Nihilego is finally returning to Pokemon Go’s 5-Star Raids in July 2024, so here are the Ultra Beast’s weaknesses and the best counters to help you defeat it in battle.
After it made its debut during the huge Go Fest event in June 2022, Nihilego will once again be emerging out of Ultra Wormholes and into 5-Star Raids for the Inbound from Ultra Space event on July 9, 2024, along with fellow Xurkitree, Kartana, and Guzzlord.
If you want to add this powerful Ultra Beast from the Alola region to your collection, we’ve got details of its weaknesses and the best counters you can use on your team to take it down in no time at all.
Nihilego weaknesses in Pokemon Go
Nihilego is a Rock/Poison-type Pokemon, which means it’s weak against Ground, Psychic, Steel, and Water-type attacks, so the best team to use against this Ultra Beast will feature Pokemon of these types.
It’s also important to know Nihilego’s resistances: avoid using Bug, Fairy, Fire, Flying, Normal, and Poison-type attacks, as these won’t damage it much at all.
Nihilego counters in Pokemon Go
These are some of the best counters to use against Nihilego in the game:
| POKEMON | SPRITE | BEST MOVESET |
|---|---|---|
| Primal Groudon | Mud Shot & Precipice Blades | |
| Mega Garchomp | Mud Shot & Earth Power | |
| Mega Swampert | Mud Shot & Earthquake | |
| Shadow Excadrill | Mud-Slap & Scorching Sands | |
| Shadow Rhyperior | Mud-Slap & Earthquake | |
| Shadow Mamoswine | Mud-Slap & High Horsepower | |
| Shadow Golurk | Mud-Slap & Earth Power | |
| Landorus Therian Forme | Mud Shot & Sandsear Storm | |
| Landorus Incarnate Forme | Mud Shot & Earth Power | |
| Krookodile | Mud-Slap & Earthquake |
The list includes Megas, Legendaries, Shadow, and more common Pokemon so there should be something for trainers of all levels.
However, even though the creatures listed are very effective against Nihilego, they still need to be leveled up and know the proper moves if you want to win the battle.
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on Esports, Gaming and more.
How to get Nihilego in Pokemon Go
Just like with Legendaries, the only way to get any Ultra Beast in Pokemon Go is by challenging it to battle, so to capture Nihilego, you must first defeat it in a 5-Star Raid encounter and then use the given Premier Balls to catch it. But, keep in mind that you won’t always find the Ultra Beasts in Raids, as they appear for a limited time.
Luckily, Nihilego is returning to Raid battles along with some other Ultra Beasts for the Pokemon Go Fest New York and Global weekends. That means it will be available on the following dates:
- From July 5, 2024, until July 7, 2024.
- From July 13, 2024, until July 14, 2024
As mentioned previously, it will be in 5-Star Raids on July 9, 2024, during the Inbound from Ultra Space event.
Previously, players were rewarded with this Ultra Beast encounter by completing Special/Timed Research Tasks like “A Radiant World – 4th part” or “Ultra Beast Arrival: Win a raid”.
Can Nihilego be Shiny in Pokemon Go?
Yes, Nihilego can be Shiny in Pokemon Go, as this special variation was introduced to the game back in June 2023.
Players taking on this Ultra Beast during the Go Fest event will have the chance to find Shiny Nihilego, and they can recognize it by the golden line around its head.
That’s all you need to know to take down Nihilego in Pokemon Go. Remember to check out All the Ultra Beasts available in the game, as well as How to get Remote Raid Passes and some very useful catching tips if you plan on challenging some alien-like creatures.