Kyurem Pokémon GO Guide: Fusion, Shiny, Raids & Movesets

Kyurem is no longer merely another Legendary Dragon-type Pokémon to collect. Its ability to fuse with Zekrom or Reshiram gives Trainers access to Black Kyurem and White Kyurem, two Pokémon with exceptionally high stats, exclusive attacks, and useful Adventure Effects.

The difficult part is deciding which Kyurem deserves your Fusion Energy. A poor decision can leave you with the wrong form, missing signature moves, or a high-IV Reshiram or Zekrom unnecessarily locked inside a fusion.

This Pokémon GO Kyurem guide explains how fusion works, which form is better, the best Kyurem movesets, raid weaknesses and counters, Shiny mechanics, and how to plan your resources before the next Kyurem event.

What Is Kyurem in Pokémon GO?

Kyurem is a Legendary Dragon- and Ice-type Pokémon from the Unova region. It has three usable forms in Pokémon GO: regular Kyurem, Black Kyurem, and White Kyurem.

All three forms retain the same Dragon/Ice typing, which means they share the same weaknesses and resistances. However, their stats, available moves, and battle roles differ significantly.

Regular Kyurem has considerably lower Attack than its fused forms. Its strongest general moveset is Dragon Breath and Glaciate, but its lack of an Ice-type Fast Attack limits its performance as a conventional Ice raid attacker.

Black Kyurem and White Kyurem both have 310 base Attack, 183 Defense, and 245 Stamina, reaching 5,206 CP at Level 50. Their value comes from combining these stats with Freeze Shock or Ice Burn.

How to Get Kyurem in Pokémon GO

Can You Catch Kyurem in Pokémon GO?

Kyurem is usually available through limited-time five-star raids. Its most recent standard raid rotation ran from July 29 to August 4, 2026, with a Kyurem Raid Hour on July 29. Shiny Kyurem was also available during that rotation.

That event has ended, so Trainers who missed it must wait for another announced raid rotation, trade for Kyurem, or use a Kyurem already in their storage. Raid schedules change frequently, so check the in-game Today view, official Pokémon GO announcements, Campfire, and the current raid list before spending Remote Raid Passes.

Regular Kyurem returning to raids does not automatically mean that Fusion Energy is available. Fusion Energy is normally awarded by defeating Black Kyurem or White Kyurem, not by defeating regular Kyurem.

Can You Catch Black or White Kyurem from Raids?

You can battle Black Kyurem and White Kyurem as raid bosses, but the post-raid encounter is with regular Kyurem. Defeating Black Kyurem awards Volt Fusion Energy, while defeating White Kyurem awards Blaze Fusion Energy.

This distinction is important:

The Kyurem encountered after a fusion raid can be Shiny when Shiny encounters are enabled for that event. Its IVs and other attributes are independent of the raid boss's displayed fused form.

How Pokémon GO Kyurem Fusion Works

Kyurem can fuse with Zekrom to become Black Kyurem or with Reshiram to become White Kyurem. Each fusion uses a separate type of Fusion Energy.

These are one-time costs for the specific fusion. The Pokémon remains fused until you manually separate it. Separating is free, but performing the fusion again requires another 1,000 Fusion Energy and another set of Candy.

How to Fuse Kyurem

Step 1 [Open Kyurem's summary page]

Open the summary page of the Kyurem you want to use. When you have an eligible Zekrom or Reshiram and enough resources, the appropriate fusion option should appear.

Step 2 [Select and confirm the fusion]

Select the fusion and review the Pokémon and resource requirements carefully. Confirm only after checking the Kyurem's IVs, moves, level, Shiny status, and background. The selected Reshiram or Zekrom becomes unavailable for normal use while fused. Avoid choosing a valuable powered-up, Shiny, Lucky, or perfect-IV partner unless you specifically want that Pokémon tied to the fusion.

Which Pokémon Determines the Fusion's IVs?

Kyurem determines the fused Pokémon's important attributes.

Black or White Kyurem inherits its IVs and status from the selected Kyurem, not from Zekrom or Reshiram. This includes attributes such as level, Shiny status, Lucky status, Best Buddy progress, and relevant background characteristics.

For example, fusing a 15/15/14 Kyurem with a 10/10/10 Zekrom produces a Black Kyurem based on the 15/15/14 Kyurem. A perfect Zekrom cannot improve a weaker Kyurem.

Use your best Kyurem as the base and a less valuable Reshiram or Zekrom as the partner.

Is Kyurem Fusion Permanent?

Kyurem fusion is not permanent. You can separate the Pokémon whenever you choose, and separating does not consume Fusion Energy or Candy.

However, the original fusion cost is not refunded. If you later decide to fuse the same Pokémon again-or switch that Kyurem from Black to White-you must pay the complete fusion cost again.

Fused Kyurem also cannot be traded, transferred to Professor Willow, or sent to Pokémon HOME. Separate it first when an allowed action requires one of the original Pokémon.

Black Kyurem vs. White Kyurem in Pokémon GO

Black and White Kyurem have identical base stats and typing, but their moves create different roles.

Choose Black Kyurem For Flexible Raid Utility

Black Kyurem uses Dragon Tail as its main raid Fast Attack and Freeze Shock as its strongest Charged Attack. Although it does not have an Ice-type Fast Attack, its high Attack stat and the strength of Freeze Shock allow it to perform extremely well against many bosses weak to Ice.

It becomes particularly useful against Pokémon whose typings make both Dragon and Ice attacks valuable, including many Dragon/Flying or Dragon/Ground raid targets. It can also be adapted with Outrage when a more conventional Dragon-type Charged Attack is preferable.

Black Kyurem is therefore the better choice for Trainers who want one expensive investment to cover several overlapping raid scenarios.

Choose White Kyurem For Maximum Ice Damage

White Kyurem has access to Ice Fang, allowing it to run a complete Ice-type moveset with Ice Fang and Ice Burn. This makes it a cleaner and more specialized Ice attacker than Black Kyurem.

Current battle analysis places White Kyurem among the strongest Ice attackers available. It is especially effective against raid bosses with a double weakness to Ice, such as Pokémon with Dragon/Flying, Dragon/Ground, Grass/Flying, or Ground/Flying typing.

Choose White Kyurem when your priority is building the strongest possible Ice raid team rather than maximizing role compression.

Which Kyurem Is Better for Master League?

Both forms are major Master League investments. Current simulations place White Kyurem above Black Kyurem in the standard overall ranking, but exact positions can change with move updates and shifts in the Master League meta.

White Kyurem uses Dragon Breath for steady Fast Attack pressure, Ice Burn for powerful Ice damage, and Fusion Flare to threaten Steel-type opponents. Black Kyurem relies on Dragon Tail, Freeze Shock, and Fusion Bolt for heavier individual attacks and Electric coverage.

Choose based on the rest of your team:

Pokémon GO Kyurem Best Movesets

Regular Kyurem Best Moveset

Best general moveset:

Glaciate is the move that gives regular Kyurem its main PvP identity. It applies an Attack reduction to the opponent, while Dragon Claw provides a cheaper attack for shield pressure. Current simulations still consider regular Kyurem viable in Master League, although the fused forms offer much higher stats.

For raids, regular Kyurem is usable but rarely the best place to spend large amounts of Stardust or Candy XL. Saving resources for a future fusion usually provides better long-term value.

Black Kyurem Best Moveset

Best raid moveset:

Recommended Master League moveset:

Dragon Tail and Freeze Shock combine high Fast Attack pressure with an extremely powerful Ice Charged Attack. Fusion Bolt provides a lower-cost coverage option against Water- and Flying-type opponents in PvP.

Shadow Claw is another viable PvP option in some team compositions, but current standard ranking simulations commonly use Dragon Tail. Check updated PvP simulations before using a Fast TM because the preferred choice can change with the meta.

White Kyurem Best Moveset

Best dedicated Ice raid moveset:

Recommended Master League moveset:

Dragon Breath and Ice Burn can produce a slightly higher general moveset score in neutral simulations, but Ice Fang is the logical Fast Attack when White Kyurem is being used specifically as an Ice attacker.

For Master League, Dragon Breath generates consistent pressure and offers more flexible move timing. Fusion Flare is essential coverage because Ice attacks are resisted by Steel Pokémon, one of Kyurem's main threats.

Why Glaciate Is Essential Before Fusing Kyurem

When a Kyurem that knows Glaciate fuses with Zekrom, Glaciate changes into Freeze Shock. When it fuses with Reshiram, Glaciate changes into Ice Burn.

Separating the Pokémon changes Freeze Shock or Ice Burn back into Glaciate. The signature move is therefore connected to the base Kyurem's possession of Glaciate.

At present, Black Kyurem cannot directly learn Freeze Shock through a regular or Elite Charged TM, and White Kyurem cannot directly learn Ice Burn through those TMs. Prepare Glaciate on the regular Kyurem before completing the fusion.

A safe preparation order is:

Step 1. Select the Kyurem with the best IVs and desired status.

Step 2. Confirm that it knows Glaciate or teach it Glaciate when eligible.

Step 3. Only then spend the Fusion Energy and Candy.

Kyurem caught during certain featured events may already know Glaciate. During Road of Legends and Pokémon GO Fest 2026 activities, eligible Kyurem raid encounters could know the move.

Freeze Shock and Ice Burn Adventure Effects

The fused forms also provide Adventure Effects that work outside battles. Each activation normally costs 5,000 Stardust and five Kyurem Candy for 10 minutes.

Black Kyurem's Freeze Shock Effect

Freeze Shock prevents encountered Pokémon from moving around the catch screen. This can make moving or aggressive Pokémon easier to target and can also help when using compatible connected catching accessories.

The duration can be extended in 10-minute increments, with limits applied to each use and the total active duration. Freeze Shock cannot run at the same time as another Adventure Effect.

White Kyurem's Ice Burn Effect

Ice Burn makes the target ring move more slowly during encounters. This creates more time to aim for Great or Excellent Throws and can make difficult raid encounters easier to control.

Like Freeze Shock, it uses Stardust and Kyurem Candy, can be extended, and cannot overlap with another Adventure Effect.

These effects are useful, but repeated activation can consume Kyurem Candy quickly. Trainers still building a Level 50 Kyurem should prioritize powering up and unlocking the second Charged Attack before using large amounts of Candy on Adventure Effects.

Pokémon GO Kyurem Weaknesses and Resistances

Kyurem, Black Kyurem, and White Kyurem are all weak to:

They resist Electric-, Grass-, and Water-type attacks.

Dragon counters can deal substantial damage, but they may also take super-effective damage from Kyurem's Dragon or Ice attacks. Steel and Fighting attackers often provide a more stable option, depending on the raid boss's moveset.

Pokémon GO Kyurem Raid Counters

The strongest counters change as new Pokémon and moves are released. Recent simulations include options such as Crowned Sword Zacian, Crowned Shield Zamazenta, Mega Lucario, Dusk Mane Necrozma, and Mega Mewtwo X among the leading Kyurem counters.

Trainers without these premium attackers can build teams around accessible representatives of the five effective types. Prioritize Pokémon with matching Fast and Charged Attacks rather than selecting a counter based only on its species.

Before entering the lobby, check three things:

Step 1. The Pokémon's moves are super effective against Kyurem.

Step 2. The team is powered up sufficiently for a five-star raid.

Step 3. At least one Trainer uses a suitable Mega Evolution when the group needs additional damage.

A well-prepared group of approximately three or four Trainers can defeat regular Kyurem under favorable conditions. Less optimized or lower-level groups should bring additional participants rather than relying on a theoretical minimum.

Kyurem Raid Catch CP

A regular Kyurem encountered from a raid normally falls within these ranges:

Kyurem is boosted by Windy weather because of its Dragon typing and Snow because of its Ice typing.

Use Golden Razz Berries for valuable encounters, aim for consistent curveball throws, and wait until Kyurem finishes its attack animation before releasing the ball. A controlled Great throw is usually better than repeatedly missing an attempted Excellent throw.

Can Kyurem Be Shiny in Pokémon GO?

Yes. Shiny Kyurem is available during raid rotations and events where Shiny encounters are enabled. The encounter after defeating Black or White Kyurem is still regular Kyurem, and that Kyurem may be Shiny.

The selected Kyurem determines whether the fused Pokémon is Shiny. A Shiny Zekrom fused with a normal Kyurem does not create a Shiny Black Kyurem, and a Shiny Reshiram does not make a normal Kyurem become Shiny White Kyurem.

Save your Shiny Reshiram and Zekrom unless you deliberately want those specific Pokémon locked in a fusion. Use a Shiny Kyurem as the base when your goal is Shiny Black or White Kyurem.

Use PoKeep to Explore Kyurem Raid Locations

PoKeep Location Changer provides one-click location changes, a 360-degree joystick, two-point and multi-point movement, jump teleport, favorite routes, location history, GPX importing, and a cooldown timer. These tools can help users inspect different raid areas, return to saved Gym clusters, and organize movement between locations from a Windows or macOS computer.

A practical Kyurem raid workflow is:

Step 1. Identify a busy raid area through Campfire or a trusted community.

Step 2. Save productive Gym clusters in PoKeep for future raid rotations.

Step 3. Use the appropriate movement mode and respect the displayed cooldown before interacting at another location.

Jump teleport can help check separated raid locations, while multi-point movement is better suited to dense areas with several nearby Gyms. Favorite routes and historical records make it easier to revisit successful locations during Raid Hour or a future Kyurem Fusion Raid Day.

Pokémon GO Kyurem FAQ

Final Verdict

Kyurem is worth collecting even when regular Kyurem is not the strongest raid attacker on its own. High-IV, Shiny, Lucky, Glaciate-equipped Kyurem can become one of the game's most valuable long-term investments through fusion.

White Kyurem is the clearer choice for Trainers building an elite Ice raid team. Black Kyurem is better suited to players who value flexible raid coverage and its distinct Master League and Adventure Effect utility.

Whichever form you choose, prepare the base Kyurem first. Check its IVs, secure Glaciate, preserve your best Reshiram and Zekrom, and avoid separating a completed fusion unless you are prepared to pay the full cost again.