Shellder Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Shellder in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Shellder
Shellder 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 54.600 DPS.
Shellder 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: Shellder is weak to Electric, Grass -type attacks. Avoid using Fire, Ice, Steel-type moves as Shellder 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 Shellder is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (54.600 DPS), Regieleki (48.824 DPS), and Mega Sceptile (45.846 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Shellder: After defeating Shellder, the catch encounter will have a CP between 585 and 632 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 728-787 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Shellder from raids will have exactly 632 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 Shellder?
The best counter for Shellder is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 54.600 DPS. Other top options include Regieleki (48.824 DPS) and Mega Sceptile (45.846 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Shellder?
Shellder 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 Shellder weak to?
Shellder is weak to Electric, Grass-type attacks. It resists Fire, Ice, Steel, Water-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Shellder be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Shellder's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Shellder from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Shellder from raids will have 632 CP at level 20, or 787 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 585. If you see 632 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Shellder worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Shellder 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 Shellder?
For the best moveset for Shellder itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Shellder 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 Shellder without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Shellder can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Regieleki (48.824 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (45.800 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 Shellder in raids?
Weather boost information for Shellder 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.