Yveltal Duo Raid Guide

Mega Diancie is absolutely outstanding in this raid. Its ability to resist everything that Yveltal can throw at it save Hyper Beam, Focus Blast, and Psychic is invaluable, and the fact that it also only takes neutral damage from the aforementioned moves means there really aren't any situations where Mega Diancie isn't one of the optimal counters for this raid.

• Strengths: Sucker Punch, Snarl, Gust, Dark Pulse, Hurricane, Hyper Beam
• Weaknesses: None

A power-house Mega Evolution, Mega Tyranitar sports an outstanding set of resistances for this raid a stupid high TDO that makes it a prime counter for this raid. It's honestly hard to go wrong bringing Mega Tyranitar along for this raid, though it genuinely does not like facing down Focus Blast.

• Strengths: Sucker Punch, Snarl, Gust, Dark Pulse, Hurricane, Hyper Beam, Psychic (2x)
• Weaknesses: Focus Blast (2x)

The top Electric Mega Evolution for this raid, Mega Manectric hits very hard and has the advantage of boosting Electric Types while on the field. Honestly, there's not much else to say here; this is a great, universal pick for Yveltal

• Strengths: Gust, Hurricane
• Weaknesses: None

Mega Gardevoir is actually one of the best Mega Evolutions on this list, standing head-and-shoulders above everything save Mega Diancie's slightly higher DPS and Mega Tyranitar's massive TDO advantage. However, it's this low on the list due to the fact that its Fairy Mega Boost is of dubious utility. Add to this the fact that Mega Diancie also spreads this boost while boosting Rock Types too and it becomes even more dubious for this raid. It's a great option, but definitely not as supportive as other Mega Evolutions. 

• Strengths: Focus Blast (2x), Psychic
• Weaknesses: None

While not as strong of an option as Mega Tyranitar in terms of overall performance, Mega Aerodactyl does have the advantage of higher average DPS by comparison. 

• Strengths:  Gust, Hurricane, Hyper Beam
• Weaknesses: None

While not as strong as Mega Manectric, Mega Ampharos is a decent backup Mega if you want to boost Electric Types. In general, Mega Ampharos' only real advantage in most raids is when its Dragon sub-typing gives it an advantage. However, none of Yveltal's moves interact with Dragon, so it's objectively worse than Mega Manectric here.

• Strengths: Gust, Hurricane
• Weaknesses: None

The premier Ice Type Mega Evolution, Mega Glalie is optimal if your raid group is heavily invested in Ice Types named Shadow Mamoswine and it's snowing. It's not a bad Mega Evolution, but it's got limited actual utility over the other options here.

• Strengths: None
• Weaknesses: Focus Blast

The trade-off from Mega Glalie to Mega Abomasnow is primarily its weakness the latter's Flying Type moves. When fighting most movesets, Mega Abomasnow will tend to out-TDO Mega Glalie by a bit. When Hurricane, or especially Gust, comes into play, Mega Glalie entirely falls behind. Regardless, Mega Glalie tends to fall behind in the DPS department.

• Strengths: None
• Weaknesses: Gust, Hurricane, Focus Blast

Definitely the weakest option here in terms of its own performance in this raid, Primal Kyogre has the advantage of boosting Electric Type moves while simply being in your team, so it can be a great option for an Electric-heavy team. Just consider bailing and re-entering before Primal Kyogre actually hits the field...

• Strengths: None
• Weaknesses: None

Want DPS? Shadow Ramparados has it in spades. No other Pokemon in the game can drop Yveltal's HP quite as fast as this bone-breaking monster.

• Strengths: Gust, Hurricane, Hyper Beam
• Weaknesses: Focus Blast

High bulk and great DPS,  Shadow Rhyperior is a monster that can cause a lot of pain for Yveltal.

• Strengths: Gust, Hurricane, Hyper Beam
• Weaknesses:  Focus Blast

A great mix of DPS and TDO makes Xurkitree an outstanding attacker for this raid. This string of Christmas lights can dig some serious damage into Yveltal with ease, and even resists Flying Type moves for added TDO.

• Strengths: Gust, Hurricane
• Weaknesses: None

Raikou has one of the best overall performance totals among the top counters for this raid, sporting a great mix of DPS and TDO. It's behind a few of the other top counters here as far as DPS goes, but in exchange its TDO is substantially higher than several other options.

• Strengths: Gust, Hurricane
• Weaknesses: None

The ever-popular premier Electric counter, Shadow Electivire has some of the best non-Mega DPS for this raid. It's a bit frail, but its resistance to Gust in particular helps a lot. It has a slight DPS advantage over Xurkitree, but the TDO loss generally ensures the silver medal. 

• Strengths: Gust, Hurricane
• Weaknesses: None

The premier Ice attacker, Shadow Mamoswine has great average performance that makes it a great counter for this raid. However, it's not super-common to see and is only boosted by some fairly sub-optimal Mega Evolutions, so it's not always the best option.

• Strengths: None
• Weaknesses: Focus Blast

The bird of Instinct, Shadow Zapdos has performance similar to Shadow Raikou, but lower average DPS.

• Strengths: Gust, Hurricane, Focus Blast
• Weaknesses: None

While Zekrom's DPS is below the top Shadows, it makes up for that fact with great TDO. And despite its lower comparative DPS, it's still well within Duo-range, making it one of the best overall counters for this raid.

• Strengths: Gust, Hurricane
• Weaknesses: None

The ability to double-resist Flying Type moves makes Shadow Magnezone an outstanding performer for this raid, though it doesn't appreciate facing Focus Blast.

• Strengths: Gust (2x), Hurricane (2x), Hyper Beam
• Weaknesses: Focus Blast

While not as good as its Mega forme and its titanic TDO, Shadow Tyranitar still stands as one of the best Rock Type counters for this raid. It shrugs off most attacks with ease thanks to its resistances, but does not like Focus Blast.

• Strengths: Sucker Punch, Snarl, Gust, Dark Pulse, Hurricane, Hyper Beam, Psychic (2x)
• Weaknesses: Focus Blast (2x) 

Another power-house Rock Type attacker, Shadow Gigalith is a good all-around pick here.

• Strengths: Gust, Hurricane, Hyper Beam
• Weaknesses: Focus Blast

A very solid TDO option that's boosted by some of the best Mega Evolutions, Rhyperior is always a great option. Its DPS is low, but it's still well within Duo-range... just watch out for Focus Blast.

• Strengths: Gust, Hurricane, Hyper Beam
• Weaknesses: Focus Blast

Basically a worse Shadow Zapdos, but still a solid option in its own right.

• Strengths: Gust, Hurricane, Focus Blast
• Weaknesses: None

While not as strong by any metric in this raid when compared to Shadow Mamoswine, Shadow Weavile is a strong option that resists Dark Type moves, but it's pretty glassy overall and hates Focus Blast.

• Strengths: Sucker Punch, Snarl, Dark Pulse, Psychic (2x)
• Weaknesses:  Focus Blast (2x)

The best pairing when your raid group is bringing out Mega Gardevoir, Shadow Gardevoir deals a lot of damage but has a typing that doesn't really do it any favors. It lacks Mega Gardevoir's base bulk, and takes neutral damage from just about everything that Yveltal can throw at it. Its best matchup is against Focus Blast, which it double-resists to artificially boost its TDO, though it still won't last super long against Gust.

• Strengths: Focus Blast (2x), Psychic
• Weaknesses: None

Tapo Koko has always had potential, but it only genuinely shines when it can pair Nature's madness with Volt Switch... and guess what it can do against Yveltal?

• Strengths: Sucker Punch, Snarl, Gust, Dark Pulse, Hurricane, Focus Blast
• Weaknesses: None

Another great Fairy Type that can put in solid work.

• Strengths: Sucker Punch, Snarl, Dark Pulse, Focus Blast (2x)
• Weaknesses: None

Often overlooked, Shadow Alolan Golem actually has great performance when its best possible moveset comes into play, like against Yveltal. It deals high damage and double-resists Flying moves, so it's a solid pick in general, just beware of Focus Blast.

• Strengths: Gust (2x), Hurricane (2x), Hyper Beam
• Weaknesses: Focus Blast

A solid DPS option, but it won't last very long.

• Strengths: Gust, Hurricane
• Weaknesses: None

One of the classic Rock Type DPS options, Rampardos can definitely strike hard, but won't last long.

• Strengths: Gust, Hurricane, Hyper Beam
• Weaknesses: Focus Blast

Shadow Luxray, but worse.

• Strengths: Gust, Hurricane
• Weaknesses: None

• Strengths: None
• Weaknesses: Focus Blast