Mega Venusaur Raid Trio Guide

Absolutely nothing can compare with the DPS and TDO of Mega Rayquaza in this raid. It absolutely destroys the competition, and makes this raid easy. In conjunction with its super-powerful Super Effective moveset and sky-high Attack stat, it also sports surprisingly high TDO thanks to its double-resistance to Mega Venusaur's Grass Type moves, allowing it to eclipse all of the competition.

• Strengths: Razor Leaf (2x), Vine Whip (2x), Petal Blizzard (2x), Solar Beam (2x)
• Weaknesses: None

While not the absolute best DPS option for this raid, Mega Charizard's obscene TDO thanks in part to its 2x resistance to Grass Type moves combined with a DPS that's still duo-worthy at Lv.40 makes it arguably the best Mega Evolution to bring to this raid not named Mega Rayquaza. It has an outstandingly well-rounded performance, making it a universal pick for this raid.

• Strengths: Vine Whip (2x), Razor Leaf (2x), Petal Blizzard (2x), Solar Beam (2x)
• Weaknesses: None

Mega Blaziken is a bit of a goldilocks pick for this raid, sporting outstanding DPS and great TDO alongside useful resistances to make Mega Venusaur all the easier to take down. However it's not quite the "just right" pick, as it lacks Mega Charizard Y's huge TDO, Mega Alakazam's Psychic-boosting properties, and Mega Rayquaza's everything. It's a great pick, but probably not the best.

• Strengths: Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, Petal Blizzard, Solar Beam
• Weaknesses: None

In general, Mega Latios splits the TDO difference between Mega Blaziken and Mega Charizard, but sports a lower DPS. Its main advantage is the fact that it's the longest-lasting good Psychic Type Mega Evolution counter, allowing it to boost Mewtwo and Shadow Mewtwo for a much longer time.

• Strengths: Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, Petal Blizzard, Solar Beam
• Weaknesses: None

Mega Alakazam has a DPS almost identical to Mega Blaziken, yet a substantially lower TDO. On paper, it's objectively worse to bring Mega Alakazam to the fight, so why do we have it this high on the list? Because, much like Mega Latios, it's capable of boosting Shadow Mewtwo while on the field, making it a bit more of an attractive choice.

• Strengths: None
• Weaknesses: None

Mega Gardevoir is generally a worse Mega Alakazam, but it has the advantage of additional staying power.... so long as Mega Venusaur isn't packing Sludge Bomb.

• Strengths: None
• Weaknesses: Sludge Bomb

Obscenely high DPS? Check. Surprisingly good TDO? Check. No weaknesses to anything that Mega Venusaur can throw at it? Check. Yup, this is the universal counter to any Mega Venusaur raid.

• Strengths: None
• Weaknesses: None

Mega Rayquaza is the absolute king of this raid, which makes Rayquaza something of a Prince in this case. While it can't quite keep up with Mewtwo in terms of DPS, it has the advantage of the same outstanding defensive typing of its Mega forme, meaning it's going to last a lot longer while also receiving a boost from having the single strongest thing in the game on the field at the same time.

• Strengths: Razor Leaf (2x), Vine Whip (2x), Petal Blizzard (2x), Solar Beam (2x)
• Weaknesses: None

Don't count out your old-school, vanilla-flavored Mewtwo, it's still able to severely dent Mega Venusaur! It has less DPS, but all of the points for Shadow Mewtwo apply here as well.

• Strengths: None
• Weaknesses: None

With a great mix of DPS and TDO, Shadow Moltres rises like a phoenix and walls out poor Mega Venusaur while raining wind and fire from on-high. Hard to fault anyone using this legendary bird of Valor!

• Strengths: Vine Whip (2x), Razor Leaf (2x), Petal Blizzard (2x), Solar Beam (2x)
• Weaknesses: None

One of the best vanilla Fire Types, Shadow Darmanitan is downright destructive in this raid, and has a great average performance. It's not quite on a par with many of the above Pokemon, but it's still great.

• Strengths: Razor Leaf, Vine Whip, Petal Blizzard, Solar Beam
• Weaknesses: None

Another outstanding Fire Type, Shadow Chandelure has great performance for this raid, as it resists everything that Mega Venusaur can possibly throw at it.

• Strengths: Razor Leaf, Vine Whip, Petal Blizzard, Solar Beam, Sludge Bomb
• Weaknesses: None

The Dragon of Truth can truly put some dents in Mega Venusaur, especially while standing behind its 2x resistance to Grass Type moves.

• Strengths: Vine Whip (2x), Razor Leaf (2x), Petal Blizzard (2x), Solar Beam (2x)
• Weaknesses: None

A glassy Fire Type that can definitely cause some serious damage to Mega Venusaur.

• Strengths: Razor Leaf, Vine Whip, Petal Blizzard, Solar Beam, Sludge Bomb
• Weaknesses: None

Bring boosted by the mere presence of Mega Rayquaz is outstanding, and Shadow Staraptor is already a decently dps-oriented Pokemon.

• Strengths: Razor Leaf, Vine Whip, Petal Blizzard, Solar Beam
• Weaknesses: None

For those lucky enough to have a good Hoopa - Unbound, this monstrous Mythical can cause some major damage while on the field. It can't keep up with Mewtwo, but it still works well

• Strengths: None
• Weaknesses: None

While often overlooked, Shadow Latios is actually a fairly strong Psychic Type attacker that can put in some hard work here.

• Strengths: Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, Petal Blizzard, Solar Beam
• Weaknesses: None

While famed for its Steel Type moveset, Shadow Metagross has a great Psychic Type moveset that allows it to work pretty well here, and this is our first counter that resists Sludge Bomb! In fact, it double-resists Sludge Bomb and resists the rest of Venusaur's moveset entirely. Its DPS is a bit low for the Duo, but that aside you can't go wrong bringing this monster to the battle.

• Strengths: Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, Petal Blizzard, Solar Beam, Sludge Bomb (2x)
• Weaknesses: None

While pretty glassy, Shadow Honchkrow packs a punch.

• Strengths: Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, Petal Blizzard, Solar Beam
• Weaknesses: None

If you just want to stay in the battle for as long as possible then oh boy does Heatran have you covered. With a 2x resistance to literally everything that Mega Venusaur can possibly throw at it, the Lava Dome Pokemon absolutely will not go down. It's a fair bit above the Trio DPS line, but it's not really a pick for a Duo attempt.

• Strengths: Vine Whip (2x), Razor Leaf (2x), Petal Blizzard (2x), Solar Beam (2x), Sludge Bomb (2x)
• Weaknesses: None

Strong Fire Type damage output never goes out of fashion.

• Strengths: Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, Petal Blizzard, Solar Beam
• Weaknesses: None

Fun fact: even with Sacred Fire+, Shadow Ho-oh is generally a worse Reshiram in this raid... usually. It's still good, and is worth considering as a tank even if you don't have Sacred Fire+.

• Strengths: Vine Whip (2x), Razor Leaf (2x), Petal Blizzard (2x), Solar Beam (2x)
• Weaknesses: None

Fun fact: please oh please oh please don't purify your Apex Shadow Ho-oh!

• Strengths: Vine Whip (2x), Razor Leaf (2x), Petal Blizzard (2x), Solar Beam (2x)
• Weaknesses: None

It's pretty rare to see a raid where both of Lugia's best moves his for Super Effective! It's pretty low on the DPS chart, but still a great tank if you really need an anchor.

• Strengths: Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, Petal Blizzard, Solar Beam 
• Weaknesses: None

Basically Shadow Mewtwo, but with none of the TDO advantages and less DPS... so worse.

• Strengths: None
• Weaknesses: None

Hey, we finally have an Ice Type on the list! and another Pokemon resistant to Sludge Bomb! ...too bad it's quite literally weak to the remaining 80% of Mega Venusaur's moveset as a trade-off

• Strengths: Sludge Bomb
• Weaknesses: Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, Petal Blizzard, Solar Beam

Fun fact: Shadow Exeggutor's resistance/weakness profile for this raid is an exact inversion of Shadow Mamoswine's.

• Strengths: Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, Petal Blizzard, Solar Beam
• Weaknesses: Sludge Bomb

• Strengths: None
• Weaknesses: Sludge Bomb

• Strengths: None
• Weaknesses: None