Mega Gyarados in Mega Raids Best Pokemon GO Raid Counters
Mega Gyarados in Mega Raids: Best Pokémon GO Raid Counters
Dominating Mega Gyarados Mega Raids requires precise preparation, the right counters, and a deep understanding of its dual typing. As one of the most formidable Mega Raid bosses in Pokémon GO, Mega Gyarados demands respect — and a well-built battle party. Whether you’re a seasoned US trainer grinding for Mega Energy or chasing a shiny encounter, this guide covers every critical detail you need to walk away victorious.
Mega Gyarados Raid Counters and Best Attackers
Top Tier Counters
Mega Gyarados is a Water/Dark-type Pokémon, which fundamentally shifts its weaknesses compared to standard Gyarados. The most effective attackers exploit its Electric, Grass, Fighting, Bug, and Fairy-type vulnerabilities. Your absolute priority picks should be Shadow Raikou with Thunder Shock / Wild Charge, Mega Manectric with Thunder Fang / Wild Charge, and Xurkitree with Thunder Shock / Discharge. These Electric-type powerhouses deal double-effective damage and can shred through Mega Gyarados’s bulk with consistent DPS output.
High-Value Support Attackers
Beyond pure Electric counters, Shadow Magnezone (Spark / Wild Charge), Zekrom (Charge Beam / Wild Charge), and Thundurus Therian Forme (Volt Switch / Thunderbolt) round out any serious raid lineup. For trainers without shadow-boosted or legendary options, Electivire (Thunder Shock / Wild Charge) and Luxray (Spark / Wild Charge) remain strong budget alternatives. Grass-types like Kartana (Razor Leaf / Leaf Blade) and Shadow Tangrowth (Vine Whip / Power Whip) also perform excellently, especially against Water-type move sets from the boss.
Budget and Accessible Counter Options
Not every US trainer has a stacked shadow or legendary roster. In those cases, lean on Roserade (Razor Leaf / Grass Knot), Leafeon (Razor Leaf / Leaf Blade), and Machamp (Counter / Dynamic Punch) for Fighting-type coverage. For trainers looking to fast-track their roster without months of grinding, boostmypoke.com offers trusted, safe services for stardust farming and account boosting, helping you power up your counters faster and get raid-ready without the burnout.
Mega Gyarados Weaknesses and Raid Battle Tips
Understanding the Water/Dark Typing
As a Water/Dark-type, Mega Gyarados loses its Flying-type resistances and gains new vulnerabilities. It is weak to Electric (2×), Grass (2×), Fighting (2×), Bug (2×), and Fairy (2×). Critically, it resists Fire, Water, Ice, Ghost, Dark, Steel, and Psychic moves. Many trainers make the mistake of bringing Psychic-type attackers — a common counter for regular Gyarados — only to find those moves deal reduced damage. Knowing what not to bring is just as important as knowing your best picks.
Raid Battle Strategy and Lobby Tips
Mega Gyarados is a Tier 5 Mega Raid boss with substantial bulk. In-person raids in the US typically require 3–5 high-level trainers with optimized counters to complete within the timer. Remote raids can be completed with slightly larger groups due to variable connection factors. Prioritize dodging Aqua Tail and Crunch — its two most damaging charge moves — by watching the yellow flash indicator. Using a Mega Evolution of your own (especially Mega Manectric or Mega Venusaur) boosts your whole team’s relevant-type damage by 30%, dramatically improving raid efficiency.
Weather and Bonus Considerations
Rainy weather boosts Water-type moves, making Mega Gyarados hit significantly harder. Conversely, Sunny/Clear weather boosts Grass-type counters, while Windy weather has no meaningful impact on this raid. Thunderstorm weather boosts Electric-type attackers, making it the ideal condition to challenge this boss. Plan your raid sessions around weather forecasts to maximize both damage output and the CP of your catch reward.
Top Movesets for Beating Mega Gyarados Raids
Best Fast Moves for Your Counters
The fastest time-to-win (TTW) comes from counters running high-DPS fast moves that generate energy efficiently. Thunder Shock (Electric) leads all fast moves for this raid, generating energy at an exceptional rate while dealing super effective damage. Razor Leaf (Grass) hits harder per hit but generates energy slower, making it better suited for glass-cannon Grass attackers like Kartana. Counter (Fighting) is the go-to for Fighting-type picks, offering excellent energy generation and neutral-to-super-effective coverage.
Best Charge Moves for Maximum Damage
Wild Charge is the gold standard charge move for Electric-type counters — high damage, low energy cost, and super effective against Mega Gyarados. Leaf Blade and Grass Knot are the premier Grass-type charge moves, with Leaf Blade offering speed and Grass Knot delivering raw power. Dynamic Punch and Close Combat round out the Fighting-type options. Avoid using Thunderbolt as your only charge move if Wild Charge is accessible — the damage difference is significant enough to affect completion margins.
Move Optimization and TM Usage
Before the raid, use Fast TMs and Charged TMs to lock in optimal movesets. Shadow Pokémon benefit even more from correct movesets due to the 20% damage bonus they carry. If you’re short on Elite TMs or standard TMs, prioritize fixing your highest-CP Electric-type attacker first, as that single optimization will have the greatest raid impact. Trainers looking to stockpile TMs and raid passes efficiently can explore options at boostmypoke.com to supplement their in-game grinding.
Mega Gyarados CP IV Chart and Boss Stats Guide
Mega Gyarados Boss Stats
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Raid Boss CP | 62,044 |
| Max Catch CP (No Boost) | 2,190 |
| Max Catch CP (Weather Boost) | 2,737 |
| Attack | 292 |
| Defense | 247 |
| Stamina | 216 |
| Type | Water / Dark |
IV and CP Breakdown for Caught Gyarados
A weather-boosted Gyarados catch (Rainy or Foggy weather for Water/Dark) will appear between Level 25 and yield higher CP values. Perfect 15/15/15 IV Gyarados caught without weather boost will be at 2,190 CP. With weather boost, the perfect IV catch reaches 2,737 CP. Use the in-game Appraisal system immediately after capture to identify high-IV specimens worth investing Stardust and Candy into for PvP or Mega Evolution purposes.
Powering Up Your Gyarados Post-Raid
Gyarados requires 400 Candy to evolve into Mega Gyarados, plus ongoing Mega Energy to activate Mega Evolution in future raids. Prioritize catching every raid encounter to accumulate Candy and Mega Energy simultaneously. High-IV Gyarados are valuable assets in Master League PvP and future Mega Raid lobbies. Power-up costs scale steeply at higher levels, so budget your Stardust carefully — or leverage trusted boosting services to accelerate your resource accumulation.
FAQ: Mega Gyarados Mega Raid Questions Answered
What type is Mega Gyarados in Pokémon GO?
Mega Gyarados is a Water/Dark-type Pokémon, differing from regular Gyarados which is Water/Flying.
What are Mega Gyarados’s weaknesses?
Mega Gyarados is weak to Electric, Grass, Fighting, Bug, and Fairy-type moves, each dealing 160% damage.
How many trainers are needed to beat Mega Gyarados?
With optimal high-level counters, 3–5 trainers can complete the raid. Lower-level groups or suboptimal teams should aim for 6+ trainers.
Can Mega Gyarados be shiny in raids?
Yes. Shiny Mega Gyarados (red coloration) is available and can be encountered after completing the raid battle.
What is the best counter for Mega Gyarados?
Shadow Raikou with Thunder Shock / Wild Charge is currently the top-performing single counter, followed closely by Xurkitree and Mega Manectric.
Does weather affect Mega Gyarados raids?
Yes. Thunderstorm weather boosts your Electric attackers, while Sunny weather boosts Grass counters. Rainy weather boosts Mega Gyarados’s Water-type moves, increasing incoming damage.
Where can I get more raid passes for Mega Gyarados?
Beyond the daily free pass, trainers can purchase Premium Raid Passes in-shop or explore boostmypoke.com for PokéCoin and raid pass services to maximize your raid session opportunities.