Pokémon GO Virizion Raid Guide (July 28-August 4, 2025): Weaknesses, Best CP & Top Counters
Get ready, Trainers! The Grass/Fighting-type Legendary Pokémon, Virizion, is making its return to Pokémon GO 5-star Raids in July 28-August 4, 2025. This powerful Raid Boss has some exploitable weaknesses, making it a manageable challenge if you're well-prepared. Here's everything you need to know to successfully defeat Virizion and catch a perfect one!
Virizion Raid Battle Overview
Virizion appears as a 5-star Raid Boss. Its unique Grass/Fighting typing makes it particularly vulnerable to certain attack types.
- Type: Grass / Fighting
- Weaknesses:
- Flying (Double Weakness!): Flying-type moves deal 2x damage to Virizion.
- Fire, Psychic, Ice, Poison, Fairy: These types also deal supereffective damage.
- Raid Boss CP: 39,271 CP (for 5-star Raids)
When tackling Virizion, prioritizing Flying-type Pokémon is key. Their double damage output will significantly speed up your raid battle.
Best CP for a Perfect Virizion (100% IVs)
After you've successfully defeated Virizion, you'll enter the catch phase. Here are the Combat Power (CP) values to look out for if you want a perfect (100% IV) Virizion:
- Without Weather Boost: CP 1727 (15/15/15 IVs at Level 20)
- With Weather Boost (Sunny or Cloudy): CP 2159 (15/15/15 IVs at Level 25)
Virizion gets a weather boost in Sunny weather (for its Grass typing) or Cloudy weather (for its Fighting typing). Catching a weather-boosted Virizion means it'll be Level 25 and have higher CP, saving you some Stardust for powering it up!
Top Pokémon Counters for Virizion Raids (By Pokémon Level & Type)
Taking advantage of Virizion's double weakness to Flying-type attacks is crucial. Here are our top Pokémon recommendations, considering various trainer levels and available Pokémon.
1. Top-Tier Counters (Including Mega & Shadow Pokémon)
These are the absolute best options for maximizing your damage output.
- Mega Rayquaza (Flying/Dragon): Air Slash / Dragon Ascent - The undisputed king of Flying-type damage. Its Mega Evolution also boosts other Flying-type Pokémon on your team.
- Shadow Moltres (Fire/Flying): Wing Attack / Sky Attack or Fire Spin / Sky Attack - Shadow bonus combined with powerful Flying-type moves makes it an incredible damage dealer.
- Shadow Dragonite (Dragon/Flying): Wing Attack / Dragon Ascent (Legacy Move) or Wing Attack / Hurricane - Another fantastic Shadow option, hitting hard with Flying-type attacks.
- Shadow Staraptor (Normal/Flying): Gust / Brave Bird - An accessible and potent Shadow Flying-type attacker.
- Mega Charizard Y (Fire/Flying): Air Slash / Blast Burn - Excellent Fire/Flying typing that hits both weaknesses while providing a Mega boost.
- Mega Gengar (Ghost/Poison): Lick / Sludge Bomb - Its Poison-type moves are supereffective against Virizion.
2. Strong Counters (Legendaries & Powerful Standard Pokémon)
These Pokémon will perform very well and are generally easier to obtain than their Shadow or Mega counterparts.
- Moltres (Fire/Flying): Wing Attack / Sky Attack - A reliable and strong Flying-type attacker.
- Rayquaza (Dragon/Flying): Air Slash / Dragon Ascent - A solid Flying-type attacker, even without the Mega Evolution.
- Staraptor (Normal/Flying): Gust / Brave Bird - A great non-Shadow option if you don't have its Shadow form.
- Darmanitan (Fire): Fire Fang / Overheat - A pure Fire-type that hits very hard.
- Mewtwo (Psychic): Psycho Cut / Psystrike (Legacy Move) or Confusion / Psystrike - Mewtwo's raw Psychic power makes it a strong contender against most bosses.
- Lugia (Psychic/Flying): Extrasensory / Aeroblast (Legacy Move) - If your Lugia knows Aeroblast, it's a fantastic Flying-type counter.
3. Accessible & Substitute Counters (Easier to Obtain & Train)
These options are more readily available and can still contribute significantly to your raid team.
- Charizard (Fire/Flying): Air Slash / Blast Burn - Even without Mega Evolution, a good choice due to its dual typing.
- Toxicroak (Poison/Fighting): Poison Jab / Sludge Bomb - Its Poison-type moves are effective against Virizion.
- Alolan Ninetales (Ice/Fairy): Powder Snow / Blizzard or Charm / Dazzling Gleam - Can hit with Ice or Fairy-type moves.
- Tentacruel (Water/Poison): Poison Jab / Sludge Wave - A decent Poison-type option that's easy to find.
- Flareon (Fire): Fire Spin / Overheat - A solid Fire-type attacker for consistent damage.
Virizion Raid Battle Tips for Success
- Minimum Players: With top-tier Flying-type counters, 2-3 skilled trainers might be able to take down Virizion. For a safer and more comfortable clear, aim for 4+ trainers.
- Utilize Weather Boosts: Raiding during Sunny or Cloudy weather will give you a chance at a higher-level Virizion (Level 25) after the battle.
- Friendship Bonuses: Raid with your Best Friends to get an attack bonus, helping you defeat Virizion faster.
- Power Up & Fast/Charged TMs: Ensure your chosen counters are powered up as much as possible, and that they have the best Fast and Charged Attacks using Fast TMs and Charged TMs.
Good luck on your Virizion raids, Trainers! May you catch many powerful ones to add to your collection. Let us know how your raids go in the comments below!