A formidable new raid boss, Lunala – the iconic mascot from Pokémon Moon on Nintendo 3DS – has made its debut in Pokémon Go as a five-star raid challenge. This legendary Pokémon will only be available for a short period.
Following Solgaleo`s earlier appearance this month, this marks the first time Lunala is available in raids. Previously, the only method to acquire Lunala in Pokémon Go was through evolving the rare Cosmoem. This raid presents an excellent chance to add Lunala to your roster, especially if you missed obtaining a Cosmog.
Given Lunala`s power, a well-planned strategy and the right Pokémon are essential for success. Below, you`ll find crucial tips to help you defeat and capture Lunala before it departs from raids.
- Lunala Raid Schedule
- Lunala Weaknesses
- Best Lunala Counters
- Types To Avoid
- Can Lunala Be Shiny?
- How To Fuse With Necrozma
Lunala Raid Schedule
Lunala is active as a five-star raid boss from July 22 to July 28. This limited window gives trainers less than a week to capture the legendary Pokémon before Virizion takes its place. Raids for Lunala will appear regularly during this period, with a special emphasis on July 23 during the dedicated Lunala Raid Hour. On this day, from 6 PM to 7 PM local time, Lunala raids will be significantly more prevalent at gyms, offering increased opportunities to engage and capture the Pokémon.
Lunala Weaknesses
Lunala possesses a unique Psychic/Ghost typing, setting it apart from Solgaleo. This combination makes Lunala especially vulnerable to Dark and Ghost-type Pokémon, both of which inflict quadruple super-effective damage against it.
Best Lunala Counters
Any Pokémon with a type advantage will be helpful when battling Lunala, but here are some specific recommendations to use against the legendary:
Dark Types
| Pokemon | Type | Recommended Fast Attack | Recommended Charged Attack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Tyranitar | Rock/Dark | Bite | Brutal Swing |
| Mega Absol | Dark | Snarl | Brutal Swing |
| Mega Houndoom | Dark/Fire | Snarl | Foul Play |
| Hydreigon | Dragon/Dark | Bite | Brutal Swing |
| Mega Gyarados | Water/Dark | Bite | Crunch |
Ghost Types
| Pokemon | Type | Recommended Fast Attack | Recommended Charged Attack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Banette | Ghost | Shadow Claw | Shadow Ball |
| Hisuian Zoroark | Normal/Ghost | Shadow Claw | Shadow Ball |
| Dragapult | Dragon/Ghost | Astonish | Shadow Ball |
| Gholdengo | Steel/Ghost | Hex | Shadow Ball |
| Mega Sableye | Ghost/Dark | Shadow Claw | Foul Play |
Ghost is one of two types that`s super-effective against itself, so most Ghost Pokémon will likewise take extra damage from Lunala. Some of the ones we`ve recommended above have a secondary type that offsets this weakness, which should help them last longer when battling against the legendary.
Types To Avoid
Given its Psychic/Ghost typing, Lunala holds a significant advantage over Poison and Fighting-type Pokémon. Therefore, it`s crucial to avoid using these types when battling Lunala. Additionally, Normal-type Pokémon will prove ineffective, so exclude them from your raid team.
Can Lunala Be Shiny?
Similar to Solgaleo, Lunala`s shiny variant is currently unavailable in Pokémon Go. During these raids, you will only encounter its standard form. While shiny Lunala can be obtained in other Pokémon titles, such as Pokémon Scarlet and Violet on Nintendo Switch, its debut in Pokémon Go is still pending.
How To Fuse With Necrozma
Lunala and Solgaleo stand out among legendary Pokémon for their ability to merge with the legendary Necrozma, creating an even mightier form.
Upon accumulating sufficient Lunar Fusion Energy, trainers can fuse Lunala with Necrozma to create Dawn Wings Necrozma. This transformation requires 1,000 Fusion Energy, 30 Necrozma Candy, and 30 Cosmog Candy. Once fused, these two legendary Pokémon will remain combined until you choose to separate them.
With its exceptionally high attack stat, Dawn Wings Necrozma ranks among the top attackers in Pokémon Go. To maximize its damage output, consider teaching it the Fast Attack Psycho Cut and the Charged Attack Moongeist Beam.
As a reminder, Lunala will depart from raids on July 28. However, July still holds numerous other events for Pokémon Go players. Stay tuned for further in-game activities.