Zacian is a nightmare. Honestly, if you’ve spent any time in the Master League or trying to coordinate a five-star raid, you know exactly why this Galar legend is such a headache. It isn't just the stats, though they’re massive. It’s the unpredictability. You go in thinking it’s a straightforward Fairy-type fight, and then suddenly your Steel-type is getting flattened by a Close Combat or a Wild Charge. Finding the right Pokemon Go Zacian counters isn't just about picking the strongest monsters; it’s about anticipating a move pool that is, frankly, kind of ridiculous.
Most people see that pure Fairy typing in its Hero of Many Battles form and reach straight for their Metagross. That’s a solid instinct, but it’s also a trap if you aren't careful. Zacian has access to Fire Fang. It has Snarl for rapid energy generation. It’s a versatile beast that punishes laziness. If you want to win, you need to understand the math behind the typing and the specific breakpoints that turn a narrow loss into a dominant victory.
Why Zacian Is So Hard to Pin Down
Zacian’s base stats in Pokemon Go are formidable: 254 Attack, 236 Defense, and 192 Stamina. In its Hero form, it lacks the Steel sub-typing it gains as Crowned Sword, which actually makes it harder to counter in some ways because it doesn’t share the common weaknesses to Fire or Ground. You’re looking at a pure Fairy type. That means it only fears Poison and Steel.
The real issue is the coverage. In Raids, Zacian can cycle through Quick Moves like Metal Claw, Fire Fang, Quick Attack, and Snarl. Fire Fang shreds the very Steel types you’re supposed to use against it. If it’s packing Snarl, it reaches those Charged Moves—Play Rough, Iron Head, Close Combat, and Wild Charge—at a terrifying pace.
You’ve probably been there. You bring in a Dialga, feeling confident, and Zacian hits you with a Close Combat that deletes half your health bar before you can even get an Iron Head off. It’s frustrating. But it’s beatable. You just need to stop thinking about "generalists" and start thinking about hard counters that can eat a specific hit.
The Top-Tier Steel Counters You Actually Need
Metagross is the king here. There is no getting around it. If you have a Metagross with Meteor Mash—the Community Day exclusive move—it is your best friend. Period. Meteor Mash is one of the most efficient moves in the entire game, and against a Fairy type, it’s basically a railgun.
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Metagross takes neutral damage from almost everything Zacian throws, but it resists Play Rough and Iron Head. The danger is Fire Fang. If the Raid boss has Fire Fang, your Metagross is going to melt. In that specific scenario, you might want to pivot.
Dialga (both forms, but Origin Forme is a beast) is the "luxury" pick. It’s a Steel/Dragon type, which is a weird defensive profile for this fight. Usually, Dragons hate Fairies. But because Dialga is half Steel, it takes neutral damage from Fairy moves. Its own Iron Head or Roar of Time (if you’re lucky enough to have it) puts in massive work. Just watch out for Close Combat. One Fighting-type move from Zacian and Dialga is toast.
Then there is Melmetal. It’s accessible. You can get a Melmetal just by opening a Mystery Box from Pokemon HOME. While its DPS (Damage Per Second) isn't as high as Metagross, it’s incredibly tanky. If you run Double Iron Bash, you can spam Zacian down and force it to burn shields in PvP or just chip away steadily in raids.
Don't Sleep on Poison Types
Poison has historically been the "garbage" type in Pokemon Go, but against Zacian, it finally gets to shine. The problem? Most Poison types are also part Grass or part Bug, making them fragile.
Nihilego is the standout. It’s a Rock/Poison Ultra Beast with a massive Attack stat. If you run Poison Jab and Sludge Bomb, Nihilego actually outpaces many Steel types in terms of pure raw damage. It resists Zacian’s Fairy and Fire moves, which is huge. But—and there’s always a but—it’s weak to Steel. If Zacian has Iron Head, Nihilego is going to have a bad time.
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Roserade is the glass cannon option. It’s cheap to build. If you’ve played for more than a year, you probably have a high-CP Roserade sitting around. With Poison Jab and Sludge Bomb, it hits like a truck. Just don’t expect it to survive a Charged Move. It’s there to do as much damage as possible before it faints, acting as a filler for your raid squad.
The "Secret" Tech: Mega Evolutions and Primals
If you’re raiding, someone in your group must run a Mega. It boosts everyone else's damage, and that’s often the difference between a successful duo and a failed raid.
- Mega Gengar: It’s the highest DPS option, but it’s essentially made of wet paper. It will die quickly, but it will hurt Zacian significantly before it goes.
- Mega Beedrill: Another high-damage, low-survivability pick. Great for boosting Poison damage for the rest of the team.
- Mega Aggron: Finally, a use for Aggron! As a pure Steel type upon Mega Evolving, it’s a wall. It’s not fast, but it stays on the field forever, keeping that Steel-type damage boost active for your teammates.
- Primal Groudon: Wait, Groudon? Yes. Even though it doesn't deal super-effective damage with its Ground moves, Primal Groudon’s sheer stats and the boost it gives to Fire moves (if your team is using them) make it a viable anchor. Plus, if Zacian has Fire Fang, Groudon laughs at it.
Understanding the Move Sets (The "Why" Behind the Counter)
You have to look at the weather and the visual cues. If it’s raining, Zacian’s Wild Charge is going to hurt more. If it’s cloudy, those Fairy moves are boosted.
One thing most players get wrong is staying in with a countered Pokemon just because they have a Charged Move almost ready. If you’re using a Garchomp (which is a terrible idea here, by the way) and Zacian starts using Play Rough, just swap. Don't "sink cost" your way into a faint.
In the Master League, the dynamic shifts. You aren't just looking for Pokemon Go Zacian counters that deal damage; you’re looking for things that can bait shields. Excadrill is amazing for this. It’s a Steel/Ground type that is very spammy with Drill Run and Iron Head. It’s fragile, but it puts Zacian under immense pressure immediately.
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Practical Checklist for Your Next Zacian Encounter
Let's keep this simple. If you're building a team right now, here is how you should prioritize your resources. Don't just max out random stuff.
- Check your Metagross. Does it have Meteor Mash? If not, use an Elite Charged TM. It is the single most important investment for this fight.
- Look at your Nihilego. If you have one from raids, power it up to at least level 30-35. It’s the best Poison attacker by a mile.
- Coordinate Megas. If you’re playing with friends, don't all bring Mega Gengar. Have one person bring Mega Aggron to act as the "damage floor" while the others cycle in high-DPS Glass Cannons.
- Shadows Matter. A Shadow Metagross is roughly 20% more powerful than a regular one. Even a Shadow Metagross with mediocre IVs will usually outperform a 100% IV regular Metagross in raids.
- Watch the Energy. In PvP, Zacian is an energy machine. If they’re running Snarl, expect a move every few seconds. Don't let your shields sit idle while your health disappears.
The Strategy Nobody Talks About: The "Dodge"
In raids, most people just tap the screen like zombies. With Zacian, you can actually dodge. Because moves like Play Rough and Close Combat have distinct animations, a well-timed swipe can reduce the damage you take by 75%. This is vital if you're using something like Nihilego or Roserade. If you can dodge one Iron Head, you might live long enough to fire off two more Sludge Bombs. That’s a massive swing in total damage output.
Zacian isn't unbeatable. It just requires a bit more respect than the average legendary. You can't just throw a bunch of high-CP Dragons at it and hope for the best. It resists Dragon. It resists Fighting. It resists Dark. It’s literally built to kill the things that usually dominate the meta.
But it hates Steel. It hates Poison. Use that.
Focus on your Metagross and Dialga. If you’re short on those, lean into the Poison types like Nihilego. If you're really desperate, even an over-leveled Toxicroak or Victreebel can do some work, though I wouldn't recommend them as your first choice.
Success against Zacian comes down to preparation. Check your movesets, make sure you aren't walking into a Fire Fang trap with a team full of Steel, and keep your dodging fingers ready.
Go through your storage and tag your best Steel and Poison types today. Sort them by Attack stat. Use your TMs to get rid of useless moves like Psychic on Metagross or Sludge Wave on Nihilego (you want Sludge Bomb). Having the right moveset is more important than having a 100% IV Pokemon. A 0% IV Metagross with Meteor Mash is infinitely better than a 100% Metagross with Flash Cannon. Get your team sorted before the raid eggs hatch, and you'll find that the "Hero of Many Battles" is actually quite manageable when you have the right tools.