Zacian in its Hero of Many Battles form is a Fairy-type Legendary Pokémon originally discovered in the Galar region. It absorbs metal particles, transforming them into a weapon it uses in battle. Some say it’s Zamazenta’s elder sister—others say the two Pokémon are rivals. Help your team emerge triumphant by learning which Pokémon will be most effective in Raid Battles against Zacian, how to catch one after winning a Raid Battle, and how best to use the Warrior Pokémon after you’ve caught it.

Which Pokémon to Use in a Hero of Many Battles Zacian Raid in Pokémon GO

As a Fairy-type Pokémon, Zacian in its Hero of Many Battles form is vulnerable to Poison- and Steel-type attacks. When selecting Pokémon for your 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. It’s not necessary to choose only Poison- or Steel-type Pokémon, but 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.

Remember that Zacian’s Hero of Many Battles form is exclusively Fairy-type, unlike its Crowned Sword form, which is Fairy- and Steel-type.

If you have multiple Pokémon that know Poison- or Steel-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 after a successful Raid Battle, so bring your strongest Pokémon and defeat Zacian 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 Zacian raid, you’ll have a limited number of Premier Balls you can use to catch Zacian in its Hero of Many Battles form, so make each one count. You can earn extra Premier Balls by battling with friends and defeating Zacian more quickly.

In an encounter with Zacian, 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.

Zacian 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 Zacian 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 Zacian. 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 Zacian, making its movements less erratic and allowing you to make precise throws more easily. If you need extra Zacian Candy, using a Silver Pinap Berry will make Zacian 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!

Like all Legendary Pokémon, Zacian is 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 Zacian Once You’ve Caught It

As a Fairy-type Pokémon, Zacian in its Hero of Many Battles form is resistant to Fighting-, Bug-, Dragon-, and Dark-type attacks. Even though it can’t learn a Fairy-type Fast Attack, Zacian is among the strongest Fairy-type attackers in Pokémon GO. With a decently high max CP, it’s worth considering bring Zacian to raids against Fighting-, Dragon-, and Dark-type Raid Bosses such as Rayquaza, Palkia, Terrakion, Zekrom, Kyurem, Yveltal, and Zamazenta. More effective Fairy-type attackers include Shadow Gardevoir, Mega Gardevoir, and Xerneas, but that still leaves plenty of space for Zacian on the roster for your next Raid Battle.

As a strong Fairy-type Pokémon with a reasonably high maximum CP, Zacian in its Hero of Many Battles form is a solid choice for your Master League lineup in the GO Battle League. Fairy-type Pokémon are valuable counters to the Dragon- and Dark-type Pokémon that appear frequently in the Master League. While many of the strongest Fairy-type Pokémon lack the maximum CP necessary to hold their own against the Master League’s heaviest hitters—especially when the league is dominated by Steel types such as Metagross and Dialga—Zacian can hold its own.

Zacian’s wide range of attacks allows you to choose one that complements your strategy. If you want to generate energy for your Charged Attack quickly, its Dark-type Fast Attack Snarl is a great choice. The Fighting-type Charged Attack Close Combat poses a serious threat to the Steel-type Pokémon that challenge Zacian’s dominance in the GO Battle League.

To take full advantage of this Legendary Pokémon’s strengths, it’s beneficial to teach Zacian a second Charged Attack. The Electric-type Charged Attack Wild Charge can zap Gyarados and Kyogre, the Fairy-type Play Rough benefits from a same-type attack bonus, and the Steel-type Iron Head can give you the edge against other Fairy-type Pokémon.

Since the Master League has no limit on a Pokémon’s CP, Zacian will be at its most powerful when fully charged. Powering up Zacian and teaching it a second Charged Attack will require a significant amount of Zacian Candy and Stardust, so try to catch as many Zacian as possible to get you there faster. And don’t forget those Pinap Berries!

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