How to solo defeat Palkia in Pokemon GO 5-star raids

Modified Jan 06, 2025 19:25 GMT

How to solo defeat Palkia in Pokemon GO 5-star raids — How can you beat Palkia raids solo in Pokemon GO (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Palkia has made its return to Pokemon GO’s legendary raids this January 2025, offering trainers another opportunity to capture this iconic Water/Dragon-type Pokemon. While Palkia-Origin is considered the superior variant due to better stats and access to the exclusive move Spacial Rend, this version of the Pokemon still holds appeal for Shiny hunters and those looking to stockpile Palkia candies.

Interestingly, its lower base defense makes it possible for experienced trainers to take it down solo with the right strategy, Pokemon, and weather conditions. Here's how you can successfully solo Palkia in 5-star raids.

Note: Parts of this article are subjective and reflect the writer's opinion.

Check out the current Pokemon GO raid bosses that you can encounter in-game

Understanding Palkia’s Pokemon GO 5-star raid stats and moves

Palkia as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Type: Water/Dragon

Combat Power: 54,793 (Raid Boss CP)

Stats:

Attack: 280
Defense: 215

Fast Attacks: Dragon Breath, Dragon Tail

Charged Attacks: Aqua Tail, Fire Blast, Hydro Pump, Draco Meteor

Weaknesses: Dragon, Fairy (160%)

Resistances: Steel (63%), Fire and Water (39%)

Palkia is a dual Water/Dragon-type with vulnerabilities to Dragon and Fairy moves, making Pokemon like Mega Rayquaza and Shadow Salamence top counters. It shares its typing and moveset with Palkia-Origin, meaning the same counters that worked previously remain viable. However, due to its lower defense, soloing Palkia is slightly more forgiving.

Also read: How to get Palkia in Pokemon GO, and can it be shiny?

Best strategy to solo defeat Palkia in Pokemon GO 5-star raids

Mega Rayquaza (Level 50+1 with 15/15/15) stands out as the ultimate counter for this raid, especially with the move set Dragon Tail/Breaking Swipe. Its Dragon-typing and highest CP allow it to deal significant damage while resisting Palkia’s Aqua Tail, Fire Blast, and Hydro Pump. When attempting this solo raid, consider the following strategies:

Capitalize on weather boost: Windy weather is crucial as it boosts Dragon-type moves, giving you the extra damage needed to finish the raid within the time limit.
Dodging strategy: While dodging Palkia’s Aqua Tail, Fire Blast or Hydro Pump aren’t mandatory due to Mega Rayquaza’s resistance, strategic dodges can help you survive longer and reduce the number of healing and rejoins.
Keep Mega Rayquaza alive: Aim to heal your main Mega Rayquaza at its lowest HP for optimal efficiency and prevent you from wasting time. Be prepared as you may have to heal your main 7-10 times during the battle, so pay attention to your health.

Also read: Pokemon GO Palkia raid guide: Weaknesses and best counters

Solo defeat Palkia in Pokemon GO 5-star raids: Team composition and tips

Your key pick to solo defeat Palkia in 5-star raids (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Main team member: Use a maxed-out Mega Rayquaza (CP 6535 and perfect IVs) with Dragon Tail and Breaking Swipe for maximum and consistent damage output.
Secondary team: Always include at least one additional team to avoid getting the "Team being knocked out" notification which ends up wasting time. Every second counts when soloing this boss.
Rejoins: Be prepared to rejoin multiple times as a last resort for a successful solo raid.

Also read: Pokemon GO Palkia: Best moveset, counters, and is it any good?

Other Palkia counters

Dialga Origin forme with Dragon Breath and Roar of Time
Mega Garchomp with Dragon Tail and Outrage
Mega and Shadow Gardevoir with Charm and Dazzling Gleam
Mega and Shadow Salamence with Dragon Tail with Draco Meteor
Palkia Origin forme with Dragon Tail and Spacial Rend
Haxorus with Dragon Tail and Breaking Swipe
Shadow Dragonite with Dragon Tail and Dragon Claw
Mega Latios with Dragon Breath and Dragon Claw
Shadow Latios with Dragon Breath and Dragon Claw
Enamorus with Fairy Wind and Dazzling Gleam
Tapu Lele with Confusion and Nature’s Madness

Also read: Pokemon GO Spotlight Hour schedule

Soloing Palkia is a challenge, but with a well-prepared team and Windy weather, it’s achievable — even against challenging move sets. Plan carefully, optimize your dodges, and ensure you have enough healing items for the battle.

Check out our other Pokemon GO guides:

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Edited by Adarsh J Kumar