Mega Salamence Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Mega Salamence in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Mega Salamence
Mega Salamence is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Dragon/Flying typing. The best counter is Kyurem (White) with Ice Fang and Blizzard, dealing 34.476 DPS.
Mega Salamence 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 Salamence is weak to Ice (double weak!), Dragon, Fairy, Rock -type attacks. Avoid using Grass, Ground, Bug-type moves as Mega Salamence 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 Salamence is Kyurem (White) (34.476 DPS), Shadow Darmanitan (Galarian standard) (33.857 DPS), and Shadow Weavile (32.267 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Mega Salamence: After defeating Mega Salamence, the catch encounter will have a CP between 2843 and 2947 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 3536-3666 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Mega Salamence from raids will have exactly 2947 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 Salamence?
The best counter for Mega Salamence is Kyurem (White) with Ice Fang and Blizzard, dealing 34.476 DPS. Other top options include Shadow Darmanitan (Galarian standard) (33.857 DPS) and Shadow Weavile (32.267 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Mega Salamence?
Mega Salamence 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 Salamence weak to?
Mega Salamence is weak to Ice (double weak), Dragon, Fairy, Rock-type attacks. It resists Grass, Ground, Bug, Fighting, Fire, Water-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Mega Salamence be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Mega Salamence'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 Salamence from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Mega Salamence from raids will have 2947 CP at level 20, or 3666 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 2843. If you see 2947 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Mega Salamence worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Mega Salamence 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 Salamence?
For the best moveset for Mega Salamence itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Mega Salamence 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 Salamence without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Mega Salamence can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Kyurem (White) (34.476 DPS) and Kyurem (Black) (29.250 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 Salamence in raids?
Weather boost information for Mega Salamence is not currently available. Dragon-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.