Mega Gyarados Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Mega Gyarados in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Mega Gyarados
Mega Gyarados is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Water/Dark typing. The best counter is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (Shadow) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 29.700 DPS.
Mega 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: Mega Gyarados is weak to Bug, Electric, Fairy, Fighting, Grass -type attacks. Avoid using Psychic, Dark, Fire-type moves as Mega 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 Mega Gyarados is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (29.700 DPS), Mega Lucario (28.833 DPS), and Mega Blaziken (28.750 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Mega Gyarados: After defeating Mega Gyarados, the catch encounter will have a CP between 2662 and 2762 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 3312-3436 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Mega Gyarados from raids will have exactly 2762 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 Mega Gyarados?
The best counter for Mega Gyarados is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 29.700 DPS. Other top options include Mega Lucario (28.833 DPS) and Mega Blaziken (28.750 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Mega Gyarados?
Mega 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 Mega Gyarados weak to?
Mega Gyarados is weak to Bug, Electric, Fairy, Fighting, Grass-type attacks. It resists Psychic, Dark, Fire, Ghost, Ice, Steel, Water-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Mega Gyarados be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Mega 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 Mega Gyarados from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Mega Gyarados from raids will have 2762 CP at level 20, or 3436 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 2662. If you see 2762 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Mega Gyarados worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Mega 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 Mega Gyarados?
For the best moveset for Mega Gyarados itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Mega 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 Mega Gyarados without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Mega Gyarados can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Regieleki (27.529 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (24.800 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 Mega Gyarados in raids?
Weather boost information for Mega 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.