Dusknoir Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Dusknoir in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Dusknoir
Dusknoir is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Ghost typing. The best counter is Mega Gengar (Mega) with Lick and Shadow Ball, dealing 26.000 DPS.
Dusknoir 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: Dusknoir is weak to Dark, Ghost -type attacks. Avoid using Fighting, Normal, Bug-type moves as Dusknoir 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 Dusknoir is Mega Gengar (26.000 DPS), Mega Absol (24.000 DPS), and Shadow Darkrai (24.000 DPS).
Catching Dusknoir: After defeating Dusknoir, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1326 and 1399 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 1650-1740 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Dusknoir from raids will have exactly 1399 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 Dusknoir?
The best counter for Dusknoir is Mega Gengar with Lick and Shadow Ball, dealing 26.000 DPS. Other top options include Mega Absol (24.000 DPS) and Shadow Darkrai (24.000 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Dusknoir?
Dusknoir 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 Dusknoir weak to?
Dusknoir is weak to Dark, Ghost-type attacks. It resists Fighting, Normal, Bug, Poison-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Dusknoir be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Dusknoir's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Dusknoir from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Dusknoir from raids will have 1399 CP at level 20, or 1740 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1326. If you see 1399 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Dusknoir worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Dusknoir 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 Dusknoir?
For the best moveset for Dusknoir itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Dusknoir 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 Dusknoir without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Dusknoir 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 Dusknoir in raids?
Weather boost information for Dusknoir is not currently available. Ghost-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.