Orthworm Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Orthworm in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Orthworm
Orthworm is a 3-Star Raids raid boss in Pokemon GO with steel typing. The best counter is Mega Blaziken (Mega) with Counter and Aura Sphere, dealing 32.375 DPS.
Orthworm 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: Orthworm is weak to Fighting, Fire, Ground -type attacks. Avoid using Poison, Bug, Dragon-type moves as Orthworm 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 Orthworm is Mega Blaziken (32.375 DPS), Mega Lucario (32.000 DPS), and Shadow Landorus (Therian) (31.636 DPS).
Catching Orthworm: After defeating Orthworm, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1277 and 1346 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 1588-1675 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Orthworm from raids will have exactly 1346 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 Orthworm?
The best counter for Orthworm is Mega Blaziken with Counter and Aura Sphere, dealing 32.375 DPS. Other top options include Mega Lucario (32.000 DPS) and Shadow Landorus (Therian) (31.636 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Orthworm?
Orthworm 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 Orthworm weak to?
Orthworm is weak to Fighting, Fire, Ground-type attacks. It resists Poison, Bug, Dragon, Fairy, Flying, Grass, Ice, Normal, Psychic, Rock, Steel-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Orthworm be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Orthworm's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Orthworm from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Orthworm from raids will have 1346 CP at level 20, or 1675 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1277. If you see 1346 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Orthworm worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Orthworm 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 Orthworm?
For the best moveset for Orthworm itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Orthworm 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 Orthworm without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Orthworm can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Blacephalon (30.000 DPS) and Landorus (Therian) (26.636 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 Orthworm in raids?
Orthworm is weather boosted during snow weather. When boosted, Orthworm is harder to defeat (higher CP in the raid) but the catch encounter will be level 25 instead of 20, giving you a higher CP catch (1588-1675 CP) with potentially better IVs. Weather boost is a double-edged sword — harder raid, better reward.