Deoxys (Defense Form) Raid Guide

Deoxys (Defense)

Defense Form Deoxys is a Tier 5 raid boss in Pokémon GO and is a monster to take down due to its gargantuan DEF stat. It is a high-value Pokémon for the Great League and is the most coveted among the various Deoxys formes. Being a pure Psychic type, its weaknesses include strong Bug, Dark and Ghost types.

Minimum players – the minimum number of players to defeat a Defense Deoxys is around 4 Trainers. 4 Trainers is the minimum number of players we’d attempt it at, and anything above that should be pretty safe.

This guide lists the best counters, forme stats, and which moves Defense Form Deoxys can have in Pokémon GO. For more information about Defense Deoxys’ role in the Pokémon GO metagame, read our A PvP Analysis on Defense Form Deoxys article.

Defense Form Deoxys Counters

Since Shadow Pokémon are extremely expensive to power up and require specific events to remove Frustration with a Charge TM, they will NOT be listed as raid counters in this article. That being said, if you have the shadow form of a listed raid counter Pokémon powered up and TMed, use it.

The best counters for Defense Form Deoxys are the following:

#	Pokemon	Fast Move	Charge Move	Time to win	Deaths
1.	Gengar (Mega)	Shadow Claw Ghost	Shadow Ball Ghost	763.7s	26.12
2.	Houndoom (Mega)	Snarl Dark	Foul Play Dark	949.9s	26.57
3.	Hydreigon	Bite Dark	Brutal Swing Dark	1014.9s	18.54
4.	Absol (Mega)	Snarl Dark	Dark Pulse Dark	976.7s	35.02
5.	Darkrai	Snarl Dark	Shadow Ball Ghost	1013.3s	24.38
6.	Pheromosa	Bug Bite Bug	Bug Buzz Bug	957.6s	54.50
7.	Gyarados (Mega)	Bite Dark	Crunch Dark	1042.4s	19.53
8.	Giratina (Origin)	Shadow Claw Ghost	Shadow Ball Ghost	1082.6s	17.36
9.	Hoopa (Confined)	Astonish Ghost	Shadow Ball Ghost	1068.0s	25.92
10.	Hoopa (Unbound)	Astonish Ghost	Dark Pulse Dark	1076.9s	23.32
11.	Chandelure	Hex Ghost	Shadow Ball Ghost	1049.8s	37.74
12.	Beedrill (Mega)	Bug Bite Bug	X-Scissor Bug	1043.8s	48.96
13.	Gengar	Shadow Claw Ghost	Shadow Ball Ghost	1061.8s	46.33
14.	Scizor (Mega)	Fury Cutter Bug	X-Scissor Bug	1130.1s	22.76
15.	Yveltal	Snarl Dark	Dark Pulse Dark	1159.0s	28.94
16.	Weavile	Snarl Dark	Foul Play Dark	1146.7s	39.39
17.	Zarude	Bite Dark	Dark Pulse Dark	1199.7s	17.73
18.	Genesect	Fury Cutter Bug	X-Scissor Bug	1202.6s	29.33
19.	Mewtwo	Psycho Cut Psychic	Shadow Ball Ghost	1203.8s	26.37
20.	Tyranitar	Bite Dark	Crunch Dark	1213.7s	23.80
21.	Bisharp	Snarl Dark	Dark Pulse Dark	1240.5s	31.20
22.	Escavalier	Bug Bite Bug	Megahorn Bug	1248.0s	32.38
23.	Honchkrow	Snarl Dark	Dark Pulse Dark	1209.0s	49.89
24.	Trevenant	Shadow Claw Ghost	Shadow Ball Ghost	1238.2s	32.47
25.	Scizor	Fury Cutter Bug	X-Scissor Bug	1252.6s	33.54
26.	Vikavolt	Bug Bite Bug	X-Scissor Bug	1225.0s	39.32
27.	Deoxys (Attack)	Poison Jab Poison	Dark Pulse Dark	1128.4s	88.49
28.	Krookodile	Snarl Dark	Crunch Dark	1292.2s	20.51
29.	Absol	Snarl Dark	Dark Pulse Dark	1227.0s	47.27
30.	Houndoom	Snarl Dark	Foul Play Dark	1257.8s	42.53

*denotes a legacy move

Notes from other players:

• This raid is incredibly, incredibly difficult. Because of how T5 raid boss stats are calculated (keeps the mon’s defense, has a set HP), Deo-D is arguably the single most difficult raid boss in the entire game. Please prepare a team in advance. Please don’t use recommended counters. Please don’t let anyone you’re raiding with use recommended counters. If you’re not raiding with a group of 6 people, you’re actually risking your ability to clear.
• Defense Deoxys moves are rather lackluster, and will not do serious immediate damage to your Pokémon. Mainly, be on the lookout for Psycho Boost, as that will destroy any Gengar you have on the scene. This is a battle against time, not against DDeoxys itself, because the bulk of this forme is what makes it difficult.

Defense Forme Deoxys

Defense Forme Deoxys is a GO Battle League powerhouse, dominating in the Great League and the Ultra League. Its impressive bulk and wide range of attack types make it a serious contender against a wide range of Pokémon commonly used in the GO Battle League.

• Initial CP Range: 1,228–1,299
• Initial CP Range with Weather Boost: 1,535–1,624
• Available Fast Attacks: Counter (Fighting), Zen Headbutt (Psychic)
• Available Charged Attacks: Psycho Boost (Psychic), Rock Slide (Rock), Thunderbolt (Electric)

Available moves overview

Defense Forme Deoxys’s Fighting-type Fast Attack Counter is highly effective against Dark-type Pokémon, which Deoxys is vulnerable to. This Pokémon also offers a reasonable range of Charged Attack types, so it is wise to teach it a second Charged Attack.

While the Charged Attack Psycho Boost does benefit from a same-type attack bonus, it has the downside of reducing Deoxys’s Attack stat.

Both the Rock-type Charged Attack Rock Slide and Electric-type Charged Attack Thunderbolt are popular choices, increasing the range of types Defense Forme Deoxys can contend with.

For example, a Defense Forme Deoxys that knows the Fast Attack Counter, Charged Attack Thunderbolt, and Charged Attack Rock Slide would be effective against Normal-, Fire-, Water-, Ice-, Flying-, Bug-, Rock-, Dark-, and Steel-type Pokémon.

Weather Effects

All the best, trainers!