Cobalion Raid Guide Counters Strategies And Hosting Tips
Cobalion, the Iron Will Pokémon, is a formidable legendary Steel and Fighting-type Pokémon that often appears in five-star raids in Pokémon GO. Successfully hosting a Cobalion raid requires careful planning, a strong team, and the right strategies. This comprehensive guide will provide you with everything you need to know about hosting Cobalion raids, including its weaknesses, the best counters, raid strategies, and tips for maximizing your chances of success.
Understanding Cobalion: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Moveset
Before diving into raid strategies, it’s crucial to understand Cobalion's characteristics. Cobalion is a dual-type Steel and Fighting Pokémon, which gives it a unique set of strengths and weaknesses.
Cobalion's Strengths
Cobalion's dual typing grants it resistance to several types of attacks, making it a sturdy opponent in raids. Specifically, Cobalion resists:
- Normal
- Steel
- Grass
- Ice
- Rock
- Bug
- Dark
This impressive list of resistances means that trainers must avoid using Pokémon of these types in their raid teams. Using Pokémon that deal neutral damage can work, but it’s generally more effective to exploit Cobalion's weaknesses.
Cobalion's Weaknesses
Despite its many resistances, Cobalion is vulnerable to three types of attacks:
- Fighting
- Fire
- Ground
To effectively counter Cobalion, trainers should focus on building raid teams consisting primarily of Pokémon with these move types. Utilizing Pokémon with high attack stats and powerful movesets of these types will significantly increase your damage output and your chances of defeating Cobalion.
Cobalion's Moveset
Cobalion can have various fast and charged moves, which can affect the dynamics of the raid. Knowing these movesets can help you anticipate and plan your counters more effectively.
Possible Fast Moves:
- Metal Claw (Steel)
- Zen Headbutt (Psychic)
Possible Charged Moves:
- Close Combat (Fighting)
- Iron Head (Steel)
- Stone Edge (Rock)
- Sacred Sword (Fighting)
Cobalion’s moveset makes it a versatile opponent, capable of dealing significant damage with both Steel and Fighting-type moves. The presence of Stone Edge also means that Flying-type Pokémon, which might otherwise be good counters, are at risk of being one-hit knocked out. Sacred Sword is a particularly potent Fighting-type move that can deal massive damage to your Pokémon.
Assembling Your Raid Team: Top Counters for Cobalion
Choosing the right Pokémon to counter Cobalion is crucial for a successful raid. Given its weaknesses to Fighting, Fire, and Ground-type moves, here are some of the top counters to consider:
Top-Tier Counters
These Pokémon are among the most effective counters against Cobalion, boasting high damage output and resilience:
- Mega Charizard Y: With Fire Spin and Blast Burn, Mega Charizard Y is an excellent choice, providing significant Fire-type damage. Its high attack stat and powerful moveset make it a top-tier counter.
- Mega Blaziken: As a dual-type Fire and Fighting Pokémon, Mega Blaziken can exploit Cobalion's weaknesses with moves like Fire Spin and Blaze Kick or Focus Blast. Its mega evolution status gives it a substantial stat boost, making it a formidable counter.
- ** shadow Metagross**: Shadow Metagross with Metal Claw and Meteor Mash is a top steel type attacker, dealing super effective damage against Cobalion.
- Reshiram: This legendary Fire and Dragon-type Pokémon is a powerhouse, especially with Fire Fang and Overheat. Reshiram's high attack stat and powerful Fire-type moves make it a top pick for Cobalion raids.
- ** shadow Moltres**: Shadow Moltres is a Fire and Flying-type, making it vulnerable to Stone Edge but still a powerful counter with Fire Spin and Overheat. Its shadow form significantly boosts its attack power.
- ** shadow Machamp**: Shadow Machamp with Counter and Dynamic Punch is a strong Fighting-type attacker that can exploit Cobalion's weakness. Its high damage output makes it a valuable asset in raids.
- ** shadow Hariyama**: Shadow Hariyama, another Fighting-type, performs well with Counter and Dynamic Punch, offering a more accessible alternative to Shadow Machamp.
Mid-Tier Counters
These Pokémon are also effective but may require more strategic play or optimal conditions:
- ** shadow Arcanine**: Shadow Arcanine with Fire Fang and Wild Charge is a reliable Fire-type attacker, offering a good balance of damage and survivability.
- ** shadow Charizard**: Shadow Charizard is a strong Fire-type attacker with Fire Spin and Blast Burn, though it is vulnerable to Stone Edge.
- ** shadow Entei**: Shadow Entei, with Fire Fang and Overheat, is another solid Fire-type option, providing consistent damage output.
- ** shadow Typhlosion**: Shadow Typhlosion with Ember and Blast Burn can deal significant Fire-type damage, making it a worthwhile choice.
- ** shadow Houndoom**: Shadow Houndoom with Fire Fang and Foul Play is a dual-type Dark and Fire Pokémon, offering versatility in its moveset.
- ** shadow Infernape**: Shadow Infernape, a dual-type Fire and Fighting Pokémon, can exploit Cobalion's weaknesses with moves like Fire Spin and Blast Burn or Close Combat.
- ** shadow Magmortar**: Shadow Magmortar with Fire Spin and Fire Punch is a consistent Fire-type attacker, dealing reliable damage.
Budget-Friendly Counters
For trainers with limited resources, these Pokémon can still be effective counters:
- Machamp: This Fighting-type Pokémon is relatively easy to obtain and can be a strong counter with Counter and Dynamic Punch.
- Hariyama: Another Fighting-type, Hariyama, is accessible and performs well with Counter and Dynamic Punch.
- Flareon: With Fire Spin and Overheat, Flareon can provide decent Fire-type damage and is a more common Pokémon.
- Emboar: This dual-type Fire and Fighting Pokémon can use moves like Ember and Blast Burn or Focus Blast to exploit Cobalion’s weaknesses.
When assembling your raid team, consider the movesets of your Pokémon and Cobalion. If Cobalion has Stone Edge, using Flying-type Pokémon might be risky. Prioritize Pokémon with high attack stats and moves that deal super-effective damage. Having a diverse team of counters will also help you adapt to different movesets that Cobalion might have.
Hosting the Raid: Strategies and Tips
Hosting a Cobalion raid effectively involves more than just having a strong team. Coordination, communication, and strategic gameplay are essential for success. Here are some tips to help you host successful Cobalion raids:
Pre-Raid Planning
- Coordinate with Other Trainers: Use social media platforms, local Pokémon GO groups, or raid apps to coordinate with other trainers. Planning a raid time and location ensures you have enough participants.
- Check Weather Conditions: Weather can significantly affect Pokémon performance. Sunny weather boosts Fire and Ground-type moves, making Fire-type counters even more effective. Cloudy weather boosts Fighting-type moves. Plan your team accordingly.
- Formulate a Strategy: Discuss with your raid group the Pokémon each person will use. This ensures a balanced team and avoids overlapping counters. Assign mega evolutions strategically to maximize damage output.
During the Raid
- Use Mega Evolutions Wisely: Mega-Evolved Pokémon provide significant stat boosts and can boost the attack power of other Pokémon in the raid. Coordinate mega evolutions to maximize their impact.
- Dodge Charged Moves: Dodging Cobalion’s charged moves can prevent your Pokémon from fainting, allowing them to deal more damage over time. Watch for the flashing yellow bars and swipe to dodge.
- Communicate with Your Team: If you notice Cobalion using a particular move that is causing problems, communicate this to your team. Adjust your strategy if necessary.
- Rejoin the Raid Quickly: If your Pokémon faint, rejoin the raid as quickly as possible to continue dealing damage. Having a pre-selected team can speed up this process.
Post-Raid Strategies
- Catching Cobalion: After defeating Cobalion, you'll have a chance to catch it. Use Golden Razz Berries to increase your chances of a successful catch. Aim for Excellent Throws to further improve your odds.
- IV Checking: Once caught, check Cobalion's IVs (Individual Values) to determine its potential. Pokémon with high IVs are more powerful and valuable.
- Trading: If you catch multiple Cobalion, consider trading them with friends to improve your chances of obtaining a high-IV Cobalion or a Lucky Pokémon.
Maximizing Your Raid Success
To further enhance your success in hosting Cobalion raids, consider the following additional tips:
Optimize Your Pokémon's Movesets
Ensure your Pokémon have the best movesets for dealing damage to Cobalion. Use TMs (Technical Machines) to change moves if necessary. Focus on moves that deal super-effective damage and have high DPS (Damage Per Second).
Power Up Your Pokémon
Investing Stardust and Candies to power up your Pokémon can significantly increase their stats. Prioritize powering up your top counters to make them more effective in raids. Focus on Pokémon with high IVs for the best long-term investment.
Utilize Weather Boosts
Take advantage of weather boosts to enhance your Pokémon's performance. Sunny weather boosts Fire and Ground-type moves, while Cloudy weather boosts Fighting-type moves. Adjust your team based on the current weather conditions.
Learn Cobalion's Attack Patterns
Understanding Cobalion’s attack patterns can help you anticipate and dodge charged moves more effectively. Watch for cues and animations that indicate an upcoming attack, and swipe accordingly.
Join a Raid Group or Community
Participating in a raid group or community can provide you with valuable support and coordination. Raid groups often share information, strategies, and raid invites, making it easier to participate in and host raids.
Use Remote Raid Passes Strategically
Remote Raid Passes allow you to join raids remotely, which can be particularly useful if you don't have a local raid group or if Cobalion raids are not appearing near you. Use Remote Raid Passes strategically to participate in as many raids as possible.
Conclusion
Hosting Cobalion raids can be a rewarding experience, but it requires careful preparation and strategic execution. By understanding Cobalion's strengths and weaknesses, assembling a strong team of counters, and coordinating with other trainers, you can significantly increase your chances of success. Remember to optimize your Pokémon's movesets, power them up, and take advantage of weather boosts. With the right approach, you can successfully host and conquer Cobalion raids, adding this powerful legendary Pokémon to your collection. Whether you are a seasoned trainer or new to raiding, this comprehensive guide will help you navigate the challenges and enjoy the thrill of defeating Cobalion.