https://www.reddit.com/r/TheSilphRoad/comments/1igkp2z/moltres_experience_from_new_zealand/
created by Mango_Slime on 03/02/2025 at 08:40 UTC*
219 upvotes, 19 top-level comments (showing 19)
I think it was harder than the previous two birds. But this is also subjective since the Dynamax mons I focused on the most were Excadrill and Metagross (both being roughly 3k CP).
I used a 2.3k Blastoise and 2.5k Intellion as tanks/gather energy and 2.8k Gmax Kingler to DPS.
Blastoise would lose just over half its health with a strong attack but depending on Moltres’ move (and how fast it is), I was able to gather enough energy to Gmax before being hit.
I had decent teammates so managed to clear most (did 3 raids) before I had to use Intellion but the one time I did, it died in one hit.
Also, please don’t be that guy who expects to be carried and bring a Wooloo or something that’s clearly weak against fire and won’t add any value to the team.
Comment by Kuliyayoi at 03/02/2025 at 08:42 UTC
62 upvotes, 5 direct replies
Damn I thought kingler would make it easier.
Comment by luoyianwu at 03/02/2025 at 09:59 UTC
37 upvotes, 0 direct replies
If you have two tanks and neither can survive the first turn, consider letting the weaker one lead
Comment by dranatos at 03/02/2025 at 08:58 UTC
23 upvotes, 3 direct replies
Seemed hard to throw high enough to get a great or excellent but catch rate might be easier ? Or I got lucky catching 4 with bad throws
Comment by luoyianwu at 03/02/2025 at 10:29 UTC
1 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Just had two successful battles. Both took 4-5 turns depending on how many attackers. Besides the high damage, it’s not much different than uno and dos.
Comment by PAULOFLORIANO at 03/02/2025 at 11:06 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Just a tip for anyone interested, according to my calculations, Blastoise lv 40 can only resist 2 fire attacks. Heat Wave can still withstand a third. But if you want to do it more easily and have patience, an Excadrill lv 40 can resist 3 Sky Attack and 5 Ancient Power.
Comment by GarakInstinct at 03/02/2025 at 12:20 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
To be honest I had a sucky time tonight. I did my absolute best to prepare, did all the calculations for max particles and everything, and got screwed over because we got a cold front in Korea and nobody came out to actually do the max battles near where I live. (The past two bird Mondays, it was disorganized but there were definitely people lobbying.) I spent like 40 minutes just going in and out of the only lobby that could be reached from inside a nice warm building on my local college campus, before FINALLY some people joined and I managed to complete exactly one battle. Doing it with four people is a breeze if you've got decent counters, but unlike Zapdos, which I was managing to duo, Moltres hits so hard I would just get KO'd immediately on my tank Blastoises (even at level 40!).
I have overall actually liked the Max battles, they're interesting and a new way to play. But they definitely need improvement, too. Remotes would definitely be a plus, but I also just want there to be a better way to actually get people to do hard Dynamax battles with you. It's ridiculous that you can't set flares for Max battles on Campfire. It's ridiculous how badly integrated Campfire is in the first place. And it's beyond annoying that all these Dyna birds came before we got any rock counters.
I know, I know, somebody's already had a successful solo, so it's not like these are impossible. But I'm waiting to see who has a successful duo without using mushrooms, and ideally without having to roll for a ridiculously rare moveset or something.
Comment by familywithkids at 03/02/2025 at 08:56 UTC
23 upvotes, 2 direct replies
The fire-types attacks hit like a truck, so definitely have a good water type, like high level Blastoid, to absorb those hits. The trouble was that in some teams players didn't have 0,5sec fast moves, so it takes a lot longer before you max the meter, making it harder than it needs to be.
Catch rate is as bad as the other birds... some are going to flee.
Comment by Greninja55 at 03/02/2025 at 09:18 UTC
12 upvotes, 4 direct replies
We found it quite easy to do with 2 accounts that had level 35 Blastoise, Lapras and Kingler, and 1 account with level 30 Blastoise and Kingler.
Moltres does a lot of damage but if you can hold on the Kingler can wipe out its hp very quickly.
Comment by JMooj at 03/02/2025 at 09:55 UTC
7 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Would you have preferred having a Lapras tanking for you, or do you know?
I've got a great GMax Lapras raised, but I'm worried about that ice typing. My Blastoise is okay, but it's been neglected in favor of others...
Comment by swanny246 at 03/02/2025 at 10:10 UTC
1 upvotes, 2 direct replies
My level 40 Inteleon was getting OHKO before we would even get to the first Dynamax phase, was bloody annoying. Having those 0.5s fast movers is CRUCIAL IMO.
Comment by Wrulfy at 03/02/2025 at 12:56 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
How much do I need to lv up my Blastoise so it tanks two hits? I have a 13/15/15 at lv 30.
I also have a 14/15/15 lv39 inteleon, not sure if it's gonna be better than powering up a bit another krab or evolve and power another Squirtle to Blastoise
Comment by Taikuri1982 at 03/02/2025 at 17:18 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Did three as well. Hardest of the bird trio by far! But also very move dependent. Heatwave as fast move (undodgeable) one shots lvl 40 Blastoise! Same with Excadrill and Toxi... Fireblast charge took around 80% from Blastoise and Lapras.
That said, we did two trios. One where we carried low level player but it was with sky attack/ancient power. Was still tight... Other trio we had heatwave/ancient power and went to two last pokemons. Heatwave just destroys!
Last one we did with four and it was easy with well prepared group and easier moves.
No mushrooms in any group.
Comment by New_Literature8184 at 03/02/2025 at 09:02 UTC
6 upvotes, 3 direct replies
I felt like moltres was easier than zapdos. Even had people bring in wooloo that survived till the boss was dead, oke to be fair that was only in 1 out of 4 raids, but yeah I was surprised that it lasted
Comment by Psychological-End-56 at 03/02/2025 at 11:42 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Was in a party of 3 and my team was a level 36 Blastoise with water gun as my tank and another blastoise but lower level, but i never got to use it. My attacker was a level 30 Inteleon with full max geyser. Moltres was fire all the way. We got it after about 5 rounds.
Comment by Rstuds7 at 03/02/2025 at 14:36 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
man i’m not looking forward to this now, I barely was able to get Articuno and Zapdos, and I wasn’t able to get gmax kingler so i’m worried i’m gonna miss out on this one or use my excadrill and water mons as tanks
Comment by Chudz_x9 at 03/02/2025 at 19:09 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Personally I found moltres easier than the other two. Went in with 4 and had unpowered up (cp, had max shields) kinglers for the most part for the first one, and managed to do it fine, could've got lucky and had the right moveset. Got super lucky and got 2/4 as shinies
Comment by SandbagStrong at 03/02/2025 at 19:37 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
After this I'm pretty convinced the general strategy for battles going forward should be:
I feel like you should only deviate from this if you don't have any offensive power at all. Then be a shielder to take the heat off other players during max build up phase.
Healers are kindof meh because they will only heal attackers that only should be on the field just before they max so they shouldn't have taken too much damage.
Comment by ntcolonel at 03/02/2025 at 18:01 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I saw a post earlier today that someone was using Gmax Toxitricity as DPS. Would Kingler or Toxitricty be a better DPS with 2 tanks?
Comment by OgPoundSta at 03/02/2025 at 15:15 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Gigantamax Lapras tank then 2 gigantamax kinglers for damage, easy as