Stakataka Raid Guide - Counters, Strategies & FAQs

Your complete resource for defeating LIVING FORTRESS in Pokémon GO raids.

Stakataka Pokémon GO Raid Boss US/UK

Stakataka is a Rock/Steel-type Ultra Beast that appears in Tier 5 raids in Pokémon GO. With extremely high Defense and a unique typing, it can take a long time to defeat — but knowing its weaknesses and using the right counters will make the battle much easier.

Table of Contents

Weakness Best Pokemon Regular Counters Shadow Counters Mega Counters Moveset Weather Effects Size Rewards FAQs

Quick facts

Species: Stakataka (Ultra Beast)
Types: Rock / Steel
Primary weaknesses: Fighting, Ground, Water
Recommended lobby: 3–7 trainers

Weaknesses & resistances

CategoryDetails
Weak to Best Pokémon Counters for Stakataka Raid US/UK Fighting • Best Pokémon Counters for Stakataka Raid US/UK Ground • Best Pokémon Counters for Stakataka Raid US/UK Water
Resists to Best Pokémon Counters for Stakataka Raid US/UK Normal • Best Pokémon Counters for Stakataka Raid US/UK Flying • Best Pokémon Counters for Stakataka Raid US/UK Poison • Best Pokémon Counters for Stakataka Raid US/UK Rock • Best Pokémon Counters for Stakataka Raid US/UK Bug • Best Pokémon Counters for Stakataka Raid US/UK Fairy • Best Pokémon Counters for Stakataka Raid US/UK Psychic • Best Pokémon Counters for Stakataka Raid US/UK Ice • Best Pokémon Counters for Stakataka Raid US/UK Dragon
Notes Counters like Conkeldurr, Machamp, Rhyperior, and Swampert can significantly speed up the battle. Using Pokémon with neutral damage moves will extend the fight, so targeting weaknesses is essential.

Best Stakataka Counters

Fighting-type Counters

Ground-type Counters

Best Mega Evolutions

Recommended Megas to use against Stakataka:

Difficulty

Solo or duo attempts are risky, requiring perfect timing and well-planned rotations. Large groups can take it down more easily, but choosing the right counters remains critical.

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)
Landorus Mud Shot / Extrasensory Superpower / Earthquake / Bulldoze / Stone Edge Sandsear Storm Extrasensory (11) and Sandsear Storm (150)
Urshifu Single Strike Sucker Punch / Rock Smash / Counter Close Combat / Brick Break / Dynamic Punch / Payback - Rock Smash (17) and Close Combat (105)
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)
Keldeo(Original) Fire Fang / Dragon Breath Stone Edge / Overheat / Draco Meteor / Crunch Fusion Flare Fire Fang (13) and Overheat (160)
Terrakion Double Kick / Smack Down / Zen Headbutt Close Combat / Earthquake / Rock Slide Sacred Sword Smack Down (13) and Earthquake (140)
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)
Groudon Mud Shot / Dragon Tail Earthquake / Fire Blast / Solar Beam Precipice Blades / Fire Punch Dragon Tail (14) and Solar Beam (180)
Urshifu Rapid Strike Waterfall / Rock Smash / Counter Close Combat / Brick Break / Dynamic Punch / Aqua Jet - Rock Smash (17) and Close Combat (105)
Primal Groudon Mud Shot / Dragon Tail Earthquake / Fire Blast / Solar Beam Precipice Blades / Fire Punch Dragon Tail (14) and Solar Beam (180)

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 Golurk Mud Slap / Astonish Dynamic Punch / Earth Power / Shadow Punch / Poltergeist - Mud Slap (19) and Poltergeist (140)
Shadow Garchomp Mud Shot / Dragon Tail Earthquake / Sand Tomb / Fire Blast / Outrage / Breaking Swipe Earth Power Dragon Tail (14) and Fire Blast / Earthquake(140)
Shadow Groudon Mud Shot / Dragon Tail Earthquake / Fire Blast / Solar Beam Precipice Blades / Fire Punch Dragon Tail (14) and Solar Beam (180)
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 Conkeldurr Counter / Poison Jab Dynamic Punch / Focus Blast / Stone Edge Brutal Swing Counter / Poison Jab (13) and Focus Blast (140)
Shadow Excadrill Mud Slap / Mud Shot / Metal Claw Earthquake / Drill Run / Scorching Sands / Rock Slide / Iron Head - Mud Slap (19) and Earthquake (140)
Shadow Machamp Counter / Bullet Punch Dynamic Punch / Close Combat / Cross Chop / Rock Slide / Heavy Slam Karate Chop / Submission / Stone Edge / Payback Counter (13) and Close Combat / Stone Edge (105)
Shadow Hariyama Counter / Force Palm / Bullet Punch Close Combat / Dynamic Punch / Superpower / Upper Hand / Heavy Slam - Counter (13) and Close Combat (105)
Shadow Rhyperior Mud Slap / Smack Down Skull Bash / Superpower / Earthquake / Stone Edge / Surf / Breaking Swipe Rock Wrecker Mud Slap (19) and Earthquake (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 Mamoswine Mud Slap / Powder Snow Bulldoze / High Horsepower / Stone Edge / Avalanche / Icicle Spear Ancient Power Mud Slap (19) and High Horsepower / Stone Edge (105)
Shadow Sirfetch'd Counter / Fury Cutter Close Combat / Brave Bird / Leaf Blade / Night Slash - Counter (13) and Brave Bird (130)

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 Alakazam Psycho Cut / Confusion Focus Blast / Shadow Ball / Fire Punch / Future Sight Counter / Psychic / Dazzling Gleam Confusion (19) and Focus Blast (140)
Mega Swampert Mud Shot / Water Gun Sludge / Sludge Wave / Earthquake / Surf / Muddy Water Hydro Cannon Water Gun (5) and Earthquake (140)
Mega Lopunny Pound / Low Kick / Double Kick Hyper Beam / Focus Blast / Fire Punch / Triple Axel - Double Kick (10) and Hyper Beam (150)
Mega Gallade Low Kick / Confusion / Psycho Cut / Charm Close Combat / Leaf Blade / Psychic Synchronoise Charm (20) and Close Combat (105)
Mega Garchomp Mud Shot / Dragon Tail Earthquake / Sand Tomb / Fire Blast / Outrage / Breaking Swipe Earth Power Dragon Tail (14) and Fire Blast / Earthquake(140)
Mega Heracross Counter / Struggle Bug Close Combat / Upper Hand / Earthquake / Rock Blast / Megahorn - Struggle Bug (15) 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

Stakataka common fast moves are Take Down or Rock Throw. Charged moves include Bulldoze or Stone Edge or Flash Cannon.

Danger Moves: Flash Cannon and Bulldoze are the biggest threats — dodge when possible to preserve your counters’ health.

Superpower and Rock Slide hit very hard, especially against low-resistance Pokémon, so dodging these charged moves is important for smaller raid groups.

Best Team Composition

A strong Stakataka raid team should include:

Using Mega Garchomp or Primal Groudon will greatly reduce the number of trainers needed for a quick clear.

Weather Boost

Stakataka is boosted in Sunny and Windy weather, increasing its attack power.

Your counters are boosted in:

While Water types aren’t as strong as Ground or Fighting, they still help due to Stakataka’s lesser resistance to Water.

How Many Trainers Are Needed?

Recommended Team Setups

Optimal Team (3–5 Trainers)

Balanced / Accessible Team

Mix powerful Ground and Fighting types for best overall damage. Shadow variants and Mega Pokémon greatly improve DPS.

Catch Tips

Battle Tips

Is Stakataka Worth Raiding?

Stakataka is useful for Pokédex completion and provides strong Steel and Rock-type coverage in PvP, but it is not a top-tier raid attacker. Focus on countering its weaknesses efficiently to maximize rewards.

Rewards

FAQ

Can Stakataka be shiny in Pokémon GO?

Not currently. Shiny Stakataka has not yet been released in raids or events.

What are best moveset of Stakataka?

Best moveset of Stakataka are Rock Throw which does damage of 13 under Fast Attack and Stone Edge of 105 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 Stakataka?

Cloudy weather to boosts Fighting type counters, Sunny weather to boosts Ground type counters.

Conclusion

Stakataka is one of the tankier Ultra Beasts in Pokémon GO. With a Ground-heavy team and optional Mega or Primal boost, it can be defeated reliably. Proper strategy, dodge timing, and type advantage are key to securing this powerful raid boss.

Related Guides

Looking for more counters? Check out our Mega Lucario Raid Guide, Mega Blaziken Raid Guide, Mega Garchomp Raid Guide

Summary

About the Author

Written by Pokémon Gaming Team — bringing expert raid guides and battle strategies. Explore more guides like Mega Swampert, Mega Lopunny, Mega Gallade, and Mega Alakazam.