Nihilego Raid Guide: How Many Trainers Do You Need?

Alright, aspiring Pokémon trainers, let’s cut right to the chase! The question on everyone’s mind: how many trainers are needed to defeat Nihilego in Pokémon GO raids? The short answer is: with optimized teams, you can take down Nihilego with as few as 2-3 high-level trainers. However, for a more comfortable and consistent victory, especially if your teams aren’t perfectly tailored or if you’re dealing with less favorable weather, aim for a group of 4-6 players. Soloing Nihilego is possible, but very challenging and requires a specific Pokémon setup.

Understanding the Nihilego Raid Challenge

Nihilego, a Rock and Poison-type Ultra Beast, presents a unique challenge to trainers. Its dual typing creates several vulnerabilities but also some resistances you need to keep in mind. To successfully conquer this raid, you must understand Nihilego’s weaknesses and strengths, and strategically build your team of Pokémon. Teamwork and communication are key to maximizing your effectiveness in these raids.

Nihilego’s Weaknesses and Resistances

Knowing your enemy is half the battle! Nihilego is double weak to Ground-type attacks, making Ground-type Pokémon your primary damage dealers. It is also weak to Water, Psychic, and Steel-type attacks.

However, Nihilego resists Normal, Poison, Electric, Flying, and Fire-type attacks, so keep those Pokémon out of your lineup. Understanding this is crucial for building a strong counter team.

Ideal Counter Pokémon

To optimize your damage output, focus on Pokémon with powerful Ground, Water, Psychic, or Steel-type attacks. Top-tier counters include:

• Primal Groudon (Ground): Absolutely crushes Nihilego. The definitive best counter.
• Mega Swampert (Water/Ground): A fantastic Water and Ground-type attacker.
• Groudon (Ground): A very powerful ground type attacker.
• Excadrill (Ground/Steel): A solid dual-type attacker with high DPS.
• Landorus (Ground/Flying): A top-tier Ground-type attacker.
• Garchomp (Dragon/Ground): A powerful Ground-type option.
• Mega Alakazam (Psychic): Excellent Psychic type Mega evolution.
• Mega Latios (Dragon/Psychic): Another solid psychic type mega evolution.

Factors Influencing the Number of Trainers Needed

Several factors can affect how many trainers you need to defeat Nihilego:

• Trainer Level: Higher-level trainers generally have stronger Pokémon.
• Pokémon Levels and IVs: Pokémon with higher levels and IVs (Individual Values) will deal more damage.
• Move Sets: Using Fast and Charged Attacks that exploit Nihilego’s weaknesses is essential.
• Weather Conditions: Sunny weather boosts Ground-type attacks, making it easier to deal damage, while Cloudy weather boosts Poison-type attacks, making Nihilego hit harder.
• Friendship Bonuses: Raiding with “Best Friends” provides an attack bonus, increasing your damage output.
• Mega Evolution Bonuses: Utilizing Mega Evolutions can significantly boost the damage output of your team and other players.
• Shadow Pokémon: Shadow Pokémon can deal more damage than their regular counterparts, but also take more damage.

FAQs: Conquering Nihilego Raids

Here are some frequently asked questions to further equip you for your Nihilego raid battles:

Can you beat Nihilego with 2 people?

Yes, defeating Nihilego with only two trainers is feasible if both players possess high-level Pokémon with optimal movesets and utilize effective strategies. The Ground Type attacker, Primal Groudon crushes Nihilego, to the point where it’s possible to make a solo run in Sunny weather.

Can I beat Nihilego alone?

It’s possible to solo Nihilego, but extremely challenging. It necessitates having a perfectly optimized team of powerful Ground-type Pokémon (ideally Primal Groudon) with ideal movesets and requires favorable weather conditions (Sunny weather) and high trainer level.

Is Nihilego hard to beat?

Compared to other raids, Nihilego is not overly difficult, especially if you exploit its weaknesses. With a well-prepared team and sufficient trainers, it shouldn’t pose a significant challenge.

What is Nihilego weak to?

Nihilego is weak against Ground (double weakness), Water, Psychic, and Steel-type attacks. Build your team around these types to maximize damage.

Is Nihilego a rare Pokémon?

While Nihilego isn’t exceptionally rare during its raid events, it’s not a common spawn in the wild. Shiny Nihilego is rare and sought after.

Can Nihilego be shiny?

Yes, Shiny Nihilego is available to catch in raids. The odds of encountering one are approximately 1 in 20 after defeating Nihilego.

What is the CP of a perfect Nihilego?

A perfect Nihilego (100% IV) has a Max CP of 4465 in Pokémon GO.

Is Nihilego the most powerful Ultra Beast?

The article suggests Nihilego could be the most terrifying Ultra Beast in Pokemon.

What are the best Mega Pokémon to use against Nihilego?

Primal Groudon and Mega Swampert with Ground attacks are by far the best Mega evolutions. Mega Alakazam or Mega Latios with Psychic attacks are also ok.

Is there a particular weather that favors a Nihilego raid?

Sunny weather significantly boosts Ground-type attacks, making it the ideal weather for raiding Nihilego.

What happens if I don’t have optimal counters?

If you lack optimal counters, focus on using readily available Pokémon that still deal super effective damage. Prioritize Ground, Water, Psychic, and Steel-type attackers, even if they aren’t the absolute best. You’ll also want to make sure you bring more people along to ensure that you win the raid.

What role does the Games Learning Society play in understanding games like Pokémon GO?

The Games Learning Society and sites like GamesLearningSociety.org study how games can be used for learning and engagement. Understanding the mechanics of games like Pokémon GO, including raid strategies and team building, can be applied to educational contexts to enhance problem-solving, teamwork, and strategic thinking.

Can you catch Ultra Beasts without Beast Balls?

Yes, Ultra Beasts can be caught in regular Poké Balls, Great Balls, and Ultra Balls. Beast Balls simply offer a much higher catch rate.

Is Nihilego a Legendary Pokémon?

Nihilego is classified as an Ultra Beast, not a Legendary Pokémon. They are distinct categories within the Pokémon universe.

What is the smallest Ultra Beast Pokémon?

The smallest Ultra Beast in Pokémon Go is Kartana.

Final Thoughts

Defeating Nihilego in Pokémon GO raids is a strategic endeavor that requires understanding its weaknesses, building a strong counter team, and coordinating with other trainers. By following this guide and answering your frequently asked questions, you’ll be well-equipped to conquer this Ultra Beast and add it to your collection. Happy raiding!