Best Raid Attackers in Pokémon GO (November 2026)

The best raid attackers in Pokémon GO are the game’s best and most effective Pokémon. These are the Pokémon you need to have in your battle party when participating in a raid. Here, you will find a list of the top-tier raid attackers. These are Pokémon that stand the test of time despite the frequent changes in the best attackers.

This list is very informative, no matter your experience level in Pokémon GO. The list will help you figure out which Pokémon in Pokémon GO you can invest your Stardust and Candy in without regrets.

Quick Verdict: The Absolute Best Raid Attackers

If you are short on Stardust and want the ultimate return on investment, focus on Mega Rayquaza and Mega Mewtwo. Both deliver unmatched damage across most raid boss encounters. 

Top 20 Best Raid Attackers in Pokémon GO

These Pokémon are the strongest and most useful Pokémon you should power up (or max out). They are the most versatile Pokémon because you can use them in a variety of raids. Hence why they are referred to as the best raid attackers in Pokémon GO.

Please note this list is in no particular order.

These are the recommended best raid attackers in Pokémon GO. If you have them, now is the time to invest Stardust and Candy to power them up. However, I would recommend that you do NOT power up just any. The following tips are what you should do right now.

Recommended Tips for the Best Raid Attackers in Pokémon GO

search

• Search for any of the listed Pokémon in your Pokémon GO storage/inventory.
  • You should use A&4* to search, where A is the Pokémon’s name e.g., Rayquaza&4*. If you have one, then you can jump to step #4. If you don’t have any, you can either stop here and wait till you have one. Or you can continue with the next tip.
  • If you don’t have one when you used the search string above, then use A&3* to search, where A is the Pokémon’s name.

appraise

• Tap on the first Pokémon in the result and then use the ‘Appraise’ feature to see the IVs (Individual Values) of all the Pokémon by swiping through the result.
• Keep an eye on the one with the highest IVs possible. Preferably one with 15 Attack, 15 Defense, and 14 HP. If you do have one, continue with the next tip. If you do not have one, stop here and wait till you do. Or you can continue with the next tip if you have one with either 15-14-15 or 14-15-15 IVs.

keep

• Create a Tag and add the Pokémon to the tag. You can always search for this tag to create your battle party before a raid. Use #Tag (where Tag is the name of the tag you created) to search for the choice Pokémon.

teach

• Check the choice Pokémon’s Attacks to see if it has the recommended attacks.
  • If it does, then you can invest Stardust and Candy (or Rare Candy) to power it up.
  • If it doesn’t, then get the recommended moves and invest Stardust and Candy (or Rare Candy) to power it up.
• (Optional but recommended). For the Mega Pokémon on the list, you would want to use those whose mega level is the max i.e., mega level 3.
  • Search for #Tag&Mega3, where Tag is the name of the tag you created earlier.
    • If you find any, these are the Pokémon you should mega-evolve after adding them to your battle party.
    • If you don’t have any, work on getting the choice Pokémon that can mega-evolve to their max mega level.
• Prioritize Elite TMs Wisely: Many of the best attacks on this list (marked with a +) are exclusive Community Day moves or legendary signature moves (like Dragon Ascent for Rayquaza or Origin Pulse). Only use your precious Elite Fast/Charged TMs on top-tier Pokémon that are already at a high level or have high IVs to avoid wasting rare resources.

It is important to note that you can use these tips for any of the shadow Pokémon on the list. Their IVs do not matter, whether it’s the best or the worst. However, if you have the best of the shadow Pokémon, use these tips for them rather than on the worst one.

Important Shadow Note: Newly caught Shadow Pokémon will have the Charged Attack Frustration. You cannot use a standard TM to remove this move right away. You must wait for a Team GO Rocket Takeover event, which happens roughly once per season, to safely TM Frustration off your top-tier attackers.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Best Raid Attackers (FAQ)

How do I get Mega Energy for the best raid attackers like Mega Rayquaza or Mega Mewtwo? You can earn Mega Energy by participating in and winning Mega Raids featuring those specific Pokémon, completing certain Field Research tasks, or walking a buddy Pokémon that has previously evolved into its Mega form.

Should I power up a Shadow Pokémon with low IVs over a regular Pokémon with 100% IVs? Yes, in most cases, a 0% IV Shadow Pokémon outperforms a 100% IV regular (non-shadow) counterpart of the same species due to the 20% damage bonus granted to shadow variants.

Next Steps for Your Battle Parties

Having the best raid attackers in Pokémon GO is only half the battle. To maximize your efficiency, ensure these Pokémon have optimal IVs and their recommended attacks.

If you want to dive deeper into specific elemental counters, check out the Number 1 Raid Attacker per Type in Pokémon GO or optimize your full team lineup with our breakdown of the top 6 Best Attackers Per Type in Pokémon GO. Consistently running these top-tier counters will secure you more Premier Balls, better item rewards, and the coveted ‘Hardest Hitter’ raid card!

Always remember that a super-effective type match-up with a slightly lower DPS Pokémon will frequently out-damage a neutral mega attacker. Check the raid boss typing before locking in your final battle party with these best raid attackers.

Building the ultimate raid party in Pokémon GO takes time, patience, and strategic resource management. By prioritizing your Stardust and Candy on the top-tier attackers listed above, monitoring your IVs, and timing your Mega Evolutions effectively, you will become an invaluable asset to any raid lobby.

The idea for this content is based on Pokémon GO Hub’s database.