Charizard Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Charizard in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Charizard
Charizard is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Fire/Flying typing. The best counter is Shadow Rampardos (Shadow) with Smack Down and Rock Slide, dealing 53.714 DPS.
Charizard 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: Charizard is weak to Rock (double weak!), Electric, Water -type attacks. Avoid using Bug, Grass, Fairy-type moves as Charizard 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 Charizard is Shadow Rampardos (53.714 DPS), Mega Diancie (53.474 DPS), and Shadow Tyrantrum (50.333 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Charizard: After defeating Charizard, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1614 and 1692 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 2008-2105 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Charizard from raids will have exactly 1692 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 Charizard?
The best counter for Charizard is Shadow Rampardos with Smack Down and Rock Slide, dealing 53.714 DPS. Other top options include Mega Diancie (53.474 DPS) and Shadow Tyrantrum (50.333 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Charizard?
Charizard 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 Charizard weak to?
Charizard is weak to Rock (double weak), Electric, Water-type attacks. It resists Bug, Grass, Fairy, Fighting, Fire, Ground, Steel-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Charizard be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Charizard's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Charizard from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Charizard from raids will have 1692 CP at level 20, or 2105 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1614. If you see 1692 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Charizard worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Charizard 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 Charizard?
For the best moveset for Charizard itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Charizard 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 Charizard without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Charizard can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Glimmora (45.533 DPS) and Rampardos (45.429 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 Charizard in raids?
Weather boost information for Charizard is not currently available. Fire-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.