[Pokémon Go] Shadow Raikou Raid Day Guide: Counters, Weakness & Solo Tips

Part 1. Is Shadow Raikou Belong to Team GO Rocket?

Shadow Raikou belongs to a group of legendary Pokémon. It was forcefully separated from Team GO Rocket and helped by the player. Thereafter, it became a confrontation experience against the Team GO Rocket boss, Giovanni.

Shadow Raikou is appearing alongside other Team GO Rocket activities during the "Precious Pals: Taken Over" event in late January 2026.

Subsequently, if you are able to defeat it during this event as well as via Giovanni, you would get some unique rewards as a result of elite capture.

• Catch Opportunity : Upon the successful defeat of the raid boss, you get to throw a ball at a Shadow Raikou that is guaranteed to have a 6/6/6 IV floor.

• Rare Rewards : There is also a Shiny Shadow Raikou, which a trainer can meet at a Raid Day event.

  
• Top-tier Attacker : It makes your Electric-type raiding team stronger immediately, whether you purify it or ‍‌not.
• Event Bonuses : Players can receive up to five additional free Raid Passes from spinning Gym Photo Discs during the event window

Part 2. Is Shadow Raikou Good in Pokémon Go Raid?

Shadow Raikou is a top-tier powerhouse for any PvE (Player versus Environment) roster. It is a fact that its pure offensive power is tremendously greater than its regular version, so it is a "must-have" for top-level raid crews.

Raikou’s Shadow Stat Bonus & Max CP

Raikou is an Electric-type Pokémon only. Its Max CP is 3,902 at the highest level – 50. The Shadow variant is much more threatening than the normal one because the Shadow Bonus increases its attack power by as much as 20%.

• Shadow Damage Bonus : Raises all attack damage by 20%.
• Defense Trade-off : Its defense is lowered by around 17%, thus it becomes sort of a "glass cannon" which hits the enemy very hard but quickly falters.
• Max CP (Level 50): 3,902.
• Type :Electric.

Shadow Raikou’s Best Moveset in PvE

To maximize Shadow Raikou Pokemon GO performance, use the best moveset: Thunder Shock with Wild Charge. Adding Shadow Ball helps cover Shadow Raikou weakness against Ground types. This Shadow Raikou raid guide confirms it's a top-tier attacker. Use strong Shadow Raikou counters to win your next Shadow Raikou raid.

• Fast Attack : Thunder Shock
• Charged Attacks : Wild Charge + Shadow Ball

Shadow Raikou's Battle Performance in Raid (PvE)

Shadow Raikou is a top-tier Electric-type attacker in Pokémon GO raids (PvE) and a staple of any Shadow Raikou raid guide. If you’re wondering is Shadow Raikou good, it often ranks as the #1 Electric DPS thanks to the Shadow bonus. It excels in Shadow Raikou raids against Water, Flying, and Dragon types, making it ideal for raid day.

Despite its low bulk being Shadow Raikou‘s weakness, using the best moveset lets Shadow Raikou deliver massive DPS, allowing even low-IV Shadow Raikou to outperform regular Raikou, as shown in GamePress analysis.

Part 3. How to Defeat Shadow Raikou in Shadow Raikou Raid Day?

If you want to know how to beat Shadow Raikou, you need more than just high-level Pokémon; you also need to thoroughly understand the Boss's shadow mechanics as well as figure out its vulnerabilities.

What is Shadow Raikou Weak to in Pokémon Go?

Because Raikou is purely an Electric type, it only has one weakness: Ground. Ground-type moves hit Raikou for 160% damage while it resists the attacks of Electric, Flying, and Steel-types. So, for the best of your team, focus on a bunch of pure Ground-type attackers.

What Are the Best Counters for Shadow Raikou Raid? Top 9 Counters

In order to guarantee success, take advantage of the best pokemon go shadow raikou counters with Ground-type movesets listed below.

Key Battle Strategies of Soloing Shadow Raikou

It is almost impossible to solo a Five-Star Shadow Raid, but theoretically, the most elite trainers can do that under perfect conditions (Sunny weather, Level 50 counters, and perfect Gem usage).

• Subdue Enrage : You must use 8 Purified Gems to suppress Raikou's "Enraged" state, which otherwise triples its defense and doubles its attack.
• Team Size : Even with gems, a solo is a massive risk; a group of 2-4 high-level trainers is highly recommended for safety.
• Watch for Shadow Ball : Raikou may carry Shadow Ball, which deals heavy neutral damage to Ground types; be ready to dodge.
• Party Power : Use the "Party Power" button in a group to double the damage of your next Charged ‌Attack.

Part 4. How to Get Shadow Raikou Raids Quickly?

Want to join a Shadow Raikou raid and get the best moveset easily? PoGoskill lets you teleport to top locations instantly. Even without local teammates, you can find Shadow Raikou counters to win rewards and safely boost your catching efficiency!

PoGoskill is a Pokémon Go location spoofer, it allows you to teleport to any global coordinates instantly, placing you in high-traffic areas like New York or Tokyo. With its stable simulation technology, you can participate in exclusive raids safely from home, significantly enhancing your catching efficiency while minimizing travel constraints.

Key Features of PoGoskill

• Joystick mode: Walk through the map at your discretion so that you can be right at any gym for the Shadow Raikou Raid.
• Automatic raid and nearby gym scanning: Get the Shadow Raikou raid in places with a lot of people, like NYC or Tokyo, quickly.
• Auto-catching Pokémon: Streamline your gameplay by automating the catching process after a successful raid.

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How to Use PoGoSkill

• Step 1Download and install PoGoskill on your computer.

  

• Step 2Connect your device and choose “Game Mode”.

  

• Step 3Click the "R" icon on the far right of the control panel to search for Shadow Raikou raid day events, then use the one-click teleport to reach the Shadow Raikou counters battle site instantly.

  

FAQs about Shadow Raikou in Pokémon Go

Where to find Raikou in Pokémon GO?

Raikou is available at Five-Star Shadow Raids only when the main event, like 2026 Raid Day, is happening. Defeating Giovanni is one of the rare ways to get it outside the events.

Can you solo Shadow Raikou?

Soloing Shadow Raikou is almost impossible. It requires level 50 Primal Groudon/Shadow counters, Sunny weather, and Purified Gems to get the boss with perfect execution.

How to get Shadow Raikou in Pokémon Go?

The only way is to obtain Shadow Raikou after your victory over it in a Five-Star Shadow Raid and then catch it using the Premier Balls that are given to you. You cannot participate in the behavior of using Remote Raid Passes for Shadow Raids.

Is Shadow Raikou worth powering up?

Absolutely! It is the best Electric-type attacker in the entire game when it comes to PvE. Because of this, powering it up should be one of the primary focuses when collecting Stardust and Candy.

How many players are needed to defeat Shadow Raikou?

Normally, a team of 3-5 experienced players equipped with the right Ground Pokémon can defeat Shadow Raikou without difficulty. A group that is at a lower level might have to get together 8-10 members to take on the boss.

How many gems does it take to subdue Shadow Raikou?

Eight (8) Purified Gems are necessary to revert Shadow Raikou back to a calm state, and this action is executed by the raid group members.

Final Thoughts

Master your Shadow Raikou raid guide to secure this top Pokémon GO attacker! Focus on Ground-type counters and use Purified Gems for an easier win.

Whether hunting a shiny Shadow Raikou or the best moveset, PoGoskill Location Changer helps bridge the gap if you can't join locally. Prepare now to beat Shadow Raikou and dominate the 2026 Raid Day!

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How to Beat Giovanni Pokémon Go: Best Pokémon & Counters!

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