
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.
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
The best counters for Defense Form Deoxys are the following:
# | Pokémon | Fast Move | Charge Move | Faints | Time to win |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. |
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Shadow Claw Ghost | Moongeist Beam Ghost | 2 | 159s |
2. |
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Bite Dark | Brutal Swing Dark | 2 | 182s |
3. |
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Lick Ghost | Shadow Ball Ghost | 5 | 158s |
4. |
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Bite Dark | Brutal Swing Dark | 4 | 182s |
5. |
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Dragon Tail Dragon | Dragon Ascent | 4 | 195s |
6. |
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Shadow Claw Ghost | Shadow Ball Ghost | 5 | 181s |
7. |
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Hex Ghost | Shadow Ball Ghost | 7 | 176s |
8. |
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Snarl Dark | Foul Play Dark | 5 | 196s |
9. |
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Psycho Cut Psychic | Shadow Ball Ghost | 4 | 202s |
10. |
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Shadow Claw Ghost | Sunsteel Strike Steel | 3 | 222s |
11. |
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Hex Ghost | Shadow Ball Ghost | 6 | 187s |
12. |
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Bite Dark | Brutal Swing Dark | 3 | 216s |
13. |
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Lick Ghost | Shadow Ball Ghost | 8 | 173s |
14. |
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Struggle Bug Bug | Megahorn Bug | 5 | 201s |
15. |
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Shadow Claw Ghost | Shadow Force Ghost | 3 | 229s |
16. |
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Psycho Cut Psychic | Shadow Ball Ghost | 5 | 204s |
17. |
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Snarl Dark | Shadow Ball Ghost | 4 | 209s |
18. |
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Hex Ghost | Shadow Ball Ghost | 3 | 223s |
19. |
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Fury Cutter Bug | X-Scissor Bug | 4 | 220s |
20. |
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Bite Dark | Brutal Swing Dark | 4 | 218s |
21. |
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Astonish Ghost | Shadow Ball Ghost | 4 | 216s |
22. |
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Bite Dark | Crunch Dark | 4 | 226s |
23. |
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Snarl Dark | Dark Pulse Dark | 6 | 196s |
24. |
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Snarl Dark | Foul Play Dark | 7 | 191s |
25. |
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Astonish Ghost | Shadow Ball Ghost | 8 | 189s |
26. |
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Charge Beam Electric | Shadow Ball Ghost | 4 | 228s |
27. |
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Astonish Ghost | Shadow Ball Ghost | 4 | 223s |
28. |
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Astonish Ghost | Shadow Ball Ghost | 4 | 226s |
29. |
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Fury Cutter Bug | X-Scissor Bug | 7 | 202s |
30. |
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Bite Dark | Fly | 4 | 235s |
Notes from other players:
- This raid is difficult because of how T5 raid boss stats are calculated (keeps the mon’s defense, has a set HP), Deo-D is a tank. Please prepare a team in advance. If you’re not raiding with a group of 4+ people, you’re actually risking your ability to clear.
- Defense Deoxys moves are rather lacklustre, 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 D-Deoxys itself, because the bulk of this forme is what makes it difficult.
Defense Forme Deoxys
Defense Forme Deoxys is most useful in GO Battle League, mainly Great League and the Ultra League. Its impressive bulk and wide range of attack types make it a 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
Fast Moves | Charge Moves |
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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
Weather | Pro Attacker | Pro Deoxys |
---|---|---|
Sunny | – | |
Partly Cloudy | – | Boosts Rock Rock Slide |
Cloudy | – | Boosts Fighting Counter |
Rainy | Boosts Super Effective Bug attacks | Boosts Electric Thunderbolt |
Snow | – | – |
Fog | Boosts Super Effective Ghost and Dark Attacks | – |
Windy | – | Boosts Psychic Zen Headbutt and Psycho Boost |
All the best, trainers!