stage, giving players across the globe a chance to test their squads and chase after its powerful and shiny form. While Necrozma has appeared before, this run feels extra special, as it comes at a time when many trainers are still building out their late-season raid rosters.

This time around, the Ultra Beast shows up in its pure Psychic form, without access to fusion energy. That means no fusions into Dusk Mane or Dawn Wings during this event, making the raids all about raw strategy, team building, and shiny hunting. With the right counters, trainers can take it down in as few as three to five players, but maximizing rewards will require careful planning, an eye on weather boosts, and smart use of berries to snag those high-IV catches.

Pokemon GO Necrozma Raid: Best Counters for the Raid Boss

Pokemon GO Necrozma’s Psychic typing means it takes 1.6x super-effective damage from Bug, Dark, and Ghost moves.

Trainers looking to take it down quickly should focus on the following raid-tested counters:

Mega Tyranitar - Bite + Brutal Swing

Mega Gengar - Lick + Shadow Ball

Mega Banette - Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball

Mega Absol - Snarl + Brutal Swing

Shadow Chandelure - Hex + Shadow Ball

Dawn Wings Necrozma - Shadow Claw + Moongeist Beam

Other excellent options include Hydreigon, Darkrai, Mega Houndoom, Origin Giratina, Lunala, and Gholdengo, as long as they’re running the right fast and charged moves. These picks, boosted by raid simulations from Pokebattler and GO Hub, are consistent performers across different battle scenarios.

Pokemon GO Necrozma Raid: Battle Tips and Strategy

Raid Size: With proper counters, 3-7 experienced trainers can reliably defeat Necrozma. Larger groups make the raid quicker and safer, especially for less experienced players.

Weather Impact: Windy weather boosts Necrozma’s CP and Psychic-type moves, making raids more challenging, but also increases its catch CP range (2,522–2,630 CP). Without a weather boost, expect CP between 2,018 and 2,104.

Best Attack Moves: Focus on Shadow Ball, Brutal Swing, and Moongeist Beam for optimal DPS output.

Avoid Using: Psychic and Fighting-type attackers, they deal reduced damage and faint quickly against Necrozma’s arsenal.

How to Catch and Fuse Necrozma in Pokemon GO

Catching Necrozma can be tricky, but with the right approach, it’s manageable:

Catching Tips: Use Golden Razz Berries for safer catches and aim for excellent curveball throws to maximize success. If the raid rewards you with a shiny, it’s a guaranteed catch, making Pinap Berries a smart way to stock up on extra candy.

Fusion Requirements:

Dusk Mane Necrozma: 1,000 Solar Fusion Energy + 30 Necrozma Candy + 30 Cosmog Candy + Solgaleo

Dawn Wings Necrozma: 1,000 Lunar Fusion Energy + 30 Necrozma Candy + 30 Cosmog Candy + Lunala

Shiny Availability: Shiny Necrozma remains available, and the shiny form carries over if you fuse it into Dusk Mane or Dawn Wings, making shiny hunting even more rewarding.

Best Moveset for Necrozma in Pokemon GO

Necrozma isn’t just a collector’s trophy; it can be a solid PvE option with the right moves:

PvE Damage Dealer: Psycho Cut + Future Sight delivers top DPS for raids and gym battles.

Alternative Coverage: Metal Claw + Future Sight or Shadow Claw + Future Sight offer versatility depending on your matchup.

Extra Tips for Dedicated Raiders in Pokemon GO