Duskull Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Duskull in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Duskull
Duskull is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Ghost typing. The best counter is Mega Gengar (Mega) with Lick and Shadow Ball, dealing 40.800 DPS.
Duskull 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: Duskull is weak to Dark, Ghost -type attacks. Avoid using Fighting, Normal, Bug-type moves as Duskull 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 Duskull is Mega Gengar (40.800 DPS), Shadow Darkrai (37.286 DPS), and Shadow Gengar (36.800 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Duskull: After defeating Duskull, the catch encounter will have a CP between 374 and 413 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 465-514 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Duskull from raids will have exactly 413 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 Duskull?
The best counter for Duskull is Mega Gengar with Lick and Shadow Ball, dealing 40.800 DPS. Other top options include Shadow Darkrai (37.286 DPS) and Shadow Gengar (36.800 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Duskull?
Duskull 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 Duskull weak to?
Duskull is weak to Dark, Ghost-type attacks. It resists Fighting, Normal, Bug, Poison-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Duskull be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Duskull's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Duskull from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Duskull from raids will have 413 CP at level 20, or 514 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 374. If you see 413 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Duskull worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Duskull 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 Duskull?
For the best moveset for Duskull itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Duskull 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 Duskull without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Duskull can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Blacephalon (34.714 DPS) and Darkrai (31.000 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 Duskull in raids?
Weather boost information for Duskull 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.