Zacian is a Fairy-type Legendary Pokémon Zacian originally discovered in the Galar region. This Pokémon 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. Learn which Pokémon will be most effective in Raid Battles against Zacian, how to catch Zacian after winning a Raid Battle, and how best to use the Warrior Pokémon after you’ve caught it.

Which Pokémon to Use in a Zacian Raid in Pokémon GO

As a Fairy-type Pokémon, Zacian is vulnerable to Poison- and Steel-type attacks. When selecting Pokémon for your Zacian 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 you’ll be battling Zacian’s Hero of Many Battles form, which is exclusively a Fairy type, unlike its Fairy- and Steel-type Crowned Sword form.

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.

• Beedrill / Mega Beedrill (Bug/Poison)

  • Fast Attack: Poison Jab (Poison)

  • Charged Attack: Sludge Bomb (Poison)

• Vileplume / Shadow Vileplume (Grass/Poison)

  • Fast Attack: Acid (Poison)

  • Charged Attack: Sludge Bomb (Poison)

• Victreebel / Shadow Victreebel (Grass/Poison)

  • Fast Attack: Acid (Poison)

  • Charged Attack: Acid Spray (Poison), Sludge Bomb (Poison)

• Muk / Shadow Muk (Poison)

  • Fast Attack: Acid (Poison), Poison Jab (Poison)

  • Charged Attack: Acid Spray (Poison), Gunk Shot (Poison), Sludge Wave (Poison)

• Gengar / Mega Gengar (Ghost/Poison)

  • Fast Attack: Hex (Ghost), Lick (Ghost), Shadow Claw (Ghost)

  • Charged Attack: Sludge Bomb (Poison), Sludge Wave (Poison)

• Roserade (Grass/Poison)

  • Fast Attack: Poison Jab (Poison)

  • Charged Attack: Sludge Bomb (Poison)

• Nihilego (Rock/Poison)

  • Fast Attack: Acid (Poison)

  • Charged Attack: Gunk Shot (Poison) Sludge Bomb (Poison)

• Overqwil (Dark/Poison)

  • Fast Attack: Poison Jab (Poison), Poison Sting (Poison)

  • Charged Attack: Sludge Bomb (Poison)

• Scizor / Shadow Scizor / Mega Scizor (Bug/Steel)

  • Fast Attack: Bullet Punch (Steel)

  • Charged Attack: Iron Head (Steel)

• Aggron / Shadow Aggron (Steel/Rock)

  • Fast Attack: Iron Tail (Steel)

  • Charged Attack: Heavy Slam (Steel)

• Metagross / Shadow Metagross (Steel/Psychic)

  • Fast Attack: Bullet Punch (Steel)

  • Charged Attack: Flash Cannon (Steel), Meteor Mash (Steel)

• Empoleon (Water/Steel)

  • Fast Attack: Metal Claw (Steel)

  • Charged Attack: Flash Cannon (Steel)

• Lucario (Fighting/Steel)

  • Fast Attack: Bullet Punch (Steel)

  • Charged Attack: Flash Cannon (Steel)

• Dialga (Steel/Dragon)

  • Fast Attack: Metal Claw (Steel)

  • Charged Attack: Iron Head (Steel)

• Excadrill (Ground/Steel)

  • Fast Attack: Metal Claw (Steel)

  • Charged Attack: Iron Head (Steel)

• Genesect (Bug/Steel)

  • Fast Attack: Metal Claw (Steel)

  • Charged Attack: Magnet Bomb (Steel)

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, 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 Zacian 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 is resistant to Fighting-, Bug-, Dragon-, and Dark-type attacks. Combined with its varied range of attack types, this makes Zacian useful against many Raid Bosses, including Exeggutor, Dragonite, Latias, Latios, Rayquaza, Palkia, and Giratina.

Zacian is a strong Fairy-type Pokémon with a high maximum CP, which makes it an exceptional performer within 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 make a selection 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 within the GO Battle League.

To take full advantage of this Legendary Pokémon’s strengths, 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.