Tentacruel Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Tentacruel in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Tentacruel
Tentacruel is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Water/Poison typing. The best counter is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (Shadow) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 35.400 DPS.
Tentacruel 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: Tentacruel is weak to Electric, Ground, Psychic -type attacks. Avoid using Bug, Fairy, Fighting-type moves as Tentacruel 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 Tentacruel is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (35.400 DPS), Shadow Mewtwo (33.647 DPS), and Mega Alakazam (32.556 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Tentacruel: After defeating Tentacruel, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1347 and 1418 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 1676-1765 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Tentacruel from raids will have exactly 1418 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 Tentacruel?
The best counter for Tentacruel is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 35.400 DPS. Other top options include Shadow Mewtwo (33.647 DPS) and Mega Alakazam (32.556 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Tentacruel?
Tentacruel 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 Tentacruel weak to?
Tentacruel is weak to Electric, Ground, Psychic-type attacks. It resists Bug, Fairy, Fighting, Fire, Ice, Poison, Steel, Water-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Tentacruel be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Tentacruel's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Tentacruel from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Tentacruel from raids will have 1418 CP at level 20, or 1765 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1347. If you see 1418 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Tentacruel worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Tentacruel 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 Tentacruel?
For the best moveset for Tentacruel itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Tentacruel 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 Tentacruel without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Tentacruel can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Regieleki (32.118 DPS) and Deoxys (Attack) (30.581 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 Tentacruel in raids?
Weather boost information for Tentacruel 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.