Reshiram Pokémon GO Raid Battle Tips: Which Pokémon to use in a Reshiram Raid, how to make the most of Premier Balls and Berries, and what to do with Reshiram once you’ve caught it

Reshiram is a Dragon- and Fire-type Legendary Pokémon originally discovered in the Unova region. This legendary Pokémon can scorch the world with fire. Learn which Pokémon will be most effective in Raid Battles against Reshiram, how to catch Reshiram after winning a Raid Battle, and how best to use the Vast White Pokémon after you’ve caught it.

As a Dragon- and Fire-type Pokémon, Reshiram is vulnerable to Ground-, Rock-, and Dragon-type attacks. When selecting Pokémon for your Reshiram Raid Battle lineup, it helps to choose Pokémon that have a Ground-, Rock-, or Dragon-type Fast Attack and Charged Attack if you want to deal as much damage as possible. A Pokémon that shares a type with these attacks will benefit from a same-type attack bonus, which will allow these attacks to deal an additional 20% damage. Note that Dragon-type Pokémon will be vulnerable to Reshiram’s Dragon-type attacks.

If you have multiple Pokémon that know Ground-, Rock-, or Dragon-type attacks, choose the Pokémon with the highest CP and best overall stats. Remember that speed of victory affects how many Premier Balls you will receive after a successful Raid Battle, so bring your strongest Pokémon and defeat Reshiram as quickly as possible.

• Groudon (Ground)

  • Fast Attack: Dragon Tail (Dragon), Mud Shot (Ground)

  • Charged Attack: Earthquake (Ground)

• Rhyperior (Ground/Rock)

  • Fast Attack: Smack Down (Rock)

  • Charged Attack: Rock Wrecker (Rock)*, Stone Edge (Rock)

• Mamoswine / Shadow Mamoswine (Ice/Ground)

  • Fast Attack: Mud-Slap (Ground)

  • Charged Attack: Ancient Power (Rock)*, Bulldoze (Ground), High Horsepower (Ground)

• Aerodactyl / Mega Aerodactyl (Rock/Flying)

  • Fast Attack: Rock Throw (Rock)

  • Charged Attack: Ancient Power (Rock), Rock Slide (Rock)

• Tyranitar / Shadow Tyranitar (Rock/Dark)

  • Fast Attack: Smack Down (Rock)*

  • Charged Attack: Stone Edge (Rock)

• Aggron / Shadow Aggron (Steel/Rock)

  • Fast Attack: Smack Down (Rock)

  • Charged Attack: Meteor Beam (Rock), Rock Tomb (Rock)

• Rampardos (Rock)

  • Fast Attack: Smack Down (Rock)

  • Charged Attack: Outrage (Dragon), Rock Slide (Rock)

• Terrakion (Rock/Fighting)

  • Fast Attack: Smack Down (Rock)

  • Charged Attack: Rock Slide (Rock)

• Dragonite / Shadow Dragonite (Dragon/Flying)

  • Fast Attack: Dragon Breath (Dragon), Dragon Tail (Dragon)

  • Charged Attack: Draco Meteor (Dragon)*, Draco Pulse (Dragon), Dragon Claw (Dragon), Outrage (Dragon)

• Salamence / Shadow Salamence (Dragon/Flying)

  • Fast Attack: Dragon Tail (Dragon)

  • Charged Attack: Draco Meteor (Dragon), Outrage (Dragon)*

• Latios / Mega Latios (Dragon/Psychic)

  • Fast Attack: Dragon Breath (Dragon)

  • Charged Attack: Dragon Claw (Dragon)

• Rayquaza (Dragon/Flying)

  • Fast Attack: Dragon Tail (Dragon)

  • Charged Attack: Ancient Power (Rock), Outrage (Dragon)

• Garchomp (Dragon/Ground)

  • Fast Attack: Dragon Tail (Dragon), Mud Shot (Ground)

  • Charged Attack: Earth Power (Ground)*, Earthquake (Ground), Outrage (Dragon), Sand Tomb (Ground)

• Dialga (Steel/Dragon)

  • Fast Attack: Dragon Breath (Dragon)

  • Charged Attack: Draco Meteor (Dragon)

• Haxorus (Dragon)

  • Fast Attack: Dragon Tail (Dragon)

  • Charged Attack: Dragon Claw (Dragon)

• Zekrom (Dragon/Electric)

  • Fast Attack: Dragon Breath (Dragon)

  • Charged Attack: Outrage (Dragon)

*An Elite Fast TM or an Elite Charged TM is typically required to teach this Pokémon this attack.

After a successful Reshiram raid, you’ll have a limited number of Premier Balls you can use to catch Reshiram, so make each one count. You can earn extra Premier Balls by battling with friends and defeating Reshiram more quickly.

In an encounter with Reshiram, your chance of catching it is greatest when the target ring is small enough for you to score Excellent Throws. Throwing Curveballs can improve your chances even more. But work within your abilities—if you don’t think you can reliably make Excellent Curveball Throws, aim for Nice Throws or Great Throws rather than risk missing the target ring completely.

Reshiram isn’t going to make it easy on you by sitting still while you’re trying to catch it. Don’t waste your Premier Balls by throwing while it’s moving around. Watch Reshiram to get a feel for its cycle of movement and the pauses in between that cycle. During one of these pauses, wait for the target ring to reappear, and then throw as it starts to grow smaller to increase your odds of making a Great Throw or an Excellent Throw.

Berries can help you catch Reshiram. A Razz Berry will make it easier to catch, and a Golden Razz Berry will make it much easier to catch. If you find yourself failing to land any throws, a Nanab Berry will calm Reshiram, making its movements less erratic and allowing you to make precise throws more easily. If you need extra Reshiram Candy, using a Silver Pinap Berry will make Reshiram easier to catch and grant you extra Candy when you catch it.

Buddy Pokémon with a Buddy Level of Great Buddy or higher have the Catch Assist Perk. If a Pokémon—even a Legendary Pokémon—deflects a Poké Ball, your buddy might bounce it back for a second catch opportunity!

Like all Legendary Pokémon, Reshiram is tricky to catch, so don’t be discouraged if it escapes. Get a second wind by stocking up on useful items—like Max Potions, Max Revives, and Golden Razz Berries—and try again.

As a Dragon- and Fire-type Pokémon, Reshiram is resistant to Fire-, Grass-, Electric-, Bug-, and Steel-type attacks. Reshiram is among the most powerful Fire-type Pokémon, making it an excellent choice for challenging certain Raid Bosses, such as Mega Beedrill, Scizor, Registeel, Mega Abomasnow, and Zekrom. If you’re planning on using this Legendary Pokémon as a Fire-type attacker, it’s a good idea to make sure it knows the Fast Attack Fire Fang and the Charged Attack Overheat. To ensure that Reshiram can deal damage for as long as possible without fainting, you’ll want to power it up as much as possible. With a respectable max CP, Reshiram should be able to deal a decent amount of damage against a Raid Boss.

Reshiram can be helpful in the GO Battle League’s Master League, as Reshiram’s dual typing, Fire-type attacks, and high maximum CP make it an asset in Trainer Battles. While there’s no shortage of Dragon-type Pokémon in Master League, Reshiram has the rare advantage of being a Dragon-type Pokémon with favorable matchups against prominent Fairy-type Pokémon, including Togekiss and Zacian. Reshiram also boasts two Charged Attacks that are almost guaranteed to knock out most opponents when their shields are down—Overheat and Draco Meteor.

When it comes to choosing attacks for Reshiram in the GO Battle League, it’s best to consider its role on your team. If you’re looking for coverage against Steel-type Pokémon, Fire-type attacks will bring the heat. Crunch and Stone Edge don’t benefit from a same-type attack bonus, and therefore won’t deal as much damage as Reshiram’s Fire- and Dragon-type attacks. However, that doesn’t negate their usefulness, especially considering that the Master League has plenty of Flying-type Pokémon like Lugia and Dragonite. It’s also worth noting that the Fire-type Charged Attack Fusion Flare is making its Pokémon GO debut, providing another option for a powerful Fire-type Charged Attack.

To take full advantage of Reshiram’s potential in the GO Battle League and Raid Battles, it’s important to power up Reshiram as much as possible. You can also maximize its versatility by teaching it a second Charged Attack of a different type than the first. This will require a significant amount of Reshiram Candy and Stardust, so try to catch as many Reshiram as possible to get you there faster.

Good luck with your next Raid Battle, and remember to check Pokemon.com/Strategy for more Pokémon GO, video game, and Pokémon TCG tips.