Cobalion Raid Guide Counters Movesets And Strategies For Pokemon GO
#Cobalion, the Iron Will Pokémon, is a formidable opponent in Pokémon GO raids. This legendary Steel and Fighting-type Pokémon presents a significant challenge, but with the right strategy and team, you can emerge victorious. This comprehensive guide provides you with everything you need to know to defeat Cobalion, including its weaknesses, counters, movesets, and strategies for assembling a winning raid team.
Understanding Cobalion: Strengths and Weaknesses
Before diving into the battle, it's crucial to understand Cobalion's strengths and weaknesses. As a Steel and Fighting-type Pokémon, Cobalion boasts a dual typing that grants it resistance to a variety of attacks. Specifically, it resists Normal, Steel, Rock, Bug, Dark, and Grass-type moves. This impressive list of resistances makes it a challenging raid boss, as many commonly used attacking types will be ineffective against it. However, Cobalion has weaknesses that can be exploited. Its dual typing leaves it vulnerable to Fighting, Fire, and Ground-type attacks. By focusing on these weaknesses, you can significantly increase your damage output and bring Cobalion down faster. Therefore, understanding Cobalion's type matchups is essential for planning your raid strategy and selecting the right Pokémon for your team.
Cobalion's Key Stats
To effectively counter Cobalion, you also need to consider its key stats. Cobalion has a high Defense stat, making it a bulky opponent that can withstand a significant amount of damage. This high defense, combined with its resistances, means that you'll need to hit it with super-effective attacks to make a dent in its health bar. Its Attack stat is moderate, which means its attacks can still pack a punch, but it's not as overwhelming as some other legendary raid bosses. Cobalion's Stamina stat is decent, giving it a good amount of health to work with during the raid battle. Keeping these stats in mind will help you appreciate the kind of damage you need to inflict to beat it.
Moveset Analysis
Cobalion has a diverse moveset, including both Fast Attacks and Charged Attacks of various types. Its Fast Attacks can be Metal Claw (Steel-type) or Zen Headbutt (Psychic-type), while its Charged Attacks can be Stone Edge (Rock-type), Sacred Sword (Fighting-type), or Iron Head (Steel-type). The moves Cobalion knows can greatly influence your counter selections. For example, if Cobalion has Stone Edge, your Fire-type counters might take heavier damage than usual. Similarly, if it has Sacred Sword, your Steel-type counters will need to be extra careful. Therefore, it is vital to scout the moveset before the raid if possible. This information will enable you to adjust your team accordingly and avoid any unexpected knockouts.
Top Counters for Cobalion Raids
Given Cobalion's weaknesses and moveset, selecting the right counters is paramount to your success in a raid. Your primary focus should be on Pokémon that can deal Fighting, Fire, or Ground-type damage. Here are some of the top counters for Cobalion raids, categorized for ease of reference:
Fighting-type Counters
- Lucario: Lucario is a top-tier Fighting and Steel-type Pokémon with high Attack and access to powerful Fighting-type moves like Counter and Aura Sphere. Its dual-typing also gives it some added resistance, making it a reliable choice in many situations.
- Conkeldurr: Conkeldurr is a pure Fighting-type Pokémon with incredible Attack power and high Stamina. It can deal significant damage with moves like Counter and Dynamic Punch, making it a premier counter against Cobalion.
- Machamp: Machamp remains a classic and highly effective Fighting-type counter. With access to Counter and Dynamic Punch, Machamp can consistently deal high damage to Cobalion. It is also relatively easier to obtain and power up compared to some of the legendary options.
Fire-type Counters
- Mega Charizard Y: Mega Charizard Y is an exceptional Fire and Flying-type Pokémon with phenomenal Attack stats. It can unleash devastating Fire-type damage with moves like Fire Spin and Blast Burn, making it an ideal counter for Cobalion.
- Reshiram: Reshiram is a legendary Fire and Dragon-type Pokémon with immense offensive capabilities. It can deal massive Fire-type damage with Fire Fang and Overheat, making it a top choice for Cobalion raids.
- Shadow Moltres: Shadow Moltres, if available, is one of the strongest Fire-type attackers in the game. With Fire Spin and Overheat, it can quickly burn through Cobalion's health bar.
Ground-type Counters
- Groudon: Groudon, a legendary Ground-type Pokémon, is a powerhouse with incredibly high Attack and Stamina. It can use Mud Shot and Earthquake to inflict significant Ground-type damage on Cobalion.
- Excadrill: Excadrill is a Ground and Steel-type Pokémon with a good Attack stat and access to powerful Ground-type moves like Mud-Slap and Drill Run. Its Steel-typing also grants it some resistance against Cobalion's Steel-type attacks.
- Landorus (Therian Forme): Landorus in its Therian Forme is a Ground and Flying-type Pokémon with exceptional Attack power. It can deal massive damage with Mud Shot and Earthquake, making it a top-tier Ground-type counter.
Honorable Mentions
In addition to the top counters mentioned above, several other Pokémon can perform well against Cobalion:
- Blaziken: A Fire and Fighting-type Pokémon that can use both types of advantageous attacks.
- Hariyama: A Fighting-type Pokémon that's a good alternative if you don't have Machamp or Conkeldurr.
- Chandelure: A Ghost and Fire-type Pokémon that can deal Fire-type damage.
When building your raid team, remember to prioritize Pokémon with the highest Attack stats and the correct move types. It's also beneficial to have a diverse team to handle various movesets that Cobalion may have.
Assembling Your Raid Team: Strategies and Tips
Once you have a list of potential counters, the next step is to assemble your raid team. Here are some strategies and tips to consider:
Prioritize Super-Effective Moves
The most critical aspect of assembling your raid team is to prioritize Pokémon with moves that are super-effective against Cobalion. This means selecting Pokémon with Fighting, Fire, or Ground-type attacks. Using super-effective moves will significantly increase your damage output and help you defeat Cobalion faster. A raid team composed primarily of Pokémon with super-effective moves will always outperform a team with neutral or resisted attacks.
Consider Weather Boosts
Weather conditions in Pokémon GO can affect the power of certain move types. Sunny weather boosts Fire and Ground-type moves, while Cloudy weather boosts Fighting-type moves. If the weather conditions favor your chosen counters, you can leverage this to your advantage by using Pokémon that benefit from the weather boost. For instance, if it's sunny, Fire and Ground-type attackers will be even more effective, making them ideal choices for your raid team. This strategy can provide a significant advantage in the battle.
Balance Offense and Defense
While dealing damage is crucial, it's also important to consider the survivability of your Pokémon. Cobalion's attacks can deal significant damage, so you need Pokémon that can withstand some hits. Pokémon with high Stamina and Defense stats can stay in the battle longer, allowing you to deal more damage overall. However, you shouldn't sacrifice too much offense for defense. The key is to find a balance between Pokémon that can deal high damage and those that can withstand Cobalion's attacks.
Coordinate with Your Raid Group
If you're raiding with a group, coordination is key. Communicate with your fellow trainers to ensure that you have a diverse team of counters. This will help you cover all of Cobalion's weaknesses and avoid duplicating Pokémon on the team. For example, if several trainers are using Fire-type Pokémon, others might consider using Ground or Fighting-type counters to provide a more balanced attack strategy. Team coordination can significantly improve your chances of defeating Cobalion.
Using Mega Evolutions
Mega Evolutions can provide a significant boost to your raid team. Mega Pokémon have higher stats and can boost the attack power of other Pokémon of the same type in the raid. For example, Mega Charizard Y can significantly boost the Fire-type damage output of your team. Including a Mega Evolution can dramatically increase your team's effectiveness and help you defeat Cobalion more easily.
Raid Strategies: How to Battle Cobalion
Once your team is ready, it's time to face Cobalion in battle. Here are some strategies to help you win the raid:
Dodge Charged Attacks
Cobalion's Charged Attacks can deal significant damage, so dodging them is crucial for the survival of your Pokémon. Pay attention to the visual cues and dodge accordingly. Dodging successfully will allow your Pokémon to stay in the battle longer and deal more damage. Timing your dodges effectively can make a big difference in the outcome of the raid.
Utilize Fast Attacks Effectively
While Charged Attacks deal the most damage, Fast Attacks are important for building up your Charged Attack meter. Use Fast Attacks consistently between Charged Attacks to maximize your damage output. Selecting a Fast Attack that has a good balance of damage and energy generation can help you charge your Charged Attacks more quickly.
Re-enter the Battle Quickly
If your Pokémon faint during the battle, quickly re-enter the raid with your next team of counters. The faster you can get back into the battle, the more damage you can deal to Cobalion. Having a well-prepared backup team is essential for maintaining your damage output throughout the raid.
Take Advantage of Party Play
When battling in Party Play, you gain access to unique bonuses that can significantly enhance your raid performance. Party Power, charged by Party Attacks, amplifies your damage output, helping you defeat Cobalion faster. Strategic use of Party Power can turn the tide of battle, particularly in challenging raids. Coordination and communication within your party are key to maximizing these benefits.
Catching Cobalion: Tips and Tricks
After defeating Cobalion, you'll have a chance to catch it. Here are some tips and tricks to increase your chances of a successful catch:
Use Golden Razz Berries
Golden Razz Berries significantly increase your chances of catching a Pokémon. Use them on every throw to maximize your catch rate. Golden Razz Berries are the most effective berries for catching raid bosses, so make sure you have a good supply on hand.
Throw Curveballs
Curveball throws have a higher catch rate than straight throws. Practice your curveball technique to consistently land accurate throws. While they may take some getting used to, curveball throws are well worth the effort for the increased catch rate.
Aim for Excellent Throws
Excellent throws have the highest catch rate bonus. Aim for the center of the target circle to increase your chances of landing an Excellent throw. The smaller the target circle, the higher your bonus. Practice and patience are key to mastering Excellent throws.
Be Patient and Persistent
Catching a legendary Pokémon can be challenging, so be patient and persistent. Don't get discouraged if you don't catch it on your first few throws. Keep using Golden Razz Berries, throwing curveballs, and aiming for Excellent throws, and eventually, you'll succeed. Persistence is crucial when it comes to catching raid bosses.
Conclusion: Triumph Over Cobalion
Defeating and catching Cobalion in Pokémon GO raids requires careful planning, strategic team building, and skillful execution. By understanding its weaknesses, selecting the right counters, and implementing effective battle strategies, you can overcome this formidable legendary Pokémon. Remember to coordinate with your raid group, take advantage of weather boosts, and practice your throwing technique. With these tips and tricks, you'll be well-equipped to add Cobalion to your collection and enhance your Pokémon GO experience. So, gather your team, prepare your counters, and go conquer the Iron Will Pokémon!
Cobalion remains a challenging but rewarding raid boss, offering players the chance to add a powerful Steel and Fighting-type Pokémon to their roster. With the right preparation and strategy, you can triumph over Cobalion and enjoy the spoils of victory. Good luck, trainers, and happy raiding!