Basculin Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Basculin in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Basculin
Basculin is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Water typing. The best counter is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (Shadow) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 57.100 DPS.
Basculin 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: Basculin is weak to Electric, Grass -type attacks. Avoid using Fire, Ice, Steel-type moves as Basculin 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 Basculin is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (57.100 DPS), Regieleki (50.588 DPS), and Thundurus (Therian) (47.500 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Basculin: After defeating Basculin, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1157 and 1224 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 1440-1523 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Basculin from raids will have exactly 1224 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 Basculin?
The best counter for Basculin is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 57.100 DPS. Other top options include Regieleki (50.588 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (47.500 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Basculin?
Basculin 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 Basculin weak to?
Basculin is weak to Electric, Grass-type attacks. It resists Fire, Ice, Steel, Water-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Basculin be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Basculin's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Basculin from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Basculin from raids will have 1224 CP at level 20, or 1523 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1157. If you see 1224 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Basculin worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Basculin 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 Basculin?
For the best moveset for Basculin itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Basculin 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 Basculin without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Basculin can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Regieleki (50.588 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (47.500 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 Basculin in raids?
Weather boost information for Basculin is not currently available. Water-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.