Buzzwole Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Buzzwole in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Buzzwole
Buzzwole is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Bug/Fighting typing. The best counter is Mega Rayquaza (Mega) with Air Slash and Hurricane, dealing 50.258 DPS.
Buzzwole 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: Buzzwole is weak to Flying (double weak!), Fairy, Fire, Psychic -type attacks. Avoid using Bug, Dark, Fighting-type moves as Buzzwole 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 Buzzwole is Mega Rayquaza (50.258 DPS), Shadow Tornadus (Therian) (49.280 DPS), and Shadow Toucannon (48.933 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Buzzwole: After defeating Buzzwole, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1941 and 2027 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 2415-2521 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Buzzwole from raids will have exactly 2027 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 Buzzwole?
The best counter for Buzzwole is Mega Rayquaza with Air Slash and Hurricane, dealing 50.258 DPS. Other top options include Shadow Tornadus (Therian) (49.280 DPS) and Shadow Toucannon (48.933 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Buzzwole?
Buzzwole 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 Buzzwole weak to?
Buzzwole is weak to Flying (double weak), Fairy, Fire, Psychic-type attacks. It resists Bug, Dark, Fighting, Grass, Ground-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Buzzwole be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Buzzwole's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Buzzwole from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Buzzwole from raids will have 2027 CP at level 20, or 2521 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1941. If you see 2027 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Buzzwole worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Buzzwole 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 Buzzwole?
For the best moveset for Buzzwole itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Buzzwole 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 Buzzwole without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Buzzwole can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Enamorus (Incarnate) (41.833 DPS) and Tornadus (Therian) (41.200 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 Buzzwole in raids?
Weather boost information for Buzzwole 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.