Tornadus in Pokemon GO: A Comprehensive Guide to Raids, Movesets, and Strategies

Understanding Tornadus

The skies crackle with anticipation! Tornadus, the Cyclone Pokemon, is back in Pokemon GO raids. This Legendary Flying-type, hailing from the Unova region, brings a gust of challenge and opportunity for trainers worldwide. Are you ready to brave the winds and add this powerful Pokemon to your roster? This comprehensive guide will equip you with everything you need to know to conquer Tornadus raids, understand its optimal movesets, and deploy winning strategies to catch this elusive creature. We’ll delve into its strengths and weaknesses, explore the best counters, and share essential tips for a successful raid experience.

Tornadus is one member of the Forces of Nature trio, alongside Landorus and Thundurus. These Legendary Pokemon embody powerful forces of nature and play significant roles in Pokemon lore. In Pokemon GO, Tornadus stands out with its high attack stat, making it a formidable opponent in raids and, depending on the moveset, potentially even in certain PvP scenarios.

In Pokemon GO, Tornadus boasts impressive base stats. Its attack stat is substantial, making it a strong damage dealer. Its defense and stamina, while respectable, are not as high, making it crucial to employ smart strategies during raids. This Flying-type Pokemon’s maximum Combat Power, when powered up to the maximum Trainer Level, is something to behold. Reaching that potential requires significant Stardust and Candy, but the result is a powerful addition to any team. Remember that the actual max CP depends on its Individual Values (IVs), which we’ll discuss later in the guide.

As a pure Flying-type Pokemon, Tornadus has both distinct advantages and vulnerabilities. It excels against Grass, Bug, and Fighting-type Pokemon, dealing super-effective damage. However, it’s susceptible to Rock, Electric, and Ice-type attacks. Knowing these type matchups is fundamental to assembling the right team to challenge Tornadus and to strategically use Tornadus in your own battles.

Decoding Tornadus’ Movesets in Pokemon GO

The moves Tornadus learns are critical to its effectiveness in battle. Let’s break down the options:

First, let’s consider the Fast Moves. Tornadus can learn moves such as Air Slash and Bite. Air Slash is a Flying-type move that provides decent damage and energy generation, making it a solid choice for raid battles. Bite, a Dark-type move, offers different type coverage but is generally less effective than Air Slash in most situations involving Tornadus raids. When choosing a Fast Move, consider Air Slash for its synergy with Tornadus’s typing and overall damage output.

Next, we explore Charged Moves. Tornadus has access to several Charged Moves, including Hurricane, Focus Blast, Dark Pulse, and Psychic. Hurricane, a powerful Flying-type move, delivers significant damage but requires a substantial amount of energy. Focus Blast is a Fighting-type move that offers type coverage against Rock-type Pokemon, which are a weakness for Tornadus, but it has a long charge time and is less reliable than other options. Dark Pulse, a Dark-type move, provides coverage against Ghost and Psychic-type Pokemon. Psychic, unsurprisingly a Psychic-type move, provides coverage against Fighting and Poison Pokemon.

To maximize Tornadus’s potential in raids, an optimal moveset is crucial. For a damage-focused approach, Air Slash paired with Hurricane is generally considered the best combination. This moveset provides excellent damage output and takes advantage of Tornadus’s Flying-type prowess. If you want coverage, Bite and Focus Blast will do the trick, but the Flying type combo will always outperform this set.

Tornadus Raids: Strategies and Battle Plans

Tornadus appears in challenging five-star raids, demanding careful preparation and teamwork to succeed. These raids require multiple trainers to coordinate their efforts to take down the powerful boss Pokemon.

Building the right team is paramount to victory. Given Tornadus’s Flying-type, Rock, Electric, and Ice-type Pokemon are your best bets. Focus on selecting Pokemon with high attack stats and movesets that exploit Tornadus’s weaknesses. Mega Evolutions can also play a crucial role, providing significant damage boosts to your team.

Successful raid battles require more than just powerful Pokemon. Dodging incoming Charged Moves is essential to keeping your team alive and maximizing your damage output. Learn to anticipate Tornadus’s attacks and swipe to dodge at the right moment. Coordinating with other players is also key. Communicate with your fellow trainers to ensure that everyone is using effective movesets and targeting Tornadus’s weaknesses.

Weather conditions can also influence the battle. Windy weather will boost Tornadus’s Flying-type moves, making the raid more difficult. Conversely, partially cloudy weather will boost Rock-type moves, rainy weather will boost Electric-type moves, and snowy weather will boost Ice-type moves, giving a distinct advantage to your counters. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and plan your raids accordingly.

Top Tornadus Counters: Assembling Your Dream Team

Choosing the right counters can make or break your raid attempt. Here are some of the top-tier Pokemon to consider:

Rampardos stands out as a premier Rock-type attacker, boasting incredible damage output with moves like Smack Down and Rock Slide. Raikou, an Electric-type Legendary, offers consistent damage with moves like Thunder Shock and Wild Charge. Galarian Darmanitan (Ice), with its high attack stat and Ice Fang paired with Avalanche, can deliver devastating blows. Xurkitree, with its insane attack stat and access to the moves Thunder Shock and Discharge, will shred Tornadus. Zekrom is another powerful Electric-type Legendary that shines with Charge Beam and Wild Charge. These Pokemon, when powered up and equipped with the correct movesets, can significantly contribute to your raid success.

For trainers with more limited Pokemon options, there are still viable alternatives. Tyranitar, another Rock-type, is a solid choice with Smack Down and Stone Edge. Magnezone, an Electric and Steel-type, provides decent damage with Spark and Wild Charge. Weavile, an Ice and Dark-type, can be effective with Ice Shard and Avalanche.

Mega Evolutions can provide significant boosts to your team’s damage output. Mega Aerodactyl, a Rock and Flying-type, boosts Rock-type attacks for all other trainers in the raid. Mega Manectric, an Electric-type, boosts Electric-type attacks for your raidmates. Including a Mega Evolution can provide a substantial edge in the battle.

Catching Tornadus: Mastering the Encounter

After successfully defeating Tornadus in a raid, you’ll have the opportunity to catch it. This post-raid encounter requires skill and patience to secure the catch.

The base catch rate for Legendary Pokemon is relatively low, making it essential to maximize your chances of success. Using Golden Razz Berries significantly increases your chances of catching Tornadus. Aiming for Excellent Throws is crucial. Practice your timing and technique to consistently land those valuable throws. If you are adept at it, AR+ mode allows you to get closer to the Pokemon for a better catch bonus. Additionally, employing the Circle Locking technique can help you time your throws precisely.

After catching Tornadus, take the time to check its Individual Values (IVs) using the in-game appraisal system. IVs determine a Pokemon’s potential and can influence its performance in battles. Look for Pokemon with high IVs in attack, defense, and stamina to maximize its overall effectiveness.

Hunting the Elusive Shiny Tornadus

Shiny Pokemon are highly sought after by trainers, and Shiny Tornadus is no exception. Confirm whether Shiny Tornadus is available during the event. Shiny Tornadus features a different color palette than its regular form, often sporting a distinctly different appearance.

The odds of encountering a Shiny Pokemon in raids are typically around one in twenty. While the odds are low, persistence and dedication can eventually lead to a Shiny encounter. Keep raiding and hope for the best.

Tornadus Incarnate vs Tornadus Therian

Tornadus has two forms, Incarnate and Therian. They each have distinct appearances, stats, and movesets. The Incarnate Forme is a more standard bird-like appearance, while the Therian Forme is more serpentine. The Therian Forme has a higher Attack stat, making it slightly better for raids. It is important to note that while the Incarnate Forme can learn the Flying-type move Hurricane, the Therian Forme cannot. This makes the Incarnate Forme slightly better overall, even if it has a lower attack stat. Both forms have different times they can be obtained. The availability rotates, meaning both the Incarnate and Therian Formes have their time to shine.

Final Thoughts on Your Tornadus Journey

Tornadus in Pokemon GO presents a challenging but rewarding opportunity for trainers. Armed with the knowledge of its strengths and weaknesses, optimal movesets, best counters, and essential catching techniques, you’re well-prepared to take on this Legendary Pokemon. Dive into those raids, coordinate with your fellow trainers, and brave the winds to add Tornadus to your collection. Good luck, and may your throws be excellent! Share your Tornadus raid experiences and any tips you have in the comments below. We wish you the best in your quest to catch this magnificent Pokemon!