Deoxys Formes: Their Place in the Meta

Pokemon GO Deoxys is a mythical, Psychic type Pokémon originally introduced in the Generation 3 games. Deoxys has four Formes in Pokémon GO, same as in the core games:

• Normal Forme with 3160 CP, 345 Attack, 115 Defense and 137 Stamina
• Attack Forme with 2580 CP, 414 Attack, 46 Defense and 137 Stamina
• Defense Forme with 2879 CP, 144 Attack, 330 Defense and 137 Stamina
• Speed Forme with 2274 CP, 230 Attack, 218 Defense and 137 Stamina

Each Deoxys Forme has a separate move pool (details below) and has a different appearance in-game. Deoxys is an EX Raid boss with 6% base catch rate. It is a genderless Pokémon that does not evolve to or from any other Pokémon.

Deoxys and its Role in the Pokémon GO meta

When you think about Deoxys, you’re actually thinking about four separate Pokemon, as each Forme is vastly different from the rest. With that in mind, we’ll analyze each form separately, ranking its move sets, role in the meta and how well it performs compared to other Formes.

Note on Deoxys Stamina

With 137 Stamina, Deoxys Formes are among the squishiest attackers in Pokémon GO. Keep in mind that when you fight Deoxys as an EX raid boss, its HP will be set to 15000 HP. Your captured Deoxys won’t have the luxury of that health pool.

Normal Forme Deoxys in Pokémon GO

Deoxys (Normal) Psychic
Max CP: 3160
ATK 345		DEF 115		HP 137
Weak to			Strong Against
Bug Dark Ghost			Fighting Poison
Fast Moves
Charge Beam Electric			Zen Headbutt Psychic
Super Effective Against
Flying Water			Fighting Poison
Move Stats (PvE)
Power 8 Energy 15 Cooldown 1.1s EPS 13.6 DPS 7.3			Power 12 Energy 10 Cooldown 1.1s EPS 9.1 DPS 13.1
Charge Moves
Hyper Beam Normal		Zap Cannon Electric		Psycho Boost Psychic
Super Effective Against
		Flying Water		Fighting Poison
Move Stats (PvE)
Power 150 Energy 100 Cooldown 3.8s Bars 1 DPS 39.5		Power 140 Energy 100 Cooldown 3.7s Bars 1 DPS 37.8		Power 70 Energy 50 Cooldown 4s Bars 2 DPS 17.5

Vanilla Deoxys, aka the Normal Forme, is a glass cannon Psychic type Attacker, and as such should be always used with optimal moves. Zen Headbutt and Charge Beam as fast moves are not amazing, and Psycho Boost is a complete disappointment at the moment, as it’s Deoxys’ move with the lowest DPS.

Statwise, Normal Forme Deoxys is similar to Gengar, with high Attack and low Defense. That high Attack stat especially shines when Deoxys is a raid boss, where it deals tons of damage, but in the real world, you will be disappointed.

Normal Forme Deoxys (and the later-described Attack Forme) are essentially an Alakazam on steroids. Laughably, Deoxys deals the most damage with Hyper Beam, not Psycho Boost.

Move analysis:

• Zen Headbutt is slightly better than Charge Beam due to STAB and fairly high natural EPS
• Hyper Beam is the best Charged Move, followed by Thunderbolt and then Psycho Boost

Attack Forme Dexoys in Pokémon GO

Deoxys (Attack) Psychic
Max CP: 2580
ATK 414		DEF 46		HP 137
Weak to			Strong Against
Bug Dark Ghost			Fighting Poison
Fast Moves
Zen Headbutt Psychic			Poison Jab Poison
Super Effective Against
Fighting Poison			Grass Fairy
Move Stats (PvE)
Power 12 Energy 10 Cooldown 1.1s EPS 9.1 DPS 13.1			Power 10 Energy 7 Cooldown 0.8s EPS 8.8 DPS 12.5
Charge Moves
Zap Cannon Electric		Dark Pulse Dark		Psycho Boost Psychic
Super Effective Against
Flying Water		Ghost Psychic		Fighting Poison
Move Stats (PvE)
Power 140 Energy 100 Cooldown 3.7s Bars 1 DPS 37.8		Power 80 Energy 50 Cooldown 3.0s Bars 2 DPS 26.7		Power 70 Energy 50 Cooldown 4s Bars 2 DPS 17.5

Niantic really went all out with Attack Forme Deoxys, giving it 414 Attack and merely 46 Defense stat. The Attack Form is exactly what it sounds like: the ultimate Pokémon GO glass cannon. Tyranitar can kill it with 3 Bites, and we’re not sure if there’s any charge move it can take without dying. Your only hope is to charge as fast as possible and then use Dark Pulse.

According to our simulations, all fast moves and charge moves without Psycho Boost are viable, despite its low HP and Defense. Curiously, Attack Forme Deoxys has absolutely the lowest TTW against Pokémon like Mewtwo, but you need to have like 18 of them to do any reasonable damage.

Speed Forme Deoxys in Pokémon GO

Deoxys (Speed) Psychic
Max CP: 2879
ATK 230		DEF 218		HP 137
Weak to			Strong Against
Bug Dark Ghost			Fighting Poison
Fast Moves
Charge Beam Electric			Zen Headbutt Psychic
Super Effective Against
Flying Water			Fighting Poison
Move Stats (PvE)
Power 8 Energy 15 Cooldown 1.1s EPS 13.6 DPS 7.3			Power 12 Energy 10 Cooldown 1.1s EPS 9.1 DPS 13.1
Charge Moves
Thunderbolt Electric		Swift Normal		Psycho Boost Psychic
Super Effective Against
Flying Water		Ghost Psychic		Fighting Poison
Move Stats (PvE)
Power 80 Energy 50 Cooldown 2.5s Bars 2 DPS 32.0		Power 60 Energy 50 Cooldown 2.8s Bars 2 DPS 21.4		Power 70 Energy 50 Cooldown 4s Bars 2 DPS 17.5

Speed Form Deoxys is the second best Deoxys Forme in our mind, with balanced Attack and Defense stats. It’s worse than Normal form, but it’s more useful than Defense and Attack form.

As far as moves go, we can only recommend using Zap Cannon, as both Swift and Psycho Boost are quite terrible.

Defense Forme Deoxys in Pokémon GO

Deoxys (Defense) Psychic
Max CP: 2274
ATK 144		DEF 330		HP 137
Weak to			Strong Against
Bug Dark Ghost			Fighting Poison
Fast Moves
Zen Headbutt Psychic			Counter Fighting
Super Effective Against
Fighting Poison			Normal Rock Steel Ice Dark
Move Stats (PvE)
Power 12 Energy 10 Cooldown 1.1s EPS 9.1 DPS 13.1			Power 12 Energy 8 Cooldown 0.9s EPS 8.9 DPS 13.3
Charge Moves
Thunderbolt Electric		Rock Slide Rock		Psycho Boost Psychic
Super Effective Against
Flying Water		Flying Bug Fire Ice		Fighting Poison
Move Stats (PvE)
Power 80 Energy 50 Cooldown 2.5s Bars 2 DPS 32.0		Power 80 Energy 50 Cooldown 2.7s Bars 2 DPS 29.6		Power 70 Energy 50 Cooldown 4s Bars 2 DPS 17.5

Last Deoxys Forme, the Defense Forme, is also the weakest Deoxys Forme. Defense Forme Deoxys’ stats are bad, as Pokémon GO prefers HP more than Defense, and the move pool is also quite terrible. Counter Fighting is cute, but let’s be reasonable, this Pokémon is around Raticate’s power level.

Fun Facts

• Its signature move is Psycho Boost, a powerful Psychic move, which it actually has access to in this game. Most other legendaries, if not all, do not have their signature moves in their Pokémon go move pool.
• Until Gen 6 there was no dispute it was a mythical, but now it is a hotly debated topic.
• In the Gen 3 games, its form was determined by the game cartridge and could not be changed without trading. In later games, it can be changed in different areas throughout the games, no trading needed.
  • Normal: Ruby, Sapphire, Colosseum, and XD
  • Attack: FireRed
  • Defense: LeafGreen
  • Speed: Emerald
• Its Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum Pokedex entries state that it is “an alien virus that fell to earth on a meteor underwent a DNA mutation to become this Pokémon”.
• Similarly, its Alpha Sapphire Pokedex entry reads that “Deoxys emerged from a virus that came from space. It is highly intelligent and wields psychokinetic powers. This Pokémon shoots lasers from the crystalline organ on its chest”.