Conquer Raihan: The Ultimate Guide to Defeating Hammerlocke’s Dragon Master

Defeating Raihan, the Dragon-type Gym Leader of Hammerlocke in Pokémon Sword and Shield, can be a significant challenge. He’s often considered one of the toughest gym leaders, not just in Galar but potentially across the entire Pokémon franchise. His battles are doubles fights, adding another layer of complexity to his already formidable team. So, what Pokémon should you use to defeat Raihan?

The short answer is: Pokémon with strong Ice, Fairy, or Dragon-type moves are your best bet. These types exploit the weaknesses of most of Raihan’s core team. However, to truly conquer him, a more nuanced approach is required.

Here’s a breakdown of strategic considerations and specific Pokémon recommendations:

Understanding Raihan’s Team and Weaknesses

Raihan’s team is diverse, and he leverages weather effects to his advantage. It’s crucial to know which Pokémon you are facing and what their specific weaknesses are.

• Gigalth and Sandaconda: These are the two Pokémon Raihan leads with and they are his primary two non-dragon types. Gigalith is a Rock/type and Sandaconda is Ground. This makes them weak to Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, and Steel
• Flygon: As a Ground/Dragon-type, this Pokemon is weak against Ice, Dragon and Fairy with a quadrupled weakness to Ice.
• Duraludon: This Steel/Dragon type is vulnerable to Fighting and Ground.
• Goodra: This Pokemon is pure Dragon and is therefore weak to Ice, Dragon and Fairy.

He heavily utilizes the ability Sand Stream to boost the power of Sandaconda and trigger weather dependent moves. It is important to have a plan for this.

Recommended Pokémon and Strategies

To consistently beat Raihan, prioritize these Pokémon types and strategies:

Ice-Type Powerhouses

• Mamoswine: This dual Ice/Ground-type is an excellent choice for its sheer power and ability to hit most of Raihan’s team hard. It can take out Flygon in one hit with an Ice attack and use Earthquake to deal heavy damage to others.
• Frosmoth: A Bug/Ice-type with access to powerful Ice Beam and Blizzard, capable of crippling his Flygon and Goodra. Quiver Dance can boost its Special Attack, making its attacks even more potent.
• Weavile: Another fast and hard-hitting Ice-type. It can quickly take down Flygon and other threats with its STAB Ice moves.

Fairy-Type Disruptors

• Gardevoir: A potent Psychic/Fairy-type with high Special Attack and a diverse move pool. Its Moonblast will hit many of Raihan’s Pokémon hard and its Psychic moves can be effective.
• Togekiss: A Fairy/Flying-type with excellent support capabilities, Dazzling Gleam can be very helpful in a doubles battle. It’s also quite bulky and difficult to bring down.
• Azumarill: With access to Play Rough, it’s a strong fairy-type attacker. Its ability Huge Power will make its physical attacks exceptionally powerful.

Dragon-Type Counter-Strikers

• Haxorus: A pure Dragon-type with an incredibly high attack stat. Its powerful moves can take out other Dragons quickly, but care must be taken to not leave it vulnerable to opposing Dragon type attacks.
• Dragapult: A fast Dragon/Ghost-type with incredible speed. This allows it to move first, providing a key advantage over Raihan’s slower Dragon types.

Special Considerations

• Water & Grass Types: Good choices for the opening pair of Sandaconda and Gigalith. For example, Gyrados can use waterfall and Ferrothorn can use power whip.
• Fighting Types: Can work well against Duraludon but may struggle against the Dragon-types, especially Flygon.
• Weather Control: Consider using Pokémon with Drizzle, Sand Stream, or Snow Warning to counter Raihan’s weather tactics or setting it up for your own advantage.
• Protect and Support moves: In doubles battles, Protect can stall for your other Pokémon to recharge, Fake Out can disrupt, and moves that give type support or stat buffs can help you gain an advantage.

Battle Strategy

1. Lead with Your Water/Grass and Ice Types: Take out Raihan’s Gigalith and Sandaconda early. Then quickly take out Flygon with your Ice type.
2. Exploit Type Matchups: Swap out Pokémon as needed to maintain the type advantage. Don’t hesitate to switch based on what the opponent brings out.
3. Focus Fire: Target one enemy at a time, especially if they are a major threat.
4. Protect when needed: Use Protect to buy time when needed, especially when your Pokemon is low health.
5. Don’t rely solely on Dragon-Types: A pure Dragon team won’t do well here as the opponent has multiple Pokemon with an advantage over them. Instead, spread out your team’s types.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions About Battling Raihan

1. What level should my Pokémon be to fight Raihan?

Your Pokémon should ideally be around levels 45-50 for a comfortable battle. However, with a solid strategy and optimized team, you can win with lower-level Pokemon.

2. Are there any Pokémon that are immune to Raihan’s moves?

While no Pokémon has complete immunity to every move in Raihan’s arsenal, Ghost-types are immune to Normal and Fighting type moves. This can be an asset when trying to anticipate moves, but don’t forget the other type matchups.

3. What is the most effective way to deal with Duraludon?

Fighting and Ground are good against Duraludon and any pokemon with these move types would be an ideal match up. Ground can be helpful in dealing with the other Pokémon as well.

4. Should I try to counteract his Sandstorm weather?

Yes, using a Pokémon with another weather ability, such as Drizzle, or Snow Warning, can allow you to set the weather to your advantage. Using weather conditions to your advantage can provide a major boost in your strategy.

5. Can Fairy-type attacks damage all of Raihan’s Pokemon?

Not all of Raihan’s Pokémon are weak to fairy-type attacks. However, they are strong against Flygon and Goodra, and it’s usually a good idea to have a Fairy type attacker.

6. How does the double battle affect the strategy?

Doubles battles allow you to combine abilities or attacks. They also give you an opportunity to hit multiple opponents. Make sure to have a strategy that encompasses your options in this battle mode.

7. Should I focus on physical or special attackers?

A mix of physical and special attackers is ideal. Focus on what best exploits the types of Raihan’s Pokémon, rather than sticking to one attack type.

8. Can the weather changes help me?

Yes, a Rainy weather can boost the power of your Water-type moves, and a Hail weather can provide chip damage over time to your opponent. Setting up weather can be a viable strategy if your team is prepared.

9. Is it possible to sweep Raihan with just one Pokémon?

While possible, sweeping is unlikely because of the diversity of his team. Focusing on type match-ups and smart strategy is more dependable.

10. Are status moves useful against Raihan?

Status moves like Toxic, Will-o-Wisp, and Paralysis can be used but they are not as effective against Raihan because of how quickly he can eliminate your Pokemon. Instead, focus on exploiting type weaknesses with super-effective attacks.

11. Is it better to have many offensive moves or support moves?

A balanced team with both offense and support moves is ideal for doubles battles. Protect is a fantastic move in doubles to protect yourself while your partner attacks.

12. What are some good TMs or TRs to equip my Pokemon with?

Consider TMs like Ice Beam, Earthquake, Play Rough, Shadow Ball, and Thunderbolt for type coverage.

13. Should I use a Max Raid Pokémon against Raihan?

Max Raid Pokémon can be powerful but ensure they align with the strategic recommendations. A poorly selected Max Raid Pokémon might not be as effective as a team built for specific matchups.

14. How important is the Pokémon’s ability in the battle?

Pokémon abilities can be vital. For example, Levitate can make a Pokémon immune to Ground attacks, or an ability that increases attack power or speed will boost the effectiveness of the Pokémon.

15. What happens after I defeat Raihan?

After defeating Raihan, you’ll receive the Dragon Badge, allowing you to use Pokemon up to level 70. You can proceed to Wyndon and challenge the Pokemon league.

By understanding Raihan’s team, strategically using the right Pokémon, and exploiting type weaknesses, you can successfully defeat one of the strongest gym leaders in the Galar region. Good luck, Trainer!