Sawk Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Sawk in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Sawk
Sawk is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Fighting typing. The best counter is Shadow Mewtwo (Shadow) with Confusion and Psystrike, dealing 45.529 DPS.
Sawk 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: Sawk is weak to Fairy, Flying, Psychic -type attacks. Avoid using Bug, Dark, Rock-type moves as Sawk 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 Sawk is Shadow Mewtwo (45.529 DPS), Mega Alakazam (43.889 DPS), and Mega Rayquaza (40.387 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Sawk: After defeating Sawk, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1555 and 1632 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 1935-2031 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Sawk from raids will have exactly 1632 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 Sawk?
The best counter for Sawk is Shadow Mewtwo with Confusion and Psystrike, dealing 45.529 DPS. Other top options include Mega Alakazam (43.889 DPS) and Mega Rayquaza (40.387 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Sawk?
Sawk 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 Sawk weak to?
Sawk is weak to Fairy, Flying, Psychic-type attacks. It resists Bug, Dark, Rock-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Sawk be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Sawk's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Sawk from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Sawk from raids will have 1632 CP at level 20, or 2031 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1555. If you see 1632 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Sawk worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Sawk 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 Sawk?
For the best moveset for Sawk itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Sawk 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 Sawk without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Sawk can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Mewtwo (38.000 DPS) and Hoopa (Unbound) (37.556 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 Sawk in raids?
Weather boost information for Sawk is not currently available. Fighting-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.