Defeat Kyurem: Best Counters & Weaknesses In Pokémon GO

Kyurem is a formidable legendary Pokémon in Pokémon GO, known for its powerful Dragon/Ice typing. To successfully defeat it in raids, especially the challenging five-star variety, understanding its weaknesses and selecting optimal counters is crucial. Kyurem's unique typing makes it vulnerable to several common types: Fighting, Rock, Steel, Dragon, and Fairy. This diverse set of weaknesses provides trainers with multiple avenues for building effective teams. When considering counters, it's not just about type effectiveness but also about high attack stats, suitable movesets, and sometimes even bulk to withstand Kyurem's attacks. For instance, Fighting-type Pokémon like Lucario or Machamp excel with moves like Counter and Dynamic Punch. Rock-types such as Rampardos or Rhyperior can leverage Fast Attack Smack Down and Charged Attack Rock Wrecker or Stone Edge. Steel-types, while not always top-tier in terms of raw damage output, offer good resistance to Kyurem's Dragon and Ice moves, making them good anchor Pokémon. Metagross with Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash is a prime example. Dragon-type counters, while strong against Kyurem, also share Kyurem's Dragon weakness, making them a risky but high-reward choice. Examples include Rayquaza with Dragon Tail and Outrage, or Palkia with Dragon Breath and Draco Meteor. Finally, Fairy-type Pokémon, despite their often lower CP, deal super effective damage and resist Dragon attacks, providing a safe and effective option. Gardevoir with Charm and Dazzling Gleam, or Togekiss with Charm and Dazzling Gleam, are excellent choices. Trainers should also be aware of Kyurem's potential movesets. Its Fast Attacks can be Dragon Breath or Steel Wing. Its Charged Attacks include Draco Meteor, Dragon Claw, Blizzard, and Glaciate. These moves influence the best counters to use, as a Pokémon resistant to a specific Charged Attack might be preferred. For example, a Steel-type like Metagross would resist Blizzard and Glaciate, while a Fairy-type would resist Dragon Claw and Draco Meteor. Optimizing your team involves not just typing but also having high-level Pokémon with powerful, super effective moves. Aim for Pokémon with a high Attack IV (Individual Value) and power them up with Candies and Stardust. Mega Evolutions also play a significant role. Mega Blaziken or Mega Gardevoir, for example, can significantly boost not only their own damage but also the damage of other Pokémon of the same type in the raid. Understanding the weather boost is also critical. Sunny/Clear weather boosts Fire, Ground, Grass attacks. Cloudy weather boosts Fighting and Poison attacks. Rainy weather boosts Water, Electric, Bug attacks. Partially Cloudy boosts Normal and Rock attacks. Snowy weather boosts Ice and Steel attacks. Windy weather boosts Dragon, Flying, Psychic attacks. Foggy weather boosts Dark and Ghost attacks. For Kyurem, Windy weather boosts its Dragon attacks, making Dragon counters riskier. Snowy weather boosts its Ice attacks, increasing the threat of Blizzard or Glaciate. Conversely, Partially Cloudy weather boosts Rock-type counters, making them even more potent. Cloudy weather boosts Fighting and Fairy types, enhancing their effectiveness. Gathering a team of 4-6 strong counters, each powered up and with ideal movesets, will greatly increase your chances of successfully taking down Kyurem in a raid. Coordinating with other trainers is also vital, as larger groups can overwhelm Kyurem quickly. Even a small group of 2-3 trainers with top-tier counters can defeat Kyurem, but it requires significant investment and optimal play. Always check the current raid boss rotation and prepare your teams in advance. Keep an eye on in-game events that might offer opportunities to catch or power up these specific counter Pokémon. Investing in Charged TMs and Fast TMs to get the optimal movesets is also a wise strategy for any serious raid attacker. Don't forget the importance of dodging. While not always necessary with a large group, dodging Kyurem's Charged Attacks can keep your Pokémon in the fight longer, especially if you're attempting the raid with fewer trainers or if your Pokémon are not fully maxed out. Practice makes perfect, and with a solid understanding of Kyurem's vulnerabilities, you'll be well-equipped to add this powerful legendary to your collection.