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.
On this page
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. |
|
Snarl Dark | Shadow Ball Ghost | 983.74s | 21.00 |
2. |
|
Shadow Claw Ghost | Shadow Ball Ghost | 1048.73s | 15.00 |
3. |
|
Astonish Ghost | Shadow Ball Ghost | 1044.36s | 19.83 |
4. |
|
Astonish Ghost | Shadow Ball Ghost | 1038.77s | 22.33 |
5. |
|
Hex Ghost | Shadow Ball Ghost | 1006.05s | 32.00 |
6. |
|
Lick Ghost | Shadow Ball Ghost | 992.65s | 38.33 |
7. |
|
Bite Dark | Dark Pulse Dark | 1123.78s | 18.33 |
8. |
|
Bite Dark | Dark Pulse Dark | 1153.54s | 15.00 |
9. |
|
Snarl Dark | Foul Play Dark | 1098.94s | 28.60 |
10. |
|
Psycho Cut Psychic | Shadow Ball Ghost | 1161.20s | 21.67 |
11. |
|
Snarl Dark | Dark Pulse Dark | 1148.18s | 24.50 |
12. |
|
Snarl Dark | Dark Pulse Dark | 1163.61s | 17.50 |
13. |
|
Bite Dark | Crunch Dark | 1180.71s | 20.33 |
14. |
|
Fury Cutter Bug | X-Scissor Bug | 1155.00s | 25.00 |
15. |
|
Fury Cutter Bug | X-Scissor Bug | 1155.98s | 24.83 |
16. |
|
Fury Cutter Bug | X-Scissor Bug | 1155.60s | 25.00 |
17. |
|
Snarl Dark | Payback Dark | 1162.50s | 22.00 |
18. |
|
Bug Bite Bug | Megahorn Bug | 1175.94s | 24.25 |
19. |
|
Bug Bite Bug | Bug Buzz Bug | 1155.03s | 26.00 |
20. |
|
Snarl Dark | Dark Pulse Dark | 1218.59s | 16.33 |
21. |
|
Shadow Claw Ghost | Shadow Ball Ghost | 1193.66s | 26.50 |
22. |
|
Snarl Dark | Foul Play Dark | 1200.65s | 17.50 |
23. |
|
Poison Jab Poison | Dark Pulse Dark | 986.99s | 64.25 |
24. |
|
Fury Cutter Bug | X-Scissor Bug | 1207.16s | 24.00 |
25. |
|
Snarl Dark | Crunch Dark | 1271.53s | 19.00 |
26. |
|
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
Fast Moves | Charge Moves |
---|---|
|
|
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!