Unown Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Unown in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Unown
Unown is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Psychic typing. The best counter is Mega Gengar (Mega) with Lick and Shadow Ball, dealing 72.000 DPS.
Unown 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: Unown is weak to Bug, Dark, Ghost -type attacks. Avoid using Fighting, Psychic-type moves as Unown 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 Unown is Mega Gengar (72.000 DPS), Shadow Darkrai (65.857 DPS), and Mega Absol (65.400 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Unown: After defeating Unown, the catch encounter will have a CP between 644 and 694 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 801-863 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Unown from raids will have exactly 694 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 Unown?
The best counter for Unown is Mega Gengar with Lick and Shadow Ball, dealing 72.000 DPS. Other top options include Shadow Darkrai (65.857 DPS) and Mega Absol (65.400 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Unown?
Unown 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 Unown weak to?
Unown is weak to Bug, Dark, Ghost-type attacks. It resists Fighting, Psychic-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Unown be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Unown's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Unown from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Unown from raids will have 694 CP at level 20, or 863 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 644. If you see 694 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Unown worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Unown 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 Unown?
For the best moveset for Unown itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Unown 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 Unown without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Unown can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Blacephalon (61.286 DPS) and Pheromosa (58.750 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 Unown in raids?
Weather boost information for Unown is not currently available. Psychic-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.