TL;DR
- Blacephalon is weak to Water, Rock, Ground, Ghost, and Dark-type attacks due to its Fire/Ghost typing
- Top counters include Primal Kyogre, Tyranitar, and Groudon with specific optimal movesets
- Avoid using Poison, Bug, Steel, Fire, Grass, Ice, or Fairy-type Pokemon against it
- Team coordination and proper dodging techniques significantly increase success rates
- Weather conditions can dramatically boost damage output for specific counter types
Blacephalon represents one of the most distinctive Ultra Beasts originally introduced in Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, now appearing as an extremely challenging 5-star raid encounter in Pokemon GO. This explosive-headed creature demands strategic preparation and understanding of its unique combat characteristics.

As a dual-type Fire/Ghost Pokemon, Blacephalon possesses a complex defensive profile that creates both significant vulnerabilities and notable resistances. Its primary weaknesses manifest against Water-type attacks (dealing 160% damage), Rock-type moves (160% damage), Ground-type techniques (160% damage), Ghost-type assaults (160% damage), and Dark-type strikes (160% damage). This five-fold vulnerability profile provides multiple strategic avenues for trainers to exploit.
Conversely, Blacephalon demonstrates impressive defensive capabilities against several common attack types. The Ultra Beast resists damage from Poison-type moves (taking only 63% damage), Bug-type attacks (63% damage), Steel-type techniques (63% damage), Fire-type assaults (39% damage), Grass-type strikes (63% damage), Ice-type moves (63% damage), and Fairy-type attacks (63% damage). Understanding these resistance patterns is crucial for avoiding ineffective team compositions.
The strategic implications of Blacephalon’s typing extend beyond simple type advantages. Its Ghost typing makes it immune to Normal and Fighting-type moves, while the Fire component provides additional utility against common defensive types. Trainers should note that while Blacephalon has multiple weaknesses, its high attack stat and diverse movepool can quickly eliminate unprepared teams.
Building an effective counter team requires understanding both type advantages and practical battle mechanics. The most successful raiders combine optimal species selection with precise move choices and tactical execution.

Elite-tier counters dominate the meta for Blacephalon raids. Primal Kyogre stands as the premier choice when equipped with Waterfall as its fast move and Origin Pulse as its charged move, dealing massive Water-type damage that exploits Blacephalon’s primary weakness. Similarly, Tyranitar and its shadow variant excel with Bite and Brutal Swing, providing devastating Dark-type coverage.
Additional top-performing counters include Groudon with Mud Shot and Precipice Blades for Ground-type dominance, Mega Gengar using Shadow Claw and Shadow Ball for Ghost-type superiority, and Rampardos employing Smack Down and Rock Slide for Rock-type devastation. Each of these Pokemon capitalizes on Blacephalon’s defensive vulnerabilities while offering substantial bulk to withstand its attacks.
For trainers lacking legendary options, several budget alternatives deliver respectable performance. Swampert with Water Gun and Hydro Cannon provides accessible Water-type damage, while Krookodile using Snarl and Earthquake offers Ground-type coverage. Hydreigon with Bite and Brutal Swing serves as an excellent Dark-type substitute for Tyranitar.
Optimal team composition involves balancing type coverage with survivability. A well-rounded squad might include two Water-types, two Dark-types, and two Rock or Ground-types to maintain consistent pressure while accommodating potential faints. This approach to Class Guide principles ensures your team can adapt to changing battle conditions.
Battle execution techniques significantly impact success rates. Master dodging Blacephalon’s charged moves—particularly its Ghost-type attacks—can preserve your Pokemon’s health and maximize damage output. Coordinate with raid partners to ensure type diversity across the entire team, preventing situations where all trainers use identical counters that might share common weaknesses to Blacephalon’s coverage moves.
Action Checklist
- Assemble 3-5 high-level trainers with optimized counter teams
- Select Pokemon that exploit Water, Rock, Ground, Ghost, or Dark weaknesses
- Equip optimal movesets focusing on STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) combinations
- Check weather conditions and adjust team accordingly (Rain boosts Water, etc.)
- Practice dodging patterns against Blacephalon’s charged moves
No reproduction without permission:Tsp Game Club » Pokemon GO Blacephalon Raid Guide (Ultra Beast) Master Blacephalon raids with optimal counters, strategic weaknesses, and advanced battle tactics
