Pawniard Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Pawniard in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Pawniard
Pawniard is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Dark/Steel typing. The best counter is Mega Blaziken (Mega) with Counter and Aura Sphere, dealing 99.000 DPS.
Pawniard 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: Pawniard is weak to Fighting (double weak!), Fire, Ground -type attacks. Avoid using Psychic, Poison, Dark-type moves as Pawniard 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 Pawniard is Mega Blaziken (99.000 DPS), Mega Lucario (97.667 DPS), and Shadow Blaziken (86.875 DPS).
Catching Pawniard: After defeating Pawniard, the catch encounter will have a CP between 784 and 839 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 976-1044 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Pawniard from raids will have exactly 839 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 Pawniard?
The best counter for Pawniard is Mega Blaziken with Counter and Aura Sphere, dealing 99.000 DPS. Other top options include Mega Lucario (97.667 DPS) and Shadow Blaziken (86.875 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Pawniard?
Pawniard 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 Pawniard weak to?
Pawniard is weak to Fighting (double weak), Fire, Ground-type attacks. It resists Psychic, Poison, Dark, Dragon, Flying, Ghost, Grass, Ice, Normal, Rock, Steel-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Pawniard be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Pawniard's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Pawniard from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Pawniard from raids will have 839 CP at level 20, or 1044 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 784. If you see 839 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Pawniard worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Pawniard 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 Pawniard?
For the best moveset for Pawniard itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Pawniard 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 Pawniard without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Pawniard can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Pheromosa (76.815 DPS) and Lucario (74.500 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 Pawniard in raids?
Weather boost information for Pawniard is not currently available. Dark-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.