Roaring Moon
VGC Guide
Roaring Moon is the most aggressively offensive Ancient Paradox Pokémon in sun teams: Protosynthesis boosts Attack 30% in harsh sunlight, Acrobatics reaches 110 BP Flying STAB after Booster Energy is consumed, and its base 139 Attack with 119 Speed is exceptional. Dragon/Dark dual STAB covers Fighting, Poison, and Psychic types — with only Fairy-types as a true obstacle.
Protosynthesis: The Ultimate Sun Boost Ability
Protosynthesis activates in harsh sunlight or when holding Booster Energy, boosting the highest stat by 30%. Roaring Moon’s highest stat is base 139 Attack, reaching effective 181 Attack when activated. Booster Energy is consumed on entry but the effect persists. Koraidon’s sun provides continuous activation without consuming held items.
Acrobatics: Flying STAB Core After Booster Energy Consumed
Acrobatics doubles in power from 55 to 110 when the user holds no item. Booster Energy is consumed after activating Protosynthesis, leaving Roaring Moon item-free — immediately unlocking Acrobatics' full 110 BP Flying STAB. This interaction means Booster Energy provides double value: first activating Protosynthesis, then enabling full-power Acrobatics for the rest of the battle.
EV Spreads
Team Partners
Koraidon’s Orichalcum Pulse ability automatically provides harsh sunlight, activating Roaring Moon’s Protosynthesis without consuming Booster Energy. Koraidon’s 146 Attack with Roaring Moon’s 139 Attack forms sun’s most dangerous dual core, covering Ground, Fire, Flying, and Dragon directions.
Incineroar’s Intimidate lowers opponent Attack for safer Roaring Moon entry. Parting Shot lets Incineroar deal damage then retreat, giving the field to Roaring Moon while maintaining momentum and Intimidate cycling throughout the game.
Roaring Moon’s base 119 Speed is already fast, but Tailwind pushes it past every non-Scarf threat in the format. Tornadus’ Tailwind setup makes the sun team’s fast attackers universally faster — Roaring Moon under Tailwind outspeeds nearly everything.
Roaring Moon’s 4× Fairy weakness (Dragon ×2 and Dark ×2) is its biggest vulnerability. Flutter Mane on the same team covers opponents who try to use Fairy types against Roaring Moon, threatening them with Moonblast and Dazzling Gleam from the Fairy side.
How to Counter Roaring Moon
Both Dragon and Dark types are 2× weak to Fairy, making Roaring Moon 4× weak to Fairy moves. Moonblast, Dazzling Gleam, and Spirit Break easily OHKO. Flutter Mane or Whimsicott are the most effective Fairy counters against Dragon/Dark teams.
Dragon types are 2× weak to Ice. High-power Ice moves like Icicle Crash or Ice Beam threaten Roaring Moon significantly. Ice coverage is less common as a primary offensive direction in VGC but as secondary coverage can effectively threaten Dragon-types.
Dark types are 2× weak to Fighting. Iron Hands’ Drain Punch or Annihilape’s Close Combat hit Roaring Moon for super effective damage. Fighting-type Pokémon carry their own Fairy weakness, so the type triangle between Dragon/Dark/Fairy/Fighting creates interesting counterplay.
Intimidate drops Roaring Moon’s Attack by one stage (181 effective → 121 effective), then a Fairy-type switch-in provides type threat. Incineroar Intimidate followed by Flutter Mane completely neutralizes Roaring Moon’s offensive and defensive presence simultaneously.