Fresh off a phenomenal Pokémon GO Fest season, July brings the Alolan Legendary duo of Solgaleo and Lunala in 5-Star Raids. This is the first time they have been available in raids, and for many, it may even be their first time adding them to their Pokédex! This is a great opportunity to hunt for a good IV Solgaleo or Lunala, but how are these two Legendaries in the PvE meta?
Solgaleo and Lunala Stats, Matchups and Moves
Solgaleo
 
|
Lunala
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|---|---|---|
| Max CP | 4570 | 4570 |
| ATK | 255 | 255 |
| DEF | 191 | 191 |
| HP | 264 | 264 |
| Weak to |    |
x2 x2 |
| Resists |         |
 |
| Fast moves |
|
|
| Charge moves |
|
|
Solgaleo and Lunala have the same stats and CP, but their viability is day and night (literally), thanks to their contrasting moveset. Let’s explore.
Solgaleo and Lunala in PvE
Solgaleo as a Steel-type Attacker
Without a Steel type Fast Move in sight, Solgaleo is out of contention. Ironically, its fusion, Dusk Mane Necrozma, learns Metal Claw and is one of the top Steel Pokémon in the game.
This is unfair because Lunala learns Shadow Claw! To restore justice, if Solgaleo learns Metal Claw in a future moveset update, this is how it would be positioned in the meta (whilst keeping Shadows out of the picture), based on the GO Hub DPS TDO Comparer Tool:
Metal Claw Solgaleo would barely surpass Excadrill with a way superior TDO. In fact, it even goes beyond the Dialga duo. So, while it won’t be top class, it’ll be viable. But then again, you just need to fuse it with Necrozma for a phenomenal Steel-type attacker, something you can do even without a moveset update.
Lunala as a Ghost-type Attacker
Lunala is over the moon, quite literally! Unlike Solgaleo, this Legendary got the bread and butter Ghost type moveset of Shadow Claw and Shadow Ball, making it viable. Let’s use our tool again to deduce its DPS standing.
Lunala is not just viable, it’s pretty good! Moreover, it’s second only to its own fusion, Dawn Wing Necrozma, in terms of TDO. Add the fact that it resists Psychic type moves, you have yourself a superb Ghost type attacker. Obviously, Dawn Wings Necrozma is on another level, but Lunala is no slouch, balancing great DPS and TDO figures.
In fact, you would see that I’ve included Megas in this comparison to showcase how much of a beast Lunala is! This is a Pokémon worth your resources.
Solgaleo and Lunala as Psychic-type Attackers
You’d expect Solgaleo to redeem itself in the Psychic type department, but it’s just worse there. Zen Headbutt and Psychic Fangs form one of its worst DPS combos. Even when you keep both Megas and Shadows out of the window, Solgaleo is waaayyyyy down there, dealing DPS even lower than Starmie, Jynx, and Solrock. Eww!!
Solgaleo is a total flop, be it a Psychic or Steel type Pokémon.
Lunala, on the other hand, is again viable. While we are not accounting for Megas and Shadows, Lunala impresses.
Guess what? Lunala is excellent as a Psychic type! Its DPS is wonderful, and for TDO, it is the best non-Mega, non-Shadow monster!
Whether it’s the common Psychic type, or their distinct types (Steel and Ghost), Lunala wins hands down and is the better Pokémon than Solgaleo.
But needless to say, you should prioritize the fusions of each Legendary to enjoy their best in Pokémon GO. If you’re eager to know how to go about these fusions, then check out our guide to the Necroma fusions.
All the best, trainers!
