Beedrill is a Bug- and Poison-type Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region. Beedrill is extremely territorial, and no one should approach its nest. Before you take on this territorial Pokémon, read up on which Pokémon will be most effective in Raid Battles against Mega Beedrill, how to catch Beedrill after winning a Raid Battle, and how best to use the Poison Bee Pokémon after you’ve caught it.

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

As a Bug- and Poison-type Pokémon, Mega Beedrill is vulnerable to Fire-, Flying-, Psychic-, and Rock-type attacks. When selecting Pokémon for your Mega Beedrill 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 Fire-, Flying-, Psychic-, or Rock-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.

If you have multiple Pokémon that know Fire-, Flying-, Psychic-, and Rock-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 Beedrill 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 Beedrill raid, Mega Beedrill will revert to Beedrill and you’ll have a limited number of Premier Balls you can use to catch Beedrill, so make each one count. You can earn extra Premier Balls by battling with friends and defeating Mega Beedrill more quickly.

In an encounter with Beedrill, 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.

Beedrill 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 them while it’s moving around. Watch Beedrill to get a feel for its cycle of movement and the pauses in between this cycle. During one of these pauses, wait for the target ring to reappear, and then throw as it starts to shrink to increase your odds of making a Great Throw or an Excellent Throw.

Berries can help you catch Beedrill. A Razz Berry will make Beedrill 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 Beedrill, making its movements less erratic and allowing you to make precise throws more easily. If you need extra Beedrill Candy, using a Silver Pinap Berry will make Beedrill 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!

Beedrill 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 Beedrill Once You’ve Caught It

As a Bug- and Poison-type Pokémon, Beedrill is resistant to Grass-, Fighting-, Poison-, Bug-, and Fairy-type attacks. With a somewhat modest max CP and decent competition from other Bug- or Poison-type Pokémon, Beedrill isn’t necessarily the strongest Pokémon to bring into most Raid Battles. However, Mega Beedrill is mega useful against Raid Bosses that are vulnerable to Bug- or Poison-type Pokémon. In fact, it’s one of the most powerful Poison-type Pokémon in Pokémon GO, just behind Mega Gengar and Nihilego. This makes Mega Beedrill an asset against Grass-, Psychic-, Dark-, and Fairy-type Raid Bosses.

For any Pokémon you bring into raids—especially against powerful Pokémon featured in five-star raids—it’s essential to power up your team as much as possible to keep you in battle and that much closer to winning.

When it comes to the GO Battle League, Beedrill’s max CP prevents it from being competitive in the Ultra League and the Master League. However, Beedrill has enjoyed moderate success in the Great League, where it can successfully counter Grass-, Dark-, and Fairy-type Pokémon. The breadth of its available Charged Attacks also poses a challenge to popular Pokémon such as Primeape, Machamp, and Registeel. Leveraging its available attacks effectively is the key to successfully utilizing Beedrill in the Great League. Accounting for the other Pokémon on your team and potential vulnerabilities is a good way to choose the best Fast Attacks and Charged Attacks for your Beedrill. While Beedrill’s Bug- and Poison-type attacks benefit from a same-type attack bonus, Drill Run is a popular choice to counter some of the Fire-type Pokémon that often thwart Beedrill. Whichever attacks you favor, arming Beedrill with two Charged Attacks will maximize its utility in battle.

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