Last updated on November 26th, 2025 at 12:45 am
Mega Garchomp is one of the most explosive Mega Raid bosses in Pokémon GO, combining Dragon- and Ground-type damage with massive offensive pressure. Its dual typing also gives Trainers a clear advantage—Mega Garchomp has a double weakness to Ice, making Ice-type attackers the most reliable way to tear through its HP bar quickly.
Mega Garchomp Type & Key Weaknesses
Mega Garchomp is:
- Dragon / Ground-type
It is weak to:
- Ice (2.56× damage – double weakness)
- Dragon (1.6×)
- Fairy (1.6×)
Because of that overwhelming double weakness, Ice-type attackers outperform every other option. Only use Dragon- or Fairy-type teams if you’re short on strong Ice Pokémon.
How Many Players You Need
With optimized Ice teams, Mega Garchomp can be cleared by:
- 3–5 high-level Trainers
- 6+ mid-level Trainers with decent Ice coverage
- Weather-boosted scenarios help even more, especially Snowy weather
Best Mega Garchomp Counters
1. Top Ice-Type Pokémon (Recommended First)
These deliver the fastest and safest clears thanks to hitting Mega Garchomp’s double Ice weakness.
| Pokémon | Fast Attack | Charged Attack |
|---|---|---|
| Shadow Mamoswine / Mamoswine | Powder Snow | Avalanche |
| Galarian Darmanitan | Ice Fang | Avalanche / Ice Punch |
| Weavile / Shadow Weavile | Ice Shard | Avalanche |
| Glaceon | Ice Shard / Frost Breath | Avalanche |
| Mega Abomasnow | Powder Snow | Blizzard / Weather Ball |
| Shadow Articuno / Articuno | Frost Breath / Ice Shard | Ice Beam / Blizzard |
| Mr. Rime / Shadow Mr. Rime | Ice Shard | Ice Punch / Icy Wind |
Bringing a Mega Ice-type (Mega Abomasnow) boosts all teammates using Ice moves, making the raid significantly easier.
2. Best Dragon-Type Backup Options
If you lack strong Ice attackers, powerful Dragons still work well.
| Pokémon | Fast Attack | Charged Attack |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Rayquaza / Rayquaza | Dragon Tail | Outrage / Breaking Swipe |
| Mega Salamence / Salamence | Dragon Tail | Draco Meteor / Outrage |
| Dragonite / Shadow Dragonite | Dragon Breath / Dragon Tail | Outrage / Dragon Claw |
| Garchomp / Shadow Garchomp | Dragon Tail | Outrage |
These teams are strong but risk taking heavy damage from Mega Garchomp’s Dragon attacks.
3. Fairy-Type Counters (Safe but Slower)
Fairy types avoid Dragon damage and offer consistent survivability.
| Pokémon | Fast Attack | Charged Attack |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Gardevoir / Gardevoir | Charm | Dazzling Gleam |
| Togekiss | Charm | Dazzling Gleam |
| Primarina | Charm | Moonblast |
These teams are better for newer players or those with limited Ice Pokémon.
Weather Tips
Weather can dramatically speed up the battle:
- Snowy – Ice moves boosted; fastest possible raid time
- Windy – Mega Garchomp hits harder with Dragon moves; Dragon counters boosted
- Sunny – Boosts Mega Garchomp’s Ground moves—avoid unless you have strong Ice teams
- Cloudy – Fairy moves boosted
- Fog / Rain – Mostly neutral for this raid
For the easiest clear, aim for Snowy weather.
Mega Garchomp Catch CP
You cannot catch Mega Garchomp itself—only the base Garchomp.
Garchomp catch CP after the raid:
- 2174 – 2264 CP (Level 20, no weather boost)
- 2718 – 2830 CP (Level 25, in Windy or Sunny weather)
A perfect IV Garchomp will be 2264 CP (non-boosted) or 2830 CP (boosted).
Catching Garchomp: Best Practices
- Aim for Great or Excellent Curveball Throws to maximize catch odds.
- Use Golden Razz Berries for the highest catch rate.
- Watch Garchomp’s movement cycle—throw during a pause.
- If it’s too erratic, switch to a Nanab Berry.
- Need Candy? Use Silver Pinap Berries.
- A Great Buddy can return bounced Poké Balls via Catch Assist.
How to Get Mega Garchomp
You need 300 Mega Energy to Mega Evolve Garchomp for the first time.
After that:
- Each re-Mega costs 40 Mega Energy, or
- You can wait for the free cooldown timer
Walking Gible, Gabite, or Garchomp can award additional Mega Energy.
Is Garchomp Good After You Catch It?
In Raids
Garchomp is a flexible attacker thanks to its:
- High max CP
- Strong Dragon- and Ground-type moves
- Resistance to Fire, Electric, Poison, and Rock
Outrage and Earth Power make it useful in many high-tier raid matchups.
In PvP: Master League
Garchomp is one of the strongest Master League Pokémon.
Why it’s good:
- Earth Power threatens Steel types (Melmetal, Metagross, Dialga)
- Dragon Tail applies heavy fast-move pressure
- Outrage provides closing power
Its main weakness is opposing Dragons, so pair it with anti-Dragon teammates.
Recommended Movesets
Raids:
- Dragon Tail + Outrage (Dragon attacker)
- Mud Shot + Earth Power (Ground attacker)
Master League:
- Mud Shot + Earth Power + Outrage (most balanced set)
Tips for Mega Garchomp Raids
- Prioritize Ice Pokémon for the fastest clears.
- Use Mega Abomasnow to give your entire team a powerful Ice boost.
- Pay attention to weather—Snowy raids are dramatically easier.
- Try to hit Excellent Curveballs for better catch rates.
- Stock up on Max Revives and Potions—Dragon bosses hit hard.
Mega Garchomp is one of the strongest Mega Evolutions currently in Pokémon GO, and farming its raids gives you both Mega Energy and a powerful Garchomp for raids and Master League battles.
