You see that massive, shimmering rainbow bird hovering over a gym and your first instinct is probably to just throw whatever high-CP Kyogre or Tyranitar you have at it. I get it. Ho-Oh looks intimidating. It’s a literal legendary mascot of the Johto region, and back in the day, taking one down felt like a Herculean task that required a dozen people standing awkwardly in a park. But honestly? The Pokemon Go Ho Oh raid meta has shifted so much lately that if you’re still using the same team from 2018, you’re basically making the fight twice as hard for yourself.
It's a Fire and Flying type. That’s the core of everything.
While it has some scary moves—Solar Beam specifically can wipe out your Rhyperiors in a single hit—Ho-Oh has one massive, glaring weakness that most players don't exploit aggressively enough. Because it carries that dual typing, it takes double super effective damage from Rock-type attacks. We are talking a 2.56x damage multiplier. That is the difference between barely winning with ten people and comfortably duo-ing the bird with a friend.
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The Solar Beam Problem and Why People Fail
Most trainers jump into a Pokemon Go Ho Oh raid and see the "Recommended" team. Please, stop trusting that button blindly. The game's algorithm often prioritizes survivability over damage per second (DPS). If the Ho-Oh you are fighting happens to know Solar Beam, the game might suggest a bunch of Dragon types or even Fire types just because they won't get one-shot. That is a trap. You want speed. You want to beat the clock, especially if you’re hunting for that elusive Apex Shadow or just a high-IV shiny.
Let's talk about the actual math of the matchup. Ho-Oh has a massive Defense stat of 244. That’s beefy. If you aren't hitting it with Rock moves, you are chipping away at a brick wall with a plastic spoon.
The Rock-Type Royalty
The undisputed king right now is Mega Tyranitar with Smack Down and Stone Edge. If you have one of these evolved, the raid is essentially halfway over. But not everyone has the Mega energy. If you're looking at standard picks, Rampardos is a glass cannon that puts out insane numbers. It’ll die fast—especially if Ho-Oh has Brave Bird or Fire Blast—but the damage it ticks off is unrivaled.
Then there’s Rhyperior. Most veteran players have a stable of these from various Community Days. You need Rock Wrecker. If your Rhyperior has Earthquake, it is useless here. Change it. Now.
- Tyrantrum has actually become a sleeper hit in these raids. It resists Fire moves effectively and hits back hard with Meteor Beam.
- Terrakion is another monster. While people usually think of it as a Fighting king, its Rock-type utility is top-tier.
- Shadow Tyranitar is arguably the best non-Mega investment you can make for this specific flight.
Understanding Ho-Oh's Movepool Nuance
You have to look at what the Ho-Oh is doing to you. If your screen turns green and your whole team vanishes, that’s Solar Beam. It’s a Grass-type move. It's designed to kill the very Rock, Ground, and Water types that are supposed to counter Ho-Oh. It's a cruel joke by Niantic, really.
When you face a Solar Beam Ho-Oh, you have two choices. You can "dodge" by swiping—which is tricky in a laggy raid—or you can switch to Primal Kyogre or Mega Aerodactyl. Aerodactyl is particularly useful because it’s a Rock type that isn't weak to Grass. It stays on the field longer, providing that crucial Mega damage boost to everyone else in the lobby.
Weather Boosts and Breakpoints
If it’s partly cloudy outside, your Rock types are going to melt Ho-Oh. If it’s sunny, Ho-Oh’s Fire moves (and that pesky Solar Beam) get a 20% buff. I’ve seen groups of four high-level players lose a Pokemon Go Ho Oh raid in sunny weather because they weren't prepared for the boosted Fire Blast. It’s brutal.
Don't ignore the "Power Up" button. Getting your counters to level 30 is the bare minimum, but hitting level 40 (or 50 with XL candy) reaches specific "breakpoints" where your fast move—like Smack Down—starts doing an extra point of damage per hit. It sounds small. It’s not. Over a 300-second raid, that’s thousands of extra damage.
Is the Shiny Hunt Actually Worth It?
Let’s be real: we are all doing the Pokemon Go Ho Oh raid for the shiny. Ho-Oh has one of the best shiny sprites in the game, swapping the red and green for a striking silver and gold palette. The odds are generally 1 in 20 for legendary raids.
But there’s more than just the sparkle. Ho-Oh is a master of the Master League in GBL (Go Battle League). If you manage to snag a 100% IV (Hundo), which is 2207 CP (or 2759 CP in weather-boosted conditions), you have a top-tier PvP contender. It needs Sacred Fire, a move usually restricted to Elite TMs or special event windows. Without Sacred Fire, Ho-Oh loses a lot of its pressure in PvP.
"A Ho-Oh without Sacred Fire is like a car without wheels in the Master League. You can try to push it, but you aren't getting anywhere fast." - This is a common sentiment among top-ranked battlers on Silph Arena forums.
The Logistics of the Raid
You don't need a 20-person lobby. Honestly, that just lowers your individual rewards. If you have three people with decent Level 35+ Rhyperiors or Tyranitars, you can win. If you have two people with optimized Mega Tyranitars, you can duo it.
- Group Size: 2 experts, 3-5 casuals.
- Best Mega: Mega Tyranitar (Smack Down/Stone Edge).
- Best Budget Option: Gigalith or Aggron (only if it has Meteor Beam!).
- Avoid: Using Blissey, Lugia, or Aggron with Steel moves. You are just wasting everyone's time.
If you are using Remote Raid Passes, remember the damage penalty. It’s not as severe as it used to be, but it’s there. Host your raids via apps like PokeGenie or Campfire to ensure you have a full house, especially if you’re under level 40.
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A Quick Note on Shadow Ho-Oh
Occasionally, Giovanni or Shadow Raids bring back the Shadow version. Shadow Ho-Oh is a different beast entirely. It takes more damage but deals significantly more. In those cases, the Pokemon Go Ho Oh raid becomes a race against time. You will burn through Revives like crazy. Stock up on Max Revives before the weekend starts.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Encounter
To maximize your efficiency and ensure you aren't the one dragging the team down, follow these specific steps before you tap that raid pass.
First, check your storage for any Rampardos. Even a low-IV Rampardos deals more damage than a perfect IV non-Rock type. Second, use an Elite Fast TM if you have a Tyranitar that doesn't know Smack Down; it is a legacy move but it's mandatory for this fight. Third, coordinate your Mega evolution. If two people bring Mega Tyranitar, don't send them out at the same time. Stagger them. When the first one faints, the second person brings theirs in. This keeps the "Mega Boost" active for the entire duration of the raid, giving everyone’s Rock moves a 30% power lift.
Lastly, pay attention to the catch screen. Ho-Oh is notoriously far back. You need to throw further than you think. Wait for the attack animation—where it dips down and strikes—then time your curveball so it hits right as the circle reappears. If you rush your throws, you’ll watch that 2207 CP bird fly away, and that’s a heartbreak nobody needs.
Focus on the Rock-type attackers, respect the Solar Beam, and keep your Golden Razz Berries ready.