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Zamazenta is a legendary shield wolf from the Galar region, making its debut in Pokémon Go in August 2021.
Like fellow Sword and Shield legendary Zacian, Zamazenta notably has two different forms. Its plain “Hero of Many Battles” version is only fighting-type, whereas it gains a steel-typing with its “Crowned Shield” form. The Crowned Shield version of Zamazenta is not yet available in Pokémon Go yet, so this guide will only provide information on its “Hero of Many Battles” form until it gets added to the game.
This guide explains Zamazenta’s weakness and the best counters as it returns as part of the Max Out Finale event, which runs from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, 2024.
In its “Hero of Many Battles” form, Zamazenta is a pure fighting-type Pokémon, which means it’s weak against fairy-, flying-, and psychic-type moves. Focus on these when building your team to dish out super-effective damage.
On the other hand, Zamazenta is resistant to bug-, dark-, and rock-type moves. Avoid using these types where possible, as they’ll deal reduced damage and won’t be very effective.
Image: Game Freak/Nintendo, The Pokémon Company
Here are some of the best counters you can use when battling Zamazenta in Pokémon Go:
- (Mega) Rayquaza with Air Slash and Dragon Ascent
- Mewtwo with Confusion and Psystrike
- Lunala with Confusion and Psychic
- Hoopa with Confusion and Psychic
- Braviary with Air Slash and Fly
- Staraptor with Gust and Fly
- Metagross with Zen Headbutt and Psychic
- (Mega) Alakazam with Confusion and Psychic
If you’ve got enough Mega Energy, the best Mega Pokémon to use against Zamazenta are Mega Rayquaza and Mega Alakazam with the same movesets recommended in the list above. Other great choices are Mega Gardevoir with Confusion and Psychic or Mega Pidgeot with Gust and Brave Bird.
Fairy-type moves get a weather boost when it’s cloudy, while flying and psychic-type moves get a weather boost when it’s windy. Keep an eye out for these weather conditions and alter your choice of counters accordingly.
Unlike its counterpart Zacian, the fighting-type Zamazenta doesn’t have much use in raids or gyms. There are much better options out there like Terrakion, Lucario, and Machamp. If you still want to use Zamazenta in PvE gameplay, go with Snarl and Close Combat.
Things look a little better in the Master League, where Zamazenta has potential to take out big names like Dialga and Melmetal. It’s not a top-tier choice by any means, but it’s worth a go. You’ll want to teach it Snarl with Close Combat and Crunch for the best outcome here.
It’s worth mentioning that Zamazenta’s “Crowned Shield” form is expected to be a big improvement if it ever gets added to Pokémon Go. It’s unknown when (or if) this will happen, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind. Don’t write Zamazenta off just yet.
Is Zamazenta shiny in Pokémon Go?
Graphic: Polygon | Source images: Game Freak/Nintendo, The Pokémon Company
Yes, Zamazenta can be shiny in Pokémon Go. This rare variant made its debut during the Galarian Expedition event in October 2024.
Be aware that the chances of finding a shiny Zamazenta are quite slim and there are no legitimate ways to boost your odds of this happening. It’s going to require a mixture of luck and patience, but hopefully, you’ll be able to encounter one eventually.
