Pokemon GOdevelopers at Niantic constantly feature the infamous Team GO Rocket as the main antagonist. The Team GO Rocket Takeover is a regular event providing players with several new and old Shadow Pokemon encounters. There are many different Shadow Pokemon available in the game, yet Shadow Lugia remains one of, if not the most popular specimen.
Trainers can obtain Shadow Lugia through special circumstances, such as Shadow Raids within limited-time events. Players can battle Shadow Lugia as 5-Star Shadow Raid and get a chance to encounter it afterward. That said, this guide explores everything one needs to know before attempting the Shadow Lugia raid.
Updated May 29, 2025, by Grace Black:As part of the Adventure Week: Taken Over event in August 2024, Shadow Lugia will be returning to 5-Star Shadow Raids between the dates of August 10 - August 12. For this reason, this guide has been refreshed with all of the latest information regarding weaknesses, resistances, and counters.
Pokemon GO: Shadow Lugia Weaknesses And Resistances
Shadow Lugia has boosted offensive capabilities compared to its standard varian, with this Johto region monster possessing a maximumPokemon GOCPof4186and a stat spread comprising193 (ATK), 310 (DEF), and 235 (STA). The Shadow Pokemon is weak againstDark, Electric, Ghost, Ice, and Rock-typeattacks, so Trainers should prioritize using Pokemon who share the same attributes or powerful moves of the same category.
However, Shadow Lugia i also resistant toFighting, Ground, Grass, and Psychic-typePokemon and moves, so players should avoid these matchups if they wish to take Shadow Lugia down in battle.
Shadow Lugia is also boosted in Windy weather, so players may wish to avoid Raids in these locations, if possible.
Best Shadow Lugia Raid Counters In Pokemon GO
Legendary Shadow Pokemon are mighty, and their boosted capabilities make tackling them even harder. One needs proper meta-knowledge and counters aligned with its weaknesses to win against the Shadow Lugia.Pokemon GOplayers can make a battle roster full of the Shadow Raid boss’s weaknesses to ensure victory.
One can also use theSame Type of Attack Bonus (STAB)while selecting counters inPokemon GO. When a monster’s innate type and attack type are identical, that particular attack can inflict boosted damage.
Thunder Shock
Discharge
Once players defeat the Shadow Lugia raid, they have an opportunity to encounter its Shiny variant. Encountering aShiny Shadow Lugia inPokemon GOis possible, but a rare occasion - so there is no guarantee. Players must defeat as many Shadow Lugia raids as possible and encounter multiple Shadow Lugia to catch up to its Shiny spawn rate.
The shiny rate for Shadow Lugia encounters in 5-Star Shadow Raids is 1 in 20, as advised by The Silph Road during their partnership with Niantic. This information was determined by the collection and examination of player data.
