The Alolan Legendary, Tapu Koko, is returning Pokemon Go 5-Star Raid battles for a short time, so we’ve got details of the best counters and weaknesses to defeat this powerful deity.
This dual Electric/Fairy-type Legendary first appeared in Pokemon Sun & Moon alongside fellow Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, and Tapu Fini as guardian deities of the islands.
The four Tapus have been part of Pokemon Go since 2022, with Tapu Koko being the first Alola-region Legendary to debut in the mobile game. Now that it’s returning for a very limited time, here’s all you need to know to take it down and – hopefully – catch it.
Tapu Koko weaknesses in Pokemon Go
Tapu Koko is a dual Electric/Fairy-type, which means it’s only weak against Poison and Ground-type attacks. That means trainers should focus on their strongest Pokemon of these types with matching movesets to deplete Tapu Koko’s health bar quickly.
As for Tapu Koko’s strengths, it’s resistant to Bug, Dark, Electric, Fighting, Flying, and Dragon, so it’s definitely best to avoid having those on your team wherever possible.
Tapu Koko best counters
These are some of the best counters to use against Tapu Koko in Pokemon Go:
| POKEMON | SPRITE | BEST MOVESET |
|---|---|---|
| Primal Groudon | Mud Shot & Precipice Blades | |
| Mega Garchomp | Mud Shot & Earth Power | |
| Mega Swampert | Mud Shot & Earthquake | |
| Shadow Excadrill | Mud-Slap & Scorching Sands | |
| Shadow Rhyperior | Mud-Slap & Earthquake | |
| Landorus Therian Forme | Mud Shot & Sandsear Storm | |
| Nihilego | Poison Jab & Sludge Bomb | |
| Mamoswine | Mud-Slap & High Horsepower | |
| Rhydon | Mud-Slap & Earthquake | |
| Golurk | Mud-Slap & Earth Power |
The list above includes Megas, Legendaries, Shadow, and more common Pokemon so there should be something for all trainers.
If you don’t have any of the creatures mentioned, go with their alternative or regular versions, or just use your best Ground or Poison-type attackers. Remember that they should be properly leveled up and know the matching movesets.
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How to get Tapu Koko in Pokemon Go
The only way to catch a Legendary like Tapu Koko is by challenging it to battle when it appears in 5-Star Raids. If you manage to defeat it, you’ll be given a certain amount of Premier Balls – based on your performance – to attempt a catch.
As there are plenty of Legendaries and Ultra Beasts in the game, you won’t always find Tapu Koko as a Raid Boss. However, it will be featured in the upcoming Raid Hour on November 20, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM local time as part of the Into the Wild event.
Tapu Koko CP in Pokemon Go
As with every Raid Boss in the game, the CP Tapu Koko has during a Raid battle won’t be the same once you manage to catch it after defeating it. Plus, certain types of weather can increase such CP.
| Raid Boss CP | 45,438 |
| CP range once captured | 1730 – 1810 |
| weather CP range | 2162 – 2263 |
| Tapu Koko max CP (Level 50) | 3582 |
Can Tapu Koko be Shiny?
Yes, Tapu Koko can be Shiny in Pokemon Go, as this special variation was added to the game a year after the Legendary debuted.
While regular Tapu Koko has a yellow shell and a bright orange body with a black torse, Shiny Tapu Koko has a dark black shell and body with a paler orange body.
Those who use the Raid Hour to challenge Tapu Koko multiple times will increase their chances of finding Shiny Tapu Koko. However, keep in mind that the odds are very slim.
That’s everything you need to counter Tapu Koko in Pokemon Go. Don’t forget to check How to get Remote Raid Passes and learn catching tips to challenge some Raid bosses. Also, use our guides to stay updated with the event calendar, the Spotlight Hour schedule, and Community Day.
