Pokémon GO Kabuto Tier 1 Raid: Best Counters & DPS Ranking

Japanese|English

Recommended Counter Teams vs Kabuto

Switch counter team panel (Pattern / Weather / XL Candy Bonus)

Top 6 recommended attackers across 4 sort axes (DPS / TDO x Legendaries inclusion) with an XL Candy Bonus toggle. XL Candy Bonus ON includes a type-matching Mega in the party (at natural rank or 6th slot). Selecting weather re-ranks Top 6.

Pattern: DPS (Legendaries allowed) DPS (no Legendaries) TDO (Legendaries allowed) TDO (no Legendaries)

Include a Mega that triggers XL Candy Bonus Include a Mega that triggers XL Candy Bonus

Weather:

Note: When XL Candy Bonus is on, only slot 6 may change.

Pattern: DPS (Legendaries allowed) / Weather: None / XL Candy Bonus: Off

Mega SceptileDPS 91.8

Bullet Seed

Frenzy Plant

KartanaDPS 84.5

Razor Leaf

Leaf Blade

Shadow SceptileDPS 77.7

Bullet Seed

Frenzy Plant

Shaymin SkyDPS 77.6

Magical Leaf

Grass Knot

Shadow ChesnaughtDPS 76.8

Vine Whip

Frenzy Plant

Shadow VenusaurDPS 76.3

Vine Whip

Frenzy Plant

Note: a non-Mega and its Mega form may appear together (e.g., Rayquaza + Mega Rayquaza). With JavaScript enabled, radio + checkbox + weather buttons let you switch dynamically.

🏆 Recommended Counters Ranking (Top 20)

Ranked by DPS vs Boss. Click the "DPS" or "TDO" column header in each table to re-sort. Consider both DPS and TDO (cumulative damage = DPS × Time To Faint) for a balanced view. The DPS Rank / TDO Rank columns are fixed annotations showing original rank in the source data even after sorting.

Kabuto — ⚡ Top 9 aura-matched Megas

Megas whose aura type overlaps with this boss's type. Top pick: Mega Swampert.

⚡ Mega-Evolution raid bonuses:
・Damage: while a Mega is on the field, all allies get +10% damage (regardless of type). Moves whose type matches the Mega's type are upgraded to +30% instead.
・Catch candy bonus: while you have a Mega evolved, every Pokémon caught gives +1 candy at Base Mega level, or +2 candies at High / Max Mega level (regardless of type).
・Candy XL chance: only triggers when your Mega is at High level or above AND you catch a Pokémon that shares a type with the Mega (type-matched only).
⚡-badged Megas trigger the same-type +30% damage bonus / XL Candy chance against this boss.
Primal Kyogre (Water/Electric/Bug), Primal Groudon (Fire/Ground/Grass) and Mega Rayquaza (Dragon/Flying/Psychic) emit a 3-type aura instead of the standard own-types only.

DPS Rank ?	TDO Rank ?	Pokémon	Moveset	DPS vs Boss ?	TDO (Total Damage Output) ?
1	1	Mega Swampert Mega⚡ Mega Aura (Water)	Mud Shot / Earthquake	45.8	2988.6
2	2	Primal Kyogre Mega⚡ Mega Aura (Water)	Waterfall / Origin Pulse*	38.2	2016.5
3	7	Mega Aerodactyl Mega⚡ Mega Aura (Rock)	Rock Throw / Earth Power	35.8	976.5
4	8	Mega Diancie Mega⚡ Mega Aura (Rock)	Rock Throw / Moonblast	34.7	895.3
5	4	Mega Tyranitar Mega⚡ Mega Aura (Rock)	Bite / Brutal Swing	32.9	1483.2

Show ranks 6-9 (remaining 4)

6	5	Mega Blastoise Mega⚡ Mega Aura (Water)	Water Gun / Hydro Cannon*	31.0	1317.5
7	3	Mega Gyarados Mega⚡ Mega Aura (Water)	Waterfall / Hydro Pump	30.0	1513.2
8	9	Mega Sharpedo Mega⚡ Mega Aura (Water)	Waterfall / Hydro Pump	29.9	709.4
9	6	Mega Slowbro Mega⚡ Mega Aura (Water)	Confusion / Psychic	24.9	1307.7

Kabuto — Top 20 Mega counters (with Mega Aura badges)

All Mega-tier counters. Top pick: Mega Sceptile. ⚡ badge marks Megas whose aura matches this boss's type.

DPS Rank ?	TDO Rank ?	Pokémon	Moveset	DPS vs Boss ?	TDO (Total Damage Output) ?
1	7	Mega Sceptile Mega	Bullet Seed / Frenzy Plant*	91.8	3023.5
2	10	Mega Victreebel Mega	Magical Leaf* / Solar Beam	79.3	2423.6
3	3	Mega Venusaur Mega	Vine Whip / Frenzy Plant*	76.8	3434.5
4	6	Primal Groudon Mega	Mud Shot / Solar Beam	73.2	3092.1
5	1	Mega Mewtwo X Mega	Counter* / Focus Blast	71.8	5207.9

Show ranks 6-20 (remaining 15)

6	16	Mega Blaziken Mega	Counter / Aura Sphere	66.6	1655.3
7	8	Mega Lucario Mega	Force Palm* / Aura Sphere	66.3	2943.2
8	4	Mega Gallade Mega	Low Kick / Leaf Blade	63.7	3354.2
9	5	Mega Mewtwo Y Mega	Counter* / Focus Blast	61.7	3268.9
10	9	Mega Latios Mega	Dragon Breath / Solar Beam	58.8	2528.4
11	17	Mega Abomasnow Mega	Razor Leaf / Energy Ball	57.9	1591.4
12	11	Mega Heracross Mega	Counter / Close Combat	55.0	2278.8
13	2	Mega Garchomp Mega	Mud Shot / Earthquake	54.2	3953.1
14	19	Mega Alakazam Mega	Counter* / Focus Blast	52.8	1324.7
15	18	Mega Manectric Mega	Thunder Fang / Wild Charge	52.8	1417.1
16	15	Mega Ampharos Mega	Volt Switch / Trailblaze	52.0	1796.2
17	13	Mega Gardevoir Mega	Magical Leaf / Psychic	50.7	1878.4
18	14	Mega Lopunny Mega	Double Kick / Focus Blast	49.5	1843.1
19	12	Mega Scizor Mega	Fury Cutter / Trailblaze	49.3	2011.3
20	20	Mega Camerupt Mega	Rock Smash / Solar Beam	46.2	1274.7

Kabuto — Top 20 counters (Normal + Shadow, excluding Mega)

Kabuto is a tier 1 raid boss. Weak to Grass, Electric, Fighting, Ground. Top DPS counters sorted by per-second damage against this boss. Attackers assumed at Level 50 IV15, including Shadow attack bonus; no weather/aura boost applied. Best overall: Mega Sceptile. Megas are excluded in this section. Top pick: Kartana.

DPS Rank ?	TDO Rank ?	Pokémon	Moveset	DPS vs Boss ?	TDO (Total Damage Output) ?
1	7	Kartana Legendary	Razor Leaf / Leaf Blade	84.5	2531.5
2	11	Shadow Sceptile Shadow	Bullet Seed / Frenzy Plant*	77.7	2086.4
3	14	Shaymin Sky Legendary	Magical Leaf / Grass Knot	77.6	2026.9
4	1	Shadow Chesnaught Shadow	Vine Whip / Frenzy Plant*	76.8	3993.6
5	12	Shadow Venusaur Shadow	Vine Whip / Frenzy Plant*	76.3	2079.7

Show ranks 6-20 (remaining 15)

6	15	Shadow Exeggutor Shadow	Bullet Seed / Solar Beam	74.5	1958.2
7	20	Shadow Victreebel Shadow	Magical Leaf* / Solar Beam	74.0	1622.2
8	6	Shadow Tangrowth Shadow	Vine Whip / Power Whip	73.2	2656.6
9	16	Roserade	Magical Leaf / Leaf Storm	72.3	1804.8
10	3	Zarude Legendary	Vine Whip / Power Whip	72.3	3489.4
11	17	Shadow Porygon Z Shadow	Lock-On / Solar Beam	72.2	1777.3
12	18	Xurkitree Legendary	Thunder Shock / Power Whip	70.2	1637.9
13	2	Shadow Torterra Shadow	Razor Leaf / Frenzy Plant*	69.8	3667.9
14	5	Rillaboom	Razor Leaf / Frenzy Plant*	68.7	2718.6
15	13	Meowscarada	Leafage / Frenzy Plant*	68.7	2058.1
16	9	Decidueye	Magical Leaf / Frenzy Plant*	67.9	2315.6
17	4	Shadow Groudon Shadow	Mud Shot / Solar Beam	67.4	2985.9
18	19	Shadow Vileplume Shadow	Razor Leaf / Solar Beam	67.4	1632.9
19	8	Tapu Bulu Legendary	Bullet Seed / Grass Knot	66.8	2433.5
20	10	Tsareena	Magical Leaf / Grass Knot	66.4	2302.9

Kabuto — Top 20 additional picks (no Mega, no Shadow; legendaries OK)

Other strong picks (legendaries included) not already listed in the sections above. Top pick: Sceptile.

DPS Rank ?	TDO Rank ?	Pokémon	Moveset	DPS vs Boss ?	TDO (Total Damage Output) ?
1	11	Sceptile	Bullet Seed / Frenzy Plant*	65.7	2031.5
2	6	Breloom	Bullet Seed / Grass Knot*	64.6	2293.8
3	13	Lilligant	Magical Leaf / Solar Beam	64.5	1880.6
4	1	Chesnaught	Vine Whip / Frenzy Plant*	64.0	3827.2
5	3	Celebi Legendary	Magical Leaf* / Leaf Storm	63.5	2961.9

Show ranks 6-20 (remaining 15)

6	12	Venusaur	Vine Whip / Frenzy Plant*	63.5	1971.0
7	7	Exeggutor	Bullet Seed / Solar Beam	63.1	2209.4
8	5	Tangrowth	Vine Whip / Power Whip	62.4	2629.9
9	18	Victreebel	Magical Leaf* / Solar Beam	62.4	1549.2
10	15	Simisage	Vine Whip / Grass Knot	62.3	1659.4
11	8	Exeggutor Alolan	Bullet Seed / Solar Beam	61.9	2169.0
12	19	Regieleki Legendary	Lock-On / Thunder Cage*	61.9	1305.4
13	9	Leafeon	Razor Leaf / Solar Beam	60.4	2166.6
14	16	Porygon Z	Lock-On / Solar Beam	60.1	1655.6
15	2	Torterra	Razor Leaf / Frenzy Plant*	59.2	3395.4
16	14	Mienshao	Force Palm / Grass Knot	58.6	1669.7
17	10	Arboliva	Magical Leaf / Trailblaze	58.5	2128.0
18	4	Keldeo Resolute Legendary	Low Kick / Secret Sword	58.1	2631.5
19	20	Thundurus Therian Legendary	Volt Switch / Wildbolt Storm*	57.9	1254.5
20	17	Vileplume	Razor Leaf / Solar Beam	57.1	1562.1

Kabuto — Top 20 additional picks (no Mega, no Shadow, no Legendary)

Alternatives if you don't have a Mega, Shadow, or Legendary roster. Top pick: Leavanny.

DPS Rank ?	TDO Rank ?	Pokémon	Moveset	DPS vs Boss ?	TDO (Total Damage Output) ?
1	16	Leavanny	Razor Leaf / Leaf Storm	57.0	1214.6
2	1	Decidueye Hisuian	Magical Leaf / Trailblaze	56.6	2944.0
3	12	Carnivine	Vine Whip / Power Whip	56.4	1532.2
4	10	Tangela	Vine Whip / Grass Knot	55.7	1635.7
5	5	Sinistcha	Magical Leaf / Energy Ball	55.4	1896.9

Show ranks 6-20 (remaining 15)

6	3	Meganium	Vine Whip / Frenzy Plant*	55.2	2128.1
7	2	Gogoat	Vine Whip / Leaf Blade	55.2	2277.5
8	8	Lurantis	Leafage / Leaf Storm	54.9	1698.8
9	15	Maractus	Bullet Seed / Solar Beam	54.5	1262.1
10	18	Cacturne	Sand Attack / Grass Knot	54.0	1102.1
11	14	Shiftry	Razor Leaf / Leaf Blade	53.9	1356.8
12	7	Dhelmise	Astonish / Power Whip	53.9	1717.2
13	20	Volcarona	Bug Bite / Solar Beam	53.1	830.4
14	13	Sunflora	Razor Leaf / Solar Beam	52.8	1441.8
15	4	Serperior	Vine Whip / Frenzy Plant*	52.7	1936.0
16	19	Roselia	Magical Leaf / Petal Blizzard	51.7	928.5
17	11	Rotom Mow	Thunder Shock / Leaf Storm	51.6	1577.6
18	6	Sirfetchd	Counter / Leaf Blade	51.2	1724.5
19	9	Lucario	Force Palm* / Aura Sphere	51.0	1678.9
20	17	Blaziken	Counter / Aura Sphere	49.5	1106.8