Learn how to beat Mega Dragonite in Pokémon GO with the best counters, Ice weakness, 10-shield strategy, raid tips, and catch CP.
If you have been throwing your best teams at the new Super Mega Raids only to watch the timer expire, you aren’t alone. Beating Mega Dragonite in Pokémon GO is currently one of the toughest challenges the game has introduced, and the new 10-shield mechanic is leaving even veteran players incredibly frustrated.
This isn’t your standard raid where you can just deal massive damage and win. You need a coordinated group, the exact team compositions, and a specific shield-breaking tactic to survive. This Super Mega Raid guide will walk you through exactly what you need to do to finally take down Mega Dragonite and add its energy to your Pokédex.
What Are the Super Mega Raid Mechanics?
The biggest roadblock you will encounter is the new defense system. Super Mega Raids only appear at specific designated Gyms. You can use the official web-based map at pokemongo.com/map to find both upcoming and ongoing Super Mega Raids near you.
Once the battle begins and the boss becomes enraged, Mega Dragonite is completely protected by a 10-shield layer. While these shields are active, the boss gains an incredible 2× Attack and 4× Defense boost, reducing all incoming standard damage to almost zero.
To beat this, you need to understand these rules:
- The 10-Player Requirement: Each player’s Mega-Evolved Pokémon can only remove one shield with a Charged Attack. This means you must have a minimum of 10 players in your lobby, and every single person must use a Mega to break the boss’s defenses. Most bosses have 7-8 shields, but Mega Dragonite (alongside Mega Mewtwo) has exactly 10 shields.
- The Ready Button Restriction: If you do not have an active Mega-Evolved Pokémon in your battle party, the game will prevent you from tapping the “Ready” button in the raid lobby. You will be forced to wait for the entire lobby timer to count down.
- Primal Reversion Restrictions: If you usually bring Primal Groudon or Primal Kyogre to raids, leave them out of this one. Pokémon that have undergone Primal Reversion do not count as Mega Pokémon and cannot break Super Mega Raid shields. In fact, if they cannot break shields, their damage output drops below even standard Pokémon like Slowbro.
- The Timer: If even two players in your group fail to use their Mega attack, you will be stuck fighting an enraged boss, and the raid timer will almost certainly run out.
What Are Mega Dragonite’s Weaknesses and Type Matchups?
Before you can deal damage, you need to bring the right types. Because Mega Dragonite is a Dragon and Flying-type, it has a massive double weakness to Ice-type attacks. You deal 256% damage with Ice moves, so this is where you need to focus your efforts.
It also has single weaknesses to Dragon, Fairy, and Rock moves. However, you should avoid using Grass, Fire, Water, Bug, Fighting, and Ground types, as the boss heavily resists all of them.
What Are the Top Mega Dragonite Counters and Best Movesets?
Once the 10-shield mechanic is broken, you need to hit the boss as hard as possible. Here are the best Mega Dragonite counters to build your team around:
- White Kyurem / Black Kyurem: The absolute top tier for Ice damage. Use Ice Fang and Ice Burn for White Kyurem, or Dragon Tail and Freeze Shock for Black Kyurem.
- Shadow / Regular Mamoswine: If you don’t have the Legendaries, Mamoswine with Powder Snow and Avalanche is an accessible powerhouse.
- Mega Gardevoir: This is the top recommended Mega. With Charm and Triple Axel (or Dazzling Gleam), its Fairy typing naturally resists Dragon-type attacks, keeping it alive long enough to break a shield.
- Mega Rayquaza / Baxcalibur / Galarian Darmanitan: Fantastic high-damage alternatives if you are confident you can keep them alive. Mega Rayquaza is excellent with Dragon Tail and Outrage.
How Do You Use the “Last Slot” Mega Dragonite Raid Strategy?
Because this raid requires incredible coordination, you cannot just spam tap the screen. If you use apps like Niantic Campfire, Discord, or Poké Genie to organize your lobbies, make sure everyone is aware of this exact step-by-step strategy.
- Coordinate the Lobby: Check that everyone has the Mega symbol active before the raid starts. Super Mega Raids are a great excuse to meet up with your local community in person.
- Use the Last Slot Strategy: Put your Mega-Evolved Pokémon in the 6th (last) slot of your battle party. If you put it in the front, it will likely faint before the shield phase even begins.
- Break the Shields: When the boss becomes enraged and activates its shields, your Mega Pokémon will automatically be sent into the battle with its Charged Attack immediately available to use. Unleash your Charged Attack to strip one of the 10 defense layers.
- Revive and Rejoin: If your Mega accidentally faints before it can fire off its Charged Attack, leave the battle immediately. Heal your team and re-enter the lobby. Every single Charged Attack matters.
- The Ice-Type Burn Phase: The moment the shields drop, the boss loses its massive defense boosts. Unleash your Ice-type attackers to wipe out its health bar.
What Are Mega Dragonite’s Catch CP, 100% IV (Hundo), and Shiny Odds?
After successfully defeating the raid, you will be rewarded with a massive 250 to 450 Mega Energy depending on how quickly you defeated the boss. Here is what you want to look for on the catch screen:
- Standard Catch CP: Encounters range from 2096 CP up to a perfect 100% IV (Hundo) at Level 20, sitting at 2167 CP.
- Weather Boost CP: If it is Windy weather, the encounter is boosted to Level 25, ranging from 2621 CP up to a Hundo at 2709 CP.
- Shiny Odds: Like all Mega Raids, the shiny odds are roughly 1 in 64. The shiny version features a striking green color instead of the usual orange.
Can You Duo or Trio Mega Dragonite?
No. Because each player can only break one of the 10 shields, you must have at least 10 players to bypass the defense system.
Can You Use Remote Raid Passes for Super Mega Raids?
Yes, but remember that Remote Raids often have lobby caps. It is highly recommended to coordinate through local community groups or apps like Campfire to ensure you have 10 players ready to go.
Which Mega Pokémon Is Best If You Don’t Have Mega Gardevoir?
If you lack Mega Gardevoir, Ice-type Megas like Mega Glalie or Mega Abomasnow work well, as does Mega Rayquaza if you can dodge incoming Dragon moves.
Have you had any luck catching a perfect or shiny Mega Dragonite yet? Drop a comment below to share your raid party setups, or ask any questions if you are still struggling to coordinate your groups!
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