Squirtle Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Squirtle in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Squirtle
Squirtle 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 60.700 DPS.
Squirtle 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: Squirtle is weak to Electric, Grass -type attacks. Avoid using Fire, Ice, Steel-type moves as Squirtle 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 Squirtle is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (60.700 DPS), Regieleki (54.941 DPS), and Thundurus (Therian) (50.700 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Squirtle: After defeating Squirtle, the catch encounter will have a CP between 509 and 554 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 634-689 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Squirtle from raids will have exactly 554 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 Squirtle?
The best counter for Squirtle is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 60.700 DPS. Other top options include Regieleki (54.941 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (50.700 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Squirtle?
Squirtle 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 Squirtle weak to?
Squirtle is weak to Electric, Grass-type attacks. It resists Fire, Ice, Steel, Water-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Squirtle be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Squirtle's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Squirtle from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Squirtle from raids will have 554 CP at level 20, or 689 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 509. If you see 554 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Squirtle worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Squirtle 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 Squirtle?
For the best moveset for Squirtle itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Squirtle 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 Squirtle without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Squirtle can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Regieleki (54.941 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (50.700 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 Squirtle in raids?
Weather boost information for Squirtle 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.