Gyarados Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Gyarados in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Gyarados
Gyarados is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Water/Flying typing. The best counter is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (Shadow) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 63.400 DPS.
Gyarados 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: Gyarados is weak to Electric (double weak!), Rock -type attacks. Avoid using Ground, Bug, Fighting-type moves as Gyarados 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 Gyarados is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (63.400 DPS), Regieleki (55.882 DPS), and Thundurus (Therian) (52.600 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Gyarados: After defeating Gyarados, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1901 and 1986 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 2365-2471 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Gyarados from raids will have exactly 1986 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 Gyarados?
The best counter for Gyarados is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 63.400 DPS. Other top options include Regieleki (55.882 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (52.600 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Gyarados?
Gyarados 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 Gyarados weak to?
Gyarados is weak to Electric (double weak), Rock-type attacks. It resists Ground, Bug, Fighting, Fire, Steel, Water-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Gyarados be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Gyarados's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Gyarados from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Gyarados from raids will have 1986 CP at level 20, or 2471 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1901. If you see 1986 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Gyarados worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Gyarados 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 Gyarados?
For the best moveset for Gyarados itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Gyarados 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 Gyarados without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Gyarados can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Regieleki (55.882 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (52.600 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 Gyarados in raids?
Weather boost information for Gyarados is not currently available. Water-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.