Shadow Raikou Trio Raid Guide (2024)

Table of Contents

Overview

Shadow Raikou sits near the apex of Electric Types, which makes it a very important Pokemon to raid. Bring your Purified Gems and get ready, because this can be a wild ride. Shadow Raikou hits very hard, so it can be a major issue to take down. Fortunately, its one weakness double-resists its STAB moves, so the majority of Shadow Raikou's counters can stand against it with ease.

Note that this guide focuses on the trio, as it's substantially easier, but a duo is definitely doable.

Approach

Team composition

• Shadow Raikou is strictly weak to Ground, which is good as Ground Types tend to double-resist the vast majority of its moves.

Dodging

• The main move to dodge is Shadow Ball, as all of the top counters take at least neutral damage from it.
• Thunderbolt and Wild Charge don't hittoohard considering the laundry-list of Electric resistances among Shadow Raikou's counters, but can be dodged if a Pokemon is low on HP and close to their next Charged Move.
• Thunder hits the second-hardest per attack among Shadow Raikou's attacks in most cases, but it's fairly hard to dodge.

Nothing in the game compares to Primal Groudon when it's up against Electric Types. With its titanic base stats,powerfulmoveset, double-resistance to Electric Type attacks, and Primal boost, there really isn't scenario where Primal Groudon sholdn't be brought along if ready for Primal Reversion.

• Strengths:Thunder Shock (2x), Volt Switch (2x), Thunder (2x), Thunderbolt (2x), Wild Charge (2x)
• Weaknesses:

Mega Garchomp isn't quite on a par with Primal Groudon, but its triple-resistance to Electric Type moves gives it a tremendous boost in terms of TDO, to the point where it can potentially out-last Primal Groudon. If you don't have the king, then bring the prince.

• Strengths:Thunder Shock (3x), Volt Switch (3x), Thunder (3x), Thunderbolt (3x), Wild Charge (3x), Wild Charge (3x)
• Weaknesses:None

Best known for its Water power, Mega Swampert works extremely well as a Ground Type Mega Evolution as well. It only has a 1x resistance to Electric Type attacks thanks to its Water/Ground typing andgenuinely cannot compare to Primal Groudon or Mega Garchomp,but it's still a great backup option for Ground Type damage output.

• Strengths:Thunder Shock, Volt Switch, Thunder, Thunderbolt, Wild Charge
• Weaknesses:None

Mega Heracross has a huge Attack that that, when combined with Earthquake, give it just enough power to be worth considering. It's not the best option, but it can put in work.

• Strengths:None
• Weaknesses:None

The master of neutral damage, Mega Rayquaza has the raw power needed to still be worthwhile against Shadow Raikou, though it definitely falls off when compared to the competition. Sadly, it should not use Dragon Ascent due to Shadow Raikou's resistance to Flying Type moves.

• Strengths:None
• Weaknesses:None

The apex oft the non-Mega (or rather Primal) Pokemon, Shadow Groudon hits extremely hard, and stays for a long time.

• Strengths:Thunder Shock (2x), Volt Switch (2x), Thunder (2x), Thunderbolt (2x), Wild Charge (2x)
• Weaknesses:None

A powerful Ground Type attacker with a powerful moveset, Shadow Excadrill can cause a lot of damage in short order.

• Strengths:Thunder Shock (2x), Volt Switch (2x), Thunder (2x), Thunderbolt (2x), Wild Charge (2x)
• Weaknesses:None

The classic Ice Type power-house can be TMed over toabsolutely annihilate ShadowRikou. It's a bit frail when compared to the other top counters, but it candefinitelycut into Shadow Raikou's HP very quickly.

• Strengths:Thunder Shock (2x), Volt Switch (2x), Thunder (2x), Thunderbolt (2x), Wild Charge (2x)
• Weaknesses:None

With an unprecedentedtriple-resistance to Electric Type moves and avery highdamage output, very few Pokemon can compare with Shadow Garchomp.

• Strengths:Thunder Shock (3x), Volt Switch (3x), Thunder (3x), Thunderbolt (3x), Wild Charge (3x)
• Weaknesses:None

The big-bad-bulky-boi, Shadow Rhyperior can power through a lot of damage and hit hard.

• Strengths:Thunder Shock (2x), Volt Switch (2x), Thunder (2x), Thunderbolt (2x), Wild Charge (2x)
• Weaknesses:None

Its Flying type does it no favors, but Landorus - Therian still has the power needed to be great.

• Strengths:Thunder Shock, Volt Switch, Thunder, Thunderbolt, Wild Charge
• Weaknesses:None

While Primal Groudon is easily the king of this raid, but basic Groudon still hasmore than enough powerto put Shadow Raikou into an early grave.

• Strengths:Thunder Shock (2x), Volt Switch (2x), Thunder (2x), Thunderbolt (2x), Wild Charge (2x)
• Weaknesses:None

While its Steel typing doesn't give Excadrill any advantages in this raid, its base power and stellar moveset allowes it to act as an outstanding counter to Shadow Raikou and Electric Types in general.

• Strengths:Thunder Shock (2x), Volt Switch (2x), Thunder (2x), Thunderbolt (2x), Wild Charge (2x)
• Weaknesses:None

Shadow Golurk works well, but it genuinely does not like facing Shadow Ball.

• Strengths:Thunder Shock (2x), Volt Switch (2x), Thunder (2x), Thunderbolt (2x), Wild Charge (2x)
• Weaknesses:Shadow Ball

Among the longest-lasting counters to Shadow Raikou thanks to its triple-resistance to Electric Type attacks, Garchomp isdefinitelya greatcounter for this raid despite not being its Shadow-self.

• Strengths:Thunder Shock (3x), Volt Switch (3x), Thunder (3x), Thunderbolt (3x), Wild Charge (3x)
• Weaknesses:None

• Strengths:Thunder Shock (2x), Volt Switch (2x), Thunder (2x), Thunderbolt (2x), Wild Charge (2x)
• Weaknesses:None

• Strengths:Thunder Shock (2x), Volt Switch (2x), Thunder (2x), Thunderbolt (2x), Wild Charge (2x)
• Weaknesses:None

• Strengths:Thunder Shock (2x), Volt Switch (2x), Thunder (2x), Thunderbolt (2x), Wild Charge (2x)
• Weaknesses:None

• Strengths:None
• Weaknesses:Shadow Ball

• Strengths:Thunder Shock, Volt Switch, Thunder, Thunderbolt, Wild Charge
• Weaknesses:None

• Strengths:Thunder Shock (2x), Volt Switch (2x), Thunder (2x), Thunderbolt (2x), Wild Charge (2x)
• Weaknesses:None

• Strengths:Thunder Shock (2x), Volt Switch (2x), Thunder (2x), Thunderbolt (2x), Wild Charge (2x), Shadow Ball (2x)
• Weaknesses:None

• Strengths:Thunder Shock (2x), Volt Switch (2x), Thunder (2x), Thunderbolt (2x), Wild Charge (2x)
• Weaknesses:None

• Strengths:Thunder Shock (3x), Volt Switch (3x), Thunder (3x), Thunderbolt (3x), Wild Charge (3x)
• Weaknesses:None

• Strengths:Thunder Shock, Volt Switch, Thunder, Thunderbolt, Wild Charge
• Weaknesses:None