Abra & Alakazam: Mastering the Psychic Powerhouse in Pokémon GO

Abra, the diminutive Psychic-type Pokémon, has captivated trainers since its debut in Pokémon Red and Blue. In Pokémon GO, Abra continues to be a sought-after catch due to its evolution, the powerful Alakazam. This guide delves deep into Abra and Alakazam’s role in Pokémon GO, providing tips and tricks to catch, train, and battle effectively with this psychic powerhouse.

Catching the Elusive Abra

Abra is notorious for its tendency to teleport away upon encountering a trainer. In Pokémon GO, this translates to a high flee rate, making Abra a frustrating Pokémon to catch. Here’s how to increase your chances of adding Abra to your collection:

Using Berries and Poke Balls: Golden Razz Berries are highly recommended to maximize your catch rate. Always prioritize throwing Great Balls or higher for a better chance of securing Abra. Curveballs and throws that land within the shrinking circle further increase your catch probability.
Utilizing Special Events: Abra occasionally appears in events with boosted spawns or as a reward for completing research tasks. Keep an eye out for these events to farm Abra candies efficiently.
Checking Nearby Nests: Abra may occasionally nest in specific locations. Utilize nest-tracking resources online to discover nearby Abra nests and capitalize on these opportunities.

Pokémon GO Evolving Abra into Alakazam

Once you’ve captured your Abra, it’s time to evolve it into the mighty Alakazam. Abra requires a hefty 25 Abra candies to evolve. Here are some ways to accelerate the candy collection process:

Transferring Abra: Transferring unwanted Abra yields a small amount of candy. While not the most efficient method, it can be helpful in the early stages.
Pinap Berries: When catching Abra, using a Pinap Berry doubles the amount of candy received. This is a great strategy to maximize candy gain with each catch.
Buddy Pokémon: Make Abra your buddy Pokémon and walk with it to earn candy. This is a passive way to accumulate candy while hatching eggs or catching other Pokémon.
Abra Spawns & Lure Modules: If you find an Abra nest or lure Abra with an Incense or a Psychic Lure Module near a PokéStop, you can maximize candy collection by catching as many Abra as possible.

Training and Powering Up Your Alakazam

With Alakazam in your possession, it’s time to unleash its full potential. Here’s how to train your Alakazam effectively:

Power Up: Use Abra candy and Stardust to power up your Alakazam. Prioritize Alakazam with high CP (Combat Power) to maximize its battle effectiveness.
Focus on Attack: Alakazam excels as an offensive powerhouse. Prioritize leveling up its attack stat to maximize its damage output.
Stardust Optimization: Stardust is a valuable resource. Consider using Stardust multipliers during events to maximize the benefits of powering up your Alakazam.

Choosing the Best Moveset for Alakazam

Alakazam boasts a diverse move pool, allowing for customization based on your battling preferences. Here are the two most prominent movesets for Alakazam:

Confusion (Fast Move) & Psychic (Charged Move): This classic combination offers excellent DPS (Damage Per Second) and is ideal for taking down Gyms and defeating opponents quickly.
Counter (Fast Move) & Focus Blast (Charged Move): This moveset prioritizes raw power. Counter provides high energy gain, allowing Alakazam to unleash Focus Blast, a devastating charged move, more frequently. This setup is well-suited for Raid Battles against high-defense opponents.

Choosing the right moveset depends on your battling goals. Confusion/Psychic offers well-rounded performance, while Counter/Focus Blast prioritizes raw power for specific situations.

Utilizing Alakazam in Battle

Alakazam is a formidable attacker in Pokémon GO. Here are some situations where it shines:

Gym Battles: Alakazam’s high DPS makes it excellent for clearing out Gyms occupied by Pokémon weak to Psychic-type attacks.
Raid Battles: Against Raid Bosses vulnerable to Psychic-type attacks, Alakazam can be a valuable asset, particularly with the Confusion/Psychic moveset. However, Alakazam’s frailty requires caution against Raid Bosses with strong counter-attacks.
Trainer Battles: In Trainer Battles, Alakazam can overpower opponents weak to Psychic-type attacks, but be mindful of its vulnerability to Dark, Bug, and Ghost-type moves.