Can 4 People Beat a Mega Raid in Pokémon GO? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer is yes, four people can often beat a Mega Raid in Pokémon GO, but it’s not always a guaranteed victory. The success of a four-person raid team hinges on several crucial factors, including the specific Mega Pokémon being battled, the levels and quality of the Trainers’ Pokémon, their chosen counters, and a degree of luck. Let’s dive deeper into what makes a Mega Raid beatable by four trainers and what to consider for a successful outcome.
Factors Influencing Mega Raid Success with Four Trainers
1. The Specific Mega Pokémon
Not all Mega Raids are created equal. Some Mega Pokémon, like Mega Scizor, are known to be easier to defeat than others. In contrast, Mega Legendary Pokémon often pose a significant challenge, even for larger groups. The type of the Mega Pokémon also plays a critical role. For example, a Mega Gardevoir, weak to Ghost, Poison, and Steel-type attacks, can be taken down more easily if those types are utilized effectively. Therefore, before embarking on a raid, researching the specific Mega Pokémon’s weaknesses and resistances is essential.
2. Trainer Levels and Pokémon Strength
The levels of the trainers and their Pokémon are paramount. Four level 40 or 50 trainers with maxed-out, ideal counters will have a significantly higher chance of success than four lower-level trainers with weaker Pokémon. The IVs (Individual Values) and movesets of your Pokémon also greatly impact their performance. High IV Pokémon with powerful, STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) moves are crucial for dealing maximum damage.
3. The Right Counters and Team Composition
Selecting the right Pokémon counters is perhaps the most crucial factor. Each Mega Pokémon has specific type weaknesses, and exploiting these is vital for success. For example, a Mega Gengar is weak to Ground and Ghost types, meaning bringing Pokémon like Primal Groudon, Shadow Mewtwo, and Mega Latios would be highly effective. Building a well-balanced team, with varied damage types, can further enhance your group’s overall effectiveness.
4. Weather Conditions
The in-game weather can significantly boost certain types of Pokémon. For instance, during sunny weather, Fire and Grass-type moves receive a damage boost. This boost can dramatically impact your damage output, either making a raid easier or more challenging depending on your chosen Pokémon. Understanding how weather conditions interact with your chosen counters is vital.
5. Coordination and Strategy
Even with the right Pokémon, coordination is key. Going into a raid with a clear strategy, ensuring each trainer knows their role, can maximize DPS. This includes understanding when to use charged attacks and dodging when necessary. For instance, coordinating your Mega Evolution timing to boost the damage of the whole team.
6. Mega Evolution Boosts
Using a Mega Evolved Pokémon in your team significantly boosts the damage output of others in the raid. This could be the difference between winning and losing, particularly with smaller raid groups. Coordinating who mega evolves and when is part of a good strategy.
7. Friendship Bonuses
If you are raiding with Ultra or Best Friends, you’ll gain a damage boost that will help you in the battle. The more friendship levels among your raid group, the easier it will be to take down a Mega Pokémon.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Mega Raids
1. Can I solo a Mega Raid?
Generally, soloing a Mega Raid is not possible. Mega Pokémon are designed to be challenging and require multiple trainers to defeat. However, there have been exceptions, like Mega Swampert which some skilled trainers with perfect teams have soloed in very specific conditions, but it’s not the norm. Most Mega Raids require at least two to three people and up to 10 players depending on the difficulty.
2. How many people do you need for a Mega Legendary Raid?
Mega Legendary Raids are some of the most difficult in the game. They often require a group of 6 to 10 players who are at level 40 and above with strong counters to take them down effectively. Even higher numbers may be needed for a reliable win if the trainers don’t have the highest tier counters.
3. What are the easiest Mega Raids to beat?
Some Mega Raids are known to be easier than others. Mega Scizor is often cited as one of the easiest, typically requiring only 2 to 4 trainers. Others, like Mega Altaria, are also often considered on the easier side, making them a good option for smaller groups.
4. How do I find a Mega Raid?
Mega Raids are indicated by tan-and-brown Eggs with the Mega Energy symbol above the Gym. The egg will hatch into a powerful Mega Pokémon, ready for battle. These raids appear on gyms periodically, and some events can increase their frequency.
5. What is the 24-hour raid egg?
The 24-hour raid egg indicates an Elite Raid will be starting. This gives trainers time to coordinate with others to defeat the boss which is considered more difficult than usual raids.
6. Why are Mega Raids so hard?
Mega Raids feature powerful Mega Pokémon with significantly boosted stats. They have higher HP, attack, and defense, making them more challenging to defeat than standard raid bosses. Additionally, Mega Legendary Raids present an even bigger challenge.
7. Is Mega Gengar worth the investment?
Mega Gengar is considered a strong option, boasting excellent battle capabilities with increased damage output. If you need a good Ghost/Poison type, it’s a worthy investment, and it is a top performer in raids and PvP battles.
8. What are good counters for Mega Houndoom?
When battling Mega Houndoom, which is a Dark/Fire type, Rock, Ground, Fighting, and Water types are most effective. Pokémon like Rhyperior, Tyranitar, Golem, Swampert, and Machamp are good choices for countering it.
9. Can two people beat a 4-star raid?
Some 4-star raids can be defeated by two trainers, depending on the boss. However, most require at least 2 or 3 people, particularly if they are difficult. Raid difficulty often depends on the base stats, type, and moves of the raid boss.
10. Can I invite friends to a raid?
Yes, trainers who join a Raid Battle in-person can invite up to 5 friends to join the raid, regardless of their friends’ locations. This is a great feature for coordinated raids with a larger group or for those wanting to help friends.
11. What are the weaknesses of Mega Gardevoir?
Mega Gardevoir is weak to Ghost, Poison, and Steel-type attacks. It resists Dragon, Fighting, and Psychic-type attacks, so avoid those when choosing your counters.
12. Can you get a shiny Mega Gardevoir?
Shiny Mega Gardevoir is available through winning Mega Raids. To get one, you’ll need a Shiny Gardevoir, which can be Mega Evolved. It’s one of the rarest and most sought-after Shiny Pokemon, but it does require some luck to get.
13. What are the best counters for Mega Tyranitar?
The best counters for Mega Tyranitar are Fighting, Bug, Fairy, Grass, Ground, Steel, and Water-type attacks. Some of the top counters include Mega Blaziken, Terrakion, Shadow Machamp, and Keldeo.
14. Can Mega Steelix be soloed or done with 2 people?
Mega Steelix requires at least 2 trainers with high-level counters. It is considered a difficult fight, so players should make sure to use their best Pokémon. The more people you have the better chance you have at taking the raid down.
15. What are the weaknesses of Guzzlord?
Guzzlord is weak against Bug, Dragon, Fairy, Ice, and Fighting-type moves. Use Pokémon with STAB moves of these types to inflict maximum damage when battling it.
Conclusion
While four people can beat a Mega Raid in Pokémon GO, it requires planning and the right team. The specific Mega Pokémon, the levels and types of your Pokémon, weather conditions, coordination, and a good dose of luck are all important factors. By understanding these elements, trainers can increase their chances of victory and effectively participate in Mega Raids with smaller groups. Always be prepared, bring your best counters, and work as a team to succeed in these challenging but rewarding battles!