Zekrom Pokemon GO Raid Guide (June 2026) Best Counters & Tips

Zekrom returns to Pokemon GO 5-star raids from December 22-31, 2026, offering trainers the chance to catch this powerful Dragon/Electric-type Legendary. With a max CP of 4565 and access to devastating moves like Outrage and Wild Charge, Zekrom requires strategic planning and the right counters to defeat. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about beating Zekrom raids, catching the best specimens, and utilizing this Deep Black Pokemon for fusion and battles.

Key Information Summary

Category	Details
Raid Dates	December 22-31, 2026
Raid Hour	December 24, 6:00-7:00 PM local time
Type	Dragon/Electric
Weaknesses	Dragon, Fairy, Ground, Ice (2x damage)
Resistances	Electric (1/4x), Fire, Flying, Grass, Steel, Water (1/2x)
Max CP	4565
Raid CP Range	2217-2307 (Level 20)
Weather Boosted CP	2771-2884 (Level 25)
Shiny Rate	1 in 20
Minimum Trainers	2 (with optimal counters)
Recommended Trainers	3-5 for safety

Zekrom Overview and Stats

Zekrom, the Deep Black Pokemon, stands as one of the most formidable Dragon/Electric-type Legendaries in Pokemon GO. Originally discovered in the Unova region, this Pokemon creates electricity in its tail and conceals itself in lightning clouds. With its impressive stat distribution and unique typing, Zekrom serves as both a top-tier raid attacker and a Master League contender.

Base Stats and Combat Power

Zekrom boasts an impressive stat spread that makes it highly valuable for both raid battles and PvP:

• Attack: 275 (Excellent)
• Defense: 211 (Very Good)
• Stamina: 205 (Good)
• Max CP (Level 50): 4565
• Raid CP (Level 20): 2217-2307
• Weather Boosted Raid CP (Level 25): 2771-2884

The weather boost occurs during Rainy or Windy conditions, making these ideal times to challenge Zekrom raids if you’re seeking higher CP specimens.

Zekrom’s Moveset

Understanding Zekrom’s potential moveset is crucial for both countering it in raids and utilizing it effectively after capture:

Fast Moves:

• Dragon Breath (Dragon) – 4 DPS, 3 EPT
• Charge Beam (Electric) – 3.5 DPS, 4.5 EPT

Charged Moves:

• Outrage (Dragon) – 110 damage, 2-bar
• Wild Charge (Electric) – 90 damage, 2-bar
• Crunch (Dark) – 70 damage, 3-bar
• Flash Cannon (Steel) – 110 damage, 1-bar
• Fusion Bolt* (Electric) – 140 damage, 1-bar (Legacy Move)

Note: Fusion Bolt is a legacy move only available during specific events, such as the December 24 Raid Hour.

Zekrom’s Weaknesses and Resistances

Zekrom’s Dragon/Electric typing creates both opportunities and challenges for trainers. Understanding these type interactions is essential for building effective raid teams.

Weaknesses (2x Damage)

• Dragon-type attacks: While effective, be cautious as Dragon-type counters are vulnerable to Zekrom’s Dragon-type moves
• Fairy-type attacks: Excellent choice with no defensive drawbacks
• Ground-type attacks: Highly effective and generally safe
• Ice-type attacks: Strong damage output but risky against Zekrom’s potential Dragon moves

Resistances

• Electric-type attacks: 1/4x damage (double resistance)
• Fire-type attacks: 1/2x damage
• Flying-type attacks: 1/2x damage
• Grass-type attacks: 1/2x damage
• Steel-type attacks: 1/2x damage
• Water-type attacks: 1/2x damage

Best Zekrom Raid Counters

Based on comprehensive analysis from multiple sources including Pokemon GO Hub, GamePress, and official Pokemon strategy guides, here are the most effective counters for Zekrom raids:

Supreme Counters (Mega/Primal Evolution)

Pokemon	Fast Move	Charged Move	TTW	Faints
Primal Groudon	Mud Shot	Precipice Blades	486s	12
Mega Rayquaza	Dragon Tail	Breaking Swipe	415s	22
Mega Garchomp	Dragon Tail	Outrage	488s	16
Mega Salamence	Dragon Tail	Draco Meteor	531s	26
Mega Gardevoir	Charm	Dazzling Gleam	544s	29

Top Shadow Counters

Pokemon	Fast Move	Charged Move	TTW	Faints
Shadow Groudon	Mud Shot	Precipice Blades	530s	21
Shadow Garchomp	Dragon Tail	Outrage	520s	24
Shadow Excadrill	Mud-Slap	Scorching Sands	551s	25
Shadow Mamoswine	Mud-Slap	Avalanche	557s	33
Shadow Dragonite	Dragon Tail	Outrage	535s	40

Best Non-Mega/Shadow Counters

Pokemon	Fast Move	Charged Move	TTW	Faints
Origin Dialga	Dragon Breath	Roar of Time	555s	21
Origin Palkia	Dragon Tail	Spacial Rend	540s	31
Therian Landorus	Mud Shot	Sandsear Storm	573s	28
Groudon	Mud Shot	Precipice Blades	628s	21
Rayquaza	Dragon Tail	Breaking Swipe	552s	39

Type-Specific Counter Recommendations

Ground-type Specialists:

• Primal Groudon: The absolute best counter with Mud Shot and Precipice Blades
• Shadow Groudon: Excellent alternative if you don’t have Primal Groudon
• Therian Landorus: Great Ground-type coverage with Sandsear Storm
• Excadrill: Solid Ground-type option with Mud Shot and Drill Run

Dragon-type Powerhouses:

• Mega Rayquaza: Top Dragon-type counter with Dragon Tail and Breaking Swipe
• Origin Dialga: Fantastic Dragon-type damage with Dragon Breath and Roar of Time
• Dialga: Reliable Dragon-type counter with Dragon Breath and Draco Meteor
• Rayquaza: Strong Dragon-type attacker with Dragon Tail and Breaking Swipe

Ice-type Options:

• Shadow Mamoswine: Best Ice-type counter with Mud-Slap and Avalanche
• Black Kyurem: Excellent Ice-type damage if available from in-person events
• White Kyurem: Strong Ice-type coverage with Ice Burn

Fairy-type Counters:

• Mega Gardevoir: Top Fairy-type counter with Charm and Dazzling Gleam
• Shadow Gardevoir: Excellent Fairy-type damage output
• Xerneas: Solid Fairy-type option with Charm and Moonblast

How to Get Zekrom in Pokemon GO?

There are three primary methods to obtain Zekrom in Pokemon GO, each with its own advantages and requirements.

1. 5-Star Raids (Primary Method)

The most efficient way to obtain Zekrom is through 5-star raids during its availability window:

Raid Schedule:

• Main Event: December 22-31, 2026
• Raid Hour: December 24, 6:00-7:00 PM local time (increased raid spawns)
• Legacy Move Opportunity: Zekrom caught during the December 24 Raid Hour will know Fusion Bolt

Raid Strategy:

• Minimum Players: 2 high-level trainers with optimal counters
• Recommended Players: 3-5 for safety and consistency
• Party Power: Use Party Power when available for additional damage bonus
• Weather Conditions: Windy weather boosts Dragon-type attacks, while Rainy weather boosts Electric-type attacks (both benefit Zekrom, so be cautious)

2. Special Research Tasks

Occasionally, Zekrom can be obtained through event-themed Special Research tasks:

• Historical Example: The Road to Unova event Special Research rewarded players with a Zekrom encounter
• Current Status: No active Special Research tasks currently offer Zekrom encounters
• Strategy: Stay active during major Unova-themed events and complete all available research tasks

3. GO Battle League Rewards

Zekrom can occasionally be encountered as a reward in the GO Battle League:

• Requirement: Reach Rank 20 in the GO Battle League
• Encounter Rate: Very low chance among the pool of available Legendary Pokemon
• Recommendation: Not a reliable method for obtaining Zekrom, but a potential bonus for dedicated PvP players

Zekrom Catching Strategy

After successfully defeating Zekrom in a raid, you’ll need to catch it with a limited number of Premier Balls. Here’s how to maximize your chances:

Premier Ball Optimization

You can earn additional Premier Balls based on your performance:

• Base Reward: 5 Premier Balls for completing the raid
• Gym Control: +1 ball if your team controls the gym
• Friend Bonuses: +1-4 balls depending on friendship levels
• Damage Dealt: Up to +3 balls for dealing significant damage
• Mega Evolution Bonus: +1 ball for using a Mega Evolution

Maximum Possible: 14 Premier Balls with optimal performance

Throwing Technique

Master the Circle Lock Technique for consistent Excellent throws:

1. Wait for the Pause: Zekrom moves in cycles – wait for it to pause its movement
2. Circle Timing: When the target ring appears, wait for it to reach the smallest size (Excellent throw range)
3. Curveball: Always throw curveballs for a 1.7x catch bonus
4. Berry Strategy:
   • Golden Razz Berry: Use for difficult catches or high-IV specimens
   • Silver Pinap Berry: Use when you need extra candy
   • Nanab Berry: Use if Zekrom’s movements are too erratic

Shiny Zekrom

• Shiny Rate: 1 in 20 (standard for Legendary Pokemon)
• Identification: Shiny Zekrom has a darker, more metallic appearance with blue accents instead of gray
• Guaranteed Catch: Shiny Legendary Pokemon have a 100% catch rate with the first Premier Ball
• Strategy: Use Pinap Berries on shiny encounters to maximize candy rewards

Zekrom Fusion: Creating Black Kyurem

One of Zekrom’s most valuable uses in Pokemon GO is fusion with Kyurem to create Black Kyurem, a powerful Ice/Dragon-type Pokemon.

Fusion Requirements

To fuse Zekrom with Kyurem, you’ll need:

• Zekrom: Any Zekrom (IVs don’t matter for fusion)
• Kyurem: The Kyurem you want to fuse (IVs determine Black Kyurem’s stats)
• Zekrom Candy: 30 candies
• Kyurem Candy: 30 candies
• Volt Fusion Energy: 1000 units

Obtaining Volt Fusion Energy

Volt Fusion Energy is obtained by defeating Black Kyurem in raids:

• Per Raid: Minimum 80 Fusion Energy (can be more with speed bonuses)
• Required Raids: Approximately 10 raids to accumulate 1000 Fusion Energy
• Strategy: Focus on Black Kyurem raids during its availability periods

Fusion Strategy

Important Note: The stats of your Black Kyurem depend on the Kyurem used for fusion, not the Zekrom. Therefore:

• Best Strategy: Fuse your highest-IV Kyurem with your lowest-IV Zekrom
• Reasoning: This preserves your strongest Zekrom for battles while still creating an optimal Black Kyurem
• Adventure Effect: Black Kyurem with Freeze Shock can freeze Pokemon for 10 minutes, making them easier to catch

Zekrom’s Battle Performance

After catching Zekrom, you’ll want to understand its effectiveness in various battle scenarios.

Raid Attacker Rankings

Electric-type Attacker:

• Rank: Top 7 Electric-type attackers
• Best Moveset: Charge Beam + Fusion Bolt* (legacy) or Wild Charge
• Performance: Excellent against Water and Flying-type raid bosses
• Targets: Effective against Kyogre, Ho-Oh, Palkia, and Mega Blastoise

Dragon-type Attacker:

• Rank: Top 30 Dragon-type attackers
• Best Moveset: Dragon Breath + Outrage
• Performance: Solid but outclassed by specialized Dragon-types
• Competition: Eternatus, Mega Rayquaza, and Dialga generally perform better

GO Battle League Performance

Master League:

• Rank: Top 10 Master League Pokemon
• Strengths: Counters Mewtwo, Metagross, Kyogre, and Giratina
• Moveset: Dragon Breath + Wild Charge/Outrage
• Role: Excellent closer when opponent’s shields are depleted

Ultra League:

• Rank: Not recommended (Top 370)
• Reason: Stat reduction at lower CP levels makes it ineffective
• Alternative: Consider other Pokemon that maintain better stats at 2500 CP

Great League:

• Rank: Not viable
• Reason: CP too high for Great League restrictions

Weather Effects on Zekrom Raids

Weather conditions significantly impact both Zekrom’s strength and your counter effectiveness:

Weather	Effect on Zekrom	Effect on Counters	Recommendation
Sunny	No change	Ground-type attacks boosted	Good for Ground counters
Windy	Dragon attacks boosted, higher CP	Dragon-type attacks boosted	Mixed – boosts both sides
Rainy	Electric attacks boosted, higher CP	No direct counter boost	Challenging – avoid if possible
Snow	No change	Ice-type attacks boosted	Good for Ice counters
Fog	No change	Fairy-type attacks boosted	Good for Fairy counters
Cloudy	No change	No direct counter boost	Neutral conditions
Partly Cloudy	No change	No direct counter boost	Neutral conditions

Mega Evolution Benefits for Zekrom Raids

Using Mega Evolutions during Zekrom raids provides several benefits:

Damage Boost

• Mega Bonus: 30% damage boost for all Pokemon of the same type
• Type-Specific: Dragon and Electric-type Mega Evolutions provide bonus damage to respective counters

Candy Bonus

• Additional Candy: +2 candy per catch with Mega Level 3
• XL Candy Chance: 25% bonus chance for XL candy
• Strategy: Use Mega Evolutions when farming multiple Zekrom for candy or XL candy

Recommended Mega Evolutions

For Dragon-type Counters:

• Mega Rayquaza: Best overall Dragon-type Mega Evolution
• Mega Garchomp: Excellent Dragon/Ground typing
• Mega Salamence: Strong Dragon-type attacker
• Mega Latios/Latias: Good Dragon-type options

For Ground-type Counters:

• Primal Groudon: Best Ground-type option (Primal counts as Mega for bonuses)
• Mega Swampert: Solid Ground/Water typing

For Fairy-type Counters:

• Mega Gardevoir: Top Fairy-type Mega Evolution
• Mega Altaria: Good Dragon/Fairy typing

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When tackling Zekrom raids, trainers often make these avoidable errors:

1. Using Weak Counters

• Mistake: Bringing underpowered or non-optimal Pokemon
• Solution: Prioritize the recommended counters and ensure they’re powered up
• Impact: Weak counters lead to longer battles, more faints, and potential raid failures

2. Ignoring Type Matchups

• Mistake: Using Pokemon weak to Zekrom’s Dragon or Electric attacks
• Solution: Focus on Ground and Fairy types that resist Zekrom’s attacks
• Impact: Vulnerable counters faint quickly, reducing overall damage output

3. Poor Premier Ball Management

• Mistake: Wasting Premier Balls on poor throws or not using berries effectively
• Solution: Master Excellent throws and use appropriate berries for each situation
• Impact: Missing out on high-IV or shiny Zekrom due to failed catches

4. Neglecting Weather Conditions

• Mistake: Challenging Zekrom during unfavorable weather
• Solution: Wait for Sunny, Snowy, or Foggy weather when possible
• Impact: Weather-boosted Zekrom is significantly harder to defeat

5. Underestimating Player Requirements

• Mistake: Attempting raids with insufficient players or weak teams
• Solution: Ensure 3-5 players with properly powered counters
• Impact: Failed raids waste time and resources

Community Resources

Stay connected with the Pokemon GO community for the latest Zekrom information and raid coordination:

Official Resources

• Pokemon GO Blog: Official announcements and event details
• Pokemon.com/Strategy: Official battle tips and guides
• Niantic Support: Technical assistance and bug reports

Community Platforms

• The Silph Road: Reddit community for serious Pokemon GO players
• Pokemon GO Hub: Comprehensive guides and tier lists
• GamePress Pokemon GO: Detailed strategy guides and counter lists
• Leek Duck: Event calendars and news updates

Raid Coordination

• Local Discord Servers: Best for finding local raid groups
• Pokemon GO Raids Discord: Global raid coordination
• Facebook Groups: Local community raid planning
• Reddit Local Subreddits: City-specific Pokemon GO communities

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best counter for Zekrom in Pokemon GO?

Primal Groudon with Mud Shot and Precipice Blades is the overall best counter for Zekrom, dealing massive Ground-type damage while resisting Zekrom’s Electric attacks. Mega Rayquaza with Dragon Tail and Breaking Swipe is the second-best option, providing excellent Dragon-type damage.

How many trainers do I need to beat Zekrom?

Zekrom can be defeated with as few as 2 high-level trainers using optimal counters. However, for most players, 3-5 trainers provide a safer and more consistent experience. Larger groups (6-10 trainers) make the raid much easier for newer or less prepared players.

Can Zekrom be shiny in Pokemon GO?

Yes, shiny Zekrom is available in Pokemon GO with a base shiny rate of 1 in 20, which is standard for Legendary Pokemon. Shiny Zekrom has a darker, more metallic appearance with blue accents instead of gray.

What is the 100% IV CP for Zekrom?

A 100% IV Zekrom will have 2307 CP when caught at Level 20 (no weather boost) or 2884 CP when caught at Level 25 (with weather boost during Rainy or Windy conditions).

What moves should I teach my Zekrom?

For raid battles, the best moveset is Dragon Breath (Fast Attack) combined with either Wild Charge or Outrage (Charged Attack). For PvP, Dragon Breath with Wild Charge provides the best coverage in Master League. If you have access to the legacy move Fusion Bolt, it’s the strongest Electric-type option.

How do I get Black Kyurem in Pokemon GO?

To create Black Kyurem, you need to fuse a Zekrom with a Kyurem using 1000 Volt Fusion Energy, 30 Zekrom Candy, and 30 Kyurem Candy. Volt Fusion Energy is obtained by defeating Black Kyurem in raids, with each raid yielding at least 80 Fusion Energy.

Is Zekrom good in Master League?

Yes, Zekrom is one of the best Master League Pokemon, ranking in the top 10. Its Dragon/Electric typing gives it favorable matchups against common Master League threats like Mewtwo, Metagross, Kyogre, and Giratina.

When will Zekrom return to raids?

Zekrom is currently available in 5-star raids from December 22-31, 2026, with a special Raid Hour on December 24. Future return dates are typically announced during major Unova-themed events or anniversary celebrations.

What weather boosts Zekrom?

Zekrom receives weather boosts during Rainy and Windy conditions. During Rainy weather, its Electric-type attacks are boosted, while during Windy weather, its Dragon-type attacks are boosted. Weather-boosted Zekrom can be caught at Level 25 with higher CP (2771-2884).

Can I use Zekrom to fuse with Kyurem?

Yes, Zekrom can be fused with Kyurem to create Black Kyurem. The fusion requires 1000 Volt Fusion Energy, 30 Zekrom Candy, and 30 Kyurem Candy. Importantly, the stats of the resulting Black Kyurem depend on the Kyurem used, not the Zekrom.

Conclusion

Zekrom stands as one of the most valuable Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO, offering exceptional performance in both raids and Master League battles. With its current availability from December 22-31, 2026, trainers have an excellent opportunity to add this powerful Dragon/Electric-type to their collections.

Whether you’re seeking a top-tier raid attacker, a Master League competitor, or the key component for creating Black Kyurem, Zekrom delivers exceptional value. By following the strategies outlined in this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to defeat Zekrom raids, catch high-IV specimens, and maximize its potential in your Pokemon GO journey.

Remember to coordinate with local trainers, utilize optimal counters, and take advantage of the December 24 Raid Hour for a chance to obtain Zekrom with the legacy move Fusion Bolt. Happy raiding, trainers!