Pokemon Go Deoxys Raid Guide: Best Counters, Weaknesses, Raid Hours, And More Tips

The legendary Pokemon Deoxys, originally from the Hoenn region’s Ruby and Sapphire games, has returned to dominate five-star raids throughout the remainder of the month. This cosmic Pokemon presents a unique challenge with its four distinct combat forms.

Trainers must prepare for multiple tactical scenarios as Deoxys cycles through its different Formes. Each variant occupies the raid boss position for a specific four-day period according to the February 2022 event calendar. Capturing all four versions demands strategic planning and consistent raid participation throughout the rotation period.

Each Deoxys Forme presents unique combat characteristics that require adjusted team strategies.

Deoxys and its multiple forms commenced their five-star raid appearances on February 16, concluding their current rotation on March 1. The complete Forme schedule is structured as follows:

Unfortunately, Pokemon Go doesn’t maintain fixed raid timetables—you cannot assemble a team and visit a Gym with absolute certainty of encountering a specific Forme. However, the game’s raid notifications consistently display available raid bosses, requiring regular monitoring of nearby Gym activity.

For trainers seeking guaranteed Deoxys encounters, Pokemon Go’s weekly Raid Hour on Wednesday evenings provides reliable opportunities. Two Formes will headline these special events: February 16 and February 23 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM local time. Normal Forme features on February 16, while Speed Forme takes center stage on February 23. Organize your raid group and plan for post-dinner expeditions on these specific Wednesday nights for confirmed Deoxys battles.

Understanding Deoxys’s type vulnerabilities is fundamental to raid success. As a pure Psychic-type Pokemon, Deoxys maintains consistent weaknesses across all four Formes, though their combat capabilities vary significantly.

Deoxys takes super effective damage from Bug, Ghost, and Dark-type attacks. This consistency allows trainers to develop core counter teams that remain effective throughout the rotation. However, each Forme’s unique stat distribution demands tactical adjustments to your battle approach.

Optimal Counter Pokemon by Type

Dark-type specialists like Tyranitar, Hydreigon, and Weavile deliver devastating damage with moves like Bite and Crunch. Ghost-type attackers including Gengar, Chandelure, and Giratina excel with Shadow Ball and Shadow Claw. Bug-type options such as Scizor, Pinsir, and Genesect provide strong alternatives with X-Scissor and Bug Buzz.

Forme-Specific Battle Strategies

Normal Forme: Balanced stats make it vulnerable to standard counter teams. Focus on high DPS Dark and Ghost types.

Attack Forme: Extreme offensive power but minimal defense. Use tankier counters like Tyranitar to withstand its powerful attacks while dealing sustained damage.

Defense Forme: Exceptionally high defense requires maximum DPS attackers. Prioritize glass cannons like Gengar with Shadow Ball for burst damage.

Speed Forme: High speed stat allows frequent attacks. Deploy bulky attackers that can absorb repeated hits while maintaining damage output.

Team coordination remains critical—ensure your raid group includes balanced teams with proper type coverage. For advanced strategy insights, consult our Weapons Unlock guide for optimal move set configurations.

Certain type matchups prove particularly ineffective against Deoxys and should be avoided in your raid teams. Understanding these poor matchups prevents wasted damage potential and failed raid attempts.

Ineffective Attack Types

Fighting and Poison-type moves deal only half damage against Psychic types. Avoid using Pokemon like Machamp, Conkeldurr, or Roserade as primary attackers, as their signature moves will underperform significantly.

Psychic-type attacks deal neutral damage but provide no type advantage. While not actively harmful, they represent suboptimal damage output compared to super effective alternatives.

Common Strategic Errors

Underestimating Defense Forme: Many trainers fail to allocate sufficient high-DPS counters for Defense Forme, resulting in timeout failures. This variant’s enormous defense stat demands maximum damage per second rather than tanky survivability.

Over-specialization: Relying exclusively on one counter type (e.g., only Dark types) leaves your team vulnerable to specific move sets. Diversify your team composition across multiple effective types.

Poor timing coordination: Attempting raids without sufficient participant planning often results in failed attempts. Use local community channels to organize simultaneous participation.

Insufficient healing preparation: Deoxys raids demand multiple attempts across different Formes. Ensure you have adequate healing items and revives to maintain your counter teams throughout the rotation period. For comprehensive battle preparation, reference our Complete Guide to team optimization.

Remember that proper Class Guide principles apply to Pokemon selection—balance your team between damage dealers and durable anchors to maximize raid success rates.

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