Nihilego Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Nihilego in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Nihilego
Nihilego is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Rock/Poison typing. The best counter is Primal Groudon (Mega) with Mud Shot and Precipice Blades, dealing 49.700 DPS.
Nihilego 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: Nihilego is weak to Ground (double weak!), Psychic, Steel, Water -type attacks. Avoid using Poison, Bug, Fairy-type moves as Nihilego 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 Nihilego is Primal Groudon (49.700 DPS), Shadow Groudon (45.500 DPS), and Mega Garchomp (43.167 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Nihilego: After defeating Nihilego, the catch encounter will have a CP between 2221 and 2313 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 2764-2877 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Nihilego from raids will have exactly 2313 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 Nihilego?
The best counter for Nihilego is Primal Groudon with Mud Shot and Precipice Blades, dealing 49.700 DPS. Other top options include Shadow Groudon (45.500 DPS) and Mega Garchomp (43.167 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Nihilego?
Nihilego 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 Nihilego weak to?
Nihilego is weak to Ground (double weak), Psychic, Steel, Water-type attacks. It resists Poison, Bug, Fairy, Fire, Flying, Normal-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Nihilego be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Nihilego's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Nihilego from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Nihilego from raids will have 2313 CP at level 20, or 2877 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 2221. If you see 2313 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Nihilego worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Nihilego 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 Nihilego?
For the best moveset for Nihilego itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Nihilego 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 Nihilego without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Nihilego can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Landorus (Therian) (42.818 DPS) and Groudon (37.400 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 Nihilego in raids?
Weather boost information for Nihilego is not currently available. Rock-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.