Pokemon GO Zekrom Raid Guide (March 2026) Complete Walkthrough

Updated by Shruti Agarwal
January 7, 2026
Gaming

Welcome to the most comprehensive Zekrom Pokemon GO Raid Guide you’ll find anywhere! As the Deep Black Pokémon returns to 5-star raids from December 22-31, 2025, during the Precious Paths season, you need to be prepared with the best strategies, counters, and knowledge to add this powerful Dragon/Electric-type Legendary to your collection.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about battling and catching Zekrom, including the top counters that will help you defeat it efficiently, understanding its weaknesses and resistances, maximizing your chances of catching it, and learning how to use it effectively in battles. Whether you’re a seasoned trainer or new to Legendary raids, this guide has you covered with all the latest information for March 2026.

Zekrom Raid Overview: Quick Facts

Let me start with a quick overview of what you’re up against when facing Zekrom in raids:

Aspect	Details
Type	Dragon/Electric
Raid Tier	5-Star Raid
Appearing	December 22-31, 2025
Raid Hour	December 24, 6:00-7:00 PM local time
Max CP	4,565
Raid CP Range	2,217-2,307 (Level 20)
Weather Boosted CP	2,771-2,884 (Level 25)
Shiny Rate	1 in 20 (5%)
Minimum Players	2 (with optimal counters)
Recommended Players	3-5 for safety

Zekrom is one of the most powerful Dragon-type attackers in Pokemon GO, and its unique Dragon/Electric typing makes it both formidable in battle and vulnerable to specific counter types. Understanding these mechanics is crucial for raid success.

Zekrom Complete Stats and Moveset

Before diving into counters, let’s examine Zekrom’s complete stats and potential moveset:

Base Stats

Attack: 275
Defense: 211
Stamina: 205
Max CP: 4,565

Fast Moves

Dragon Breath (Dragon) – 4 DPS
Charge Beam (Electric) – 3.5 DPS

Charged Moves

Outrage (Dragon) – High damage, 3 bars
Wild Charge (Electric) – Very high damage, 2 bars
Crunch (Dark) – Moderate damage, 3 bars
Flash Cannon (Steel) – Moderate damage, 2 bars
Fusion Bolt (Electric) – Legacy move, high damage

Note: Fusion Bolt is only available during special events and requires an Elite TM to obtain outside of those periods.

Zekrom Weaknesses and Resistances

Understanding Zekrom’s typing advantages and disadvantages is crucial for building an effective raid team:

Weaknesses (2x damage)

Ground – Most effective counter type
Ice – Strong against Dragon typing
Dragon – Super effective against other Dragons
Fairy – Counters Dragon typing effectively

Resistances

Electric (1/4x damage) – Highly resistant
Fire (1/2x damage)
Water (1/2x damage)
Grass (1/2x damage)
Steel (1/2x damage)
Flying (1/2x damage)

This unique typing makes Zekrom particularly resistant to many common attack types while leaving it vulnerable to four specific counter types. Ground-type attacks are especially effective as they exploit both of Zekrom’s weaknesses simultaneously.

Top Zekrom Counters: Complete Analysis

Based on extensive research from multiple sources including Pokebattler simulations, Pokemon GO Hub data, and official Pokemon.com recommendations, here are the absolute best counters for Zekrom raids:

Supreme Counters (Top Tier)

Pokemon	Fast Move	Charged Move	DPS	TTW	Estimator
Eternatus	Dragon Tail	Dynamax Cannon	35.70	434s	1.51
Mega Rayquaza	Dragon Tail	Breaking Swipe	35.81	441s	1.52
Black Kyurem	Dragon Tail	Freeze Shock	32.78	473s	1.62
Mega Garchomp	Dragon Tail	Breaking Swipe	32.21	481s	1.64
Primal Groudon	Mud Shot	Precipice Blades	30.77	500s	1.69

Elite Counters (High Performance)

Pokemon	Fast Move	Charged Move	DPS	TTW	Estimator
White Kyurem	Dragon Breath	Ice Burn	30.24	516s	1.77
Shadow Garchomp	Dragon Tail	Breaking Swipe	30.02	515s	1.80
Shadow Groudon	Mud Shot	Precipice Blades	28.17	552s	1.97
Mega Salamence	Dragon Tail	Draco Meteor	28.08	556s	1.97
Origin Dialga	Dragon Breath	Roar of Time	26.94	577s	2.00

Strong Non-Mega/Shadow Counters

If you don’t have access to Mega Evolutions or Shadow Pokemon, these regular Pokemon still perform excellently:

Pokemon	Fast Move	Charged Move	DPS	TTW
Origin Palkia	Dragon Tail	Spacial Rend	27.38	566s
Therian Landorus	Mud Shot	Sandsear Storm	26.12	602s
Rayquaza	Dragon Tail	Breaking Swipe	26.80	593s
Regidrago	Dragon Breath	Dragon Energy	26.24	595s
Garchomp	Dragon Tail	Breaking Swipe	25.21	614s

Type-Specific Counter Analysis

Ground-Type Counters

Ground-type Pokemon are particularly effective against Zekrom due to their super-effective coverage. The best options include:

Primal Groudon with Mud Shot + Precipice Blades
Shadow Groudon with Mud Shot + Precipice Blades
Therian Landorus with Mud Shot + Sandsear Storm
Excadrill with Mud Shot + Drill Run/Earthquake

Ice-Type Counters

Ice-types exploit Zekrom’s Dragon weakness:

Mamoswine/Shadow Mamoswine with Powder Snow + Avalanche
White Kyurem with Ice Fang + Ice Burn
Articuno with Frost Breath + Avalanche

Fairy-Type Counters

Fairy-types are effective but less common in the meta:

Mega Gardevoir with Charm + Dazzling Gleam
Shadow Gardevoir with Charm + Dazzling Gleam
Sylveon with Charm + Moonblast

How Many Trainers Do You Need?

Based on comprehensive simulations and real-world raid data, here’s what you can expect:

2-Trainer Duos (Possible but Challenging)

Requirements: Both trainers need maxed-out supreme counters
Recommended: Level 40+ Pokemon with best movesets
Weather: Windy or Rainy weather boost recommended
Friendship: Best Friend bonus (10% attack boost) helpful
Success Rate: High with optimal setup, risky otherwise

3-5 Trainer Groups (Recommended)

Requirements: Mix of elite and strong counters
Flexibility: Allows for some less optimal Pokemon
Safety Margin: Comfortable win with time to spare
Accessibility: Most achievable for average players

6+ Trainer Groups (Very Safe)

Requirements: Any reasonable counters will work
Speed: Very fast victories
Accessibility: Perfect for newer players or those with limited resources

Zekrom Moveset Difficulty Analysis

Not all Zekrom movesets are equally challenging. Based on GamePress analysis and community data, here’s how Zekrom’s different move combinations rank in difficulty:

Easy Movesets

Charge Beam + Flash Cannon: Both moves are resisted by many top counters
Charge Beam + Crunch: Crunch has neutral coverage but isn’t particularly threatening

Intermediate Movesets

Dragon Breath + Wild Charge: Wild Charge hits hard but many Dragons resist it
Dragon Breath + Crunch: More threatening due to Dragon Breath’s coverage

Hard Movesets

Dragon Breath + Outrage: This is the most dangerous combination
Charge Beam + Outrage: Outrage hits incredibly hard and has great counter-coverage

Pro Tip: If you encounter Zekrom with Outrage, focus on dodging the charged attack and prioritize Pokemon that can resist Dragon-type damage.

Catching Zekrom: Advanced Strategies

Defeating Zekrom is only half the battle. Here’s how to maximize your chances of catching it:

Premier Ball Optimization

You can earn up to 14 Premier Balls by:

Base balls: 8 balls for participating
Damage bonus: Up to 3 balls for dealing significant damage
Gym control: Up to 2 balls if your team controls the gym
Friendship bonus: 1 extra ball for each friend in the raid

Throwing Technique

Circle Lock Technique: Wait for Zekrom’s attack animation, then lock the circle size
Excellent Throws: Aim for the smallest target ring for highest catch rate
Curve Balls: Always throw curve balls for 1.7x catch bonus
Timing: Watch Zekrom’s movement patterns and throw during pauses

Berry Strategy

Golden Razz Berry: Use for your first few throws on difficult catches
Silver Pinap Berry: Use when you need extra candy (1.8x candy + 1.8x catch rate)
Nanab Berry: Use if Zekrom is moving too much to hit consistently
Regular Razz Berry: Save these for less critical throws

Shiny Zekrom Information

Shiny Rate: 1 in 20 (5%) for Legendary Pokemon
Appearance: Black body turns dark blue with red accents turning bright red
Guaranteed Catch: Shiny Legendary Pokemon are guaranteed catches if you hit them with any ball
Strategy: Use Pinap Berries on shiny encounters to maximize candy gains

Zekrom in Battle: Post-Raid Usage

Once you’ve caught Zekrom, here’s how to use it effectively:

Raid Attacker Performance

Zekrom excels as both a Dragon and Electric-type attacker:

Dragon-type Rank: Top 30 with Dragon Breath + Outrage
Electric-type Rank: Top 7 with Charge Beam + Fusion Bolt*
Strengths: High attack stat, excellent bulk, unique typing
Best Targets: Mega Charizard, Mega Blastoise, Suicune, Ho-Oh, Kyogre, Palkia

GO Battle League Performance

Master League: Top 10 Pokemon, excellent counter to Mewtwo, Metagross, Kyogre, Giratina
Ultra League: Not recommended (CP too high for the 2500 CP limit)
Great League: Not viable due to high CP requirements

Optimal Movesets

Raiding: Dragon Breath + Outrage (Dragon) or Charge Beam + Wild Charge (Electric)
PvP (Master League): Dragon Breath + Wild Charge + Crunch (coverage)
Legacy Value: Fusion Bolt makes Zekrom one of the best Electric attackers in the game

Fusion Mechanics: Creating Black Kyurem

One of Zekrom’s most valuable uses is fusing with Kyurem to create Black Kyurem:

Fusion Requirements

Zekrom: Any Zekrom (IVs don’t matter for fusion)
Kyurem: The Kyurem you want to fuse (IVs determine Black Kyurem’s stats)
Volt Fusion Energy: 1,000 units
Candy Requirements: 30 Zekrom Candy + 30 Kyurem Candy

Farming Fusion Energy

Source: Defeat Black Kyurem in raids
Per Raid: Minimum 80 Fusion Energy (can be more with speed bonuses)
Raids Needed: Approximately 10-13 raids for 1,000 energy
Pro Tip: Fuse your best Kyurem with your weakest Zekrom to preserve the stronger Zekrom for battles

Black Kyurem Benefits

Adventure Effect: Freeze Shock locks Pokemon for 10 minutes, making them easier to catch
Battle Power: One of the strongest Pokemon in the game
Legacy Moves: Can inherit Glaciate from Kyurem for additional utility

Weather and Time Optimization

Maximize your raid success with these environmental factors:

Ideal Weather Conditions

Windy Weather: Boosts Dragon-type attacks (your counters)
Rainy Weather: Boosts Electric-type attacks (Zekrom, but also your Electric counters)
Snow Weather: Boosts Ice-type attacks (excellent for Ice counters)
Partly Cloudy: Boosts Fairy-type attacks (good for Fairy counters)

Best Raid Times

Raid Hour: December 24, 6:00-7:00 PM local time – maximum raid spawns
Community Day Bonus: Check for overlapping event bonuses
Weather Sync: Time raids with favorable weather conditions
Group Coordination: Use local Discord communities to organize raid groups

Advanced Strategies and Pro Tips

Mega Evolution Strategy

Mega Boost: Mega Evolve before the raid starts for 1.3x attack boost to all same-type Pokemon
Best Megas: Mega Rayquaza, Mega Garchomp, Mega Salamence for Dragon teams
Energy Management: Save Mega Energy for the most important raids

Shadow Pokemon Utilization

Attack Bonus: Shadow Pokemon have 1.2x attack boost but take more damage
Best Shadows: Shadow Garchomp, Shadow Groudon, Shadow Dragonite, Shadow Salamence
Frustration Removal: Use Elite TMs to remove Frustration and unlock optimal movesets

Team Composition Strategy

Type Balance: Mix Dragon, Ground, Ice, and Fairy types for coverage
Survivability: Include some bulkier Pokemon that can tank hits
Move Coverage: Ensure you have coverage for all of Zekrom’s potential movesets
Friend Synergy: Coordinate with friends to cover different counter types

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Raid Preparation Errors

Underpowered Teams: Attempting raids with Pokemon that aren’t sufficiently powered up
Wrong Movesets: Using Pokemon with suboptimal moves for raid damage
Ignoring Weather: Not taking advantage of weather boosts for your counters
Poor Timing: Starting raids without enough players or optimal conditions

Catching Mistakes

Wasting Balls: Throwing during Zekrom’s attack animations
Wrong Berries: Not using the right berry for the situation
Poor Aim: Not taking time to line up Excellent throws
Panicking: Rushing throws when you have plenty of balls remaining

Post-Raid Errors

Bad Power-Up Choices: Spending candy on the wrong movesets or uses
Fusion Mistakes: Using your best Zekrom for fusion instead of battles
Move Set Locks: Not preserving legacy moves with Elite TMs
Trading Too Early: Trading away good IV specimens before evaluating them properly

Cost Analysis and Resource Management

Raid Costs

Raid Passes: 1 per raid (free daily pass available)
Premium Raid Passes: 100 PokeCoins each in shop
Remote Raid Passes: 100 PokeCoins each (limited to 3 per day)

Power-Up Investment

Stardust Cost: Approximately 250,000 dust to fully power up a Legendary
Candy Cost: 276 candy to get from Level 20 to Level 50
XL Candy: Additional 296 XL candy required for Level 50
ROI Consideration: Zekrom is worth the investment for Master League and raiding

Alternative Acquisition Methods

Besides raids, you can obtain Zekrom through:

Special Research: Occasionally available through event research tasks
GO Battle League: Rare encounter rewards at Rank 20+
Trading: Can be traded but requires special trade conditions for Legendary Pokemon

Community Resources and Tools

Essential Apps and Websites

Pokebattler: Raid simulations and counter recommendations
Pokemon GO Hub: Comprehensive guides and meta analysis
GamePress: Detailed Pokemon statistics and strategies
Leek Duck: Event schedules and raid calendars
Silph Road: Community research and coordination

Discord Communities

PoGO Raids: Global raiding community with 350k+ members
Local Community Discords: City/region specific raid coordination
Team Discord Servers: Team-specific (Mystic, Valor, Instinct) communities
PvP Focused Servers: For GO Battle League strategy and practice

Social Media Resources

Official Pokemon GO Twitter: Latest news and announcements
Content Creator Channels: YouTube and Twitch for live raid demonstrations
Reddit Communities: r/pokemongo for general discussion, r/TheSilphRoad for research

Future-Proofing Your Zekrom Investment

Long-Term Value

Meta Relevance: Zekrom remains relevant due to its unique typing and high stats
Fusion Potential: Always valuable for Black Kyurem creation
Event Returns: Likely to return in future events with potential new moves
PvP Stability: Consistent Master League performer

Investment Priorities

High IV Specimens: Focus on 90%+ IV Pokemon for long-term value
Legacy Moves: Preserve Fusion Bolt and other limited moves
Multiple Copies: Keep several Zekrom for different uses (raids, PvP, fusion)
Candy Management: Save candy for powering up the best specimens

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get Zekrom in Pokemon GO?

You can obtain Zekrom primarily through 5-star raids, which are available from December 22-31, 2025. Additional methods include completing Special Research tasks during specific events or rarely as an encounter reward from reaching Rank 20+ in GO Battle League.

What are Zekrom’s weaknesses in Pokemon GO?

Zekrom is weak to Ground, Ice, Dragon, and Fairy-type attacks, all dealing 2x super-effective damage. Ground-type attacks are particularly effective as they exploit both of Zekrom’s typing weaknesses simultaneously.

Can Zekrom be shiny in Pokemon GO?

Yes, shiny Zekrom is available with a base shiny rate of 1 in 20 (5%) for Legendary Pokemon. Shiny Zekrom features a dark blue body instead of black and bright red accents instead of dark red.

How many trainers do I need to beat Zekrom?

Zekrom can be defeated by as few as 2 trainers with maxed-out supreme counters and optimal conditions. However, 3-5 trainers is recommended for most groups to ensure a comfortable victory.

What’s the best moveset for Zekrom?

For raiding, Dragon Breath + Outrage is best for Dragon-type damage, while Charge Beam + Fusion Bolt (legacy move) is optimal for Electric-type damage. For PvP (Master League), Dragon Breath + Wild Charge + Crunch provides the best coverage.

How do I fuse Zekrom with Kyurem?

To fuse Zekrom with Kyurem, you need 1,000 Volt Fusion Energy (obtained from Black Kyurem raids), 30 Zekrom Candy, 30 Kyurem Candy, and both Pokemon. The resulting Black Kyurem’s stats are determined by the Kyurem used, not the Zekrom.

What CP should a 100% IV Zekrom have?

A 100% IV Zekrom will have 2,307 CP when caught at Level 20 (no weather boost) or 2,884 CP when caught at Level 25 with weather boost (Rainy or Windy conditions).

Is Zekrom good in Pokemon GO?

Yes, Zekrom is excellent in Pokemon GO. It ranks in the top 7 Electric-type attackers and top 30 Dragon-type attackers. It’s also a top 10 Pokemon in Master League PvP and is essential for creating Black Kyurem through fusion.

When will Zekrom return to raids?

Based on historical patterns, Zekrom typically returns every 6-12 months during major events. The next confirmed appearance is December 22-31, 2025, during the Precious Paths season.

Can Zekrom Dynamax in Pokemon GO?

Yes, Zekrom can be encountered and fought as a Dynamax Pokemon in Pokemon GO Max Battles, though this is separate from traditional raid battles.

Final Thoughts

Zekrom remains one of the most valuable and powerful Pokemon in Pokemon GO, and its return during December 2025’s Precious Paths season presents an excellent opportunity to add this Deep Black Pokemon to your collection. Whether you’re a hardcore raider, PvP enthusiast, or casual collector, Zekrom offers tremendous value across multiple game modes.

Remember to bookmark this guide and check back regularly for updates, as I’ll continue to refine the information as new strategies emerge and Zekrom returns in future events. The world of Pokemon GO is always evolving, but with the knowledge and strategies in this comprehensive guide, you’ll be well-prepared to face Zekrom and any challenges that come your way.

Happy raiding, trainers! May your Premier Balls find their mark and your Zekrom collection grow strong!