Best moveset
- Ultra League
- Thunder Shock Wild Charge 59.01% wins
Same-type attack bonus on both moves. Wild Charge costs 50 energy for 90 power.
Type effectiveness
Damage Raikou takes from each attacking type
Base stats
- Stat total
- 643
- Buddy distance
- 20.0 km per candy
- Second charged move
- 100,000 Dust + 100 Candy
- 100% IV at Lv 20
- 1,972 CP
Raikou moves
2 fast · 5 charged
Fast moves
| Move | Type | PWR | EN | DUR | DPS | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder Shock Best STAB | Electric | 4 | 7 | 0.5s | 8 | 14 |
| Volt Switch STAB | Electric | 13 | 20 | 1.5s | 8.7 | 13.3 |
Charged moves
| Move | Type | PWR | EN | DUR | DPS | DPE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aura Sphere | Fighting | 100 | 50 | 2.0s | 50 | 2.00 |
| Shadow Ball | Ghost | 100 | 50 | 3.0s | 33.3 | 2.00 |
| Thunder STAB | Electric | 100 | 100 | 2.5s | 40 | 1.00 |
| Thunderbolt STAB | Electric | 80 | 50 | 2.5s | 32 | 1.60 |
| Wild Charge Best STAB | Electric | 90 | 50 | 2.5s | 36 | 1.80 |
Fast moves
| Move | Type | PWR | EN | Turns | DPT | EPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder Shock | Electric | 4 | 9 | 1 | 4.00 | 9.00 |
| Volt Switch | Electric | 14 | 16 | 3 | 4.67 | 5.33 |
Charged moves
| Move | Type | PWR | EN | DPE | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aura Sphere | Fighting | 80 | 40 | 2.00 | — |
| Shadow Ball | Ghost | 100 | 50 | 2.00 | — |
| Thunder | Electric | 100 | 60 | 1.67 | — |
| Thunderbolt | Electric | 90 | 55 | 1.64 | — |
| Wild Charge | Electric | 100 | 45 | 2.22 | Buff / debuff |
Moveset analysis
In Ultra League it runs Thunder Shock and Wild Charge. PvP movesets favour energy generation and shield pressure over raw damage, which is why they often differ from the raid set.
The highest-damage fast move is Volt Switch (8.7 DPS); Thunder Shock builds energy fastest (14 EPS).
Rankings
Where Raikou places in raids and PvP
GO Battle League
| League | Rank | Tier | Win rate | Moveset | Ideal IVs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra League | #49 | A | 59.01% | Thunder Shock Wild Charge | 0/14/15 |
Evolution
Raikou does not evolve.
Raids
- Raid tier
- 5-Star
- Shiny
- Can be shiny after the raid
- Raid guide
- Full Raikou raid guide
Best counters against Raikou
Use Raikou against
Raid bosses where it ranks as a top counter
How to get Raikou
- Raids
- 5-Star raid boss
- Team GO Rocket
- Shadow Raikou knows Frustration — swap it with a Charged TM
- Purification
- 20,000 Dust + 20 Candy → Return
- Trading
- Can be traded between trainers
Catch CP
| Source | Level | Min CP | Max CP (100% IV) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Catch | Lv 1–30 | 88 | 2,983 |
| Wild (Weather Boost) | Lv 1–35 | 88 | 3,230 |
| Raid Catch | Lv 20 | 1,936 | 2,022 |
| Raid (Weather Boost) | Lv 25 | 2,409 | 2,515 |
| Egg Hatch | Lv 20 | 1,936 | 2,022 |
| Research Encounter | Lv 15 | 1,464 | 1,528 |
| GO Battle League | Lv 20 | 1,936 | 2,022 |
Is Raikou good in Pokemon GO?
| Power up | Stardust | Candy | XL Candy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lv 20 → 40 | 135,000 | 15 | — |
Raikou does not rank as a raid attacker, but it holds a Tier A spot at #49 in Ultra League. Build it to the league's CP cap rather than to a level, and unlock the second charged move before you invest further.
- Attack is its highest stat (241), so it hits harder than it survives — a glass-cannon raid slot rather than a gym defender.
- A second charged move costs 100,000 Dust and 100 Candy, and with 5 charged moves to pick from it is the single biggest PvP upgrade you can buy.
- Shadow Raikou deals 20% more damage and takes 20% more: better for raids, riskier in PvP.
- Its moves get a damage boost in Rainy weather — worth timing raids around.
CP by level
Maximum CP with perfect 15/15/15 IVs at every level
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| Lv 1 | 48 |
| Lv 2 | 153 |
| Lv 3 | 257 |
| Lv 4 | 361 |
| Lv 5 | 465 |
| Lv 6 | 569 |
| Lv 7 | 674 |
| Lv 8 | 778 |
| Lv 9 | 882 |
| Lv 10 | 986 |
| Lv 11 | 1,085 |
| Lv 12 | 1,183 |
| Lv 13 | 1,282 |
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| Lv 14 | 1,381 |
| Lv 15 | 1,479 |
| Lv 16 | 1,578 |
| Lv 17 | 1,676 |
| Lv 18 | 1,775 |
| Lv 19 | 1,874 |
| Lv 20 | 1,972 |
| Lv 21 | 2,071 |
| Lv 22 | 2,170 |
| Lv 23 | 2,268 |
| Lv 24 | 2,367 |
| Lv 25 | 2,466 |
| Lv 26 | 2,564 |
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| Lv 27 | 2,663 |
| Lv 28 | 2,761 |
| Lv 29 | 2,860 |
| Lv 30 | 2,959 |
| Lv 31 | 3,008 |
| Lv 32 | 3,057 |
| Lv 33 | 3,107 |
| Lv 34 | 3,156 |
| Lv 35 | 3,205 |
| Lv 36 | 3,255 |
| Lv 37 | 3,304 |
| Lv 38 | 3,353 |
| Lv 39 | 3,403 |
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| Lv 40 | 3,452 |
| Lv 41 | 3,496 |
| Lv 42 | 3,540 |
| Lv 43 | 3,584 |
| Lv 44 | 3,629 |
| Lv 45 | 3,674 |
| Lv 46 | 3,719 |
| Lv 47 | 3,764 |
| Lv 48 | 3,810 |
| Lv 49 | 3,856 |
| Lv 50 | 3,902 |
Pokedex info
- Pokedex number
- #0243
- Height
- 1.91 m
- Weight
- 178.00 kg
- Buddy size
- Big
- Family forms
- 2 released forms
- Game ID
- V0243_POKEMON_RAIKOU
FAQ
What is the best moveset for Raikou in Pokemon GO?
Raikou's best moveset is Thunder Shock (fast) with Wild Charge (charged). Use a Fast TM or Charged TM to reroll onto it.
What are Raikou's weaknesses in Pokemon GO?
Raikou takes super effective damage from Ground-type moves. It resists Electric, Flying, Steel, so avoid those types against it.
What is Raikou's max CP in Pokemon GO?
Raikou reaches 3,902 CP at level 50 with XL Candy, or 3,452 CP at level 40. Level 50 needs XL Candy, which only unlocks at Trainer Level 31 and comes from catching, hatching, transferring and walking.
Is Raikou good for PvP in Pokemon GO?
Raikou is ranked #49 (Tier A) in Ultra League with a 59.01% win rate.
In CP-capped leagues a lower Attack IV lets you reach a higher level under the cap, so the ideal spread for Ultra League is 0/14/15 rather than a hundo.
Unlocking the second charged move is the highest-value upgrade: it lets Raikou bait shields instead of committing to one attack.
What CP is a 100% IV Raikou?
A perfect 15/15/15 Raikou shows 1,972 CP at level 20 (raid and egg catches) and 2,466 CP at level 25 (weather boosted). Seeing that exact number on the catch screen means it is a hundo — favourite it before you transfer anything.
Is Shadow Raikou better than regular Raikou?
Shadow Raikou deals 20% more damage and takes 20% more. For raids the trade is worth it; for PvP the lost bulk often is not. It arrives knowing Frustration, which should be replaced with a Charged TM during a Team GO Rocket event before you power it up.
How do you get Raikou in Pokemon GO?
Raikou spawns in the wild, though how often depends on your biome and the active event. It is currently a 5-Star Raids raid boss. It can be traded between trainers.
Can Raikou be shiny in Pokemon GO?
Shiny Raikou depends on whether Niantic has released the form. Check the events page for Community Days and event weekends, which is when shiny rates are boosted.