Shadow Latios has arrived in Pokemon GO as a formidable 5-star raid boss throughout November 2025, appearing exclusively on weekends. This corrupted Legendary Dragon/Psychic-type demands strategic counter picks and coordinated team efforts. Whether you’re hunting for that perfect hundo or chasing the elusive shiny variant, this guide gives you everything needed to emerge victorious.
Table of Contents
Pokemon GO: Shadow Latios Raid Quick Reference
| Raid Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Raid Tier | 5-Star Boss |
| Availability | Saturdays & Sundays, November 2025 |
| Combat Power | 52,220 CP |
| Max Trainers | 20 simultaneous |
| Shiny Rate | 1 in 20 (5%) |
| 100% IV CP | 2,178 (no boost) / 2,723 (Windy) |
| Recommended Group | 4-6 trainers with optimal counters |
Shadow Latios Weaknesses Explained
Understanding type effectiveness makes or breaks raid battles. Shadow Latios takes super-effective damage from six types: Dragon, Ice, Fairy, Bug, Ghost, and Dark—all dealing 60% bonus damage. However, it resists Psychic, Fighting, Grass, Fire, Water, and Electric attacks, making those types inefficient choices.
Target these weaknesses strategically based on your strongest Pokemon. Dragon-types dish out massive damage but also take increased damage from Shadow Latios’s Dragon moves, creating a high-risk, high-reward scenario.
Top Tier Counters That Dominate
Eternatus leads the pack with Dragon Tail and Dynamax Cannon, offering unmatched Dragon-type DPS. If you’ve powered up this Poison/Dragon legend, it’s your go-to starter.
Mega Rayquaza brings overwhelming power with Dragon Tail and Breaking Swipe while boosting your entire team’s Dragon-type damage. The Mega Evolution bonus alone makes it worth the energy investment.
Black Kyurem and White Kyurem provide excellent alternatives, with Black Kyurem using Dragon Tail and Freeze Shock, while White Kyurem leverages Ice Fang and Ice Burn for consistent super-effective damage.
For Dark-type coverage, Mega Tyranitar or its Shadow variant with Bite and Brutal Swing absolutely shreds through Shadow Latios. Necrozma – Dawn Wings offers unique Ghost/Psychic-type pressure with Shadow Claw and Moongeist Beam.
Don’t overlook Mega Gardevoir or Shadow Gardevoir running Charm and Dazzling Gleam—this Fairy-type powerhouse stays safe from Dragon attacks while dealing devastating damage. For more raid strategies, check out our Pokemon GO legendary raid guide.
Perfect IV and Shiny Hunting
Every Shadow Latios encounter offers a 1-in-20 chance at encountering its shiny form—significantly better odds than wild spawns. The best part? Shiny Shadow Latios is a guaranteed catch, so use Pinap Berries freely for bonus candy.
Perfect IV Shadow Latios appears at exactly 2,178 CP without weather boost or 2,723 CP during Windy weather. The full CP range spans 2,021-2,178 CP (level 20) and 2,526-2,723 CP (level 25 with weather boost). Keep these numbers memorized for quick IV checking after catches.
Weather matters tremendously—Windy conditions boost Shadow Latios to level 25, giving you more Stardust-efficient power-ups and better IV floor chances.
Battle Strategy and Team Composition
Shadow Latios hits hard with 270 Attack (boosted 20% as a Shadow Pokemon) and becomes even deadlier when Enraged, gaining 85% more Attack and 300% more Defense. This means damage windows matter enormously—focus burst damage when it’s not Enraged.
Assemble a team of 4-6 trainers using optimal counters. Fewer trainers are possible with maxed-out Mega Evolutions and weather boosts, but larger groups ensure safer, faster victories.
Shadow Latios uses Dragon Breath or Zen Headbutt as fast moves, with charged attacks including Aura Sphere, Dragon Claw, Psychic, and Solar Beam. The varied moveset demands bulky counters that can survive these diverse attacks.
Coordinate with your raid group—stagger Mega Evolutions to maintain damage boosts throughout the battle. Time your dodges carefully during charged attacks, especially Solar Beam which can one-shot unprepared counters. For team coordination tips, visit our Pokemon GO raid strategies guide.
Preparing Your Battle Squad
Use these search strings in your Pokemon storage to quickly identify your best counters:
dragon&@dragon&cp2000-ghost&@ghost&cp2000-dark&@dark&cp2000-ice&@ice&cp2000-
Power up your top six counters to at least level 35 for comfortable victories. Lucky trades reduce Stardust costs significantly, so coordinate with friends before raid day.
Stock up on Max Revives and Max Potions—Shadow Latios’s Enraged state can quickly wipe unprepared teams. Premium Battle Passes and Remote Raid Passes ensure you don’t miss opportunities when ideal weather conditions appear.
For official Pokemon GO updates and events, visit the Pokemon GO Live website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I solo Shadow Latios raids in Pokemon GO?
No, Shadow Latios is impossible to solo due to its massive 52,220 CP and defensive boosts when Enraged. You’ll need a minimum of 4-6 skilled trainers with optimized level 40+ counters. Mega Evolutions and weather boosts can reduce these requirements slightly, but coordinated groups remain essential for consistent victories.
What happens if I encounter Shiny Shadow Latios?
Shiny Shadow Latios is a guaranteed catch on the first Premier Ball that connects, regardless of throw quality or berries used. This means you can freely use Pinap Berries to double your candy rewards without risking the Pokemon fleeing. The shiny rate is approximately 5%, or 1 in 20 raids.
