
| Max CP | 3,949 |
| Generation | Johto (Gen 2) |
| Buddy Distance | 20km |
| Released | ✅ Yes |
| Shiny | ✨ Yes |
| Shadow | 😈 Yes |
Raikou is a Electric-type Pokémon from Johto (Generation 2) in Pokémon GO. It has a maximum Combat Power (CP) of 3,949 when powered up to Level 50 with perfect 15/15/15 IVs. Raikou has base stats of 241 Attack, 195 Defense, and 207 Stamina, giving it a total stat product of 643.
With an exceptional Attack stat of 241, Raikou is one of the top attackers of its type in raids and gym battles. Its shiny form is available in Pokémon GO. Shadow Raikou is also available from Team GO Rocket encounters, dealing 20% more damage.
In Rainy weather, Raikou receives a weather boost increasing its catch CP and spawn rate. The buddy walking distance for Raikou is 20km per candy.
| Move | Type | Power | Energy | DPS | EPS | PvP DPT | PvP EPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder Shock STAB | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Volt Switch STAB | Electric | 14 | +8 | 7.8 | - | - | - |
DPS = Damage/Sec (PvE) · EPS = Energy/Sec · DPT/EPT = Damage/Energy Per Turn (PvP) · STAB = +20% type bonus
| Move | Type | Power | Energy | DPS | PvP Pwr | PvP Nrg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder STAB | Electric | 100 | -60 | - | 100 | -60 |
| Thunderbolt STAB | Electric | 80 | -55 | - | 90 | -55 |
| Wild Charge STAB | Electric | 90 | -50 | - | 100 | -45 |
| Shadow Ball | Ghost | 100 | -55 | - | 100 | -55 |
| Aura Sphere STAB | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Raikou takes increased damage from these types:
Raikou takes reduced damage from these types:
Top Pokémon to use when battling Raikou in raids and gyms, sorted by Attack.
| # | Pokémon | Type | ATK | DEF | STA | Max CP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
| Ground | 270 | 228 | 205 | 4,708 |
| 2 |
| Dragon Ground | 261 | 193 | 239 | 4,532 |
| 3 |
| Ground Steel | 255 | 129 | 242 | 3,711 |
| 4 |
| Ice Ground | 247 | 146 | 242 | 3,808 |
| 5 |
| Ground Normal | 243 | 181 | 277 | 4,410 |
| 6 |
| Ground Rock | 241 | 190 | 251 | 4,271 |
| 7 |
| Ground Dark | 229 | 158 | 216 | 3,485 |
| 8 |
| Ground Rock | 222 | 171 | 233 | 3,637 |
| 9 |
| Ground Ghost | 222 | 154 | 205 | 3,265 |
| 10 |
| Ground | 214 | 185 | 207 | 3,447 |
Best IVs for GO Battle League. Higher stat product = better PvP.
| # | ATK | DEF | STA | Lv | CP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 1,500 |
| 2 | 2 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 1,494 |
| 3 | 2 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 1,497 |
| 4 | 4 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 1,499 |
| 5 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 1,497 |
| 6 | 3 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 1,500 |
| 7 | 4 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 1,499 |
| 8 | 1 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 1,488 |
| 9 | 1 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 1,491 |
| 10 | 3 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 1,493 |
| # | ATK | DEF | STA | Lv | CP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 15 | 12 | 27 | 2,500 |
| 2 | 0 | 13 | 15 | 27 | 2,495 |
| 3 | 1 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 2,499 |
| 4 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 27 | 2,495 |
| 5 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 27 | 2,500 |
| 6 | 0 | 15 | 12 | 27 | 2,490 |
| 7 | 0 | 15 | 13 | 27 | 2,495 |
| 8 | 1 | 14 | 12 | 27 | 2,494 |
| 9 | 1 | 14 | 13 | 27 | 2,500 |
| 10 | 2 | 13 | 12 | 27 | 2,498 |
Ranked by Stat Product. #1 = best PvP. Master League: use 15/15/15.
Expected CP at different IV levels per encounter type.
| IVs | Wild L30 | Research L15 | Raid L20 | WB L25 | Max L40 | L50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% (15/15/15) | 2,959 | 1,479 | 1,972 | 2,465 | 3,452 | 3,914 |
| 98% (15/15/14) | 2,952 | 1,476 | 1,968 | 2,460 | 3,444 | 3,905 |
| 96% (15/14/15) | 2,952 | 1,476 | 1,967 | 2,460 | 3,444 | 3,904 |
| 93% (14/14/14) | 2,934 | 1,467 | 1,955 | 2,444 | 3,422 | 3,880 |
| 91% (15/13/13) | 2,931 | 1,465 | 1,954 | 2,443 | 3,420 | 3,878 |
| 87% (13/13/13) | 2,908 | 1,454 | 1,939 | 2,424 | 3,393 | 3,847 |
| 82% (12/12/12) | 2,883 | 1,441 | 1,922 | 2,403 | 3,364 | 3,814 |
| 80% (10/15/15) | 2,901 | 1,450 | 1,934 | 2,417 | 3,384 | 3,837 |
| 67% (10/10/10) | 2,834 | 1,417 | 1,889 | 2,361 | 3,306 | 3,748 |
| 0% (0/0/0) | 2,592 | 1,296 | 1,728 | 2,160 | 3,024 | 3,428 |
Important CP values for Raikou with perfect 15/15/15 IVs:
| 🏆 Max CP (Lv 50) | 3,914 CP |
| 🎯 Max CP (Lv 40) | 3,452 CP |
| ⚔️ Raid Catch (Lv 20) | 1,889 - 1,972 CP |
| 🌤️ Weather Boost (Lv 25) | 2,361 - 2,465 CP |
| 🥚 Egg Hatch (Lv 20) | 1,889 - 1,972 CP |
| 🔬 Research (Lv 15) | 1,417 - 1,479 CP |
Maximum CP for Raikou with perfect 15/15/15 IVs at each level.
| Lv | Max CP | Lv | Max CP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 48 | 26 | 3,452 |
| 2 | 3,452 | 27 | 3,452 |
| 3 | 3,452 | 28 | 3,452 |
| 4 | 3,452 | 29 | 3,452 |
| 5 | 465 | 30 | 2,959 |
| 6 | 3,452 | 31 | 3,452 |
| 7 | 3,452 | 32 | 3,452 |
| 8 | 3,452 | 33 | 3,452 |
| 9 | 3,452 | 34 | 3,452 |
| 10 | 986 | 35 | 3,205 |
| 11 | 3,452 | 36 | 3,452 |
| 12 | 3,452 | 37 | 3,452 |
| 13 | 3,452 | 38 | 3,452 |
| 14 | 3,452 | 39 | 3,452 |
| 15 | 1,479 | 40 | 3,452 |
| 16 | 3,452 | 41 | 3,452 |
| 17 | 3,452 | 42 | 3,452 |
| 18 | 3,452 | 43 | 3,452 |
| 19 | 3,452 | 44 | 3,452 |
| 20 | 1,972 | 45 | 3,692 |
| 21 | 3,452 | 46 | 3,452 |
| 22 | 3,452 | 47 | 3,452 |
| 23 | 3,452 | 48 | 3,452 |
| 24 | 3,452 | 49 | 3,452 |
| 25 | 2,465 | 50 | 3,914 |
Raikou (#243) is a Electric-type Pokémon from the Johto region (Generation 2) in Pokémon GO. With a maximum CP of 3,949 at Level 50 with perfect 15/15/15 IVs, Raikou is a strong competitor in various formats. This complete guide covers the best moveset, PvP analysis, raid counters, evolution, and shiny availability for Raikou in 2026.
As a Legendary Pokémon, Raikou is one of the most sought-after Pokémon in the game. It can be obtained through Tier 5 Raids, Special Research, and GO Battle League rewards at Rank 20+. The buddy distance is 20km per candy.
Raikou's Attack stat is 241 (Excellent). This is a competitive Attack stat that makes Raikou a strong damage dealer.
With 195 Defense (Excellent) and 207 Stamina (Excellent), the total stat product is 643. This gives Raikou reasonable durability in battle. Compared to other Electric-type Pokémon, Raikou's stat distribution leans toward offense.
The best moveset for Raikou depends on whether you use it for raids, gyms, or PvP. For raids, use Thunder Shock (Fast) with Thunder (Charged) for maximum DPS. This takes advantage of STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) which provides a 20% damage boost for matching-type moves.
For PvP (GO Battle League), energy generation and coverage matter more than raw DPS. Raikou has 2 Fast Attacks and 5 Charged Attacks to choose from.
In Great League, Raikou can be a viable pick. For Great League, lower Attack IVs (like 0/15/15) are preferred to maximize stat product under 1500 CP. The Electric typing provides useful matchups against Electric, Flying, Steel-type threats while being weak to Ground types.
With 3,914 CP at Level 50, Raikou is a strong Master League contender. Power it up to Level 50 with best buddy bonus for maximum impact.
Raikou appears as a 5-Star Legendary Raid Boss. Focus on Ground-type counters for maximum damage. A group of 4-6 trainers with optimal counters is recommended. After the raid, catch Raikou at Level 20 (1,889 - 1,972 CP) or Level 25 with weather boost (2,361 - 2,465 CP). A 100% IV (hundo) will have exactly 1,972 CP.
Raikou is a Legendary Pokémon obtainable through Tier 5 Raids, Special Research, GO Battle League rewards (Rank 20+), and special event distributions. Check the current events for raid availability.
Shadow Raikou is available from Team GO Rocket. Shadow Pokémon deal 20% more damage but take 20% more damage, making them excellent glass cannons. Shadow Raikou's effective Attack becomes ~289. For raids, keeping it Shadow is usually better than purifying.
Shiny Raikou is available! Use the Normal/Shiny toggle on this page to preview. The shiny rate is approximately 1 in 20 (boosted rate in raids). Shiny variants are cosmetic only — same stats and performance. Check our Shiny Checklist for all available shinies.
Raikou gets a weather boost in Rainy weather, increasing wild spawn CP (up to Level 35) and raid catch CP to Level 25 (2,361 - 2,465 CP). The buddy distance is 20km per candy. Rare Candy is the most efficient option for powering up.
Q: What is Raikou's max CP?
A: 3,914 CP at Level 50, or 3,452 CP at Level 40.
Q: Is Raikou good?
A: Excellent — top-tier for raids and Master League.
Q: Can Raikou be shiny?
A: Yes! Shiny Raikou is available.
Q: What is Raikou weak to?
A: Ground-type moves.
Q: Best moveset?
A: Thunder Shock + Thunder for optimal DPS.
Updated September 2026. Data from Pokémon GO Live and Pokémon GO Wiki.