How to Beat Tapu Koko in Pokémon GO - A Complete Guide

2025-11-12

If you're gearing up for a Tapu Koko raid in Pokémon GO, you’ve come to the right place! Tapu Koko is one of the more challenging Legendary Pokémon you’ll face, with its Electric/Fairy typing and impressive moveset.

Whether you’re battling solo or with friends, knowing the right strategy is crucial to taking down this Guardian Deity of Melemele Island.

In this article, we'll walk you through everything you need to know to defeat Tapu Koko, from understanding its weaknesses to optimizing your battle strategy.

Understanding Tapu Koko's Weaknesses and Resistances

Before jumping into the battle, it’s important to understand Tapu Koko’s strengths and weaknesses. This Legendary Pokémon is an Electric/Fairy-type, which gives it a unique set of vulnerabilities and resistances.

Tapu Koko's Critical Weaknesses

Tapu Koko is weak to the following types:

Ground-type moves (Takes 160% damage)
Poison-type moves (Takes 160% damage)

These two types are your primary focus when assembling a team to take down Tapu Koko. Ground-type moves are particularly effective because they resist Tapu Koko’s Electric-type attacks while also dealing super-effective damage.

Tapu Koko’s Resistances

Tapu Koko resists several types of moves, meaning they deal less damage:

Fighting-type (63% damage)
Flying-type (63% damage)
Bug-type (63% damage)
Electric-type (63% damage)
Dark-type (63% damage)

Double Resistance

Tapu Koko has double resistance to Dragon-type moves (only takes 39% damage), so avoid using Dragon-type Pokémon in this battle.

What Does This Mean for You?

When planning your raid, steer clear of Pokémon that are weak to Electric-type moves, such as Water and Flying-types. Instead, bring in powerful Ground and Poison-type Pokémon to maximize your damage output.

Tapu Koko’s Stats and Moveset

Knowing Tapu Koko’s stats and moveset will help you understand how to approach the battle.

Raid Boss CP: 45,438 CP
Attack: 250 (high)
Defense: 181 (moderate)
HP/Stamina: 172 (relatively low)

Tapu Koko’s Moveset

Fast Moves: Quick Attack (Normal-type), Volt Switch (Electric-type)
Charged Moves: Thunder (Electric-type), Thunderbolt (Electric-type), Dazzling Gleam (Fairy-type), Brave Bird (Flying-type)

Battle Strategy: Tapu Koko’s Electric-type moves can deal heavy damage to most Pokémon, but Ground-types are especially useful since they resist Electric attacks. Just be wary of Brave Bird, which can hit your Ground-type Pokémon hard.

Best Tapu Koko Counters

To defeat Tapu Koko, you’ll need to bring in powerful Ground and Poison-type counters. Let’s look at the top-tier and accessible counters for this raid.

Top-Tier Counters

Primal Groudon (Mud Shot + Precipice Blades) - The absolute best counter, offering huge damage output.
Mega Garchomp (Mud Shot + Earth Power) - A powerful Ground-type with excellent stats.
Shadow Groudon (Mud Shot + Precipice Blades) - The Shadow bonus boosts damage significantly.
Mega Gengar (Lick + Sludge Bomb) - A great Poison-type counter, especially against Tapu Koko’s Fairy moves.
Shadow Excadrill (Mud-Slap + Scorching Sands) - A fast attacker that also benefits from Steel typing for added resistance.

Excellent Non-Shadow/Non-Mega Counters

Groudon (Mud Shot + Precipice Blades) - An accessible Legendary option.
Excadrill (Mud-Slap + Scorching Sands) - Offers solid Ground damage and Steel typing.
Rhyperior (Mud-Slap + Earthquake) - A bulky option with great Ground-type damage.
Mamoswine (Mud-Slap + High Horsepower) - An Ice/Ground-type, great for many situations.

Budget-Friendly Alternatives

Golem (Mud-Slap + Earthquake)
Krookodile (Mud-Slap + Earthquake)
Nidoking (Poison Jab + Earth Power)

Mega Evolution Strategy

Mega Evolutions can boost your team’s performance significantly, making them an excellent choice for Tapu Koko raids.

Mega Gengar - The best Mega option for boosting Poison-type moves, which are super effective against Tapu Koko’s Fairy-type moves.
Mega Garchomp - An excellent Ground-type option that boosts Ground and Dragon-type attackers.
Mega Swampert - A more accessible Mega with solid Ground-type damage and resistance to Electric moves.

How Many Trainers Do You Need?

The number of trainers you need depends on the power of your counters and your experience level. Here’s a breakdown:

2-3 Highly Skilled Trainers: If you have maxed-out counters, 2-3 strong trainers can take down Tapu Koko.
4-6 Average Trainers: With decent Ground and Poison counters, 4-6 trainers can defeat Tapu Koko comfortably.
8+ Trainers: If your team’s counters aren’t optimal, you might need a larger group for the best chances of success.

Recommended Setup:

A team of 4-5 trainers provides a good balance between speed and reliability, ensuring a smooth victory.

Advanced Battle Strategies and Tips

Ensure your Pokémon are powered up to at least Level 35, ideally Level 40 or 50, to deal maximum damage.

Weather Boosts

Sunny/Clear weather: Boosts Ground-type moves, making Groudon and Garchomp even more powerful.
Cloudy weather: Boosts Poison-type moves, helping your Poison counters like Mega Gengar.
Avoid Rainy weather: It boosts Tapu Koko’s Electric-type moves, making the raid harder.

Dodging Strategy

While dodging can help your Pokémon survive longer, Tapu Koko’s high Attack stat means focusing on dealing maximum damage is usually more effective. However, dodging Brave Bird with Ground-type Pokémon is worthwhile.

Coordinate With Your Group

Coordinate Mega Evolutions to maximize your team’s damage output. If one player is using Mega Gengar, others might benefit from a Ground-type Mega like Mega Garchomp.

Relobby Efficiently

If your team faints, have a backup team ready to jump back into the raid without losing time.

Catching Tapu Koko After the Raid

Once you defeat Tapu Koko, it’s time to catch it! Here’s what you need to know:

Regular CP (Level 20): 1,730 - 1,810 CP
Weather Boosted CP (Level 25): 2,162 - 2,263 CP
Perfect IV (100%): 1,810 CP (non-weather boosted) or 2,263 CP (weather boosted)

Catching Tips:

Golden Razz Berries: Use these to increase your chances of catching Tapu Koko.
Excellent Throws: Aim for Excellent throws to maximize your catch chances.
Curveballs: Always throw curveballs for an extra 1.7x catch multiplier.

Shiny Tapu Koko

Shiny Odds: Tapu Koko has a shiny rate of around 5% (1 in 20).
Guaranteed Catch: If you encounter a shiny, it will always be caught with a successful Premier Ball throw.

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Conclusion

Defeating Tapu Koko in Pokémon GO may seem like a tough challenge, but with the right preparation and strategy, you’ll be able to take down this Legendary Guardian Deity.

Focus on using powerful Ground and Poison-type counters, coordinate with your team, and make the most of weather conditions to optimize your chances. Once you defeat Tapu Koko, don’t forget to use Golden Razz Berries and aim for Excellent curveball throws to catch it!

Good luck, Trainer may your Pokédex be one step closer to completion!

FAQ

What are the best counters for Tapu Koko in Pokémon GO?

The best counters are Primal Groudon, Mega Garchomp, and Shadow Groudon with Ground-type moves like Mud Shot and Precipice Blades.

How many trainers do I need to defeat Tapu Koko?

2-3 highly skilled trainers can defeat Tapu Koko with maxed-out counters. 4-6 trainers is optimal for most groups.

What type of weather is best for battling Tapu Koko?

Sunny/Clear weather is ideal because it boosts Ground-type moves. Avoid Rainy weather as it boosts Tapu Koko’s Electric-type moves.

Can Tapu Koko be caught shiny?

Yes, Tapu Koko has a 5% shiny rate, and shiny Tapu Koko features a black shell.

How do I catch Tapu Koko after defeating it?

Use Golden Razz Berries, aim for Excellent throws, and throw curveballs to maximize your chances of catching Tapu Koko.

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Disclaimer: The content of this article does not constitute financial or investment advice.

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