Zacian in Pokémon Go: Top Counters, Weaknesses, Best Movesets, and How to Get Shiny
Ready to take on Zacian in Pokémon Go? Whether you’re hunting for that elusive shiny or gearing up for raids, we’ve got all the essential info you need. From Zacian’s weaknesses, best counters, and top movesets, here’s your friendly guide to mastering this legendary wolf—plus, what to expect from its new Crowned Sword form during Pokémon Go Fest 2025!
- How Zacian’s forms change its type and weaknesses
- Best Pokémon to counter Zacian in both forms
- Top movesets for raids, gyms, and PvP
- Shiny Zacian: is it available and how to get it?
Zacian’s Forms and Weaknesses Explained
Zacian, the legendary wolf from Galar, made its Pokémon Go debut in 2021 with the Hero of Many Battles form. If you’re joining Pokémon Go Fest 2025, you’ll finally meet its upgraded Crowned Sword form! Each version has different types and counters, so let’s break it down.
Hero of Many Battles Zacian
In this form, Zacian is a pure fairy-type. That means it’s weak to poison and steel-type moves. You’ll want to avoid using bug, dark, dragon, or fighting types against it—they do less damage!
Crowned Sword Zacian
With the Crowned Sword form, Zacian gains a steel-typing. Now, it’s weak against ground and fire-type moves. On the flip side, it resists a huge range of types: normal, flying, rock, bug, grass, psychic, ice, dark, and fairy. That’s a lot of resistances, so plan your counters wisely.
Best Counters for Zacian Raids
How to Beat Crowned Sword Zacian
If you’re raiding against Crowned Sword Zacian, here are your top picks:
- Blacephalon with Incinerate & Mystical Fire
- Reshiram with Fire Fang & Fusion Flare
- Heatran with Fire Spin & Magma Storm
- Therian Forme Landorus with Mud Shot & Sandsear Storm
- Chandelure with Fire Spin & Overheat
- Groudon with Mud Shot & Precipice Blades
Mega Evolutions make a big difference. Mega Charizard or Mega Blaziken with Fire Spin & Blast Burn, or Mega Garchomp with Mud Shot & Earth Power, are all strong choices. But if you’ve got a Primal Groudon, use Mud Shot & Precipice Blades for maximum damage.
Best Counters for Hero of Many Battles Zacian
Going up against regular Zacian? Use these Pokémon:
- Dusk Forme Necrozma with Metal Claw & Sunsteel Strike
- Dialga with Metal Claw & Iron Head
- Nihilego with Poison Jab & Sludge Bomb
- Genesect with Metal Claw & Magnet Bomb
- Metagross with Bullet Punch & Meteor Mash
- Excadrill with Metal Claw & Iron Head
- Roserade with Poison Jab & Sludge Bomb
Don’t forget about Mega Evolutions! Mega Gengar (Lick/Shadow Ball + Sludge Bomb), Mega Beedrill (Poison Jab + Sludge Bomb), and Mega Aggron (Iron Tail + Heavy Slam) all pack a punch.
Zacian’s Best Moveset
If you want to use Zacian in raids or gyms, the Hero of Many Battles form does best with Snarl + Play Rough. It’s missing a fairy-type fast move, but Snarl helps it charge Play Rough quickly.
For Crowned Sword Zacian, go for Metal Claw + Behemoth Blade. This makes Zacian one of the strongest steel-type attackers in Pokémon Go.
And in PvP? Crowned Sword Zacian is currently ranked #1 in the Master League (check the full rankings at PvPoke). The recommended set is Metal Claw and Close Combat with Behemoth Blade—get ready to sweep the competition!
Can Zacian Be Shiny in Pokémon Go?
Yes, Shiny Zacian is available! It made its debut during the Legendary Heroes event in September 2024. Like all shinies, your odds are low, so you’ll need to raid as much as you can and hope for the best. Good luck on your hunt!
