Best Pokémon to defeat Substitute in Pokémon GO

Raid Battles

The strongest Pokémon to use against Substitute are: Mega Lucario, Mega Blaziken, Mega Heracross, Lucario, Shadow Conkeldurr, Terrakion, and Mega Rayquaza. We suggest a minimum group size of 1 - 3 Trainers to defeat Substitute in a 3-Star Raid.

CogSimulation settings

      Best counter 👑

      Mega Pokemon BackgroundOfficial artwork of Mega LucarioMega Lucario
      Force Palm / Aura Sphere
      #1
      Mega Pokemon BackgroundOfficial artwork of Mega BlazikenMega Blaziken
      Counter / Focus Blast
      #2
      Mega Pokemon BackgroundOfficial artwork of Mega HeracrossMega Heracross
      Counter / Close Combat
      #3
      Official artwork of LucarioLucario
      Force Palm / Aura Sphere
      #4
      Shadow Pokemon BackgroundOfficial artwork of Shadow ConkeldurrShadow Conkeldurr
      Counter / Dynamic Punch
      #5
      Official artwork of TerrakionTerrakion
      Double Kick / Sacred Sword
      #6
      Mega Pokemon BackgroundOfficial artwork of Mega RayquazaMega Rayquaza
      Dragon Tail / Dragon Ascent
      #7
      #
      Name
      Fast Attack
      Charged Attack
      DPS
      TDO
      Faints
      TTW
      Score
      1.Mega Pokemon BackgroundThumbnail image of Mega LucarioMega Pokémon iconMega LucarioFightingForce Palm *FightingAura Sphere 541.46269615.807s2088.0
      2.Mega Pokemon BackgroundThumbnail image of Mega BlazikenMega Pokémon iconMega BlazikenFightingCounter FightingFocus Blast 430.44215622.609s1662.1
      3.Mega Pokemon BackgroundThumbnail image of Mega HeracrossMega Pokémon iconMega HeracrossFightingCounter FightingClose Combat 411.29223319.709s1616.4
      4.Thumbnail image of LucarioLucarioFightingForce Palm *FightingAura Sphere 418.33197690.809s1594.8
      5.Shadow Pokemon BackgroundThumbnail image of Shadow ConkeldurrShadow ConkeldurrFightingCounter FightingDynamic Punch 393.77218872.1010s1555.5
      6.Thumbnail image of TerrakionTerrakionFightingDouble Kick FightingSacred Sword *381.83233018.4010s1539.5
      7.Mega Pokemon BackgroundThumbnail image of Mega RayquazaMega Pokémon iconMega RayquazaDragonDragon Tail FlyingDragon Ascent 372.93219123.9010s1491.2
      8.Shadow Pokemon BackgroundThumbnail image of Shadow HariyamaShadow HariyamaFightingForce Palm FightingDynamic Punch 362.07227034.9010s1468.5
      9.Shadow Pokemon BackgroundThumbnail image of Shadow MachampShadow MachampFightingCounter FightingDynamic Punch 379.96189477.1010s1465.7
      10.Shadow Pokemon BackgroundThumbnail image of Shadow BlazikenShadow BlazikenFightingCounter FightingFocus Blast 383.04168813.8010s1438.2
      11.Mega Pokemon BackgroundThumbnail image of Mega AlakazamMega Pokémon iconMega AlakazamFightingCounter *FightingFocus Blast 397.97139439.1010s1421.1
      12.Mega Pokemon BackgroundThumbnail image of Mega LopunnyMega Pokémon iconMega LopunnyFightingDouble Kick FightingFocus Blast 366.09170723.7010s1391.6
      13.Thumbnail image of Keldeo (Ordinary Forme)Keldeo (Ordinary Forme)FightingLow Kick FightingSacred Sword 346.89197546.4011s1377.6
      14.Shadow Pokemon BackgroundThumbnail image of Shadow Sirfetch'dShadow Sirfetch'dFightingCounter FightingClose Combat 371.80149663.6010s1368.6
      15.Thumbnail image of PheromosaPheromosaFightingLow Kick FightingFocus Blast 380.06137333.6010s1366.3
      16.Shadow Pokemon BackgroundThumbnail image of Shadow AnnihilapeShadow AnnihilapeFightingCounter FightingClose Combat 332.70207216.6011s1347.4
      17.Thumbnail image of MarshadowMarshadowFightingCounter FightingClose Combat 330.15191690.1011s1316.7
      18.Thumbnail image of ConkeldurrConkeldurrFightingCounter FightingDynamic Punch 328.11195060.6011s1315.3
      19.Shadow Pokemon BackgroundThumbnail image of Shadow SneaslerShadow SneaslerFightingRock Smash FightingClose Combat 346.21159072.2011s1311.8
      20.Shadow Pokemon BackgroundThumbnail image of Shadow MewtwoShadow MewtwoPsychicPsycho Cut FightingFocus Blast 347.55151447.7011s1301.7
      21.Shadow Pokemon BackgroundThumbnail image of Shadow ToxicroakShadow ToxicroakFightingCounter FightingDynamic Punch 344.95152319.3011s1295.7
      22.Thumbnail image of Dusk Mane NecrozmaDusk Mane NecrozmaPsychicPsycho Cut SteelSunsteel Strike 330.83166975.9011s1279.5
      23.Shadow Pokemon BackgroundThumbnail image of Shadow SawkShadow SawkFightingLow Kick FightingFocus Blast 338.99147207.7011s1268.7
      24.Thumbnail image of BreloomBreloomFightingForce Palm FightingDynamic Punch 344.17136087.7011s1261.9
      25.Thumbnail image of Galarian ZapdosGalarian ZapdosFightingCounter FightingClose Combat 314.86176904.9012s1246.7
      26.Thumbnail image of HariyamaHariyamaFightingForce Palm FightingDynamic Punch 301.68204937.5012s1245.2
      27.Thumbnail image of MachampMachampFightingCounter FightingDynamic Punch 316.61168826.5012s1239.4
      28.Shadow Pokemon BackgroundThumbnail image of Shadow AlakazamShadow AlakazamFightingCounter *FightingFocus Blast 357.65105381.5011s1229.6
      29.Thumbnail image of BlazikenBlazikenFightingCounter FightingFocus Blast 319.22151142.3012s1217.5
      30.Thumbnail image of Hisuian DecidueyeHisuian DecidueyePsychicPsycho Cut FightingAura Sphere 307.24166186.7012s1206.5
      1 of 4

      Group size

      You need at least 1 Trainers to defeat a Substitute in a 3-Star Raid.

      • 1
      • 2
      • 3
      • 4
      • 5
      • 6
      • 7
      • 8
      • 9
      • 10
      • 11
      • 12
      • 13
      • 14
      • 15
      • 16
      • 17
      • 18
      • 19
      • 20
      • 21
      • 22
      • 23
      • 24
      • 25
      • 26
      • 27
      • 28
      • 29
      • 30
      • 31
      • 32
      • 33
      • 34
      • 35
      • 36
      • 37
      • 38
      • 39
      • 40
      • Minimum group size: 1 Trainers
      • Optimal group size: 2 - 3 Trainers
      • Very easy with: 4+ Trainers

      Substitute CP range from Raids

      Substitute can be caught with the following Combat Power after being defeated in Raids:

      • From 4 CP to 9 CP, with no weather boost
      • From 5 CP to 11 CP with Partly Cloudy weather boost

      Substitute weaknesses

      Substitute type chart

      When fighting Substitute, keep in mind the that Normal-type Pokémon are weak to Fighting-type moves. They take reduced damage from Ghost-type moves.

      Substitute takes increased damage from:Substitute takes increased damage from:
      160%
      • Fighting
      Substitute takes reduced damage from:Substitute takes reduced damage from:
      39%
      • Ghost

      Best move-types and best weather for defeating Substitute

      Move-typeUsage (%)Weather
      Fighting258.0%
      • cloudyCloudy
      Dragon26.0%
      • windyWindy
      Psychic16.0%
      • windyWindy
      Dark16.0%
      • fogFog
      Ground16.0%
      • sunnySunny
      Fire16.0%
      • sunnySunny
      Flying14.0%
      • windyWindy
      Steel8.0%
      • snowSnow
      Water8.0%
      • rainRain
      Rock8.0%
      • partlyCloudyPartly Cloudy
      Bug6.0%
      • rainRain
      Electric6.0%
      • rainRain
      Grass2.0%
      • sunnySunny

      About our ranking methodology

      Our guide provides detailed information on recommended Pokémon and moves that are most effective against Substitute in Raid Battles. Whether you're looking for the best counters to take Substitute down quickly with high DPS, or the tankiest counters that can withstand its attacks, our guide has something for every trainer.

      This guide displays a list of best Substitute counters in Pokémon GO with their Fast Attacks, Charged Attacks, DPS (damage per second), TDO (total damage output), faints, TTW (time to win), and score. The list is sorted by the score, which is calculated based on the DPS and TDO. Each Pokemon's move type is indicated by an icon beside the move name.

      When calculating the best counters for any Pokémon, our simulator takes into account various factors, such as the defender's typing and average DPS against each attacker, the weather's influence, energy left over from using charge attacks, Shadow Pokémon attack and defense stat changes, and more. During the initial phase of simulations, we calculate DPS and TDO for each attacker that is currently available in the game, and then we continue to rank them.

      We use a ranking method developed by a Reddit user named /u/Elastic_Space, which is described in detail in this Reddit post. It is a fairly complicated, but very well thought-out mathematical model for predicting simulation results without actually running the simulations. It also correlates with field data almost too well not to be used. Reddit

      Our Time to Win (TTW) and Faint numbers are also estimated, and should be taken with a grain of salt. Since we do not account for factors like Friendship and Mega damage boost, they will differ from actual experience in the field.