It’s the season of all things spooky, and Sableye is taking over Mega Raid Battles in its terrifying Mega-Evolved form! Sableye is a Dark- and Ghost-type Pokémon originally discovered in the Hoenn region. Materials from gems it has eaten float to the surface of its body and can form an infinite number of patterns among individuals. Learn which Pokémon will be most effective in Raid Battles against Mega Sableye, how to catch Mega Sableye after winning a Raid Battle, and how best to use the Darkness Pokémon after you’ve caught it.

Which Pokémon to Use in a Mega Sableye Raid in Pokémon GO

As a Dark- and Ghost-type Pokémon, Mega Sableye is vulnerable only to Fairy-type attacks. When choosing six Pokémon for your Mega Sableye Raid Battle lineup, it helps to choose Pokémon that have a Fast Attack and a Charged Attack of one of these types if you want to deal as much damage as possible. A Pokémon that shares a type with these attacks will benefit from a same-type attack bonus, which will allow these attacks to deal an additional 20% damage.

If you have multiple Pokémon that know Fairy-type attacks, choose the Pokémon with the highest CP and best overall stats. Remember that speed of victory affects how many Premier Balls you will receive at the conclusion of a successful Raid Battle, so bring your strongest Pokémon and defeat Mega Sableye as quickly as you can.

When you challenge a Raid Boss while you’re in a party, Party Power can give your Charged Attacks a boost. When you have more party members in a raid, your Party Power charges more quickly—when you activate it, your next Charged Attack will deal even more damage! To get the most out of Party Power, it’s a great idea to take on Raid Battles with friends.

It’s also worth noting that when you include a Mega-Evolved Pokémon in your raid lineup, all Pokémon of the same type participating in the raid receive a damage boost while that Mega-Evolved Pokémon is battling the Raid Boss. With their substantial CP, Mega-Evolved Pokémon are already a terrific asset in raids, but this added damage boost for other Trainers’ Pokémon can also be significant in Raid Battles where you’re up against the clock.

Make the Most of Premier Balls and Berries

After a successful Mega Sableye raid, Mega Sableye will revert to Sableye. You’ll have a limited number of Premier Balls you can use to catch it, so make each one count. You can earn extra Premier Balls by battling with friends and defeating Mega Sableye more quickly.

In an encounter with Sableye, your chance of catching it is greatest when the target ring is small enough for you to score Excellent Throws. Throwing Curveballs can improve your chances even more. But work within your abilities—if you don’t think you can reliably make Excellent Curveball Throws, aim for Nice Throws or Great Throws rather than risk missing the target ring completely.

Sableye isn’t going to make it easy on you by sitting still while you’re trying to catch it. Don’t waste your Premier Balls by throwing while it’s moving around. Watch Sableye to get a feel for its cycle of movement and the pauses in between the cycles. During one of these pauses, wait for the target ring to reappear, and then throw as it starts to grow smaller to increase your odds of making a Great Throw or an Excellent Throw.

Berries can help you catch Sableye. A Razz Berry will make it easier to catch, and a Golden Razz Berry will make it much easier to catch. If you find yourself failing to land any throws, a Nanab Berry will calm Sableye, making its movements less erratic and allowing you to make precise throws more easily. If you need extra Sableye Candy, using a Silver Pinap Berry will make Sableye easier to catch and grant you extra Candy when you catch it.

Buddy Pokémon with a Buddy Level of Great Buddy or higher have the Catch Assist Perk. If a Pokémon—even a Legendary Pokémon—deflects a Poké Ball, your buddy might bounce it back for a second catch opportunity!

Sableye can be tricky to catch, so don’t be discouraged if it escapes. Get a second wind by stocking up on useful items—like Max Potions, Max Revives, and Golden Razz Berries—and try again.

What to Do with Sableye Once You’ve Caught It

As a Dark- and Ghost-type Pokémon, Sableye is resistant to four attack types in Pokémon GO: Normal, Fighting, Poison, and Psychic. Sableye isn’t very powerful in Raid Battles without the addition of its Mega Evolution, so you’ll probably want to take on as many Mega Sableye raids as possible to earn Mega Energy. Your Raid Battle buddies will appreciate the bonus damage from Dark-type attacks and Ghost-type attacks when you bring Mega Sableye to battle!

In general, Sableye is a powerful Pokemon in the GO Battle League, but Sableye caught from Mega Sableye raids won’t be as strong. Traditionally, Trainers opt to use Shadow Sableye or Purified Sableye in the Great League instead, to take advantage of hard-hitting Shadow Pokémon damage or the Purified Pokémon-exclusive attack Return. Both options traditionally necessitate a lot of Sableye Candy XL, though, and completing Mega Sableye raids is one of the best ways to collect this key resource!

Good luck with your next Raid Battle, and remember to check Pokémon.co.uk/Strategy for more Pokémon GO, video game, and Pokémon TCG tips.