Kakuna Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Kakuna in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Kakuna
Kakuna is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Bug/Poison typing. The best counter is Shadow Mewtwo (Shadow) with Confusion and Psystrike, dealing 92.941 DPS.
Kakuna 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: Kakuna is weak to Fire, Flying, Psychic, Rock -type attacks. Avoid using Fighting, Grass, Bug-type moves as Kakuna 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 Kakuna is Shadow Mewtwo (92.941 DPS), Mega Alakazam (89.667 DPS), and Mega Blaziken (88.000 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Kakuna: After defeating Kakuna, the catch encounter will have a CP between 221 and 253 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 275-314 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Kakuna from raids will have exactly 253 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 Kakuna?
The best counter for Kakuna is Shadow Mewtwo with Confusion and Psystrike, dealing 92.941 DPS. Other top options include Mega Alakazam (89.667 DPS) and Mega Blaziken (88.000 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Kakuna?
Kakuna 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 Kakuna weak to?
Kakuna is weak to Fire, Flying, Psychic, Rock-type attacks. It resists Fighting, Grass, Bug, Fairy, Poison-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Kakuna be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Kakuna's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Kakuna from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Kakuna from raids will have 253 CP at level 20, or 314 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 221. If you see 253 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Kakuna worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Kakuna 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 Kakuna?
For the best moveset for Kakuna itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Kakuna 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 Kakuna without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Kakuna can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Blacephalon (87.222 DPS) and Mewtwo (77.294 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 Kakuna in raids?
Weather boost information for Kakuna 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.