Swadloon Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Swadloon in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Swadloon
Swadloon is a 3-Star Raids raid boss in Pokemon GO with bug/grass typing. The best counter is Mega Blaziken (Mega) with Fire Spin and Blast Burn, dealing 65.368 DPS. Swadloon's shiny form is available from raid encounters.
Swadloon 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: Swadloon is weak to Fire (double weak!), Flying (double weak!), Bug, Ice, Poison, Rock -type attacks. Avoid using Grass, Ground, Electric-type moves as Swadloon 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 Swadloon is Mega Blaziken (65.368 DPS), Blacephalon (64.556 DPS), and Mega Charizard Y (63.579 DPS).
Catching Swadloon: After defeating Swadloon, the catch encounter will have a CP between 749 and 802 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 931-998 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Swadloon from raids will have exactly 802 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 Swadloon?
The best counter for Swadloon is Mega Blaziken with Fire Spin and Blast Burn, dealing 65.368 DPS. Other top options include Blacephalon (64.556 DPS) and Mega Charizard Y (63.579 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Swadloon?
Swadloon 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 Swadloon weak to?
Swadloon is weak to Fire (double weak), Flying (double weak), Bug, Ice, Poison, Rock-type attacks. It resists Grass, Ground, Electric, Fighting, Water-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Swadloon be shiny in Pokemon GO?
Yes! Swadloon'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 Swadloon from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Swadloon from raids will have 802 CP at level 20, or 998 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 749. If you see 802 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Swadloon worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Swadloon 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 Swadloon?
For the best moveset for Swadloon itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Swadloon 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 Swadloon without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Swadloon can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Blacephalon (64.556 DPS) and Reshiram (55.286 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 Swadloon in raids?
Swadloon is weather boosted during rainy,sunny weather. When boosted, Swadloon 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 (931-998 CP) with potentially better IVs. Weather boost is a double-edged sword — harder raid, better reward.