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Giratina is a hot target in Pokémon Go raids, and whether you’re fighting its Origin Forme or Altered Forme, you’ll want the same counters.
When the creepy Pokémon is in its Origin Forme (the one that looks like a snake), it’s one of the strongest ghost-type attackers in the game. On the other hand, Altered Forme Giratina is mainly good for Go Battle League, so it’s worth having one of each for your Pokédex.
The next opportunity to catch Giratina in its Altered Forme will be from Dec. 26, 2024, until Jan. 4, 2025. During this time, it will appear in five-star battles in the raid schedule. To help you take it down, we’ve listed everything you need to know, including its weaknesses and best counters below.
Origine Forme Giratina and Altered Forme Giratina are both ghost/dragon-type Pokémon, which means they share the same weaknesses: dark-, dragon-, fairy-, ghost-, and ice-type moves.
Although dragon- and ghost-type Pokémon represent some of the strongest attackers you can use in raid battles, Giratina has moves that can hit them hard, so watch out for those.
On the other hand, Giratina is resistant to bug, electric, fighting, fire, grass, normal, poison, and water-type moves. Avoid using these in battle, as they’ll deal reduced damage.
Image: Niantic/The Pokémon Company
Here are some of the strongest counters you can use against Giratina in raid battles:
- Origin Forme Palkia with Dragon Tail and Spacial Rend
- Origin Forme Dialga with Dragon Breath and Roar of Time
- Rayquaza with Dragon Tail and Outrage
- Salamence with Dragon Tail and Draco Meteor
- Dragapult with Dragon Tail and Breaking Swipe
- Tyranitar with Bite and Brutal Swing
- Garchomp with Dragon Tail and Outrage
- Galarian Darmanitan with Ice Fang and Avalanche
If you have access to any Mega Evolutions that can target Giratina’s weaknesses, it’s worth using Mega Energy to add one to your team. Some of the top choices are Mega Rayquaza, Mega Gengar, Mega Tyranitar, Mega Garchomp, and Mega Gardevoir.
You can also take advantage of weather boosts to beef up your moves. Fog powers up ghost- and dark-type moves, windy weather boosts dragon-type moves, snow boosts ice-type moves, and cloudy weather boosts fairy-type moves.
Best moveset for Giratina in Pokémon Go
If you plan on using Giratina in Pokémon Go’s Go Battle League, the best moveset will depend on which version you’ve caught.
- The best moveset for Origin Forme Giratina is Shadow Claw with Shadow Ball and Ominous Wind.
- The best moveset for Altered Forme Giratina is Shadow Claw with Shadow Sneak and Dragon Claw.
If you’re looking to use Giratina as a ghost-type attacker in raid battles instead, the best moveset for both forms is Shadow Claw and Shadow Force.
You’ll need an Elite Charged TM to teach Giratina the move Shadow Force, although it can sometimes be caught with this move already learned during special events.
Both forms of Giratina rank highly in the Master League meta, but if you’re looking for a raid attacker, Origin Forme Giratina is the better option thanks to its impressive Attack stat.
Is Giratina Shiny in Pokémon Go?
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Image sources: Niantic/The Pokémon Company
Lucky trainers may encounter shiny versions of both Origin Forme Giratina and Altered Forme Giratina. Shinies are very rare in Pokémon Go, but the odds are generally better for legendary Pokémon encountered in raid battles.
If you do find a shiny, you’ll catch it on the first Poké Ball you hit it with, so use a Silver Pinap Berry to score some extra Giratina Candy.
