Archen Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Archen in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Archen
Archen is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Rock/Flying typing. The best counter is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (Shadow) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 82.300 DPS.
Archen can be defeated by a minimum of 2 trainers using optimal counters at level 40+. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win, especially if your team isn't fully powered up.
Type strategy: Archen is weak to Electric, Ice, Rock, Steel, Water -type attacks. Avoid using Bug, Fire, Flying-type moves as Archen resists them. Focus your team on the highest DPS counters from the list below — even budget options without Shadow or Mega forms perform well in larger groups.
Top 3 counters: The strongest lineup against Archen is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (82.300 DPS), Primal Kyogre (73.212 DPS), and Regieleki (72.235 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Archen: After defeating Archen, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1013 and 1079 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 1261-1342 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Archen from raids will have exactly 1079 CP — look for that number! Use Golden Razz Berries and Excellent curveball throws to maximize your catch rate.
Quick Stats
Weak To
Best Counters
Budget Counters (No Shadow / No Mega)
Catch CP
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best counters for Archen?
The best counter for Archen is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 82.300 DPS. Other top options include Primal Kyogre (73.212 DPS) and Regieleki (72.235 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Archen?
Archen can be defeated by a minimum of 2 high-level trainers with optimal counters. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win. In public lobbies, 5-6 is a safe number.
What is Archen weak to?
Archen is weak to Electric, Ice, Rock, Steel, Water-type attacks. It resists Bug, Fire, Flying, Ground, Normal, Poison-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Archen be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Archen's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Archen from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Archen from raids will have 1079 CP at level 20, or 1342 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1013. If you see 1079 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Archen worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Archen is a lower-tier raid boss that can be soloed or defeated easily with 1-2 trainers. It's useful for farming candy, earning XP, and potentially getting a high-IV specimen. Worth doing when convenient, but doesn't require spending Premium Passes.
What is the best moveset for Archen?
For the best moveset for Archen itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Archen stats page which includes optimal fast and charged move combinations for both PvE raids and PvP GO Battle League, along with DPS calculations and PvP rankings.
Can I beat Archen without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Archen can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Regieleki (72.235 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (68.800 DPS). You may need 5-6 trainers instead of the minimum 2 when using budget teams. Check the Budget Counters section above for the full F2P-friendly list.
What weather boosts Archen in raids?
Weather boost information for Archen is not currently available. Rock-type Pokemon are typically boosted in specific weather conditions. When weather boosted, the raid is harder but the catch encounter is level 25 with higher CP.