Popplio Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Popplio in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Popplio
Popplio 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 71.100 DPS.
Popplio 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: Popplio is weak to Electric, Grass -type attacks. Avoid using Fire, Ice, Steel-type moves as Popplio 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 Popplio is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (71.100 DPS), Regieleki (63.882 DPS), and Thundurus (Therian) (59.300 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Popplio: After defeating Popplio, the catch encounter will have a CP between 612 and 661 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 762-822 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Popplio from raids will have exactly 661 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 Popplio?
The best counter for Popplio is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 71.100 DPS. Other top options include Regieleki (63.882 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (59.300 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Popplio?
Popplio 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 Popplio weak to?
Popplio is weak to Electric, Grass-type attacks. It resists Fire, Ice, Steel, Water-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Popplio be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Popplio's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Popplio from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Popplio from raids will have 661 CP at level 20, or 822 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 612. If you see 661 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Popplio worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Popplio 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 Popplio?
For the best moveset for Popplio itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Popplio 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 Popplio without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Popplio can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Regieleki (63.882 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (59.300 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 Popplio in raids?
Weather boost information for Popplio 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.