Raikou Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Raikou in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Raikou
Raikou is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Electric typing. The best counter is Primal Groudon (Mega) with Mud Shot and Precipice Blades, dealing 32.800 DPS.
Raikou 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: Raikou is weak to Ground -type attacks. Avoid using Electric, Flying, Steel-type moves as Raikou 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 Raikou is Primal Groudon (32.800 DPS), Shadow Groudon (31.100 DPS), and Mega Garchomp (29.417 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Raikou: After defeating Raikou, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1936 and 2022 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 2409-2515 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Raikou from raids will have exactly 2022 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 Raikou?
The best counter for Raikou is Primal Groudon with Mud Shot and Precipice Blades, dealing 32.800 DPS. Other top options include Shadow Groudon (31.100 DPS) and Mega Garchomp (29.417 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Raikou?
Raikou 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 Raikou weak to?
Raikou is weak to Ground-type attacks. It resists Electric, Flying, Steel-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Raikou be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Raikou's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Raikou from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Raikou from raids will have 2022 CP at level 20, or 2515 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1936. If you see 2022 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Raikou worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Raikou 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 Raikou?
For the best moveset for Raikou itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Raikou 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 Raikou without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Raikou can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Landorus (Therian) (28.727 DPS) and Groudon (26.200 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 Raikou in raids?
Weather boost information for Raikou is not currently available. Electric-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.