Heracross Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Heracross in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Heracross
Heracross is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Bug/Fighting typing. The best counter is Mega Rayquaza (Mega) with Air Slash and Hurricane, dealing 54.645 DPS.
Heracross 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: Heracross is weak to Flying (double weak!), Fairy, Fire, Psychic -type attacks. Avoid using Bug, Dark, Fighting-type moves as Heracross 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 Heracross is Mega Rayquaza (54.645 DPS), Shadow Tornadus (Therian) (54.240 DPS), and Shadow Toucannon (53.467 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Heracross: After defeating Heracross, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1735 and 1816 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 2158-2259 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Heracross from raids will have exactly 1816 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 Heracross?
The best counter for Heracross is Mega Rayquaza with Air Slash and Hurricane, dealing 54.645 DPS. Other top options include Shadow Tornadus (Therian) (54.240 DPS) and Shadow Toucannon (53.467 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Heracross?
Heracross 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 Heracross weak to?
Heracross is weak to Flying (double weak), Fairy, Fire, Psychic-type attacks. It resists Bug, Dark, Fighting, Grass, Ground-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Heracross be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Heracross's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Heracross from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Heracross from raids will have 1816 CP at level 20, or 2259 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1735. If you see 1816 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Heracross worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Heracross 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 Heracross?
For the best moveset for Heracross itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Heracross 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 Heracross without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Heracross can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Enamorus (Incarnate) (45.667 DPS) and Tornadus (Therian) (45.360 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 Heracross in raids?
Weather boost information for Heracross is not currently available. Bug-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.