Quick facts
Species: Gyarados (Mega)
Types: Water / Flying
Primary weaknesses: Rock, Electric
Recommended lobby: 3–7 trainers
Mega Gyarados is a fearsome Water/Dark-type Pokémon in raids, notorious for its high attack and intimidating presence. Trainers need well-planned teams to take it down efficiently. This guide covers optimal counters, movesets, and strategies for defeating Mega Gyarados with minimal fainting.
Table of Contents
Weakness Best Pokemon Regular Counters Shadow Counters Mega Counters Moveset Weather Effects Size Rewards FAQsWeaknesses & resistances
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Weak to |
 Rock •
 Electric
|
| Resists to |
 Fighting •
 Ground •
 Bug •
 Fire •
 Steel •
 Water
|
Best Mega Gyarados Counters
Mega-type Counters
- Swampert: Water Gun / Earthquake
- Gyarados: Rollout / Hydro Pump
- Gyarados: Dragon Tail / Hydro Pump
Shadow-type Counters
- Feraligator: Waterfall / Hydro Pump
- Samurott: Waterfall / Hydro Pump
- Kingler: Bubble / Crabhammer
Water-type Counters
- Greninja: Feint Attack / Hydro Pump
- Golisopod: Waterfall / Liquidation
- Primarina: Charm / Hydro Pump
Best Mega Evolutions
Recommended Megas to use against Mega Gyarados:
- Swampert, Gyarados, Gyarados, Slowbro – Water boost
- Garchomp – Ground boost
Best Regular Counters
Regular pokemon that amplify the right types give you a powerful edge. Below are top Regular counters with short notes on why they excel.
| Pokémon | Fast Moves | Charged Moves | Elite Moves | Best Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keldeo(Resolute) | Low Kick / Poison Jab | Close Combat / Sacred Sword / X-Scissor / Aqua Jet / Hydro Pump | - | Poison Jab (13) and Hydro Pump (135) |
| Lucario | Counter / Bullet Punch | Close Combat / Power-Up Punch / Aura Sphere / Shadow Ball / Flash Cannon / Meteor Mash / Blaze Kick / Thunder Punch | Force Palm | Counter (13) and Close Combat (105) |
| Tapu Koko | Quick Attack / Volt Switch | Brave Bird / Thunderbolt / Thunder / Dazzling Gleam | Nature's Madness | Volt Switch (13) and Brave Bird (130) |
| Tapu Bulu | Rock Smash / Bullet Seed | Megahorn / Grass Knot / Solar Beam / Dazzling Gleam | Nature's Madness | Rock Smash (17) and Solar Beam (180) |
| Zarude | Vine Whip / Bite | Power Whip / Energy Ball / Dark Pulse | - | Vine Whip / Bite (6) and Power Whip / Energy Ball (90) |
| Regieleki | Lock-On / Thunder Shock / Volt Switch | Hyper Beam / Thunder / Zap Cannon | Thunder Cage | Volt Switch (13) and Thunder Cage (220) |
| Sky Shaymin | Hidden Power / Magical Leaf / Zen Headbutt | Energy Ball / Grass Knot / Solar Beam / Seed Flare | - | Magical Leaf (17) and Solar Beam (180) |
| Xurkitree | Thunder Shock / Spark | Power Whip / Discharge / Thunder / Dazzling Gleam | - | Thunder Shock / Spark (4) and Thunder / Dazzling Gleam (100) |
| Terrakion | Double Kick / Smack Down / Zen Headbutt | Close Combat / Earthquake / Rock Slide | Sacred Sword | Smack Down (13) and Earthquake (140) |
| Kartana | Air Slash / Fury Cutter / Razor Leaf | Sacred Sword / Aerial Ace / X-Scissor / Leaf Blade / Night Slash | - | Razor Leaf (13) and Leaf Blade (70) |
| Keldeo(Original) | Fire Fang / Dragon Breath | Stone Edge / Overheat / Draco Meteor / Crunch | Fusion Flare | Fire Fang (13) and Overheat (160) |
Best Shadow Counters
Shadow pokemon that amplify the right types give you a powerful edge. Below are top Shadow counters with short notes on why they excel.
| Pokémon | Fast Moves | Charged Moves | Elite Moves | Best Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shadow Zapdos | Charge Beam | Drill Peck / Ancient Power / Zap Cannon / Thunderbolt / Thunder | Thunder Shock | Charge Beam (7) and Zap Cannon (140) |
| Shadow Raikou | Thunder Shock / Volt Switch | Aura Sphere / Shadow Ball / Thunder / Thunderbolt / Wild Charge | - | Volt Switch (13) and Aura Sphere / Shadow Ball / Thunder (100) |
| Shadow Conkeldurr | Counter / Poison Jab | Dynamic Punch / Focus Blast / Stone Edge | Brutal Swing | Counter / Poison Jab (13) and Focus Blast (140) |
| Shadow Sceptile | Fury Cutter / Bullet Seed | Aerial Ace / Earthquake / Leaf Blade / Dragon Claw / Breaking Swipe | Frenzy Plant | Bullet Seed (7) and Earthquake (140) |
| Shadow Blaziken | Counter / Fire Spin / Ember | Focus Blast / Aura Sphere / Brave Bird / Overheat / Blaze Kick | Stone Edge / Blast Burn | Counter / Fire Spin (13) and Overheat (160) |
| Shadow Magnezone | Metal Sound / Spark / Charge Beam / Volt Switch | Flash Cannon / Mirror Shot / Zap Cannon / Wild Charge | - | Volt Switch (13) and Zap Cannon (140) |
| Shadow Electivire | Low Kick / Thunder Shock | Thunder Punch / Thunder / Ice Punch / Wild Charge | Flamethrower | Low Kick (5) and Thunder (100) |
| Shadow Tangrowth | Infestation / Vine Whip | Sludge Bomb / Ancient Power / Rock Slide / Solar Beam / Power Whip | - | Infestation (9) and Solar Beam (180) |
Best Mega Counters
Mega pokemon that amplify the right types give you a powerful edge. Below are top Mega counters with short notes on why they excel.
| Pokémon | Fast Moves | Charged Moves | Elite Moves | Best Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Lucario | Counter / Bullet Punch | Close Combat / Power-Up Punch / Aura Sphere / Shadow Ball / Flash Cannon / Meteor Mash / Blaze Kick / Thunder Punch | Force Palm | Counter (13) and Close Combat (105) |
| Mega Gardevoir | Magical Leaf / Charge Beam / Confusion / Charm | Shadow Ball / Psychic / Triple Axel / Dazzling Gleam | Synchronoise | Charm (20) and Shadow Ball / Dazzling Gleam (180) |
| Mega Pinsir | Rock Smash / Bug Bite / Fury Cutter | Vise Grip / Close Combat / Superpower / X-Scissor | Submission | Rock Smash (17) and Close Combat (105) |
| Mega Latias | Zen Headbutt / Dragon Breath / Charm | Aura Sphere / Thunder / Psychic / Outrage | Mist Ball | Charm (20) and Outrage (110) |
| Mega Manectric | Charge Beam / Thunder Fang / Snarl | Flame Burst / Overheat / Thunder / Wild Charge / Psychic Fangs | - | Snarl (11) and Overheat (160) |
| Mega Latios | Zen Headbutt / Dragon Breath | Aura Sphere / Solar Beam / Psychic / Dragon Claw | Luster Purge | Zen Headbutt (11) and Solar Beam (180) |
| Mega Venusaur | Razor Leaf / Vine Whip | Sludge / Sludge Bomb / Petal Blizzard / Solar Beam | Frenzy Plant | Razor Leaf (13) and Soalr Beam (180) |
| Mega Rayquaza | Air Slash / Dragon Tail | Aerial Ace / Dragon Ascent / Ancient Power / Outrage | Hurricane / Breaking Swipe | Dragon Tail (14) and Dragon Ascent (140) |
| Mega Heracross | Counter / Struggle Bug | Close Combat / Upperhand / Earthquake / Rock Blast / Megahorn | - | Struggle Bug (15) and Earthquake (140) |
| Mega Sceptile | Fury Cutter / Bullet Seed | Aerial Ace / Earthquake / Leaf Blade / Dragon Claw / Breaking Swipe | Frenzy Plant | Bullet Seed (7) and Earthquake (140) |
| Mega Blaziken | Counter / Fire Spin / Ember | Focus Blast / Aura Sphere / Brave Bird / Overheat / Blaze Kick | Stone Edge / Blast Burn | Counter / Fire Spin (13) and Overheat (160) |
Moves & Threats
Gyarados common fast moves are Waterfall or Dragon Breath or Bite. Charged moves include Twister or Crunch or Hydro Pump or Outrage. Elite moves include Dragon Tail.
Pro tip: Dodge Hydro Pump if your Pokémon are fragile, and prioritize Electric types to exploit its double Water typing.
Weather Effects
Cloudy weather to boosts Fairy and Fighting type counters.
Rainy weather to boosts Electric and Grass type counters.
Overcast weather to boosts Bug type counters.
Battle Tips
- Rotate Electric + Fighting Pokémon for balanced offense.
- Avoid Water and Dark counters—they’re ineffective.
- Keep a backup team for unexpected Outrage or Crunch.
Rewards
- Mega Energy for Gyarados
- Chance to catch Gyarados (with boosted IVs)
- Rare Candy & XL Candy
Why Raid Mega Gyarados?
Mega Gyarados is excellent for powerful Water and Dark type strategies and filling your Mega Pokédex efficiently.
FAQ
Can Mega Gyarados be shiny in Pokémon GO?
Shiny Gyarados has been released in raids or events.
What are best moveset of Gyarados?
Best moveset of Gyarados are Waterfall which does damage of 13 under Fast Attack and Hydro Pump of 135 under Charged Attack.
Are Shadow Pokémon better?
Yes—Shadow forms have +20% attack, making them excellent choices if available.
What is the best weather to raid Mega Gyarados?
Cloudy weather to boosts Fairy and Fighting type counters, Rainy weather to boosts Electric and Grass type counters, Overcast weather to boosts Bug type counters.
Does Mega Gyarados keep its Mega form after the battle?
Mega Evolution lasts only during battles where Mega is enabled; it does not persist outside combat.
Related Guides
Looking for more counters? Check out our Gigantamax Hatterene Raid Guide, Gigantamax Alcremie Raid Guide, Gigantamax Machamp Raid Guide
Summary
- Lead with Electric or Fighting Pokémon
- Avoid Water and Dark counters—they are weak
- Maximize DPS with multi-bar charged attacks
- Use Grass Pokémon if sunny weather boosts them
- Keep backup for heavy charged moves like Hydro Pump or Outrage