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Professor Geekbeak’s Raid Research: Buzzwole

May 11, 2026 - Professor Geekbeak
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Buzzwole

Professor Noctowl's Raid Research: Buzzwole

A Scholarly Analysis from the Pokebattler Pokémon Research Institute

Raid Introduction

Hello students! My name is Professor Noctowl, and today, I wish to draw attention to Buzzwole. As an Ultra Beast, Buzzwole sits in a strange spot, due to being a Bug Fighting type. It finds its current best use in Master League, but can be used as a Fighting attack option. Grab your notebooks, class is in session. For those who wish to do their research independently, our raw data can be found here. And for those who wish for a simple visual guide, go ahead and take a look at the below visual guide by CaptGoldfish.

Visual Guide

Raid Syllabus

Course Schedule

This raid will take place from May 13th to May 19th. It will be preceded by Mega Camerupt and Nihilego, coincide with Mega Glalie, Pheromosa, and Xurkitree, and will be followed by Mega Altaria and Tapu Bulu. Please note that Ultra Beasts are regional encounters, with Buzzwole being found in the Americas and Greenland.

Course Information

  • Catch CP: 1894 - 1977
  • Boosted (Rainy): 2368 - 2472
  • Minimum Required Trainers (Lvl 40, best friends, optimal weather): 1
  • Recommended: 2+ with Lvl 20 counters

Type Effectiveness & Moveset List

Note that Buzzwole is doubly weak to Flying type moves. No surprises in the charge moves either.

Effectiveness Types
Double Resist (0.4x)
Resist (0.6x) Fighting Fighting Ground Ground Bug Bug Grass Grass Dark Dark
Neutral Normal Normal Poison Poison Rock Rock Ghost Ghost Steel Steel Water Water Electric Electric Ice Ice Dragon Dragon
Super Effective (1.6x) Fire Fire Psychic Psychic Fairy Fairy
Double Super Effective (2.6x) Flying Flying

Buzzwole’s moveset includes the following charge moves:

  • Bug Lunge
  • Fighting Superpower
  • Bug Fell Stinger
  • Fighting Power-Up Punch

The Dean's List - Top 5 Counters

The Dean’s List consists of the top 5 counters to Buzzwole. As always, the Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and the Third Ranked will have their best moveset alternatives in a table with their rankings and a table detailing their defensive prowess against the charge moves listed above.

Mega Rayquaza

Mega Rayquaza A

Best Moveset: Flying Air Slash / Flying Dragon Ascent
DPS
Tank
Reliability
1
Trainers
(Lvl 40)
Quick Move Charge Move Efficacy
Flying Air Slash Flying Dragon Ascent 100%
Dragon Dragon Tail Flying Dragon Ascent 83%
Flying Air Slash Flying Hurricane 74%
Flying Air Slash Flying Aerial Ace 70%
Flying Air Slash Dragon Breaking Swipe 58%
Dragon Dragon Tail Flying Aerial Ace 54%
Shadow Moltres

Shadow Moltres A

Best Moveset: Flying Wing Attack / Flying Fly
DPS
Tank
Reliability
2
Trainers
(Lvl 40)
Quick Move Charge Move Efficacy
Flying Wing Attack Flying Fly 100%
Flying Wing Attack Flying Sky Attack 92%
Fire Fire Spin Flying Fly 88%
Fire Fire Spin Flying Sky Attack 81%
Flying Wing Attack Fire Overheat 65%
Flying Wing Attack Fire Fire Blast 61%
Rayquaza

Rayquaza A

Best Moveset: Flying Air Slash / Flying Dragon Ascent
DPS
Tank
Reliability
2
Trainers
(Lvl 40)
Quick Move Charge Move Efficacy
Flying Air Slash Flying Dragon Ascent 100%
Dragon Dragon Tail Flying Dragon Ascent 84%
Flying Air Slash Flying Hurricane 75%
Flying Air Slash Flying Aerial Ace 71%
Flying Air Slash Dragon Breaking Swipe 58%
Dragon Dragon Tail Flying Aerial Ace 55%

Defensive Grades for Top 3

Boss Move RAYQUAZA_MEGA MOLTRES_SHADOW_FORM RAYQUAZA
Fighting Superpower 🛡 🛡 🛡
Fighting Power-Up Punch 🛡 🛡 🛡
Bug Lunge 🛡 🛡🛡 🛡
Bug Fell Stinger 🛡 🛡🛡 🛡
Shadow Toucannon

Shadow Toucannon A

Best Moveset: Flying Peck / Flying Beak Blast
DPS
Tank
Reliability
2
Trainers
(Lvl 40)
Shadow Salamence

Shadow Salamence A

Best Moveset: Fire Fire Fang / Flying Fly
DPS
Tank
Reliability
2
Trainers
(Lvl 40)
Also Noteworthy: A: Shadow Staraptor

Honor Roll - The Bottom 5

We here at Pokebattler Pokémon Research Institute can’t expect you to have the best counters every time. So, here are some of our other best options, most of which will be easier to find than the members of the Dean’s List.

Mega Salamence

Mega Salamence A

Best Moveset: Fire Fire Fang / Flying Fly
DPS
Tank
Reliability
2
Trainers
(Lvl 40)
Enamorus

Enamorus A

Best Moveset: Fairy Fairy Wind / Flying Fly
DPS
Tank
Reliability
2
Trainers
(Lvl 40)
Shadow Ho-Oh

Shadow Ho-Oh A

Best Moveset: Flying Hidden Power / Flying Brave Bird
DPS
Tank
Reliability
2
Trainers
(Lvl 40)
Moltres

Moltres A

Best Moveset: Flying Wing Attack / Flying Fly
DPS
Tank
Reliability
2
Trainers
(Lvl 40)
Mega Pidgeot

Mega Pidgeot A

Best Moveset: Flying Gust / Flying Brave Bird
DPS
Tank
Reliability
2
Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Honorable Mentions

Of course, besides our 10 best counters, there are plenty of Pokémon that also work against Buzzwole. Here are a few star choices, worthy of praise.

A YveltalYveltalToucannonToucannonShadow HonchkrowShadow HonchkrowShadow UnfezantShadow UnfezantShadow TornadusShadow TornadusGalarian ArticunoGalarian ArticunoShadow ZapdosShadow ZapdosShadow LugiaShadow LugiaStaraptorStaraptorSalamenceSalamenceTornadus TherianTornadus TherianMega Charizard YMega Charizard YBraviaryBraviaryMega BlazikenMega BlazikenHo-OhHo-OhLugiaLugiaHisuian BraviaryHisuian BraviaryShadow VikavoltShadow VikavoltShadow MewtwoShadow Mewtwo

Weather Specialists

Sometimes, the weather can be your most powerful ally. In certain weather conditions, certain Pokémon on our list excel. The most transformative cases are noted below.

WindyWindy
Shadow Staraptor (1.0)Moltres (1.0)Shadow Ho-Oh (1.0)

Raid Conclusion

Overall, Buzzwole is a simple counter. Bringing any strong flying type will take this oversized bug down. Of course, if you wish to do more research on your box’s best Pokémon for the job, Pokebattler.com itself can be a great help! Remember, the best counter is the one you have powered up and ready to go. I grant extra credit to those who use their best friend bonus and the weather to their advantage. Class dismissed!

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