Is Raikou worth building?
Fine to keep, but not a priority power-up. Raikou is a Electric-type Pokémon that caps at 3,902 CP. Its best all-round moveset is Thunder Shock paired with Wild Charge.
Stats
Rankings
Thunder Shock
Wild Charge
Moves
Fast Moves
Charged Moves
Best Moveset Analysis
In Ultra League PvP, Raikou runs Thunder Shock and Wild Charge, ranked #47 (Tier A) with a 59.81% win rate. Raikou has access to 2 fast moves and 5 charged moves, giving trainers flexibility depending on the battle format.
Among fast moves, the highest DPS option is Volt Switch (8.7 DPS), while Thunder Shock generates energy the fastest (14 EPS).
Forms & Variants
Raid Guide
Raikou as Raid Boss
5-Star Raids Active Now Shiny AvailableRaikou is currently available as a 5-Star Raids raid boss in Pokemon GO. A 100% IV Raikou from raids will have 1972 CP at level 20, or 2466 CP at level 25 with weather boost. View full raid guide →
Best Counters to Beat Raikou
Raikou is weak to Ground-type moves, so counters with these move types will deal the most damage.
Raikou as Raid Counter
Raikou is an effective raid counter against the following Pokemon.
How to Get Raikou
Raikou can be encountered in the wild in Pokemon GO.
Raikou is currently available as a 5-Star Raids raid boss. After defeating it in a raid, you can catch it at level 20 (1972 CP for a perfect 15/15/15 IV) or level 25 with weather boost (2466 CP).
A Shadow version of Raikou is available from Team GO Rocket. Shadow Raikou knows Frustration as its charged move, which can be removed with a Charged TM. Purifying costs 20,000 Stardust and 20 Candy, and the purified form learns Return. Walking Raikou as your buddy earns 1 candy every 20.0 km.
Raikou Catch CP
These are the possible CP values when encountering Raikou in different scenarios. The range shows minimum (lowest IV floor) to maximum (100% perfect IV).
A 100% IV Raikou from raids or eggs will show 1,972 CP at level 20. If you see this number, don't hesitate — it's a perfect catch!
Trainer Tips
Raikou is a Electric-type Pokemon with a stat total of 643. With its high Attack stat (241), Raikou is best suited for offensive roles in both raids and PvP.
Watch out for Ground-type moves when using Raikou. These types deal super effective damage that can cut into Raikou's performance.
Raikou's moves get a damage boost in Rainy weather. Take advantage of weather conditions to maximize your DPS in raids and gym battles.
Unlocking a second charged move costs 100,000 Stardust and 100 Candy. With 5 charged moves available, a second move gives Raikou much better coverage in PvP battles.
Should I Invest in Raikou?
Power-Up Costs
Verdict
Recommended for PvP
Raikou doesn't stand out as a raid attacker but has a place in PvP, ranked #47 (Tier A) in Ultra League with a 59.81% overall win rate. With base stats of 241/195/207 and a max CP of 3,902, its stat distribution is more offense-oriented. Run Thunder Shock with Wild Charge for best results. Worth investing in a second charged move to expand coverage and improve matchups across the board.
Shadow vs Regular: Shadow Raikou deals 20% more damage but takes ~20% more. For raids, Shadow is generally the better investment. For PvP, evaluate matchups carefully — the bulk loss can be significant.