Pokémon Go: Moltres Day Raid Guide for September 2018

Saturday, September 8 is Moltres Day, and that means players around the world will have a 3-hour window to once again Raid the Legendary Fire Bird — and this time maybe score a Shiny!

Just like Articuno and Zapdos earlier this month, Pokémon Go is using Moltres, another of the Legendary Birds of Kanto, as a Global Research Challenge reward. This time for Pokémon Go Safari Zone Japan. The good news is, if you don't have a Moltres or a good Moltres, here's yet another chance to get one. And, for the first time, a chance to get Shiny Moltres.

When is Moltres Raid Day?

• Saturday, September 8, 2018

What time do the Moltres Day Raids start and end?

Same as Community Day:

• Asia-Pacific: 12:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. JST (GMT +9)
• Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India: 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. UTC (GMT +0)
• Americas and Greenland: 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. PST (GMT -8) / 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. EST (GMT -5)

Will any bonuses be in effect?

Stardust bonuses are, so you'll be able to stock up on your dust while you raid.

• 3x Catch Stardust Bonus
• 3x Raid Stardust Bonus
• 1 hour Star Pieces

Also:

• 2x Hatch Stardust Bonus

If you want to walk eggs while you travel between Raids.

What is Moltres Day?

Pokémon Go has been doing Community Day for a while now but these new Legendary Raid Days have just started, so it's hard to tell what it means or how long it will last yet. So, enjoy them while we have them.

Here's what Pokémon Go has said:

The final challenge is here! It's time to come together and work on the last round of Professor Willow's Global Challenge, happening on September 1 and 2 during the Safari Zone event in Yokosuka, Japan. If certain areas of the world can meet the challenge requirements,they'll unlock bonus Stardust for catching Pokémon and hatching Eggs—including a guaranteed 3,000 Stardust for every raid—starting September 3 at 1:00 P.M. PDT. Also, until September 10 at 1:00 P.M. PDT, Trainers can unlock a bonus to earn Star Pieces that will last for one hour!

If the challenge is completed, Trainers worldwide will receive up to five free Raid Passes for Moltres Day, which features the Legendary Pokémon Moltres! On September 8, Moltres will be available in Raid Battles around the world for a three-hour period and will know the Flying-type move Sky Attack. If you're lucky, you may be able to encounter a Shiny Moltres!

All you have to do to get your free Raid Passes is spin the Photo Disc on a Gym?

Yes, though you only get one at a time. So, go to a Raid, spin the Photo Disc on the Gym, get your pass, complete the Raid, and then go on to the next Raid and repeat the process. You can do this up to five times for free passes, then you need to start using premium (paid) raid passes.

Will Moltres be the only Raid during Moltres Day hours?

Also yes! Moltres will spawn at every Gym — with the exception of Gyms with active Ex Raid passes for next week — and stay spawned for the full three hours.

So, if you can get a group together, go from Gym to Gym and Raid to Raid as often as you want to or can for the full three hours.

Is it true Moltres Raids will have Tier 4 CP and timers?

No word yet, but that's what happened with Articuno Day and Zapdos Day in June and July, so odds are good. 180 seconds per Raid instead of 300, and the CP to match.

It shouldn't change the size of the Raid group you need, but it should let you get in more Raids.

But you still get Tier 5 XP and rewards?

Again, that's what happened with Articuno Day and Zapdos Day but there's no way to know for sure until Moltres Day starts. If it's on, you'll get 10,000 XP per raid, or 20,000 XP if you use a Lucky Egg.

Plus all the usual Tier 5 item drops.

How many players do you need to beat Moltres?

It's theoretically possible with two people, but both would have to be high level, have high-level Smack Down Tyranitars, and weather and friendship bonuses wouldn't hurt.

Three people should be fine regardless of weather, again with high-level Smack Down Tyranitars and Stone Edge Golems, and some level of friendship.

It won't be fast and things could go wrong, though. So, if you're looking to maximize speed and ensure victory, having a slightly larger group is the best strategy.

What's the best way to get in the most Moltres Raids?

You don't have to think about speed and quantity. You can play at a relaxed pace, get in your five free Raids, and totally not stress about it.

If you want to maximize your chances of scoring a 100% or Shiny, though, you'll have to go all-in on Wafu style Raiding.

Basically, get a team together that can take down the Raid Boss without any problems. Have someone in charge of finding the next Raid, someone in charge of getting you there, and someone in charge of starting the timer as soon as possible.

Then, you make sure everyone gets in, do the Raid, and immediately head to the next one.

If someone wants to catch a Shiny or high IV Raid Boss, and they aren't fast enough between Raids, they miss a Raid while catching, then jump back in.

It's relentless, it's exhausting, but it's what lets people get 50+ Raids done in 3 hours.

Just think twice before putting yourself (and your wallet and stress levels) through it

What are the best counters for Moltres?

Moltres is a Flying- and Fire-type Pokémon, so here's what you want to set up for your Raid Teams (best counters first):

• Tyranitar with Smack Down + Stone Edge (if you managed to score them during the June Community Day).
• Golem (incl. Alolan) with Rock Throw + Stone Edge.
• Kyogre with Waterfall + Hydropump
• Gyarados with Waterfall + Hydropump
• Rayquaza or Dragonite with Dragon Tail + Outrage.
• Raikou with Thunder Shock + Wild Charge
• Zapdos

Having at least two teams set up, a primary and a backup, can help you get back in quickly if you faint out, or still have strong counters if you forget to heal up between Raids.

What's a 100% perfect Moltres?

• 1870: Regular
• 2337: Weather boosted

Is Shiny Moltres coming for Raid Day?

Absolutely. Pokémon Go has already confirmed we'll be getting the big, shiny, pink firebird. Hopefully, it'll be the same 1/20 rate used for Articuno and Zapdos, and for Community Days. But, since everything is random you may get it right away or not at all. Yeah, pure randomness is still terrible.

Also hopefully, Shiny Moltres will have the same 100% catch rate as other Shiny Legendary so, if you do encounter one, a Pinap Berry will nab you even more extra candy.

What's the best moveset for Moltres?

Moltres is currently one of the best Fire-types in the game, alongside the Gen 2 Legendary Beast, Entei. Gen 4 might bring a better Fire-type with Heatran, and Community Day might help Blaziken rival or surpass them, like it did with Blast Burn Charizard.

All that said, Moltres is still terrific and if you can catch a good one, especially a good, weather-boosted one, these are the moves you want with it:

• Best Movesets: Fire Spin + Overheat.

Wait, isn't the special move Sky Attack?

It is. Sigh. You may want to keep a few Sky Attack Moltres around for collecting or trading purposes, but it's unclear they'll have any value beyond trophies at any point now or in the future.

Can you Fast TM Sky Attack onto your existing Moltres?

Pokémon Go hasn't let any exclusive moves be applied to existing Pokémon so far. That's been the cause of a lot of angst and anger in the community from people who believed they "wasted" resources on "obsolete" Pokémon.

But, with Sky Attack, no one really cares. Ouch. But truth.

Moltres has been available before, right?

Right. Moltres was the second of the Legendary Birds unlocked following the original Pokémon Go Fest Chicago in 2017, and has popped back into Raids in the past as well as been available as the Field Research reward for June, 2018.

Wait, what is Moltres?

Moltres is one of the Legendary Birds of Gen 1, originally discovered in the Kanto Region. In Pokémon Go, it's also the symbol of Team Valor.

From Pokémon:

Moltres is a legendary bird Pokémon that has the ability to control fire. If this Pokémon is injured, it is said to dip its body in the molten magma of a volcano to burn and heal itself.

From Bulbapedia:

Moltres is a large, avian Pokémon with orange or golden plumage. It has a long, flowing head crest and a billowing tail, both made of flames. Additionally, its wings are also shrouded in fiery plumage. Its straight, pointed beak is brown, as are its anisodactyl feet. It has short talons.

Moltres sheds embers with every flap of its wings, creating a brilliant flash of flames. By dipping itself into the magma of an active volcano, this Pokémon can heal itself. It migrates to the south with the coming of spring, and is said to bring an early springtime to cold lands. Moltres is rarely seen by Trainers.

Any Moltres Day Raid questions?

If you have any questions about Moltres Day or Raids, drop them in the comments below!