Pokemon GO Sharpedo raid guide: Weaknesses and best counters

Sharpedo has made its way into Pokemon GO 3-star raids, allowing trainers to challenge the fierce Brutal Pokemon. From October 3, 2024, Sharpedo will be taking over Gyms, and while defeating it won't give players the opportunity to catch a Shiny Sharpedo, this raid still provides a rewarding challenge.

This guide covers everything you need to know about Sharpedo's weaknesses and the best counters to help you take it down.

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

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Sharpedo's raid weaknesses in Pokemon GO

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

Sharpedo is a dual Water- and Dark-type Pokemon that will appear in GO 3-star raids. As a result, it has multiple vulnerabilities that you can exploit. The best types to use against Sharpedo are:

• Bug
• Electric
• Fairy
• Fighting
• Grass

Each of these types will deal 160% extra damage to Sharpedo, making them excellent choices in your battle. However, remember that Sharpedo also resists a range of attack types, including Psychic, Dark, Fire, Ghost, Ice, Steel, and Water. Avoid using these types when possible, as they will deal reduced damage.

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Sharpedo's stat distribution and moveset in Pokemon GO

As a 3-star raid boss, Sharpedo comes with a decent mix of offense and relatively low defense, making it vulnerable to a well-constructed counter-team. Here's what you should expect:

• Type: Water and Dark
• Combat Power: 15,324
• Attack: 243
• Defense: 83
• Stamina: 3,600 HP

Sharpedo's attacks can include:

• Fast Attacks: Bite, Waterfall
• Charged Attacks: Poison Fang, Hydro Pump, Crunch

You'll have 180 seconds to defeat Sharpedo once the raid starts, and up to 20 players can participate, either locally or using Remote Raid Passes.

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Best counters to Sharpedo in Pokemon GO raids

Some of Sharpedo's best counters (Image via The Pokemon Company)

To maximize your chances of success, use Pokemon that exploit Sharpedo's weaknesses. Below are the top counters from each type:

Best Bug-type counters

• Mega Pinsir with Bug Bite and X-Scissor
• Pheromosa with Bug Bite and Bug Buzz
• Mega Beedrill with Bug Bite and X-Scissor
• Shadow Escavalier with Bug Bite and Megahorn
• Mega Scizor with Fury Cutter and X-Scissor

Best Electric-type counters

• Shadow Raikou with Thunder Shock and Wild Charge
• Zekrom with Charge Beam and Fusion Bolt
• Shadow Magnezone with Spark and Wild Charge
• Mega Manectric with Thunder Fang and Wild Charge
• Shadow Electivire with Thunder Shock and Wild Charge

Best Fairy-type counters

• Mega Gardevoir with Charm and Dazzling Gleam
• Xerneas with Geomancy and Moonblast
• Shadow Granbull with Charm and Play Rough
• Mega Altaria with Dragon Breath and Dazzling Gleam
• Tapu Fini with Water Gun and Nature's Madness
• Togekiss with Charm and Dazzling Gleam

Best Fighting-type counters

• Mega Lucario with Force Palm and Aura Sphere
• Mega Heracross with Counter and Megahorn
• Shadow Conkeldurr with Counter and Dynamic Punch
• Terrakion with Double Kick and Sacred Sword
• Shadow Machamp with Counter and Dynamic Punch

Best Grass-type counters

• Mega Sceptile with Bullet Seed and Frenzy Plant
• Mega Venusaur with Vine Whip and Frenzy Plant
• Kartana with Razor Leaf and Leaf Blade
• Zarude with Vine Whip and Power Whip
• Tapu Bulu with Bullet Seed and Nature's Madness

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Can you solo defeat Pokemon GO Sharpedo raids?

Yes, it's possible to solo a Sharpedo raid if you have a strong team of counters and the right strategy. Sharpedo's low defense and multiple weaknesses make it more manageable for solo players, especially with high-level counters like Mega Lucario or Shadow Raikou. For tips on this, check out our guide on how to solo defeat Sharpedo in a Pokemon GO 3-star raid.

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Pokemon GO Sharpedo raid catch CP and shiny availability

Sharpedo and its shiny variant (Image via The Pokemon Company)

After defeating Sharpedo, the Pokemon you can catch will have the following CP ranges, depending on the weather:

• No weather boost: 1,174 CP - 1,246 CP (at level 20, IVs ranging from 10/10/10 to 15/15/15)
• Weather boosted (Cloudy): 1,468 CP - 1,558 CP (at level 25, IVs ranging from 10/10/10 to 15/15/15)

Please note that Shiny Sharpedo is not available in these raids. While its shiny form does generally exist in Pokemon GO, it won’t appear in these specific 3-star raids.

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Sharpedo may not offer a shiny form in this raid, but it's still a fun and manageable challenge for solo players and teams. Use the right counters to exploit its weaknesses and you should have no problem taking it down.

Whether you're after the battle experience or just expanding your raid collection, this guide will help you conquer Sharpedo with ease.

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Check out our other Pokemon GO guides:

• Ditto disguises
• Buddy Evolution Adventure Together guide
• Best Fast Attacks in Pokemon GO
• Sierra counters
• Cliff counters
• Arlo counters
• Giovanni counters
• Team GO Rocket Grunts