Ariados Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Ariados in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Ariados
Ariados is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Bug/Poison typing. The best counter is Shadow Mewtwo (Shadow) with Confusion and Psystrike, dealing 56.118 DPS.
Ariados 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: Ariados is weak to Fire, Flying, Psychic, Rock -type attacks. Avoid using Fighting, Grass, Bug-type moves as Ariados 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 Ariados is Shadow Mewtwo (56.118 DPS), Mega Alakazam (54.556 DPS), and Mega Blaziken (53.684 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Ariados: After defeating Ariados, the catch encounter will have a CP between 976 and 1038 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 1215-1291 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Ariados from raids will have exactly 1038 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 Ariados?
The best counter for Ariados is Shadow Mewtwo with Confusion and Psystrike, dealing 56.118 DPS. Other top options include Mega Alakazam (54.556 DPS) and Mega Blaziken (53.684 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Ariados?
Ariados 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 Ariados weak to?
Ariados is weak to Fire, Flying, Psychic, Rock-type attacks. It resists Fighting, Grass, Bug, Fairy, Poison-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Ariados be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Ariados's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Ariados from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Ariados from raids will have 1038 CP at level 20, or 1291 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 976. If you see 1038 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Ariados worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Ariados 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 Ariados?
For the best moveset for Ariados itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Ariados 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 Ariados without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Ariados can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Blacephalon (52.889 DPS) and Mewtwo (47.176 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 Ariados in raids?
Weather boost information for Ariados is not currently available. Bug-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.