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.	Darkrai	Snarl Dark	Shadow Ball Ghost	983.74s	21.00
2.	Giratina (Origin)	Shadow Claw Ghost	Shadow Ball Ghost	1048.73s	15.00
3.	Hoopa (Unbound)	Astonish Ghost	Shadow Ball Ghost	1044.36s	19.83
4.	Hoopa (Confined)	Astonish Ghost	Shadow Ball Ghost	1038.77s	22.33
5.	Chandelure	Hex Ghost	Shadow Ball Ghost	1006.05s	32.00
6.	Gengar	Lick Ghost	Shadow Ball Ghost	992.65s	38.33
7.	Hydreigon	Bite Dark	Dark Pulse Dark	1123.78s	18.33
8.	Zarude	Bite Dark	Dark Pulse Dark	1153.54s	15.00
9.	Weavile	Snarl Dark	Foul Play Dark	1098.94s	28.60
10.	Mewtwo	Psycho Cut Psychic	Shadow Ball Ghost	1161.20s	21.67
11.	Yveltal	Snarl Dark	Dark Pulse Dark	1148.18s	24.50
12.	Honchkrow	Snarl Dark	Dark Pulse Dark	1163.61s	17.50
13.	Tyranitar	Bite Dark	Crunch Dark	1180.71s	20.33
14.	Genesect (Douse)	Fury Cutter Bug	X-Scissor Bug	1155.00s	25.00
15.	Genesect (Normal)	Fury Cutter Bug	X-Scissor Bug	1155.98s	24.83
16.	Genesect (Burn)	Fury Cutter Bug	X-Scissor Bug	1155.60s	25.00
17.	Absol	Snarl Dark	Payback Dark	1162.50s	22.00
18.	Escavalier	Bug Bite Bug	Megahorn Bug	1175.94s	24.25
19.	Yanmega	Bug Bite Bug	Bug Buzz Bug	1155.03s	26.00
20.	Bisharp	Snarl Dark	Dark Pulse Dark	1218.59s	16.33
21.	Trevenant	Shadow Claw Ghost	Shadow Ball Ghost	1193.66s	26.50
22.	Houndoom	Snarl Dark	Foul Play Dark	1200.65s	17.50
23.	Deoxys (Attack)	Poison Jab Poison	Dark Pulse Dark	986.99s	64.25
24.	Scizor	Fury Cutter Bug	X-Scissor Bug	1207.16s	24.00
25.	Krookodile	Snarl Dark	Crunch Dark	1271.53s	19.00
26.	Haunter	Lick Ghost	Shadow Ball Ghost	1107.50s	49.00

*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!