Niantic has announced that Darkrai, Altered Forme Giratina, and Virizion will be returning to Tier 5 raids, over the course of the next 3 weeks, allowing Trainers another chance to add these monsters to their Pokédex and an opportunity to add their shiny versions to the collection.
For anyone planning to participate, here’s a look at the what, where, when, and how of each.
Raid Schedule
Darkrai:
April 28th(4pm EST)- May 5th (4pm EST)
Altered Forme Giratina:
May 5th (4pm EST) – May 12th (4pm EST)
Virizion:
May 12th (4pm EST) – May 19th (4pm EST)
Darkrai
Basics:
– Pure Dark Type
– Part of the Lunar Duo (w/Cresselia)
– Resistant to Dark, Ghost, & Psychic attackers
– Weak To: Fighting, Bug, & Fairy
– Darkrai is a Mythical monster and can not be traded
Counters:
Lucario: Counter/Aura Sphere
Conkeldurr: Counter/Dynamic Punch
Machamp: Counter/Dynamic Punch
Hariyama: Counter/Dynamic Punch
Blaziken: Counter/Focus Blast
Gardevoir: Charm/Dazzling Gleam
Togekiss: Charm/Dazzling Gleam
# of Trainers Needed for a Defeat:
3 Trainers:
If your team of counters are each powered up to Level 35 (8,000 Stardust)
4-6 Trainers:
If your team of counters are powered up to Level 30 (5,000 Stardust)
Perfect IV’s:
100% IV: 2136CP
100% WB IV: 2671CP
Darkrai is boosted in Foggy weather.
Movesets:
Best Movesets: Snarl/Dark Pulse or Snarl/Shadow Ball
Hardest Move to Beat: Shadow Ball
Shiny:
Altered Forme Giratina
Basics:
– Ghost/Dragon type
– Good fighter, but not quite as good as Origin Forme Giratina
– Weak To: Dragon, Ice, Fairy, Ghost, Dark
NOTE: The Candy earned from catching (& transferring) Altered Forme Giratina can be used toward Origin Forme Giratina.
Counters:
Dialga: Dragon Breath/Draco Meteor
Rayquaza: Dragon Tail/Outrage
Garchomp: Dragon Tail/Outrage
Tyranitar: Bite/Crunch
Palkia: Dragon Tail/Draco Meteor
Salamence: Dragon Tail/Draco Meteor
Dragonite: Dragon Tail/Outrage
Latios: Dragon Breath/Dragon Claw
# of Trainers Needed for a Defeat:
3 Trainers:
If your team of counters are each powered up to Level 35 (8,000 Stardust)
4-5 Trainers:
If your team of counters are powered up to Level 30 (5,000 Stardust)
Perfect IV’s:
100% IV: 1931CP
100% WB IV: 2414CP
Altered Forme Giratina is boosted in Windy and Foggy weather.
Movesets:
Best Moveset: Shadow Claw/Dragon Claw
Hardest Moveset to Beat: Dragon Breath/Dragon Claw
Shiny:
Virizion
Basics:
– Introduced in Generation V
– Dual Type Grass/Fighting
– Easy to defeat
– Can Duo w/ high level flying counters
Weak to the following types:
-Flying
– Psychic
– Fire
– Ice
– Poison
Counters:
Moltres: Wing Attack/Sky Attack
Honchkrow: Peck/Sky Attack
Rayquaza: Air Slash/Aerial Ace
Unfezant (Pidove evolution ): Air Slash/Sky Attack
Lugia: Extrasensory/Sky Attack
MewTwo:
Confusion/Psystrike
Confusion/Psychic
NOTES:
It only costs 10k stardust and 25 Candy to get a 2nd Charge Move for Unfezant, so if you’re short on Charge TM’s then just unlock the 2nd Charge Move to get the one you need.
Although Virizion’s Stone Edge move will hurt flying types, it’s still your best option for the fight.
# of Trainers Needed: 2-4
A Duo is possible and is actually quite easy if the Virizion possesses Leaf Blade. It will still be possible, but much harder & require a lot more resources if the monster fights with Close Combat or Stone Edge.
If you’re level 40 and have the previously listed counters maxed out to 8,000 Stardust each, then here’s a breakdown of how it will most likely work.
Leaf Blade – Duo using one team of 5-6 monsters each.
Stone Edge – Duo using 15 Pokémon each.
Close Combat – Duo using 11 Pokémon each.
If you’re a level 30 or above trainer and the Virizion possesses Leaf Blade, you should also be able to duo him if you each have maxed out Moltres and/or Honchkrows.
If you don’t wish to use this many resources (or don’t have maxed out counters), then you can comfortably defeat Virizion with 3-4 Trainers.
Perfect IV’s:
100% IV: 1770CP
100% WB IV: 2159CP
Virizion is boosted in Sunny & Cloudy weather.
Movesets:
Best moveset: Quick Attack/Leaf Blade
Hardest move to beat: Stone Edge
Shiny: (New to Game)
Remote Raid Passes
Niantic has recently added a “Remote Raid Pass” to the game, which will allow Trainers to participate in gym raids within (what appears to be) a 1-2 mile radius of their location.
Although the odds of having a gym near your home and/or having enough players nearby to participate in a high level raid at the same time as you may be slim, this new feature could prove useful for anyone wanting to raid, in car, with fellow players, while parked at one location (i.e. a local park, college) that’s surrounded by several gyms.
Niantic has mentioned that a “friend” add-on to this new raid pass feature will be coming in the future, allowing one person to physically go to a gym and invite high level friends (most likely ultra & best) to join in a raid from their home (or current) locale. Of course, this is a great incentive to be working on that friendship level with your fellow Trainers so you’ll be able to participate in this when it becomes available.
If you’re looking to give the remote raid pass a try, be sure to purchase the box of 3 currently available for 1 Pokécoin.
You can read more about the new remote raid pass, here.
Wilkes County
If you’re planning to raid in Wilkes County, connect here to a list of gym locations around the area. You can also connect with fellow players, in the area, through our Pokémon GO Discord channel.
Good luck on your shiny hunts!
Sources: Niantic, zeekthehedgie/ Deviant Art (verizion pic)
