Cacturne Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Cacturne in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Cacturne
Cacturne is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Grass/Dark typing. The best counter is Mega Heracross (Mega) with Struggle Bug and Megahorn, dealing 75.040 DPS.
Cacturne 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: Cacturne is weak to Bug (double weak!), Fairy, Fighting, Fire, Flying, Ice, Poison -type attacks. Avoid using Psychic, Dark, Electric-type moves as Cacturne 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 Cacturne is Mega Heracross (75.040 DPS), Pheromosa (75.000 DPS), and Mega Pinsir (68.889 DPS).
Catching Cacturne: After defeating Cacturne, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1274 and 1346 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 1585-1674 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Cacturne from raids will have exactly 1346 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 Cacturne?
The best counter for Cacturne is Mega Heracross with Struggle Bug and Megahorn, dealing 75.040 DPS. Other top options include Pheromosa (75.000 DPS) and Mega Pinsir (68.889 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Cacturne?
Cacturne 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 Cacturne weak to?
Cacturne is weak to Bug (double weak), Fairy, Fighting, Fire, Flying, Ice, Poison-type attacks. It resists Psychic, Dark, Electric, Ghost, Grass, Ground, Water-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Cacturne be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Cacturne's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Cacturne from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Cacturne from raids will have 1346 CP at level 20, or 1674 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1274. If you see 1346 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Cacturne worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Cacturne 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 Cacturne?
For the best moveset for Cacturne itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Cacturne 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 Cacturne without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Cacturne can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Pheromosa (75.000 DPS) and Volcarona (62.250 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 Cacturne in raids?
Weather boost information for Cacturne is not currently available. Grass-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.