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📖 Introduction
Palkia is a legendary Dragon‑ and Water‑type boss that challenges trainers with high damage output and key resistances, requiring a mix of Dragon and Fairy‑type counters to defeat.
Palkia, the Spatial Pokémon, is one of the Legendary Raid Bosses in Pokémon GO. With its dual Water and Dragon typing, it can hit hard with both Dragon and Water moves, making it a challenging opponent for many trainers.
Its weaknesses to Dragon and Fairy-type attacks allow properly prepared teams to take it down efficiently. This guide provides all the information trainers need, from recommended counters to raid strategy, to maximize rewards after defeating Palkia.
Related guides: Origin Palia | Lugia
💡 Expert Insight
Palkia is a Water and Dragon-type raid boss with strong offensive capabilities. Its weaknesses to Dragon and Fairy types make it manageable for prepared teams.
Fairy-type Pokémon provide a safer option due to their resistance to Dragon-type attacks, while Dragon-types offer higher damage at greater risk.
📊 Palkia Stats
| Type | Dragon / Water |
| Max CP | 4512 |
| Weather Boost | Windy, Rainy |
| Shiny | Yes |
| Base Attack | 280 |
| Base Defence | 215 |
| Base Stamina | 189 |
Palkia has one of the highest attack stats among Dragon-type Pokémon, making it a very strong raid attacker.
🎯 Catch CP & 100% IV
After defeating Palkia in a raid, trainers can catch it.
CP Range:
- No Weather Boost: 2,190-2,280 CP
- Weather Boost: 2,737-2,850 CP
100% IV:
- 2280 (Normal)
- 2850 (Weather Boosted)
Use:
- Golden Razz Berry
- Curveball Excellent Throws
⚠️ Palkia Weaknesses
Palkia takes increased damage from Dragon‑ and Fairy‑type moves, but resists Water, Fire, and Steel types.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| ❌ Weak To: |
 Dragon •
 Fairy
|
| ✅ Resistant To: |
 Steel •
 Fire •
 Water
|
Notes: Avoid using these types because they deal reduced damage to Palkia.
🗡️ Best Counters for Palkia
Using powerful Dragon and Fairy attackers will significantly increase your chances of defeating Palkia quickly. The best Pokémon to defeat Palkia are strong Dragon and Fairy attackers.
🐉 Dragon-Type Counters (High DPS Option)
Dragon-type Pokémon are among the strongest counters against Palkia. They deal super-effective damage and typically have high offensive stats. However, since Palkia also uses Dragon-type moves, Dragon attackers may faint quickly in battle.
- Use fast moves like Dragon Tail
- Charged moves such as Outrage or Draco Meteor maximize damage
- Mega Dragon Pokémon boost team-wide Dragon damage
- Primal Groudon: (Dragon Tail)
- Gyarados: (Dragon Tail / Outrage)
- Zekrom: (Dragon Breath / Outrage)
Versatile and tanky Dragon; can survive longer in raid.
High damage, but vulnerable to Water moves; best with weather boost.
Very high DPS Dragon attacker. Watch out for Water moves.
✨ Fairy-Type Counters (Safer Alternative)
Fairy-type Pokémon deal super-effective damage while resisting Palkia’s Dragon-type moves. This makes them a safer and more consistent option, especially in smaller groups.
- Use Charm as a fast move for steady damage
- Charged moves like Dazzling Gleam improve burst damage
- Mega Fairy Pokémon can boost overall team output
- Gardevoir: (Confusion / Dazzling Gleam)
- Togekiss: (Charm / Dazzling Gleam)
Fairy type; excellent against Dragon type; avoid Water moves.
High CP Fairy; very effective against Dragon.
Why these counters work
Dragon-type Pokémon such as Rayquaza and Salamence can deal extremely high damage thanks to their powerful Dragon attacks.
Fairy-type Pokémon like Gardevoir and Togekiss are also effective because they resist Dragon moves and can survive longer during the raid.
🏆 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 | 🧪 Why This Counter Works |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eternatus | Poison Jab / Dragon Tail | Flamethrower / Dragon Pulse / Sludge Bomb | Dynamax Cannon | Dragon Tail and Dynamax Cannon | Dragon types moves are super effective. |
| Origin Palkia | Dragon Breath / Dragon Tail | Aqua Tail / Fire Blast / Hydro Pump / Draco Meteor | Spacial Rend | Dragon Tail and Spacial Rend | Dragon-type moves deal super-effective damage to Palkia’s Dragon typing while matching its high base Attack for strong DPS output. |
| Black Kyurem | Shadow Claw / Dragon Tail | Stone Edge / Blizzard / Iron Head / Fusion Bolt / Freeze Shock / Outrage | None | Dragon Tail and Freeze Shock | Extremely high Attack stat combined with Dragon-type damage allows heavy super-effective pressure against Palkia. |
| Origin Dialga | Dragon Breath / Metal Claw | Thunder / Iron Head / Draco Meteor | Roar of Time | Dragon Breath / Metal Claw and Roar of Time | Steel typing resists Dragon-type attacks while Dragon moves deal strong super-effective damage back. |
| Rayquaza | Air Slash / Dragon Tail | Aerial Ace / Ancient Power / Outrage / Dragon Ascent | Hurricane / Breaking Swipe | Dragon Tail and Dragon Ascent | One of the highest Dragon-type DPS attackers, capable of quickly dealing super-effective damage before fainting. |
| Regidrago | Bite | Hyper Beam / Vise Grip / Dragon Pulse / Outrage / Breaking Swipe | Dragon Breath / Dragon Energy | Bite and Dragon Energy | Pure Dragon typing provides consistent super-effective Dragon-type damage against Palkia. |
| Garchomp | Mud Shot / Dragon Tail | Earthquake / Sand Tomb / Breaking Swipe / Outrage / Fire Blast | Earth Power | Dragon Tail and Earthquake / Fire Blast | Dragon Tail and Outrage provide steady super-effective damage with good balance of DPS and bulk. |
| White Kyurem | Dragon Breath / Steel Wing / Ice Fang | Blizzard / Ancient Power / Dragon Pulse / Focus Blast / Fusion Flare / Ice Burn | None | Steel Wing and Focus Blast / Fusion Flare | Dragon-type charged moves allow it to hit Palkia super effectively with strong offensive stats. |
| Haxorus | Counter / Dragon Tail | Earthquake / Night Slash / Dragon Claw / Surf | Breaking Swipe | Dragon Tail and Earthquake | High offensive stats and access to powerful Dragon-type moves make it an efficient raid attacker. |
| Dialga | Dragon Breath / Metal Claw | Iron Head / Thunder / Draco Meteor | None | Dragon Breath / Metal Claw and Draco Meteor | Steel typing reduces incoming Dragon damage while Draco Meteor hits Palkia super effectively. |
| Dragapult | Dragon Tail / Astonish | Shadow Ball / Dragon Pulse / Outrage / Breaking Swipe | None | Dragon Tail and Outrage | Fast Dragon-type attacks provide strong super-effective pressure with high speed damage output. |
| Salamence | Bite / Fire Fang / Dragon Tail | Fire Blast / Hydro Pump / Crunch / Draco Meteor / Brutal Swing / Fly | Outrage | Dragon Tail and Draco Meteor | Dragon-type moves deal strong super-effective damage, especially when boosted by Outrage or Draco Meteor. |
| Primal Groudon | Mud Shot / Dragon Tail | Earthquake / Fire Blast / Solar Beam | Fire Punch / Precipice Blades | Dragon Tail and Solar Beam | Can deal Dragon-type damage, but does not directly exploit a major weakness and is not a top-tier counter. |
| Zekrom | Dragon Breath / Charge Beam | Flash Cannon / Wild Charge / Outrage / Crunch | Fusion Bolt | Charge Beam and Fusion Bolt | Dragon-type moves allow super-effective damage, though it must watch for incoming Dragon attacks. |
👤 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 | 🧪 Why This Counter Works |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shadow Palkia | Dragon Breath / Dragon Tail | Aqua Tail / Hydro Pump / Draco Meteor / Fire Blast | None | Dragon Tail and Draco Meteor | Shadow boost increases Dragon-type damage by 20%, making it one of the highest DPS options available. |
| Shadow Dialga | Dragon Breath / Metal Claw | Iron Head / Draco Meteor / Thunder | None | Dragon Breath / Metal Claw and Draco Meteor | Shadow bonus enhances Dragon-type DPS while Steel typing reduces incoming Dragon damage. |
| Shadow Garchomp | Mud Shot / Dragon Tail | Earthquake / Fire Blast / Sand Tomb / Breaking Swipe / Outrage | Earth Power | Dragon Tail and Earthquake / Fire Blast | Shadow boost amplifies Dragon-type attacks for extremely fast super-effective damage output. |
| Shadow Dragonite | Dragon Breath / Steel Wing / Dragon Tail | Hyper Beam / Thunder Punch / Dragon Claw / Outrage / Superpower / Hurricane | Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse | Steel Wing / Dragon Tail and Hyper Beam | Shadow damage bonus significantly increases Dragon-type DPS against Palkia. |
| Shadow Salamence | Bite / Fire Fang / Dragon Tail | Hydro Pump / Fire Blast / Crunch / Fly / Brutal Swing / Draco Meteor | Outrage | Dragon Tail and Draco Meteor | High Shadow-boosted Dragon damage makes it a top offensive raid choice. |
| Shadow Latios | Dragon Breath / Zen Headbutt | Dragon Claw / Psychic / Solar Beam / Aura Sphere | Luster Purge | Zen Headbutt and Solar Beam | Dragon-type damage combined with Shadow boost results in powerful super-effective output. |
| Shadow Gardevoir | Confusion / Charge Beam / Charm / Magical Leaf | Shadow Ball / Dazzling Gleam / Psychic / Triple Axel | Synchronoise | Charm and Shadow Ball / Dazzling Gleam | Fairy typing deals super-effective damage while resisting Dragon-type attacks from Palkia. |
⚡ 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 | 🧪 Why This Counter Works |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Rayquaza | Air Slash / Dragon Tail | Aerial Ace / Dragon Ascent / Ancient Power / Outrage | Hurricane / Breaking Swipe | Dragon Tail and Dragon Ascent | Extremely high Dragon-type DPS and provides a team-wide Dragon damage boost. |
| Mega Garchomp | Mud Shot / Dragon Tail | Earthquake / Sand Tomb / Fire Blast / Outrage / Breaking Swipe | Earth Power | Dragon Tail and Fire Blast / Earthquake | Strong Dragon-type attacker that boosts Dragon-type damage for the entire raid team. |
| Mega Salamence | Fire Fang / Dragon Tail / Bite | Fly / Fire Blast / Hydro Pump / Draco Meteor / Brutal Swing / Crunch | Outrage | Dragon Tail and Draco Meteor | High Dragon-type DPS and team-wide Dragon boost make it one of the best Mega options. |
| Mega Gardevoir | Confusion / Charge Beam / Charm / Magical Leaf | Shadow Ball / Dazzling Gleam / Psychic / Triple Axel | Synchronoise | Charm and Shadow Ball / Dazzling Gleam | Fairy typing hits Palkia’s Dragon weakness while boosting Fairy-type teammates. |
| Mega Latios | Zen Headbutt / Dragon Breath | Aura Sphere / Solar Beam / Psychic / Dragon Claw | Luster Purge | Zen Headbutt and Solar Beam | Provides Dragon-type team boost with strong offensive pressure. |
| Mega Latias | Zen Headbutt / Dragon Breath / Charm | Aura Sphere / Psychic / Outrage / Thunder | Mist Ball | Charm and Outrage | Offers Dragon-type team boost with improved bulk for longer survivability. |
| Mega Sceptile | Fury Cutter / Bullet Seed | Earthquake / Aerial Ace / Dragon Claw / Leaf Blade / Breaking Swipe | Frenzy Plant | Bullet Seed and Earthquake | Does not directly exploit Palkia’s weaknesses and is not recommended over Dragon or Fairy Megas. |
| Mega Gyarados | Bite / Dragon Breath / Waterfall | Twister / Hydro Pump / Outrage / Crunch | Dragon Tail / Dragon Pulse / Aqua Tail | Dragon Tail and Hydro Pump | Does not exploit Palkia’s weaknesses directly and is outclassed by Dragon or Fairy Megas. |
💊 Revive & Potion Cost
- Average revives used: 8–14
- Average potions used: 10–18
- Dodging significantly reduces resource usage
- Using Mega Pokémon reduces total relobbies
❌ Common Raid Mistakes
- Not bringing a Mega Pokémon for team boosts
- Using weather-boosted Pokémon of the wrong type
- Relobbying too late and losing damage time
- Ignoring dodging during hard-hitting moves
🧩 Best Team Compositions
- Lead with strongest Dragon attacker
- Follow with 2–3 additional Dragon Pokémon
- Add 1–2 Fairy-type Pokémon for stability
- Prepare backups for relobby if needed
Maintaining consistent super-effective damage is the key to defeating Palkia efficiently.
Optimized Team
- Mega Rayquaza (Dragon Tail + Outrage)
- Rayquaza (Dragon Tail + Outrage)
- Garchomp (Dragon Tail + Outrage)
- Dialga (Dragon Breath + Draco Meteor)
- Dragonite
- Salamence (Dragon Tail + Draco Meteor)
Fairy Team (Safer)
If you don't have many legendaries, these Pokémon work well:
- Togekiss (Charm + Dazzling Gleam)
- Gardevoir (Charm + Dazzling Gleam)
- Granbull
- Primarina
- Sylveon
- Clefable
👥 Raid Difficulty & Trainers Needed
Palkia is moderately bulky but manageable with proper counters.
- 2–3 Trainers: Possible with optimized Dragon teams
- 4 Trainers: Comfortable clear
- 5+ Trainers: Very safe win
🧠 Raid Strategy & Advanced Tips
1. Balance Power and Survival
Dragon-type attackers deal high DPS but may faint quickly. If your team is struggling to survive, mix in Fairy-type Pokémon to increase overall stability.
2. Watch for Hydro Pump
Palkia’s Water-type charged move can deal heavy damage to Fire- or Rock-type Pokémon. Avoid using those types.
3. Coordinate Mega Evolutions
Using a Mega Dragon or Mega Fairy Pokémon provides a team-wide damage boost. Coordinate with your raid group to keep the Mega boost active throughout the battle.
Palkia’s Dragon and Water typing makes it weak only to Dragon and Fairy-type moves. Because it has no double weakness, trainers must rely on high-DPS counters and strong team coordination to defeat it efficiently.
Weather conditions are an important factor in this raid. In **Rainy weather**, Electric and Grass-type moves receive a weather boost, which increases your counters’ damage per second (DPS). In **Partly Cloudy or Cloudy** weather, Dragon and Fairy moves are boosted, further strengthening those counter types. Checking the in-game weather before assembling your team ensures you’re maximizing your attack potential.
Palkia can use powerful charged moves like **Hydro Pump** and **Draco Meteor**, which hit very hard. Dodging the most damaging charged attacks — especially when your Pokémon are low on health — can significantly improve their survivability and allow your counters to deal more total damage over the course of the battle. In smaller raid groups, tactical dodging becomes even more critical because each faint matters more.
When organizing your team, lead with the highest DPS counters that exploit Palkia’s weaknesses. Once these Pokémon start to fall, rotate in secondary attackers that still deal super-effective damage but offer greater durability. In larger raid groups, coordinating roles — such as focusing Electric counters first, followed by Grass, Dragon, and Fairy types — helps maintain high DPS throughout the encounter and speeds up the clear.
If you have access to **Mega Evolutions** that support your primary counter types — such as **Mega Ampharos** for Electric support or **Mega Altaria** for Fairy support — using them early in the battle can provide an additional damage boost. With strategic team composition, weather-aware planning, and careful charged-move dodging, Palkia becomes a more manageable and repeatable raid encounter.
Beginner Raid Strategy
New trainers should focus on joining larger raid groups when battling Palkia.
- Join raids with at least 5 trainers
- Use recommended Dragon-type counters
- Revive Pokémon quickly
- Focus on consistent damage
Advanced Raid Strategy
Experienced players can defeat Palkia faster by using optimized raid teams.
- Use Mega Evolutions to boost Dragon-type damage
- Coordinate attacks with teammates
- Use Party Play bonuses
- Build high DPS raid teams
Solo / Duo / Group Difficulty
| Raid Difficulty | Recommended Trainers |
|---|---|
| Solo | Impossible |
| Duo | Very difficult |
| Small Group | 3–4 trainers |
| Safe Group | 5–6 trainers |
🌦️ Weather Boost
Weather conditions can influence both the raid difficulty and the CP of the captured Pokémon.
☁️ Cloudy Weather
- Boosts Fairy-type moves
🌬️ Windy Weather
- Boosts Dragon-type moves
🌧️ Rainy Weather
- Boosts Water-type moves
Strategy Tips
Focus on boosting Dragon and Fairy moves with weather bonuses. Avoid Steel‑type attackers that are resisted. Use highly leveled counters for smoother raid completion.
🌀 Palkia Moveset
🗡️ Fast Moves
- Dragon Breath
- Dragon Tail
💥 Charged Moves
- Fire Blast
- Aqua Tail
- Draco Meteor
- Hydro Pump
Most Dangerous Moves
Draco Meteor is extremely powerful and can knock out Dragon counters quickly.
Is Palkia Good in Pokémon GO?
Palkia is one of the strongest Dragon-type attackers in Pokémon GO raids. It is also very strong in the Master League due to its unique typing and powerful moves.
⚔️ Is Palkia Good in PvE and PvP?
PvE (Raids)
Palkia is a top Dragon-type raid attacker, especially with Dragon Tail + Draco Meteor. It performs very well in many raid battles.
PvP
Palkia is also powerful in:
- Master League
Its typing gives it strong matchups against many Pokémon.
✨ Can Palkia Be Shiny in Pokémon GO?
Yes, players have the chance to encounter a Shiny Palkia after completing a Legendary Raid. While Legendary Pokémon are difficult to find in the wild, raids are the main way to encounter them in shiny form.
Shiny Palkia has a lighter purple hue compared to the regular version, making it highly sought after by collectors.
Note that the shiny rate for Legendary Raids is low, so repeated attempts may be necessary to obtain a shiny.
🚶 Buddy Distance
20 km (per Pokémon GO buddy distance)
⚖️ Shadow & Mega Comparison
🧬 Best Mega Evolutions
Recommended Megas to use against Palkia:
- Rayquaza, Garchomp, Salamence, Latios, Latias, Gyarados – 🐉 Dragon boost
- Gardevoir – ✨ Fairy boost
- Sceptile – 🐛 Bug boost
How to Catch Palkia
- Use Golden Razz Berries
- Throw Curveball Excellent throws
- Wait for attack animation
- Be patient and aim carefully
Why Palkia is Important
Palkia is considered one of the strongest Dragon-type attackers in Pokémon GO. Its powerful Dragon-type moves and high attack stat make it extremely valuable for raids against other Dragon-type bosses.
Many trainers power up Palkia because it performs well in raids, gym battles, and PvE gameplay.
📌 Why Raid Palkia?
Yes, because:
- Strong Dragon-type attacker
- Useful in Master League PvP
- Chance to catch a Shiny Legendary
Palkia is definitely worth raiding whenever it returns to raids.
🎁 Raid Rewards
After defeating Palkia in a 5-Star raid battle, trainers receive several valuable rewards. These rewards help players power up Pokémon, change moves, and prepare for future raids. The exact number of items may vary depending on raid performance, gym control, and friendship bonuses.
| Reward | Typical Amount |
|---|---|
| Golden Razz Berry | 3 – 12 |
| Rare Candy | 3 – 9 |
| Revive | 6 – 15 |
| Hyper Potion | 6 – 15 |
| Fast TM | 0 – 2 |
| Charged TM | 0 – 2 |
| Stardust | 1000 |
Premier Balls
After the raid battle, trainers receive Premier Balls to catch Palkia. The number of Premier Balls usually ranges from 8 to 16. The exact number depends on several factors such as:
- Total damage dealt during the raid
- Gym control bonus
- Team contribution
- Friendship level with other trainers
🖼️ Regular vs Shiny Palkia Forms
Shiny Palkia has a lighter purple hue compared to the regular version, making it highly sought after by collectors.
Palkia
Images are used for informational and educational purposes only. All rights belong to their respective owners.
Shiny Palkia
Images are used for informational and educational purposes only. All rights belong to their respective owners.
❓ FAQ
Can Palkia be shiny in Pokémon GO?
Yes! Shiny Palkia is available in Pokémon GO. The shiny version has a slightly pink hue.
Can Palkia be defeated with 3 trainers?
Yes, with optimized high-level Dragon counters.
What is the most dangerous move?
Draco Meteor can deal massive burst damage if not dodged.
Best Mega Evolution support?
A Dragon-type Mega Evolution boosts overall team Dragon damage.
What makes Palkia strong?
Its high attack stat and powerful Dragon-type moves like Draco Meteor make it a top-tier raid and PvP option.
What moves does Palkia use in raids?
Palkia can use moves like Spacial Rend, Hydro Pump, Aqua Tail, and Dragon Pulse, dealing massive Water and Dragon-type damage to opponents.
Is Palkia difficult to defeat?
With high offensive stats and moderate bulk, Palkia can be challenging. Using type-advantage Pokémon ensures efficient battles.
What makes Palkia unique?
Its Water/Dragon typing, legendary status, and signature move Spacial Rend make Palkia visually striking and strategically valuable in Max Raid Battles.
🏁 Conclusion
Palkia remains one of the most powerful Legendary Pokémon available in Pokémon GO. By using the right counters, understanding its weaknesses, and coordinating with other trainers, you can defeat Palkia and successfully add this legendary Dragon Pokémon to your collection.
To defeat Palkia efficiently, use a mix of Dragon, Fairy Pokémon. Take advantage of weather boosts to maximize DPS. Smaller groups should focus on high-damage counters and multi-bar charged moves, while larger teams can overwhelm Palkia with coordinated attacks. Remember to plan shields carefully and rotate counters to reduce damage taken.
⚡ Quick picks
- Best Mega Team: Gardevoir, Salamence, Garchomp
- Best Shadow Team: Garchomp, Palkia
- Best Regular Team: Eternatus