Moltres Pokémon GO Raid Guide searches always surge whenever this Fire and Flying type Legendary returns to five star raids. As part of the current raid rotation during the Pokémon 30th Anniversary Event Pokémon GO celebration, Moltres is once again available for a limited time, giving trainers the opportunity to battle for high IV catches, farm rare candy, and hunt for its shiny form.
Unlike some Legendary raid bosses that require very specific team building, Moltres is one of the more straightforward five star raids if you understand its typing. Its Fire and Flying combination gives it strong offensive pressure, especially with Fire type charged moves, but it also leaves it critically exposed to certain counters. Knowing exactly how to exploit those weaknesses is what turns this from a difficult Legendary encounter into a manageable and efficient raid.
For trainers deciding where to invest Raid Passes this week, Moltres sits in an interesting position. It remains one of the stronger Fire type attackers in Pokémon GO, it has long term PvE relevance, and it carries nostalgic value as one of the original Kanto Legendary birds. That combination makes preparation essential before entering the raid lobby.
Moltres Pokémon GO – Weaknesses
Understanding Moltres’ typing is the key to defeating it efficiently. As a Fire and Flying type Pokémon, Moltres carries one extremely important vulnerability that completely shapes raid strategy.
Moltres is weak to:
Rock
Electric
Water
The most significant weakness by far is Rock. Because Flying types take super effective damage from Rock, and Fire does not resist Rock, Moltres effectively takes double super effective damage from Rock type attacks. This makes Rock type attackers the most efficient and safest way to defeat it.
This double weakness is what makes Moltres one of the more manageable Legendary raids when compared to bulkier bosses with fewer vulnerabilities.
Electric type moves are also strong options. However, because Electric is only single super effective damage, they are slightly less efficient than Rock types overall.
Water types can also perform well, especially during Rainy weather, but they will not match the damage output of properly powered Rock attackers.
Moltres Pokémon GO – Resistances
Moltres resists:
Bug Fairy Fighting Fire Grass Steel
It double resists Bug and Grass type attacks due to the combined Fire and Flying typing. This means bringing Pokémon such as Scizor, Heracross or Kartana into this raid will significantly reduce your overall damage output.
Avoid Fire types as counters unless they are Mega evolved specifically to provide team boosts, because Moltres resists Fire damage.
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Moltres Pokémon GO – Best Counters
When building a team for this Moltres Pokémon GO Raid Guide, prioritise high damage Rock attackers first.
Top Tier Counter:
- Rhyperior with Smack Down and Rock Wrecker
Rampardos with Smack Down and Rock Slide
Terrakion with Smack Down and Rock Slide
Mega Aerodactyl with Rock Throw and Rock Slide
These Pokémon exploit Moltres’ double weakness and can dramatically shorten raid completion time, especially in smaller groups.
Rhyperior is often the most accessible option for many trainers due to Community Day access to Rock Wrecker. Rampardos delivers extremely high damage but is more fragile, so proper dodging may be required.
Terrakion combines good bulk with strong Rock type output, making it a very safe and consistent pick.
Mega Aerodactyl is particularly valuable if coordinated within a group. Mega evolutions boost the damage of other trainers’ Rock type moves, meaning one Mega Aerodactyl in the lobby increases overall raid efficiency.
READ MORE: Shadow Regigigas Pokémon GO Raid Guide – Best Counters, Weaknesses and Strategy
Alternative Counters – Moltres Pokémon GO
If your Rock type roster is limited, strong Electric and Water types can still perform well.
Zekrom with Charge Beam and Wild Charge
Raikou with Thunder Shock and Wild Charge
Kyogre with Waterfall and Origin Pulse
Mega Swampert with Water Gun and Hydro Cannon
These Pokémon will not match the raw efficiency of Rock attackers, but they remain viable options, especially in weather boosted conditions.
Weather Boost Strategy
Partly Cloudy weather boosts Rock type moves, making this the ideal condition for defeating Moltres quickly.
Rainy weather boosts Water and Electric attackers.
Sunny weather boosts Moltres’ Fire moves, increasing incoming damage and slightly raising difficulty.
Checking in game weather for Moltres Pokémon GO before raiding can give you a noticeable advantage.
Is Moltres Worth Raiding in Pokémon GO Right Now
When evaluating whether Moltres is worth raiding, you need to consider both its raid value and its long term usefulness.
From a PvE perspective, Moltres remains a strong Fire type attacker, particularly when running Fire Spin and Overheat. While newer additions and Mega evolutions have raised the overall damage ceiling in Pokémon GO, Moltres still performs well in raids against Grass, Bug, Ice and Steel type bosses. For players without a deep roster of top tier Fire types, Moltres is absolutely worth investing in.
In PvP, Moltres sees more limited but situational use. It can function in certain limited cups or formats where its typing provides advantageous matchups. However, it is primarily valued as a raid attacker rather than a staple in open league metas.
There is also the shiny factor. Shiny Moltres remains one of the more visually striking Legendary variants, and with typical Legendary shiny odds around one in twenty, dedicated raiders have a realistic chance of securing one during this rotation.
Finally, Moltres Pokémon GO raids offer strong rewards beyond the catch itself. Five star raids provide significant XP, rare candy, and golden berries, which adds further incentive during active event weeks.
