X

Pokemon Go Giratina Raid Guide: Best Counters, Weaknesses and Moveset

Giratina is back for Pokemon Go's Halloween event. Here are some tips to help you beat and catch it.

Kevin Knezevic Former staff writer
Kevin has been covering video games and tech since 2010, with a particular focus on Nintendo and Pokemon. Squirtle is the best starter and nothing will convince him otherwise.
See full bio
Kevin Knezevic
2 min read
pokemon-go-altered-giratina

Altered Forme Giratina is appearing in five-star raids from Oct. 12-22.

 Niantic

Pokemon Go's Halloween 2022 event is now underway, and it's brought back a legendary ghost Pokemon. Giratina is appearing in raids through the end of the month, giving you another chance to catch both its Altered and Origin forms. The former will be appearing during the first part of the event, while the latter will be available during the second part.

Here are some more tips to help you beat and catch Giratina before it leaves raids again.

Giratina weaknesses

Regardless of which form it takes, Giratina is a ghost/dragon type, which makes it vulnerable to dark, fairy, ice and other ghost and dragon Pokemon. Dark and fairy types in particular will be the most effective against Giratina, as they resist ghost- and dragon-type attacks, respectively, which will help them last longer in battle. 

Dragon and ghost Pokemon will also be helpful against Giratina, as they're some of the best attackers in the game. However, keep in mind that these Pokemon are weak against their own types, so any that you use against Giratina will take super-effective damage in return.

Best Giratina counters

Here are some recommended Pokemon and moves to use against Giratina:

Dark

  • Mega Houndoom: Snarl, Crunch.
  • Tyranitar: Bite, Crunch.
  • Absol: Snarl, Dark Pulse.
  • Weavile: Snarl, Avalanche.
  • Darkrai: Snarl, Dark Pulse.
  • Zoroark: Snarl, Foul Play.

Ice

  • Mamoswine: Powder Snow, Avalanche.
  • Galarian Darmanitan: Ice Fang, Avalanche.

Fairy

  • Clefable: Charm, Dazzling Gleam.
  • Alolan Ninetales: Charm, Dazzling Gleam.
  • Granbull: Charm, Play Rough.
  • Gardevoir: Charm, Dazzling Gleam.
  • Togekiss: Charm, Dazzling Gleam.
  • Sylveon: Charm, Moonblast.

Ghost

  • Mega Gengar: Lick, Shadow Ball.
  • Mega Banette: Hex, Shadow Ball.
  • Origin Forme Giratina: Shadow Claw, Shadow Ball.
  • Chandelure: Hex, Shadow Ball.

Dragon

  • Dragonite: Dragon Tail, Draco Meteor.
  • Salamence: Dragon Tail, Outrage.
  • Rayquaza: Dragon Tail, Outrage.
  • Garchomp: Dragon Tail, Outrage.
  • Palkia: Dragon Tail, Draco Meteor.
  • Reshiram: Dragon Breath, Draco Meteor.
  • Zekrom: Dragon Breath, Outrage.

Best moveset for Giratina

Altered Forme Giratina's stats are geared more toward defense than Origin Forme Giratina, so this form isn't quite as strong. That said, it can still pack a punch, particularly when it uses ghost- and dragon-type attacks. To make the most out of the monster offensively, you'll want to teach it the Fast Attack Shadow Claw and the Charged Attack Dragon Claw.

Altered Forme Giratina will be available in raids until Oct. 27, when it'll be replaced by Origin Forme Giratina. You can catch up on all the other events and activities going on in the game this month in our Pokemon Go October events roundup.

More on Pokemon Go