Ekans Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Ekans in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Ekans
Ekans is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Poison typing. The best counter is Shadow Mewtwo (Shadow) with Confusion and Psystrike, dealing 71.882 DPS.
Ekans 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: Ekans is weak to Ground, Psychic -type attacks. Avoid using Bug, Fairy, Fighting-type moves as Ekans 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 Ekans is Shadow Mewtwo (71.882 DPS), Mega Alakazam (69.556 DPS), and Primal Groudon (65.800 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Ekans: After defeating Ekans, the catch encounter will have a CP between 499 and 543 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 621-675 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Ekans from raids will have exactly 543 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 Ekans?
The best counter for Ekans is Shadow Mewtwo with Confusion and Psystrike, dealing 71.882 DPS. Other top options include Mega Alakazam (69.556 DPS) and Primal Groudon (65.800 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Ekans?
Ekans 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 Ekans weak to?
Ekans is weak to Ground, Psychic-type attacks. It resists Bug, Fairy, Fighting, Grass, Poison-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Ekans be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Ekans's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Ekans from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Ekans from raids will have 543 CP at level 20, or 675 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 499. If you see 543 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Ekans worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Ekans 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 Ekans?
For the best moveset for Ekans itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Ekans 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 Ekans without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Ekans can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Mewtwo (60.118 DPS) and Hoopa (Unbound) (58.778 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 Ekans in raids?
Weather boost information for Ekans is not currently available. Poison-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.