Pokemon GO Nihilego raid guide: Best counters and weaknesses

A Pokemon GO Nihilego raid guide can help trainers defeat and capture this Pocket Monster in Niantic's mobile game. It came out in the title during GO Fest 2022 in June of that year and had its shiny release in June 2023. In November 2024, the creature will take over Gyms on November 19, 2024, as part of the Into the Wild event.

This Pokemon GO Nihilego raid guide covers everything you need to know about taking down this Ultra Beast, for a chance to capture it and add it your team.

Note: This article is subjective and reflects the author's opinions.

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Pokemon GO Nihilego raid weaknesses

Nihilego is a Rock and Poison-type Ultra Beast (Image via The Pokemon Company)

What is super effective against Nihilego in Pokemon GO?

Being a Rock and Poison-type Ultra Beast, Nihilego takes super effective damage from Water, Steel. Psychic, and Ground-type attacks. Of these, Ground deals 256% more damage to Nihilego, while the others deal 160% more damage.

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Nihilego's stat distribution and moveset in Pokemon GO

As a 5-star raid boss in Pokemon GO, Nihilego has the following stats:

• Combat Power: 48,499
• Attack: 249
• Defense: 210
• Stamina: 15,000 HP
• Fast Attacks: Acid, Poison Jab, and Pound
• Charged Attacks: Gunk Shot, Sludge Wave, Sludge Bomb, Power Gem, and Rock Slide

You will be given 300 seconds to take down Nihilego in 5-star raids. Up to 20 participants (including you) can take part in these challenges, and defeating it gives you a bunch of rewards alongside a chance to capture this Ultra Beast.

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Best counters to Pokemon GO Nihilego raid

Best Ground-type counters to Nihilego (Top picks, thanks to the 256% weakness)

• Primal or regular Groudon with Mud Shot and Precipice Blades
• Mega or Shadow Garchomp with Mud Shot and Earth Power
• Shadow Excadrill with Mud Slap and Scorching Sands
• Shadow Ursaluna with Tackle and High Horsepower

Best Water-type counters to Nihilego

• Primal or Shadow Kyogre with Waterfall and Origin Pulse
• Mega Swampert with Water Gun and Hydro Cannon
• Shadow Kingler with Bubble and Crabhammer
• Greninja with Water Shuriken and Hydro Cannon

Best Steel-type counters to Nihilego

• Dusk Mane Necrozma with Metal Claw and Sunsteel Strike
• Shadow Metagross with Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash
• Shadow Excadrill with Metal Claw and Iron Head
• Jirachi with Confusion and Doom Desire

Best Psychic-type counters to Nihilego

• Shadow or regular Mewtwo with Psycho Cut and Psystrike
• Mega Alakazam with Confusion and Psychic
• Shadow or Mega Gardevoire with Confusion and Psychic
• Shadow Metagross with Zen Headbutt and Psychic

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Pokemon GO Nihilego raid catch CP and shiny availability

Shiny Nihilego in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Depending on what weather is active during the raid as well as the IV distribution of the encounter that follows, here are the CP ranges you may encounter the Ultra Beast in following your Pokemon GO Nihilego raid victory:

• No weather boost: 2,167 - 2,256 CP at level 20 (10/10/10 - 15/15/15 IVs)
• Weather boosted (Partly Cloudy and Cloudy): 2,709 - 2,821 CP at level 25 (10/10/10 - 15/15/15 IVs)

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What are the 100% IV CPs for Nihilego raids?

You will know you have encountered a 100% IV Nihilego if you see one with 2,821 CP if the weather is Partly Cloudy or Cloudy. This number is 2,256 CP under any other weather condition.

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Can Nihilego be shiny in Pokemon GO?

Shiny Nihilego in Pokemon GO was released in Niantic's mobile game in June 2023. Since then whenever you encounter it after defeating it in Pokemon GO Nihilego raids, it has a 1-in-20 or 5% chance of being shiny.

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Check out our other Pokemon GO guides:

• Rediscover Kanto Special Research
• GBL Season 18 schedule
• Ditto disguises
• Buddy Evolution Adventure Together guide
• Best Fast Attacks in Pokemon GO