Piplup Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Piplup in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Piplup
Piplup is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Water typing. The best counter is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (Shadow) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 72.000 DPS.
Piplup 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: Piplup is weak to Electric, Grass -type attacks. Avoid using Fire, Ice, Steel-type moves as Piplup 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 Piplup is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (72.000 DPS), Regieleki (64.471 DPS), and Thundurus (Therian) (60.200 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Piplup: After defeating Piplup, the catch encounter will have a CP between 582 and 629 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 724-783 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Piplup from raids will have exactly 629 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 Piplup?
The best counter for Piplup is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 72.000 DPS. Other top options include Regieleki (64.471 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (60.200 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Piplup?
Piplup 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 Piplup weak to?
Piplup is weak to Electric, Grass-type attacks. It resists Fire, Ice, Steel, Water-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Piplup be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Piplup's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Piplup from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Piplup from raids will have 629 CP at level 20, or 783 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 582. If you see 629 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Piplup worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Piplup 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 Piplup?
For the best moveset for Piplup itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Piplup 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 Piplup without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Piplup can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Regieleki (64.471 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (60.200 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 Piplup in raids?
Weather boost information for Piplup 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.