Cresselia is a Psychic-type Legendary Pokémon originally discovered in the Sinnoh region. Cresselia is said to represent the crescent moon, and those who sleep holding one of its feathers are assured joyful dreams. Learn which Pokémon will be most effective in Raid Battles against Cresselia, how to catch Cresselia after winning a Raid Battle, and how best to utilize the Lunar Pokémon after you’ve caught it.

Which Pokémon to Use in a Cresselia Raid in Pokémon GO

As a Psychic-type Pokémon, Cresselia is vulnerable to Bug-, Ghost-, and Dark-type attacks. When choosing six Pokémon for your Cresselia Raid Battle lineup, it helps to choose Pokémon that have a Fast Attack and Charged Attack of one of these types if you want to deal as much damage as possible. 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 Bug-, Ghost-, or Dark-type attacks, choose the Pokémon with the highest CP and best overall stats. Remember that speed of victory affects how many Premier Balls you will receive after a successful Raid Battle, so bring your strongest Pokémon and defeat Cresselia as quickly as possible.

When you challenge a Raid Boss while you’re in a party, Party Power can give your Charged Attacks a boost. The more party members in the raid, the faster your Party Power charges—and when you activate it, your next Charged Attack will deal even more damage! To get the most out of Party Power, it’s a great idea to take on Raid Battles with friends.

It’s also worth noting that when you include a Mega-Evolved Pokémon in your raid lineup, all Pokémon of the same type participating in the raid receive a damage boost while that Mega-Evolved Pokémon is battling the Raid Boss. With their substantial CP, Mega-Evolved Pokémon are already an excellent resource for raids, but this added damage boost for other Trainers’ Pokémon can also be significant in Raid Battles where you’re up against the clock.

Make the Most of Premier Balls and Berries

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

In an encounter with Cresselia, 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.

Cresselia 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 Cresselia to get a feel for its cycle of movement and the pauses in between this cycle. 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 Cresselia. A Razz Berry will make Cresselia 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 Cresselia, making its movements less erratic and allowing you to make precise throws more easily. If you need extra Cresselia Candy, using a Silver Pinap Berry will make Cresselia 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—even a Legendary Pokémon—deflects a Poké Ball, your buddy might bounce it back for a second catch opportunity!

Like all Legendary Pokémon, Cresselia 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.

What to Do with Cresselia Once You’ve Caught It

As a Psychic-type Pokémon, Cresselia is resistant to Fighting- and Psychic-type attacks. Cresselia doesn’t really shine in raids, hindered by a relatively low max CP and the fact that there are so many other solid Psychic-type attackers available (Mewtwo, Mega Gardevoir, Mega Latias, and Mega Latios among them). However, Cresselia is considered a GO Battle League staple, frequently appearing in the Ultra League and slightly less frequently in Great League.

In the GO Battle League, Cresselia is known for its bulk, allowing it to endure multiple Charged Attacks without relying on shields. It’s excellent at absorbing damage from an opponent without showing much wear. It can challenge popular Ultra League Pokémon like Giratina and Annihilape with Moonblast, and Grass Knot allows it to counter Poliwrath, Swampert, and Tapu Fini. Given the prevalence of Steel-type Pokémon like Skarmory, Registeel, and Galarian Stunfisk in the Great League and Ultra League, it’s important to pair Cresselia with a team that can help balance out the fact that Cresselia won’t be of much use against these Pokémon.

Cresselia boasts a wide range of available Charged Attacks, and its Psycho Cut Fast Attack helps power up Charged Attacks quickly while benefiting from a same-type attack bonus. Choosing the best combination of attacks can be difficult, but Moonblast is generally considered an effective and powerful choice. Future Sight and Grass Knot are excellent choices for a second Charged Attack, and which one you choose will depend upon your strategy and team composition.

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