Gholdengo Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Gholdengo in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Gholdengo
Gholdengo is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Steel/Ghost typing. The best counter is Primal Groudon (Mega) with Mud Shot and Precipice Blades, dealing 35.100 DPS.
Gholdengo 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: Gholdengo is weak to Dark, Fire, Ghost, Ground -type attacks. Avoid using Normal, Poison, Bug-type moves as Gholdengo 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 Gholdengo is Primal Groudon (35.100 DPS), Mega Blaziken (34.947 DPS), and Blacephalon (34.714 DPS).
Catching Gholdengo: After defeating Gholdengo, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1973 and 2060 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 2455-2562 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Gholdengo from raids will have exactly 2060 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 Gholdengo?
The best counter for Gholdengo is Primal Groudon with Mud Shot and Precipice Blades, dealing 35.100 DPS. Other top options include Mega Blaziken (34.947 DPS) and Blacephalon (34.714 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Gholdengo?
Gholdengo 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 Gholdengo weak to?
Gholdengo is weak to Dark, Fire, Ghost, Ground-type attacks. It resists Normal, Poison, Bug, Dragon, Fairy, Fighting, Flying, Grass, Ice, Psychic, Rock, Steel-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Gholdengo be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Gholdengo's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Gholdengo from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Gholdengo from raids will have 2060 CP at level 20, or 2562 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1973. If you see 2060 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Gholdengo worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Gholdengo 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 Gholdengo?
For the best moveset for Gholdengo itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Gholdengo 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 Gholdengo without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Gholdengo can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Blacephalon (34.714 DPS) and Reshiram (30.214 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 Gholdengo in raids?
Weather boost information for Gholdengo is not currently available. Steel-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.