Shiftry Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Shiftry in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Shiftry
Shiftry is a 3-Star Raids raid boss in Pokemon GO with grass/dark typing. The best counter is Mega Heracross (Mega) with Fury Cutter and Megahorn, dealing 78.471 DPS. Shiftry's shiny form is available from raid encounters.
Shiftry 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: Shiftry is weak to Bug (double weak!), Fairy, Fighting, Fire, Flying, Ice, Poison -type attacks. Avoid using Psychic, Dark, Electric-type moves as Shiftry 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 Shiftry is Mega Heracross (78.471 DPS), Pheromosa (71.375 DPS), and Mega Pinsir (65.556 DPS).
Catching Shiftry: After defeating Shiftry, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1295 and 1366 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 1611-1700 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Shiftry from raids will have exactly 1366 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 Shiftry?
The best counter for Shiftry is Mega Heracross with Fury Cutter and Megahorn, dealing 78.471 DPS. Other top options include Pheromosa (71.375 DPS) and Mega Pinsir (65.556 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Shiftry?
Shiftry 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 Shiftry weak to?
Shiftry is weak to Bug (double weak), Fairy, Fighting, Fire, Flying, Ice, Poison-type attacks. It resists Psychic, Dark, Electric, Ghost, Grass, Ground, Water-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Shiftry be shiny in Pokemon GO?
Yes! Shiftry's shiny form is available from raid encounters. The shiny rate for legendary raids is approximately 1 in 20 (5%). Use a Pinap Berry if you already have a shiny and want extra candy.
What CP is a 100% IV Shiftry from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Shiftry from raids will have 1366 CP at level 20, or 1700 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1295. If you see 1366 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Shiftry worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Shiftry 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 Shiftry?
For the best moveset for Shiftry itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Shiftry 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 Shiftry without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Shiftry can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Pheromosa (71.375 DPS) and Volcarona (59.000 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 Shiftry in raids?
Shiftry is weather boosted during sunny,fog weather. When boosted, Shiftry is harder to defeat (higher CP in the raid) but the catch encounter will be level 25 instead of 20, giving you a higher CP catch (1611-1700 CP) with potentially better IVs. Weather boost is a double-edged sword — harder raid, better reward.