Is Deoxys the most powerful Pokémon? + Deoxys' Moves and Counters

Deoxys is back in Pokemon Go for a limited time. All four forms of the mythical Pokemon will appear in five-star raids over the next few weeks, and each one has a chance of being shiny. Here are some tips to help you beat and catch Deoxys before it leaves the game again.

Who is Deoxys in Pokémon Go?

One of the most unusual Pokémon, Deoxys was formed by the mutation of an alien virus in space. It takes for different formes: Normal, Attack, Defense, and Speed. Each forme has a different shape and different stats, but they’re all the same type and the same basic colors.

Where the formes really differ is their movesets:

Normal Forme Deoxys can deal out Psychic, Electric, and Normal type damage.
Attack Forme Deoxys can deal Psychic, Electric, Dark, and Poison type damage.
Defense Forme Deoxys can deal Psychic, Electric, Fighting, and Rock type damage.

Speed Forme Deoxys can deal Psychic, Electric, and Normal type damage.
This means you may have to tailor your counter teams a bit depending on the forme you’re facing. this guide is specifically for its Normal Forme, but in case you were wondering what its other three formes look like:

Deoxys schedule

All four forms of Deoxys will return to raids over the next few weeks. A different form will appear every few days, so you’ll need to check the game often if you’re hoping to capture all of them. You can see when each form will appear below:

Feb. 16 – Feb. 19
Attack Forme

Feb. 19 – Feb. 22
Defense Forme

Feb. 22 – Feb. 25
Speed Forme

Feb. 25 – Mar. 1

Deoxys Raid Hours

Two Raid Hour events will occur during Deoxys‘ stint in the raid rotation, giving you more opportunities to catch the mythical Pokemon. Each Raid Hour will occur from 6-7 p.m. local time on their designated evening:

Feb. 16 – Normal Forme
Feb. 23 – Defense Forme

Deoxys weaknesses

Regardless of which form it takes, Deoxys is a pure psychic-type Pokemon, so it has the same weaknesses to bug, dark and ghost types. You’ll want to use Pokemon of those types when battling against any form of Deoxys.

Although they don’t deal super-effective damage to the mythical Pokemon, steel types will resist Deoxys‘ psychic-type attacks, making them good defensive Pokemon to use if you need to round out your team.

Best Deoxys counters

Here are some recommended Pokemon and moves to use when battling against Deoxys:

Bug

Mega Beedrill: Bug Bite, X-Scissor
Pinsir: Bug Bite, X-Scissor
Scizor: Fury Cutter, X-Scissor
Escavalier: Bug Bite, Megahorn
Genesect: Fury Cutter, X-Scissor

Dark

Houndoom: Snarl, Crunch
Tyranitar: Bite, Crunch
Absol: Snarl, Dark Pulse
Weavile: Snarl, Avalanche
Bisharp: Snarl, Dark Pulse
Darkrai: Snarl, Dark Pulse
Zoroark: Snarl, Foul Play

Ghost

Gengar: Lick, Shadow Ball
Banette: Hex, Shadow Ball
Origin Forme Giratina: Shadow Claw, Shadow Ball
Chandelure: Hex, Shadow Ball

Best moves for Deoxys

Deoxys is one of the most powerful Pokemon available in Pokemon Go, making it a great attacker. Since each of its four forms emphasizes a different stat, you’ll want to teach them all different moves to maximize their potential. Here are some great attacks to give each form:

Normal Forme: Zen Headbutt, Hyper Beam
Attack Forme: Zen Headbutt, Zap Cannon
Defense Forme: Counter, Thunderbolt
Speed Forme: Zen Headbutt, Thunderbolt

There are still other events happening in Pokemon Go this month, including the Pokemon Go Tour: Johto on Feb. 26. You can catch up on everything else going on in our February events roundup.

What are the best counters for Normal forme Deoxys in Pokémon Go?

A pure Psychic type, Deoxys takes increased damage from Bug, Ghost, and Dark type attacks. It’s capable of dealing Psychic, Normal, and Electric type damage. As there are now Mega Evolved Pokémon for each of its type weaknesses, this is a Raid you’re going to want to coordinate with your fellow trainers on if you can do so safely.

Mega Gengar

Best of the best, Mega Gengar is a great choice for a Ghost based offensive in this Raid, assuming you have the Mega Energy to spare. As a Ghost and Poison type, it will take super effective damage from Deoxys’s Psychic type attacks, but it resists Normal type damage. If you are bringing a Mega Gengar to this Raid, you’ll want it to know Shadow Claw and Shadow Ball and remember to coordinate with your fellow trainers if you can safely do so.

Mega Houndoom

If you don’t have enough Mega Gengar Energy or you’re better equipped for a Dark based offensive, Mega Houndoom is the best of the Dark type Mega Pokémon to bring agaisnt Deoxys. As a Dark and Fire type, it resists the Psychic type moves and has no relevant weaknesses. Snarl and Foul Play are the ideal moves for Mega Houndoom here, and again, coordinate with the rest of your Raid party if you can.

Darkrai

The Mythical Gen IV Pokémon, Darkrai might look like a Ghost, but it’s actually a Dark type, and despite being a Mythical Pokémon, it’s seen widespread availability. It resists Deoxys’s Psychic type attacks and for other Formes, it resists Dark type damage and has no weaknesses Deoxys can exploit. If you’re bringing Darkrai to this Raid, you’ll want it to know Snarl and Shadow Ball or Dark Pulse. Dark Pulse performs better, but if paired with a Mega Pokémon, you’ll want to match its type.

Mega Absol

Another great option for a Dark based offensive is Mega Absol. This pure Dark type has no weaknesses Deoxys can take advantage of and it resists Psychic type damage. You’ll want to coordinate with your raid party, if it’s safe to do so, in order to make the most of the Dark type Mega Boost, and your Mega Absol should know Snarl and Dark Pulse.

Mega Gyarados

Although it doesn’t perform quite as well as Mega Houndoom or Mega Absol, Mega Gyarados is still a great choice to lead a Dark based offensive. As a Dark and Water type, it will take increased damage from Deoxys’s Electric type moves, but resists its Psychic type moves. Bite and Crunch are the best moveset for this Raid, and if you can coordinate with the rest of the Raid party, it will boost other Dark types on the field.

Giratina (Origin forme)

A Sinnoh region Legenday, Giratina is another great counter for Deoxys, but specifically its Origin Forme. Giratina’s Origin forme hasn’t been available quite as often as its Altered forme, but they do use the same Candy. As a Ghost and Dragon type, it resists Electric and Normal type damage, and it has no weaknesses the DNA Pokémon can exploit. Shadow Claw and Shadow Ball are the moves you’ll want your Giratina to know.

Chandelure

Originally encountered in the Unova region of Gen V, Chandelure performs very well against Deoxys. As a Ghost and Fire type, Chandelure has no weaknesses relevant to this fight and it resists Normal type damage. Its first stage, Litwick has been featured in several events, so most active players have at least one or two powered up already. Hex and Shadow Ball are the ideal moveset for this Raid.

Hoopa (Unbound)

The Mythical Pokémon, Hoopa makes a great counter for Deoxys in either of its formes, but the Unbound forme is the best choice for this raid. It’s a Psychic and Dark type, so it takes reduced damage from Deoxys’s Psychic type attacks and it has no relevant weaknesses. Unfortunately, Hoopa has had extremely limited availability of one per account and only after completing a long Special Research. Plus, it requires a whopping 50 Candy and 10,000 Stardust to change formes. However, if you have it, Astonish and Dark Pulse is the ideal moveset for this raid.

Hoopa (Confined)

Hoopa’s Confined forme also performs well in this raid if you don’t have the Candy and Stardust necessary to change formes. As a Psychic and Ghost type, it resists Psychic and Normal type damage and takes normal damage from Electric type moves. Astonish and Shadow Ball are the ideal moves for Hoopa Confined in this raid.

Hydreigon

The final evolution of Deino, Hydreigon) is a pseudo-Legendary from the Unova region. It was featured during Dragon Week, as well as other events, in eggs, and as a Pokémon Go Battle League reward encounter, so most active players have at least one or two already powered up. As a Dark and Dragon type, Deoxys’s Electric and Psychic type attacks will do reduced damage,. Bite and Dark Pulse is the moveset you’re looking for in this Raid.

Yveltal

The Legendary mascot of Pokémon Y, Yveltal is the last of the top counters, but certainly no pushover. As a Dark and Flying type, it will take increased damage if the Deoxys you’re facing has the Electric type attacks, but it resists Psychic type damage and can certainly take a hit. Although the Destruction Pokémon has only had one run in Raids so far, it was fairly recent, so most active players should have at least one or two. Snarl and Dark Pulse are the moves you’ll want Yveltal to know for this Raid.

Tyranitar

Last but not least, Tyranitar perfoms well against Deoxys. This Dark and Rock type pseudo-Legendary resists Psychic and Normal type damage and has no weaknesses Deoxys can exploit. Plus, Tyranitar is super obtainable, having been in raids, Community Day, eggs, and tons of events. If you’re bringing Tyranitar along, you’ll want Bite for the fast move and Crunch for the charged attack.

Who is stronger than Deoxys?

While a fight between Mewtwo and Deoxys would be fairly close, Mewtwo has been shown to be the victor in the manga. Despite Deoxys’ ability to swap between four different forms on a whim, Mewtwo outmatches Deoxys with its sheer psychic power.

Who is the strongest Pokemon ever?

Arceus doesn’t surprise when it comes to topping the list of the most powerful Pokemon. It is a Generation IV Mythical Pokémon of the Normal type. This Pokémon is regarded as the founder of the Pokémon universe. It has the highest base statistics of any non-Mega Pokémon and is the most powerful Pokémon in the universe.

Is Deoxys stronger than Rayquaza?

Deoxys in the 6th movie had the upper hand on Rayquaza. But stats wise deoxys lacks in defense and Sp defense but more than makes up for it with its speed being higher in all forms and its attack being equal to rayquaza in all forms except attack form where it overpowers rayquaza.

Is deoxys evil or good?

Deoxys is always just there, though, existing. It’s not even evil, which is somehow worse.