Legendary Pokemon are powerful monsters boasting high stats and their own Signature Move. Unlike the main games, Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO cannot be caught in the wild and can only be obtained through Raid Battles and Bonus Challenges. This also applies to Zamazenta, the game mascot of the recent Pokemon Shield.
In Pokemon GO, Zamazenta (as well as all other Pokemon) is unable to hold items. As of now, it can only be caught in its Hero of Many Battles form, which is a pure Fighting Type. If Zamazenta holds the Rusted Shield, it can turn into its Crowned Form and gains the Steel Typing. Compared to Zacian, the other Pokemon in Galar’s Legendary duo, Zamazenta’s defense outshines its offense. If players want to properly use Zamazenta, then they need to equip Zamazenta with the best moveset it can have.
Catching Zamazenta
Alongside Zacian, Zamazenta made its Pokemon GO debut in the Ultra Unlock Part 3: Sword and Shield event in 5-star battle raids. If in its Crowned Form, players should use powerful Fire, Ground, or Fighting Pokemon. Because of its Fighting/Steel Typing, Crowned Form Zamazenta has a weakness to its own Typing. However, if fought in its regular form, players will need to defeat it with Psychic or Flying Type moves as opposed to Fire, Fighting, or Ground.
Zamazenta has a Raid Boss CP (Combat Power) total of 52,195, which drops down to about 2100 - 2188 upon capture.
Zamazenta’s Movepool and Best Moveset
Without Sword and Shield’s Rusted Shield item, Zamazenta can only gain STAB (same-type attack bonus) from Fighting Type moves and misses out on its signature move Dauntless Shield. In its home game, Zamazenta didn’t have many good attacking moves; it only gained one offensive Fighting Type move through leveling up: Close Combat.
This move deals 120 HP, but only has 5PP and severely lowers its user's Defense and Special Defense. Zamazenta’s strengths and flaws are both in its defense. If lowered too much by Close Combat, then it becomes more susceptible to being 1HKO.
In Pokemon GO, its movepool averts this by giving it access to moves that can cover its weaknesses.
Quick Moves | Type | Damage | DPS |
Quick Attack | Normal | 8 | 10 |
Metal Claw | Steel | 8 | 11.4 |
Snarl | Dark | 12 | 10.9 |
Ice Fang | Ice | 12 | 8 |
Charged Moves | Type | Damage | DPS |
Iron Head | Steel | 60 | 31.6 |
Moonblast | Fairy | 130 | 33.3 |
Close Combat | Fighting | 100 | 52.2 |
Crunch | Dark | 70 | 21.9 |
The best moveset for Zamazenta for PVP and gym battles is:
Move | DPS |
Snarl | 10.9 |
Close Combat | 52.2 |
Players familiar with Sword and Shield might try adding Iron Head over Crunch to Zamazenta's moves. Although the lack of the Rusted Shield held item means Zamazenta won't be getting the most use out of its Steel Type moves in Pokemon GO for the time being.
For playing defensively, trainers may want to have their Zamazenta stick to Ice Fang and Crunch. These moves will cover both Zamazenta's (Hero of Many Battles) weaknesses: Flying Type and Psychic Type.
Pokemon GO is available now on mobile devices.