Hoopa Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Hoopa in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Hoopa
Hoopa is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Psychic/Ghost typing. The best counter is Mega Gengar (Mega) with Lick and Shadow Ball, dealing 56.267 DPS.
Hoopa 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: Hoopa is weak to Dark (double weak!), Ghost (double weak!) -type attacks. Avoid using Fighting, Normal, Poison-type moves as Hoopa 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 Hoopa is Mega Gengar (56.267 DPS), Shadow Darkrai (51.286 DPS), and Mega Absol (51.000 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Hoopa: After defeating Hoopa, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1882 and 1967 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 2341-2447 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Hoopa from raids will have exactly 1967 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 Hoopa?
The best counter for Hoopa is Mega Gengar with Lick and Shadow Ball, dealing 56.267 DPS. Other top options include Shadow Darkrai (51.286 DPS) and Mega Absol (51.000 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Hoopa?
Hoopa 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 Hoopa weak to?
Hoopa is weak to Dark (double weak), Ghost (double weak)-type attacks. It resists Fighting, Normal, Poison, Psychic-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Hoopa be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Hoopa's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Hoopa from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Hoopa from raids will have 1967 CP at level 20, or 2447 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1882. If you see 1967 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Hoopa worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Hoopa 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 Hoopa?
For the best moveset for Hoopa itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Hoopa 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 Hoopa without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Hoopa can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Blacephalon (47.857 DPS) and Darkrai (42.857 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 Hoopa in raids?
Weather boost information for Hoopa is not currently available. Psychic-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.