Pokemon Go Zacian Raid guide: Weaknesses & best counters

Pokemon Go Zacian Raid guide: Weaknesses & best counters

Galar-region Legendary Zacian has two forms inPokemon Go, with Crowned Sword sitting at the top of the best attacker’s list. So, learn the best counters to target its weaknesses if you want to defeat it fast.

Sword & Shield Legendaries – Zacian andZamazenta– are two of the most difficult Legendary Pokemon to catch inNiantic’s mobile game, not just due to their sporadic appearances, but also because they have two forms each.

While Zacian Hero of Many Battles debuted in 2021, Crowned Sword Zacian was released during the Go Fest 2025in-personandGlobalevents. So, check all the details about the two forms and how you can get them.

Zacian weaknesses in Pokemon Go

Zacian, in its Hero of Many Battles form, is a pureFairy-type, which means it’s onlyweak against Poison and Steel-type moves. On the other hand, it can resist Dark, Dragon, Bug, and Fighting-type attacks, so avoid them at all costs.

Crowned Sword Zacian is a dualFairy/Steel-type Pokemon, making itweak to Fire and Ground-type movesand resistant to plenty of types, including Dark, Fairy, Flying, Grass, Ice, Normal, Poison, Psychic, Rock, Bug, and Dragon.

Zacian Hero of Many Battles best counters

Here are some of the best counters you can use against regular Zacian in Pokemon Go:

Crowned Sword Zacian best counters

Here are some of the best counters you can use against Zacian’s alternate form:

In both lists, we’ve included a mix ofMegas,Legendaries,Shadow, and more common Pokemon, so there should be something for trainers of all levels. In case you don’t have any of them, focus on your strongest creatures that can target Zacian’s specific weaknesses.

Best Pokemon in Pokemon Go – Attacker & Defender tier list

Pokemon Go Zamazenta Raid guide: Weaknesses & best counters

Pokemon Go Registeel Raid guide: Weaknesses & best counters

Remember that even though the Pokemon listed are very effective against Zacian, they still need to be leveled up and know the proper moves if you want to win the battle.

How to get Zacian in Pokemon Go

As with allLegendaries, the only way to catch Zacian in Pokemon Go is to firstdefeat it in a 5-Star Raid Battleand then attempt to catch it using the limited amount of Premier Balls given to you at the end of the encounter.

During the Dark Skies and Go Fest 2025: Max Finale events, Zacian Hero of Many Battles will be featured inRaid Battlesfrom June 24, 2025, until July 18, 2025.But that’s not all, during that final appearance on August 21, its Crowned Sword form will be featured in a special Raid Hour.

When challenging this Legendary, attempt to use Golden Razz Berries andland Excellent throws and Curve Ballsto increase your chances of catching it.

It’s worth noting that once a player catches Crowned Sword Zacian, it will change back to its standard Hero of Many Battles form. For trainers to trigger the secondary form again, they will require a very rare power source calledCrowned Sword Energy.

How to turn Zacian into Crowned Sword Zacian

Besides the physical changes, Zacian’s alternate form gives the Legendary the secondary Steel typing, switching its resistances and weaknesses.

To trigger the transformation, players must gatherx1,000 Crowned Sword Energy – and Zacian must know the move Iron Head.This Charged Move will then change to Behemoth Blade.

Crowned Energy

Crowned Sword Energy can be obtained by battling Zacian in 5-Star Raids or by completing ticketed Special Research.

After the first transformation, trainers will be able to toggle between Hero of Many Battles and Crowned forms without requiring any more Energy.

Moreover, even though it cannot Dynamax or Gigantamax, Crowned Sword Zacian will be allowed to participate inMax Battles.

Zacian CP in Pokemon Go

As with every Raid Boss in the game, the CP that Zacian has during a Raid battle won’t be the same once you manage to catch it after defeating it. Plus, certain types of weather can increase such CP.

Zacian stats & moves

Zacian has the following stats in both forms:

These are the different movepools each version has:

Can Zacian be Shiny?

Yes, Zacian can be Shiny in both forms in Pokemon Go. While Shiny Hero of Many Battles forms debuted in 2024 during the Legendary Heroes event, Shiny Crowned Sword made its debut during the Go Fest 2025.

In both forms, the differences between regular and Shiny Zacian are subtle, with its body fur getting a little lighter and the usual pink details changing to steel blue.

Remember that the odds of coming across a Shiny Legendary are very slim, and the only way to increase your chances of an encounter is by challenging Zacian to multiple Raid battles.

Of course, those who get a Shiny Zacian Hero of Many Battles can use the Crowned Sword Energy to turn it into Shiny Crowned Sword Zacian.

That’s everything you need to know about Zacian in Pokemon Go. Don’t forget to check out the latestPokemon Go events, includingthe current Community DayandSpotlight Hours.