Zarude Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Zarude in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Zarude
Zarude is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Dark/Grass typing. The best counter is Pheromosa with Bug Bite and Bug Buzz, dealing 40.375 DPS.
Zarude 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: Zarude is weak to Bug (double weak!), Fairy, Fighting, Fire, Flying, Ice, Poison -type attacks. Avoid using Psychic, Dark, Electric-type moves as Zarude 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 Zarude is Pheromosa (40.375 DPS), Mega Heracross (40.240 DPS), and Mega Pinsir (36.667 DPS).
Catching Zarude: After defeating Zarude, the catch encounter will have a CP between 2155 and 2245 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 2681-2793 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Zarude from raids will have exactly 2245 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 Zarude?
The best counter for Zarude is Pheromosa with Bug Bite and Bug Buzz, dealing 40.375 DPS. Other top options include Mega Heracross (40.240 DPS) and Mega Pinsir (36.667 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Zarude?
Zarude 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 Zarude weak to?
Zarude is weak to Bug (double weak), Fairy, Fighting, Fire, Flying, Ice, Poison-type attacks. It resists Psychic, Dark, Electric, Ghost, Grass, Ground, Water-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Zarude be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Zarude's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Zarude from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Zarude from raids will have 2245 CP at level 20, or 2793 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 2155. If you see 2245 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Zarude worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Zarude 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 Zarude?
For the best moveset for Zarude itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Zarude 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 Zarude without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Zarude can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Pheromosa (40.375 DPS) and Volcarona (33.750 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 Zarude in raids?
Weather boost information for Zarude is not currently available. Dark-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.