Sawsbuck Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Sawsbuck in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Sawsbuck
Sawsbuck is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Normal/Grass typing. The best counter is Mega Blaziken (Mega) with Counter and Aura Sphere, dealing 48.875 DPS.
Sawsbuck 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: Sawsbuck is weak to Bug, Fighting, Fire, Flying, Ice, Poison -type attacks. Avoid using Ghost, Electric, Grass-type moves as Sawsbuck 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 Sawsbuck is Mega Blaziken (48.875 DPS), Mega Lucario (48.000 DPS), and Blacephalon (44.889 DPS).
Catching Sawsbuck: After defeating Sawsbuck, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1343 and 1415 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 1671-1760 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Sawsbuck from raids will have exactly 1415 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 Sawsbuck?
The best counter for Sawsbuck is Mega Blaziken with Counter and Aura Sphere, dealing 48.875 DPS. Other top options include Mega Lucario (48.000 DPS) and Blacephalon (44.889 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Sawsbuck?
Sawsbuck 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 Sawsbuck weak to?
Sawsbuck is weak to Bug, Fighting, Fire, Flying, Ice, Poison-type attacks. It resists Ghost, Electric, Grass, Ground, Water-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Sawsbuck be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Sawsbuck's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Sawsbuck from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Sawsbuck from raids will have 1415 CP at level 20, or 1760 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1343. If you see 1415 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Sawsbuck worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Sawsbuck 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 Sawsbuck?
For the best moveset for Sawsbuck itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Sawsbuck 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 Sawsbuck without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Sawsbuck can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Blacephalon (44.889 DPS) and Pheromosa (39.917 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 Sawsbuck in raids?
Weather boost information for Sawsbuck is not currently available. Normal-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.