Onix is a Tier 3 raid boss with an underwhelming Raid Boss CP of 9429, but do not underestimate an Onix, as it has a decent defense stat of 288. It is boosted by Partly Cloudy and Sunny weather, being a Rock and Ground type Pokémon. These are its 100% capture CPs:
- 629 (level 20, non boosted)
- 787 (level 25, Sunny and Partly Cloudy)
Quick Facts at a Glance
- Probably not too difficult, but to solo you should be around level 25 to 30 with good counters.
- Use Water or Grass types for best results, Fighting, Ground, Ice, and Steel also work.
- Difficulty: Easy to medium
Solo Counters
Onix sadly suffers from two double weaknesses, but that is amazing for us who want to challenge it! It is double weak to Grass and Water, so our counters will consist mainly of those types of Pokémon.
| Pokémon | Fast Move | Charge Move |
|---|---|---|
 Kyogre |
Waterfall Water | Hydro Pump Water |
 Roserade |
Razor Leaf Grass | Grass Knot Grass |
 Sceptile |
Bullet Seed Grass | Frenzy Plant Grass |
 Gyarados |
Waterfall Water | Hydro Pump Water |
 Breloom |
Bullet Seed Grass | Grass Knot Grass |
 Feraligatr |
Waterfall Water | Hydro Cannon Water |
 Venusaur |
Vine Whip Grass | Frenzy Plant Grass |
 Tangrowth |
Vine Whip Grass | Solar Beam Grass |
 Exeggutor (Alola) |
Bullet Seed Grass | Solar Beam Grass |
 Leafeon |
Razor Leaf Grass | Leaf Blade Grass |
Any Water or Grass types will suffice, but Kyogre and Roserade are definitely some of the heaviest hitters in the bunch. Sceptile also makes a great option, with the addition of Frenzy Plant and the abundance of candies most players have acquired after Community Day.
Whatever other Pokémon listed above that you have at a high enough level with the correct movesets would do just as fine as well.
Onix Movesets
Onix does not have a very wide move pool to cover its weaknesses, and it has access to these fast and charge moves:
- Rock Throw
- Tackle
- Stone Edge (Rock, 1 bar)
- Heavy Slam (Steel, 2 bars)
- Sand Tomb (Ground, 2 bars)
The easiest moveset to go up against would be Tackle and Sand Tomb, if you are using Grass types, which will resist the Ground type charge move. All of the charge moves are arguable, because Stone Edge, being only one bar, will hit less frequently and for less damage over all, and would also make for an easier battle. Tackle is easily the least challenging fast move, as it does not benefit from STAB and is weak overall.
Weather Influence on Battle
Onix will have a boosted catch CP in Sunny and Partly Cloudy weather, and those are also the weathers where the majority of its moves will be boosted. Sunny and Rainy weather are the most beneficial raid conditions to raid under, but this chart below will help you visualize weather in battle:
| Weather | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Sunny | Boosts super effective Grass type moves | Boosts Onix’s Sand Tomb |
| Partly Cloudy | — | Boosts Onix’s Tackle, Rock Throw, and Stone Edge |
| Cloudy | Boost super effective Fighting moves | — |
| Windy | No pros nor cons | |
| Rainy | Boosts super effective Water moves | — |
| Fog | No pros nor cons | |
| Snow | Boost super effective Ice and Steel types | Boost Onix’s Heavy Slam |
Final Notes
Onix seems like it will be a pushover tier three boss, much easier than the normal tier three raid bosses that we usually see, so if you want to try and solo your first tier three, this may be a good one to start with! If you are alone and below level 25 or have no good counters you may encounter some trouble, but with Onix’s low CP, it is doubtful that it will be very difficult.
Keep an eye on weather and on the moves that Onix may have, though it is hard to tell what moves it has unless you waste a raid pass, but you can save some revives if you do not go into the raid. Luckily, Onix does not have any extremely difficult or challenging movesets.
Good luck everyone!