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Can You Beat Rayquaza with 4 People in Pokémon GO? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, you absolutely can beat Mega Rayquaza in Pokémon GO with four people, but with some very significant caveats. It’s not a guaranteed victory, and success hinges on a perfect storm of factors: trainer level, Pokémon levels, optimal counters, weather conditions, and even a bit of luck. This guide delves deep into what you need to know to pull off this challenging feat, and answers common questions trainers have about tackling this legendary raid boss.

The Nitty-Gritty: What Makes a 4-Person Rayquaza Raid Possible?

Attempting a Rayquaza raid with a small group requires meticulous preparation and flawless execution. Here’s a breakdown of the essential elements:

Trainer Level: Ideally, all trainers should be level 40 or higher. The higher your trainer level, the more powerful your Pokémon can be. This makes a huge difference in overall damage output.
Pokémon Level: Your counters need to be at least level 40, and ideally maxed out (level 50 with XL Candy). This maximizes their stats and ensures they can withstand Rayquaza’s powerful attacks.
Optimal Counters: Rayquaza is a Dragon/Flying-type, making it double weak to Ice-type attacks. Focus on bringing the absolute best Ice-type attackers you have. Top-tier counters include:
- Mega Glalie/Mega Abomasnow: These are incredible mega evolutions, providing significant damage boosts to other Ice-type Pokémon in the raid and dealing substantial damage themselves.
- Galarian Darmanitan (Ice Form): A glass cannon with immense attack power.
- Mamoswine: A solid and reliable Ice-type attacker.
- Glaceon: Easily accessible and a decent Ice-type attacker.
- Weavile: Fast attack speed and good damage output.
- Kyurem: Another powerful Ice-type legendary.
Don’t forget to consider Shadow Pokémon, as these often deal significantly more damage than their regular counterparts.
Move Sets: Ensure your Pokémon have the optimal move sets for damage output. For Ice-types, this typically means a fast Ice-type move (like Powder Snow) and a charged Ice-type move (like Avalanche).
Weather Boost: If the weather is Snowy, your Ice-type attacks will be boosted, providing a significant advantage. Take advantage of this whenever possible.
Friendship Bonuses: Raiding with Best Friends provides an attack bonus, increasing your damage output. Coordinate with your raid group to maximize friendship levels.
Dodging: While maximizing damage is crucial, some skilled players may want to dodge Rayquaza’s charged attacks to prolong the survival of their Pokémon. However, for a 4 person raid it is generally better to focus on dealing as much damage as possible, accepting the fact that some of your Pokémon will faint.
Raid Difficulty: Keep in mind that Mega Rayquaza is significantly more difficult than standard Rayquaza. The strategies required for a standard Rayquaza raid will not be sufficient for a Mega Rayquaza raid.
Luck: Even with perfect preparation, the unpredictable nature of raid boss move sets can impact the outcome. Rayquaza’s charged move can target your most effective counters, causing them to faint early.

Strategies for Success

Here are some key strategies to improve your chances of success:

Coordinate with your raid group: Discuss your Pokémon levels, counters, and strategies beforehand.
Use a raid simulator: Tools like Pokebattler can estimate your chances of success based on your team composition and trainer levels.
Re-lobby quickly: If your team faints, quickly re-enter the raid to continue dealing damage.
Consider a Mega Evolution: Mega Evolving a Pokemon boosts the damage output of similar Pokemon types in the raid. Mega Evolving an Ice-type Pokemon will boost the damage output of all the Ice-type attackers on your team.

Why Might You Fail?

Even with the best preparations, a 4-person Rayquaza raid can still fail. Common reasons include:

Insufficient damage output: Not dealing enough damage before the timer runs out.
Pokémon fainting too quickly: Losing too many Pokémon before dealing significant damage.
Poor move sets: Using Pokémon with suboptimal moves.
Unfavorable weather: Lack of weather boost for your attackers.
Raid boss move set: Getting unlucky with the raid boss’s attacks.

If you find yourself consistently failing, consider increasing your raid group size or improving your counters.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about battling Rayquaza in Pokémon GO:

1. What type is Rayquaza weak against?

Rayquaza, being a Dragon/Flying-type, is weak against Dragon, Fairy, Rock, and, most importantly, Ice-type attacks. Ice-type attacks deal double damage due to Rayquaza’s dual typing.

2. What are the best Pokémon to use against Rayquaza?

The top counters include Mega Glalie/Mega Abomasnow, Galarian Darmanitan (Ice Form), Mamoswine, Glaceon, Weavile, and Kyurem. Focus on Ice-types with high attack stats and optimal move sets.

3. Can two people beat Rayquaza?

Yes, two high-level trainers with maxed-out Ice-type counters can defeat Rayquaza. This requires perfect execution and optimal conditions.

4. Can one person beat Rayquaza?

No, it is impossible to defeat Rayquaza solo.

5. What level should my Pokémon be to fight Rayquaza?

Ideally, your Pokémon should be at least level 40, and preferably maxed out at level 50 with XL Candy.

6. Is Rayquaza weak to Water-type attacks?

No, Rayquaza resists Water-type attacks.

7. Is Rayquaza weak to Fairy-type attacks?

Yes, Rayquaza is weak to Fairy-type attacks, but Ice-type attacks are more effective due to the double weakness.

8. How many people do you need for Mega Rayquaza?

For Mega Rayquaza, you typically need at least four to six experienced trainers to comfortably complete the raid.

9. What is the easiest way to beat Rayquaza?

The easiest way to beat Rayquaza is to use high-level Ice-type counters, take advantage of Snowy weather, and raid with a group of experienced trainers.

10. What happens if I lose a Rayquaza raid?

If you lose a Rayquaza raid, you can re-enter the raid as long as the timer hasn’t expired. You’ll need to use another raid pass.

11. What is Rayquaza’s catch CP range?

Rayquaza’s catch CP range varies depending on its level. The higher the CP, the better its stats. Look for weather-boosted Rayquaza in Snowy conditions to find the strongest possible catch.

12. What are Rayquaza’s best moves in Pokémon GO?

Rayquaza’s best moves include Dragon Tail and Outrage (for Dragon-type damage) or Air Slash and Hurricane (for Flying-type damage). It really depends on what you plan to use Rayquaza for.

13. How does weather affect Rayquaza raids?

Snowy weather boosts Ice-type attacks, making your counters more effective. Windy weather boosts Dragon-type attacks, potentially making the raid more difficult if Rayquaza has Dragon-type moves.

14. What are friendship bonuses in raids?

Raiding with friends provides an attack bonus. The higher your friendship level (Good Friend, Great Friend, Ultra Friend, Best Friend), the greater the bonus. Raiding with Best Friends provides the highest attack bonus.

15. Where can I find more information about Pokémon GO strategies?

You can find information about Pokémon GO strategies through websites like GamePress, Pokebattler, and the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org), which explores how games can be used for learning and problem-solving.

Conclusion

Defeating Rayquaza with four people in Pokémon GO is a challenging but achievable goal. By focusing on optimal counters, high trainer and Pokémon levels, favorable weather conditions, and strategic coordination, you can significantly increase your chances of success. Don’t be discouraged if you fail on your first attempt; learn from your mistakes, adjust your strategy, and try again. Good luck, trainer!

Can you beat Rayquaza with 4 people?