Charmander Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Charmander in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Charmander
Charmander is a 1-Star Raids raid boss in Pokemon GO with fire typing. The best counter is Primal Kyogre (Mega) with Waterfall and Origin Pulse, dealing 70.182 DPS. Charmander's shiny form is available from raid encounters.
Charmander 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: Charmander is weak to Ground, Rock, Water -type attacks. Avoid using Bug, Fairy, Fire-type moves as Charmander 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 Charmander is Primal Kyogre (70.182 DPS), Primal Groudon (69.300 DPS), and Shadow Kyogre (64.364 DPS).
Catching Charmander: After defeating Charmander, the catch encounter will have a CP between 529 and 574 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 658-714 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Charmander from raids will have exactly 574 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 Charmander?
The best counter for Charmander is Primal Kyogre with Waterfall and Origin Pulse, dealing 70.182 DPS. Other top options include Primal Groudon (69.300 DPS) and Shadow Kyogre (64.364 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Charmander?
Charmander 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 Charmander weak to?
Charmander is weak to Ground, Rock, Water-type attacks. It resists Bug, Fairy, Fire, Grass, Ice, Steel-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Charmander be shiny in Pokemon GO?
Yes! Charmander's shiny form is available from raid encounters. The shiny rate for legendary raids is approximately 1 in 20 (5%). Use a Pinap Berry if you already have a shiny and want extra candy.
What CP is a 100% IV Charmander from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Charmander from raids will have 574 CP at level 20, or 714 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 529. If you see 574 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Charmander worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Charmander 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 Charmander?
For the best moveset for Charmander itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Charmander 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 Charmander without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Charmander can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. 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 Charmander in raids?
Charmander is weather boosted during sunny weather. When boosted, Charmander is harder to defeat (higher CP in the raid) but the catch encounter will be level 25 instead of 20, giving you a higher CP catch (658-714 CP) with potentially better IVs. Weather boost is a double-edged sword — harder raid, better reward.