TL;DR
- Latios and Latias available in 5-star raids until February 20 with optimal timing during Raid Hour events
- Both share Psychic/Dragon typing with six key weaknesses: Dark, Bug, Ghost, Ice, Fairy, and Dragon
- Dark and Fairy types provide best coverage due to resistance against their primary attack types
- Mega Evolutions like Mega Houndoom and Mega Gengar dramatically increase raid success rates
- Strategic berry usage and circle lock technique significantly improve catch probability
The Legendary Eon Pokemon have returned to Pokemon Go’s five-star raid rotation, presenting trainers with a limited-time opportunity until February 20 to capture these powerful Gen 3 creatures. This reappearance offers another chance for players who previously missed capturing Latios and Latias to complete their Pokedex or strengthen their battle teams.
These dual-type Psychic/Dragon Legendaries are featured as five-star raid bosses from February 9 through February 20, providing approximately twelve days to coordinate battles. Participation requires either a standard Raid Pass for in-person engagements or a Remote Raid Pass for joining from distant locations. Free daily Raid Passes can be obtained by spinning Photo Discs at PokeStops, though inventory restrictions limit trainers to holding only one complimentary pass simultaneously.
Strategic timing significantly impacts capture success rates. The most advantageous window occurs during the weekly Raid Hour event on Wednesday, February 17, between 6-7 PM local time. During this concentrated period, raid frequency dramatically increases across gyms, substantially improving opportunities to battle and capture both Legendaries. Planning multiple raids during this hour maximizes resource efficiency and catch potential.
Latias and Latios
Latios and Latias share identical type combinations as Psychic and Dragon Pokemon, resulting in consistent vulnerability patterns across both Legendaries. Their defensive profile reveals six primary weaknesses: Dark, Bug, Ghost, Ice, Fairy, and Dragon-type moves, offering diverse counter options for assembling effective battle teams.
Dark-type and Fairy-type Pokemon emerge as particularly advantageous choices due to their defensive resistances. Dark types naturally resist Psychic attacks, while Fairy types provide immunity to Dragon-type moves, creating sustained durability during extended raid battles. However, Pokemon from any of the six vulnerable types can contribute effectively when properly powered up and strategically deployed.
Optimal counter selections vary based on available Pokemon and their move sets. Here are the most effective choices categorized by type advantage:
- Dark: Mega Houndoom, Tyranitar, Weavile, Darkrai – These Pokemon benefit from taking reduced damage from Psychic attacks while dealing super-effective damage
- Bug: Scizor, Mega Beedrill, Genesect, Pinsir – Effective budget options that exploit the double weakness to Bug-type moves
- Ghost: Mega Gengar, Giratina, Chandelure, Mismagius – Provide strong neutral coverage with high damage output
- Ice: Mamoswine, Mega Abomasnow, Galarian Darmanitan, Glaceon – Excel at dealing super-effective damage while having type advantage
- Fairy: Gardevoir, Togekiss, Granbull – Completely immune to Dragon-type moves, ensuring extended battlefield presence
- Dragon: Rayquaza, Salamence, Dragonite, Garchomp – Deal massive damage but require careful positioning due to shared weakness
Successfully defeating Latios and Latias requires more than just type-advantaged Pokemon; strategic team composition significantly impacts victory consistency. Building balanced teams that combine high damage dealers with durable anchors ensures raid completion even with smaller groups. Consider including at least two bulkier Pokemon like Tyranitar or Giratina to anchor your team when using glass cannons like Mega Gengar.
Mega Evolutions provide substantial combat advantages beyond their raw stats. Mega Houndoom not only deals super-effective Dark-type damage but also boosts other Dark-type attackers’ damage by 10%. Similarly, Mega Gengar enhances Ghost-type companions while dealing massive damage itself. These synergistic effects can reduce the required number of trainers by 1-2 participants in challenging raids.
Weather conditions dramatically influence raid difficulty and counter effectiveness. Windy weather boosts both Psychic and Dragon-type moves, increasing the Legendaries’ attack power while simultaneously strengthening your Dragon-type counters. Partly cloudy weather enhances Fairy-type moves, making Togekiss and Gardevoir more potent. Understanding these environmental factors allows for optimal team selection based on current conditions.
Common strategic errors include over-reliance on single type counters and improper dodge timing. Diversifying your team across multiple super-effective types ensures consistent damage output even if one Pokemon type proves ineffective. Mastering the dodge mechanic, particularly for charge moves, can extend your Pokemon’s battlefield presence by 30-50%.
After successfully defeating the raid boss, the capture phase presents its own strategic challenges. Latios and Latias have a base catch rate of 2%, which can be significantly improved through proper technique. The circle lock method remains the most reliable approach for consistent excellent throws, potentially increasing catch probability by up to 70% compared to unaimed attempts.
Berry selection critically influences capture success. Golden Razz Berries provide the highest catch rate bonus, while Silver Pinap Berries offer a balance of increased catch chance and candy rewards. Strategic berry usage should align with the Pokemon’s attack patterns to minimize waste.
Individual Values (IVs) for raid-caught Pokemon range from 10/10/10 to 15/15/15, with weather-boosted encounters (level 25 instead of 20) providing higher minimum stats. Prioritize capturing weather-boosted specimens during optimal conditions to secure Pokemon with inherently stronger battle capabilities.
Post-capture optimization involves evaluating IV spreads for specific battle roles. Higher attack IVs benefit raid attackers, while bulkier spreads with emphasis on defense and HP may better serve PvP applications. Understanding these distinctions ensures your captured Legendaries fulfill their maximum potential in various gameplay contexts.
Action Checklist
- Assemble teams with Dark and Fairy types for optimal type resistance and damage
- Coordinate with local trainers for February 17 Raid Hour (6-7 PM local time)
- Power up Mega Houndoom or Mega Gengar for raid damage boosts
- Practice circle lock technique before raid encounters
- Check weather conditions and adjust team composition accordingly
- Stockpile Golden Razz Berries and coordinate berry usage with raid partners
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Pokemon Go Latios And Latias Guide: Weaknesses, Best Counters, And More Raid Tips Master Latios and Latias raids with optimal counters, timing strategies, and advanced catching techniques
