TL;DR
- All three Lake Guardians share identical weaknesses to Bug, Dark, and Ghost-type attacks
- Tyranitar remains the supreme counter with double resistance to Psychic moves
- Azelf outperforms Mesprit and Uxie but still trails major Psychic legendaries
- Regional exclusivity requires global coordination via Remote Raid Passes
- Limited battle viability makes them primarily valuable for Pokedex completion

The legendary Lake Guardians – Mesprit, Uxie, and Azelf – have arrived as featured five-star raid bosses in Pokemon GO. This Generation IV psychic trio has historically received less attention compared to other legendary Pokemon throughout the franchise.
This relative obscurity proves somewhat warranted within Pokemon GO’s battle mechanics, as these sub-legendary Pokemon demonstrate significantly less stability than their counterparts. The critical question for trainers: Can these elusive beings deliver practical combat value? Our comprehensive guide reveals proven strategies to conquer, capture, and effectively utilize Mesprit, Uxie, and Azelf during the ongoing Season of Mischief event.
What counters Mesprit, Uxie, and Azelf in Pokemon GO?
Mesprit, Uxie, and Azelf all share identical vulnerability to Bug, Dark, and Ghost-type offensive moves.
As pure Psychic-type entities, the Lake Guardians possess remarkably constrained move pools. This characteristic simplifies counter selection dramatically, allowing trainers to deploy highly effective teams against all three simultaneously.

Each guardian exclusively utilizes Psychic-type fast attacks, while their charged attacks include normal-type Swift, psychic-type Future Sight, or elemental coverage moves. Specifically, Azelf accesses Fire Blast, Mesprit commands Blizzard, and Uxie wields Thunder.
Pro Tip: Always check the specific charged move your raid boss knows before engaging – elemental coverage can catch unprepared trainers off guard.
Tyranitar stands as the premier counter against all three Pokemon. It maintains double resistance against every available fast attack while demonstrating resistance or double resistance to all charged moves except Thunder and Blizzard. This defensive superiority establishes Tyranitar as the optimal choice for confronting the Lake Guardian trio.
Beyond Tyranitar, virtually any formidable Dark-type Pokemon proves serviceable. Hydreigon and Bisharp deliver comparable performance to Tyranitar, while legendary options including Giratina, Darkrai, and Yveltal perform exceptionally well. Secondary choices like Weavile, Houndoom, and Honchkrow provide solid backup options against Mesprit, Uxie, and Azelf.
Common Mistake: Avoid using Psychic or Fighting-type attackers – they take super effective damage from the guardians’ Psychic moves.
Is Mesprit any good in Pokemon GO?
Mesprit delivers adequate but unremarkable performance within Pokemon GO’s combat system.
Reaching level 40, Mesprit achieves a maximum CP of 3,058. Despite its legendary status, this CP ceiling aligns closely with standard Psychic-types including Espeon, Exeggutor, and Alakazam. Additionally, its offensive coverage remains notably limited.
These factors combine to render Mesprit generally disappointing, making it an unwise investment for precious Rare Candies. Mesprit primarily serves Pokedex completion purposes rather than competitive battle applications.
Advanced Insight: Mesprit’s balanced stat distribution (240 Attack, 240 Defense, 260 Stamina) creates a “jack of all trades, master of none” scenario that struggles in the current meta.
Is Uxie any good in Pokemon GO?
Uxie demonstrates poor combat effectiveness in Pokemon GO.
At level 40, Uxie reaches a mere 2,524 CP. In core Pokemon titles, Uxie’s strength emerges from its defensive bulk and extensive support move access. Unfortunately, these attributes fail to translate effectively into Pokemon GO’s simplified battle mechanics.
Given its restricted moveset and low CP maximum, Uxie proves less impactful than common Psychic Pokemon such as Jynx, Slowking, and Starmie. While worth capturing due to extreme rarity, this Pokemon offers minimal value across all battle formats.
Strategic Perspective: Uxie’s 251 Defense stat suggests tank potential, but without proper support moves, it cannot fulfill this role effectively.
Is Azelf any good in Pokemon GO?
Azelf represents the most competent Lake Guardian in Pokemon GO, though it still underperforms compared to other legendary Psychic-types.
Azelf’s CP peaks at 3,210 when powered to level 40. This positions it marginally above standard Psychic Pokemon, yet substantially below elite Psychic legendaries including Lugia, Mewtwo, and Latios.
As the most powerful member of the Lake Guardian trio, Azelf nevertheless doesn’t justify substantial resource investment for improvement. Conserving Rare Candies for superior Pokemon remains the strategic recommendation.
Comparative Analysis: Azelf’s 270 Attack stat gives it offensive potential, but its 151 Defense creates durability issues in extended battles.
How to get Mesprit, Uxie, and Azelf in Pokemon GO
Mesprit, Uxie, and Azelf periodically appear as five-star raid bosses in Pokemon GO. Official announcements confirm their availability from September 14 through October 1, though accessibility varies geographically.
Each guardian occupies specific regional territories: Uxie appears throughout Asia-Pacific regions, Mesprit spawns across Europe, Middle East, and Africa, while Azelf inhabits the Americas and Greenland. This distribution means most players can only encounter one guardian locally.
This limitation resolves easily by establishing friendships with international trainers and participating in their raids via Remote Raid Passes. Collectors must act promptly to secure all three, as the legendary trio vanishes after approximately seventeen days.
Time Management Tip: Prioritize catching your regional guardian first, then coordinate with global friends for the remaining two.
Action Checklist
- Assemble Dark/Ghost/Bug-type counters with Tyranitar as anchor
- Identify your regional Lake Guardian and prioritize local raids
- Connect with international friends for Remote Raid invitations
- Verify raid boss charged moves before engaging to avoid elemental surprises
- Capture all three before October 1 deadline
No reproduction without permission:Game Guides Online » How to defeat and use Mesprit, Uxie, and Azelf in Pokemon GO Master the Lake Guardians: Complete raid counters, battle viability analysis, and global capture strategies
