Swellow Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Swellow in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Swellow
Swellow is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Normal/Flying typing. The best counter is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (Shadow) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 59.200 DPS.
Swellow 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: Swellow is weak to Electric, Ice, Rock -type attacks. Avoid using Ghost, Ground, Bug-type moves as Swellow 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 Swellow is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (59.200 DPS), Regieleki (53.647 DPS), and Thundurus (Therian) (49.300 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Swellow: After defeating Swellow, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1060 and 1124 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 1319-1399 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Swellow from raids will have exactly 1124 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 Swellow?
The best counter for Swellow is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 59.200 DPS. Other top options include Regieleki (53.647 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (49.300 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Swellow?
Swellow 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 Swellow weak to?
Swellow is weak to Electric, Ice, Rock-type attacks. It resists Ghost, Ground, Bug, Grass-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Swellow be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Swellow's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Swellow from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Swellow from raids will have 1124 CP at level 20, or 1399 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1060. If you see 1124 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Swellow worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Swellow 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 Swellow?
For the best moveset for Swellow itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Swellow 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 Swellow without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Swellow can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Regieleki (53.647 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (49.300 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 Swellow in raids?
Weather boost information for Swellow 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.