Pokemon GO Masquerain: Best moveset, counters, and is it any good?
Masquerain first fluttered into Pokemon GO during the Hoenn Celebration on February 9, 2018. Now, trainers have another chance to catch and evolve this Bug/Flying type creature, thanks to the upcoming Surskit Spotlight Hour on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. local time. Moreover, with a 2x Transfer Candy bonus, you can stock up on Surskit candies to evolve and power up Masquerain.
Spotlight Hours are an excellent opportunity to focus on specific Pokemon, so make sure to take advantage of it to prepare Masquerain for your PvP or PvE teams.
Note: This article is subjective and solely reflects the writer's opinions.
Best Movesets for Masquerain in Pokemon GO
PvP Moveset:
- Fast Move: Air Slash
- Charged Move: Silver Wind
PvE Moveset:
- Fast Move: Infestation
- Charged Move: Silver Wind
Also read: How to get Surskit in Pokemon GO, and can it be shiny?
Is Masquerain Good in Pokemon GO PvP and PvE?
PvP
In PvP battles, Masquerain has some niche use as a debuffer. Moves like Silver Wind can reduce an opponent’s stats, which may give you a strategic advantage in certain situations.
However, because Pokemon GO’s PvP format allows for easy switching, an opponent can quickly remove these debuffs, making it challenging for Masquerain to have a lasting impact.
This shows that Masquerain can be fun if you’re looking to experiment with unusual strategies, but it’s not likely to become a staple in competitive play.
PvE
Masquerain’s limitations are even more noticeable in PvE. Its type (Bug/Flying) leaves it highly vulnerable to common raid bosses, especially those with Rock, Ice, and Electric moves.
With weaknesses in five major types, Masquerain struggles to hold up against the majority of high-powered opponents you’ll encounter in raids and gym battles. While it might look striking, Masquerain isn’t suited for top-tier PvE gameplay.
Also read: Best teams for Master Premier Cup in GO Max Out
Pokemon GO Masquerain: All Moves and stats
Type: Bug/Flying
Fast Moves:
- Air Slash
- Infestation
Charged Moves:
- Bubble Beam
- Ominous Wind
- Air Cutter
- Silver Wind
- Lunge
Base Stats:
- Attack: 192
- Defense: 150
- Stamina: 172
- Max CP: 2,567
With solid attack but lower defense and stamina stats, Masquerain is balanced but falls behind other Bug-types when it comes to high-stakes battles. Its lack of high-power moves also limits its PvE effectiveness.
Also read: Is Lugia with Aeroblast good in PvP and PvE?
Pokemon GO Masquerain: Strengths and weaknesses
Resistances:
- Ground: 24%
- Fighting: 39%
- Grass: 39%
- Bug: 63%
Weaknesses:
- Rock: 256%
- Electric: 160%
- Flying: 160%
- Fire: 160%
- Ice: 160%
Super effective against:
- Grass
- Dark
- Psychic
- Bug
- Fighting
- Grass
While Masquerain’s resistance to Bug and Grass moves helps it endure against weaker opponents, its quadruple weakness to Rock is a significant liability. Trainers should take these weaknesses into consideration before bringing this Pokemon into battle.
Also read: Can you solo defeat Lugia in 5-star raids?
Best Counters for Masquerain in Pokemon GO
If you encounter Masquerain in a PvE or PvP battle, here are some powerful counters to consider:
- Mega Diancie with Rock Throw and Rock Slide
- Shadow Rampardos with Smack Down and Rock Slide
- Shadow Rhyperior with Smack Down and Rock Wrecker
- Mega Rayquaza with Air Slash and Dragon Ascent
- Shadow Gigalith with Smack Down and Meteor Beam
- Mega Aerodactyl with Rock Throw and Rock Slide
- Mega Tyranitar with Smack Down and Stone Edge
- Shadow Aggron with Smack Down and Meteor Beam
- Tyrantrum with Rock Throw and Meteor Beam
- Shadow Archeops with Wing Attack and Ancient Power
- Terrakion with Smack Down and Rock Slide
- Shadow Salamence with Fire Fang and Fly
- Mega Charizard Y with Fire Spin and Blast Burn
- Shadow Darmanitan with Fire Fang and Rock Slide
- Mega Blaziken with Fire Spin and Blast Burn
Also read: GO PokeStop Showcase November 2024 - All dates and featured Pokemon
While Masquerain may not dominate in PvP or PvE, it’s still a fascinating addition for collectors and casual players who enjoy experimenting with unique movesets. If you’re attending Surskit’s Spotlight Hour, take advantage of the bonus candy to add Masquerain to your roster.
This Bug/Flying type Pokemon might not be the strongest one in Pokemon GO, but it can still be a fun and visually striking choice for low-stakes battles or themed team builds.
Check out our other Pokemon GO guides:
- Ditto disguises
- Buddy Evolution Adventure Together guide
- Best Fast Attacks in Pokemon GO
- Sierra counters
- Cliff counters
- Arlo counters
- Giovanni counters
- Team GO Rocket Grunts