Buzzwole Pokémon GO Raid Battle Tips: Which Pokémon to use in a Buzzwole Raid, how to make the most of Premier Balls and Berries, and what to do with Buzzwole once you’ve caught it

Buzzwole is a Bug- and Fighting-type Ultra Beast originating from another world. Witnesses report that this mysterious life-form once pulverized a dump truck with a single punch. Learn which Pokémon will be most effective in Raid Battles against Buzzwole, how to catch Buzzwole after winning a Raid Battle, and how best to use the Ultra Beast after you’ve caught it.

As a Bug- and Fighting-type Ultra Beast, Buzzwole is vulnerable to Fire-, Flying-, Psychic-, and Fairy-type attacks. When selecting Pokémon for your Buzzwole Raid Battle lineup, it helps to choose Pokémon that have a Fast Attack and a Charged Attack of one of these types if you want to deal as much damage as possible. It’s not necessary to choose only Fire-, Flying-, Psychic-, and Fairy-type Pokémon, but a Pokémon that shares a type with these attacks will benefit from a same-type attack bonus, which will allow these attacks to deal an additional 20% damage.

If you have multiple Pokémon that know Fire-, Flying-, Psychic-, and Fairy-type attacks, choose the Pokémon with the highest CP and best overall stats. Buzzwole is particularly vulnerable to Flying-type attacks, so prioritize Pokémon with a Flying-type Fast Attack and Charged Attack. Remember that speed of victory affects how many Premier Balls you will receive at the conclusion of a successful Raid Battle, so bring your strongest Pokémon and defeat Buzzwole as quickly as possible.

• Shadow Charizard (Fire/Flying)

  • Fast Attack: Air Slash (Flying), Ember (Fire), Fire Spin (Fire), Wing Attack (Flying)

  • Charged Attack: Blast Burn (Fire), Fire Blast (Fire), Flamethrower (Fire), Overheat (Fire)

• Mega Charizard Y (Fire/Flying)

  • Fast Attack: Air Slash (Flying), Ember (Fire), Fire Spin (Fire), Wing Attack (Flying)

  • Charged Attack: Blast Burn (Fire), Fire Blast (Fire), Flamethrower (Fire), Overheat (Fire)

• Moltres (Fire/Flying)

  • Fast Attack: Fire Spin (Fire), Wing Attack (Flying)

  • Charged Attack: Fire Blast (Fire), Heat Wave (Fire), Overheat (Fire), Sky Attack (Flying)

• Ho-Oh (Fire/Flying)

  • Fast Attack: Extrasensory (Psychic), Incinerate (Fire)

  • Charged Attack: Brave Bird (Flying), Sacred Fire (Fire)

• Pidgeot / Mega Pidgeot (Normal/Flying)

  • Fast Attack: Air Slash (Flying), Gust (Flying), Wing Attack (Flying)

  • Charged Attack: Aerial Ace (Flying), Air Cutter (Flying), Brave Bird (Flying), Feather Dance (Flying), Hurricane (Flying)

• Rayquaza (Dragon/Flying)

  • Fast Attack: Air Slash (Flying)

  • Charged Attack: Aerial Ace (Flying), Hurricane (Flying)

• Honchkrow / Shadow Honchkrow (Dark/Flying)

  • Fast Attack: Peck (Flying)

  • Charged Attack: Brave Bird (Flying), Psychic (Psychic), Sky Attack (Flying)

• Braviary (Normal/Flying)

  • Fast Attack: Air Slash (Flying)

  • Charged Attack: Brave Bird (Flying), Heat Wave (Fire)

• Hisuian Braviary (Flying/Psychic)

  • Fast Attack: Air Slash (Flying), Zen Headbutt (Psychic)

  • Charged Attack: Brave Bird (Flying), Psychic (Psychic)

• Incarnate Forme Tornadus (Flying)

  • Fast Attack: Air Slash (Flying)

  • Charged Attack: Heat Wave (Fire), Hurricane (Flying), Psychic (Psychic)

• Yveltal (Dark/Flying)

  • Fast Attack: Gust (Flying)

  • Charged Attack: Hurricane (Flying), Psychic (Psychic)

• Lugia / Apex Shadow Lugia (Psychic/Flying)

  • Fast Attack: Extrasensory (Psychic)

  • Charged Attack: Aeroblast (Flying), Aeroblast+ (Flying), Future Sight (Psychic), Sky Attack (Flying)

• Metagross / Shadow Metagross (Steel/Psychic)

  • Fast Attack: Zen Headbutt (Psychic)

  • Charged Attack: Psychic (Psychic)

• Mega Latios (Dragon/Psychic)

  • Fast Attack: Zen Headbutt (Psychic)

  • Charged Attack: Luster Purge (Psychic), Psychic (Psychic)

• Gallade (Psychic/Fighting)

  • Fast Attack: Charm (Fairy), Confusion (Psychic)

  • Charged Attack: Psychic (Psychic), Synchronoise (Psychic)

• Granbull / Shadow Granbull (Fairy)

  • Fast Attack: Charm (Fairy)

  • Charged Attack: Play Rough (Fairy)

• Togekiss (Fairy/Flying)

  • Fast Attack: Air Slash (Flying), Charm (Fairy)

  • Charged Attack: Aerial Ace (Flying), Dazzling Gleam (Fairy), Flamethrower (Fire)

• Sylveon (Fairy)

  • Fast Attack: Charm (Fairy)

  • Charged Attack: Dazzling Gleam (Fairy), Draining Kiss (Fairy), Moonblast (Fairy)

• Xerneas (Fairy)

  • Fast Attack: Zen Headbutt (Psychic)

  • Charged Attack: Moonblast (Fairy)

After a successful Buzzwole raid, you’ll have a limited number of Premier Balls you can use to catch the Ultra Beast, so make each one count. You can earn extra Premier Balls by battling with friends and defeating Buzzwole more quickly.

In an encounter with Buzzwole, your chance of catching it is greatest when the target ring is small enough for you to score Excellent Throws. Throwing Curveballs can improve your chances even more. But work within your abilities—if you don’t think you can reliably make Excellent Curveball Throws, aim for Nice Throws or Great Throws rather than risk missing the target ring completely.

Buzzwole isn’t going to make it easy on you by sitting still while you’re trying to catch it. Don’t waste your Premier Balls by throwing while it’s moving around. Watch the Ultra Beast to get a feel for its cycle of movement and the pauses in between the cycles. During one of these pauses, wait for the target ring to reappear, and then throw as it starts to grow smaller to increase your odds of making a Great Throw or an Excellent Throw.

Berries can help you catch Buzzwole. A Razz Berry will make it easier to catch, and a Golden Razz Berry will make it much easier to catch. If you find yourself failing to land any throws, a Nanab Berry will calm Buzzwole, making its movements less erratic and allowing you to make precise throws more easily. If you need extra Buzzwole Candy, using a Silver Pinap Berry will make Buzzwole easier to catch and grant you extra Candy when you catch it.

Buddy Pokémon with a Buddy Level of Great Buddy or higher have the Catch Assist Perk. If a Pokémon—or even an Ultra Beast—deflects a Poké Ball, your buddy might bounce it back for a second catch opportunity!

Like all Ultra Beasts, Buzzwole is tricky to catch, so don’t be discouraged if it escapes. Get a second wind by stocking up on useful items—like Max Potions, Max Revives, and Golden Razz Berries—and try again.

As a Bug- and Fighting-type Ultra Beast, Buzzwole is resistant to Grass-, Fighting-, Ground-, Bug-, and Dark-type attacks. Buzzwole is new to Pokémon GO, so it hasn’t fully established a role for itself in the GO Battle League. However, Buzzwole is a rare Ultra Beast with strong competitive possibilities across the Great League, Ultra League, and Master League. There’s always a place for strong Fighting-types in GO Battle League, and Buzzwole’s unusual dual typing offers Trainers the opportunity to cover multiple bases.

If you’re interested in battling with Buzzwole at any level, you’ll want to teach it a second Charged Attack. You will also want to raise Buzzwole’s CP if you’re interested in taking it to the Master League. Both teaching it a second Charged Attack and raising its CP will take a significant amount of Buzzwole Candy and Stardust, so try to catch as many Buzzwole as possible to get you there faster. If you’re short on Buzzwole Candy or Stardust, consider keeping its CP under 1,500 so it’s eligible to compete in the Great League.

Good luck with your next Raid Battle, and remember to check Pokemon.com/Strategy for more Pokémon GO, video game, and Pokémon TCG tips.