Trainers recently had the opportunity to catch a trio of Legendary Pokémon originally discovered in the Unova region—Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion—but still many more Legendary Pokémon hail from Unova. Starting on February 4, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PST, it will be Incarnate Forme Tornadus’s turn to appear in Pokémon GO Raid Battles. The Cyclone Pokémon will be available only until February 25, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PST, so make sure to catch one before it’s too late.
If you aren’t sure how best to tackle Tornadus, we have some tips to make sure you aren’t left twisting in the wind. The Premier Balls you earn when defeating Tornadus will be the only Poké Balls you can use to catch it, so it’s crucial to be prepared. Maximize your chances by helping your team take over the Gym before the raid starts, battling alongside your friends, and picking Pokémon that will perform well in battle. Be sure to learn how to train Pokémon in Pokémon GO to get your team up to speed, and then read on for more about Tornadus.
Tips for Battling Tornadus in Pokémon GO
Take advantage of Tornadus’s weaknesses. Tornadus is one of just a handful of known Pokémon that are purely Flying type, meaning it’s weak to only three types of attacks: Electric, Ice, and Rock. Pokémon GO veterans likely have plenty of Zapdos and Raikou trained up, and while these Pokémon can put on flashy performances (as they have in the past), the Pokémon that deal damage against Tornadus the fastest are largely not Legendary Pokémon themselves. Rampardos, Electivire, and Magnezone, in fact, stand out as fantastic choices for this battle. But if you caught the Legendary Pokémon Terrakion during its recent appearance, this is a great time to try it out.
Consider the weather. If you find yourself hiking out into the snow to battle Tornadus this winter, don’t forget to adjust your battle party to compensate. Ice types like Weavile, Glaceon, and Mamoswine might not match Rampardos’s or Magnezone’s damage when the weather is clear, but the boost to Ice-type damage when the weather is snowy could tip the scales. If it’s raining instead, focus on your Electric-type Pokémon—and when it’s partly cloudy, your Rock types will get a boost.
Throw Your Premier Balls Carefully against Legendary Pokémon
You’ll earn a limited number of Premier Balls by defeating Tornadus, and you must use these to catch it, so take careful aim to make each one count. If you battle alongside your friends, you can earn extra Premier Balls, so be sure to bring friends with you. Using a Golden Razz Berry before each throw will vastly increase your chances of success. You can stock up on them beforehand by defeating other Raid Bosses.
Your chance of catching a Pokémon is greatest when the size of 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.
Lastly, don’t waste your Premier Balls by throwing while the Pokémon is moving around. Wait for it to start acting up and for its target ring to disappear, then time your throw so that the Premier Ball lands as the target ring reappears.
Like all Legendary Pokémon, Tornadus is tricky to catch, so don’t be discouraged if it escapes your first encounter. Get a second wind by stocking up on useful items, like Max Potions, Max Revives, and Golden Razz Berries, and try again later with some friends. Good luck with your next Raid Battle, and remember to check back to Pokemon.com/Strategy for more Pokémon GO, video game, and Pokémon TCG tips.
