TL;DR
- Kyurem appears as 5-star raid boss from December 1 to January 1 with weekly raid hours
- Fairy-types dominate as primary counters while Rock, Fighting, and Steel provide strong alternatives
- Avoid Dragon, Ground, Grass, and Flying types due to type disadvantage and super-effective damage
- Build balanced teams with 3-4 Fairy attackers supported by Rock/Steel types for coverage
- Time raids during snowy or windy weather for boosted damage and enhanced catch opportunities
The legendary Dragon and Ice dual-type Pokémon makes its triumphant return to raid battles for a limited engagement period. This comprehensive guide provides battle-tested strategies to ensure your victory and successful capture of this powerful creature.
Kyurem, originating from the Pokémon Black and White games, reappears exclusively as a tier five raid boss throughout December. This represents only the second appearance opportunity for this legendary in Pokémon Go history, making it essential for collectors and competitive battlers alike to secure their specimen during this window. Whether you’re completing your Unova dex or seeking powerful raid attackers, our expert analysis delivers actionable intelligence.
From December 1 through January 1, Kyurem will spawn globally as a five-star raid encounter. Raid battles operate on dynamic scheduling rather than fixed timetables, though the game provides proactive notifications when raids initiate at nearby gym locations. Understanding raid mechanics is crucial for maximizing your encounter opportunities.
To streamline your legendary hunting experience, Niantic schedules dedicated Raid Hour events every Wednesday from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM local time. During this concentrated hour, the majority of accessible gyms feature five-star raids, virtually guaranteeing multiple Kyurem battle opportunities. This month’s Kyurem Raid Hours occur on December 6, 13, 20, and 27—mark your calendars accordingly. For comprehensive raid strategy similar to mastering Battlefield tactics, proper timing is everything.
As a Dragon/Ice dual-type Pokémon, Kyurem presents multiple vulnerability points that savvy trainers can exploit. Your most effective strategy centers around deploying Fairy-type Pokémon, which resist Dragon moves while dealing super-effective damage. Elite choices include Togekiss, Granbull, and Gardevoir, though note that Togekiss becomes vulnerable to Kyurem’s Ice-type offensive capabilities.
Kyurem’s Ice secondary typing creates additional susceptibility to Rock, Fighting, and Steel-type attackers, providing excellent secondary options. Legendary Pokémon like Terrakion and Cobalion serve dual roles effectively, though numerous other competitive choices exist. Consider bringing Rhyperior, Gigalith, Tyranitar, Conkeldurr, Lucario, Machamp, Metagross, Melmetal, and Heatran to diversify your offensive portfolio. Proper team composition mirrors the strategic depth found in optimizing BF6 loadouts for maximum efficiency.
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Advanced Counter Strategy: For veteran trainers, the optimal approach involves leading with 2-3 Fairy-types followed by Rock or Steel attackers. This sequencing maximizes damage output while maintaining type coverage. During snowy weather, Ice-type moves become enhanced, requiring adjusted defensive strategies. Similarly, windy conditions boost Dragon-type attacks, favoring Steel-types over Fairies for survival.
Understanding which Pokémon to exclude from your raid party proves equally important as selecting optimal counters. As an Ice-type, Kyurem dominates Ground, Grass, and Flying Pokémon, making these types poor choices for your battle lineup. The type disadvantage creates situations where your attackers take increased damage while dealing reduced damage output.
Dragon-type Pokémon perform particularly poorly against Kyurem due to compounded vulnerabilities. Not only do they suffer super-effective damage from fellow Dragon-types, but they also exhibit critical weakness to Ice-type attacks. This double disadvantage makes Dragon Pokémon exceptionally fragile and inefficient as counters, despite their typically high attack stats.
Common Strategic Errors: Many trainers mistakenly deploy their strongest Dragon-types like Dragonite or Salamence, only to see them eliminated rapidly. Another frequent mistake involves using Grass-types against what appears to be a Dragon, forgetting the Ice typing’s advantage. Proper type recognition, similar to understanding BF6 class roles, separates successful raids from failed attempts.
Dodging Mastery: Kyurem’s charged moves can devastate unprepared teams. Master the dodge timing for Dragon Pulse, Blizzard, and Ice Beam to significantly improve your team’s longevity. Practice the swipe motion during less critical battles to build muscle memory for these legendary encounters.
Optimal Team Architecture: Construct balanced teams featuring 3-4 primary Fairy attackers supported by 2-3 Rock or Steel types. This composition ensures consistent damage output while providing coverage for Kyurem’s varied move sets. Ensure your team reaches level 30+ with optimal move sets for maximum efficiency.
Weather-Enhanced Tactics: During snowy conditions, prioritize Steel-types over Fairies to mitigate the boosted Ice damage. In windy weather, maintain your Fairy core but be prepared for enhanced Dragon-type charged moves requiring precise dodging execution.
Catch Phase Optimization: After defeating Kyurem, employ the circle lock technique for improved catch rates. Use Golden Razz Berries consistently and aim for Excellent throws to maximize your capture probability. With practice, experienced trainers achieve 80%+ catch success rates.
Resource Management: Plan your raid passes strategically across the month to maximize Kyurem encounters. Coordinate with local raid groups to ensure you have sufficient trainers for each attempt, typically requiring 3-5 prepared participants.
Action Checklist
- Assemble team with 3 Fairy-types and 2 Rock/Steel backups
- Coordinate raid group of 3-5 trainers via local Discord or campfire
- Battle during Wednesday Raid Hours (6-7 PM) for maximum opportunities
- Execute dodge strategy for charged moves during battle phase
- Apply circle lock technique with Golden Razz Berries during catch phase
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Pokemon Go Kyurem Raid Guide: Weaknesses, Counters, And Other Raid Tips Master Kyurem raids with optimal counters, strategic timing, and advanced battle tactics for guaranteed success
