Lugia Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Lugia in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Lugia
Lugia is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Psychic/Flying typing. The best counter is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (Shadow) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 24.000 DPS.
Lugia 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: Lugia is weak to Dark, Electric, Ghost, Ice, Rock -type attacks. Avoid using Fighting, Ground, Grass-type moves as Lugia 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 Lugia is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (24.000 DPS), Mega Gengar (21.733 DPS), and Regieleki (21.294 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Lugia: After defeating Lugia, the catch encounter will have a CP between 2079 and 2168 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 2586-2698 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Lugia from raids will have exactly 2168 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 Lugia?
The best counter for Lugia is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 24.000 DPS. Other top options include Mega Gengar (21.733 DPS) and Regieleki (21.294 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Lugia?
Lugia 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 Lugia weak to?
Lugia is weak to Dark, Electric, Ghost, Ice, Rock-type attacks. It resists Fighting, Ground, Grass, Psychic-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Lugia be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Lugia's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Lugia from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Lugia from raids will have 2168 CP at level 20, or 2698 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 2079. If you see 2168 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Lugia worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Lugia 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 Lugia?
For the best moveset for Lugia itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Lugia 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 Lugia without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Lugia can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Regieleki (21.294 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (19.800 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 Lugia in raids?
Weather boost information for Lugia 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.