Primal Groudon is a dual Ground- and Fire-type Legendary Pokémon originally discovered in the Hoenn region. Groudon has appeared in mythology as the creator of the land. Legends tell of its many clashes against Kyogre, as each sought to gain the power of nature. After you’ve battled Primal Groudon, it will return to its usual form before you have an opportunity to catch it. Learn which Pokémon will be most effective in Raid Battles against Primal Groudon, how to catch Groudon after winning a Raid Battle, and how best to use the Continent Pokémon after you’ve caught it.

Which Pokémon to Use in a Primal Groudon Raid in Pokémon GO

As a Ground- and Fire-type Pokémon, Primal Groudon is vulnerable to Water- and Ground-type attacks. When selecting Pokémon for your Primal Groudon Raid Battle lineup, it helps to choose Pokémon that have a Fast Attack and a Charged Attack of one of these types if you want to deal as much damage as possible. It’s worth noting, though, that Primal Groudon’s two types are both weak to Water-type attacks, making Pokémon that wield them the most effective option for these raids by far. It’s not necessary to choose only Water- or Ground-type Pokémon, but a Pokémon that shares a type with these attacks will benefit from a same-type attack bonus, which will allow these attacks to deal an additional 20% damage.

If you have multiple Pokémon that know Water- or Ground-type attacks, choose the Pokémon with the highest CP and best overall stats. Remember that speed of victory affects how many Premier Balls you will receive at the conclusion of a successful Raid Battle, so bring your strongest Pokémon and defeat Primal Groudon as quickly as you can.

• Blastoise / Mega Blastoise (Water)

  • Fast Attack:Water Gun (Water)

  • Charged Attack:Hydro Cannon (Water)*, Hydro Pump (Water)

• Gyarados / Shadow Gyarados (Water/Flying)

  • Fast Attack:Waterfall (Water)

  • Charged Attack:Aqua Tail (Water)*, Hydro Pump (Water)

• Feraligatr / Shadow Feraligatr (Water)

  • Fast Attack:Waterfall (Water), Water Gun (Water)*

  • Charged Attack:Hydro Cannon (Water)*, Hydro Pump (Water)

• Swampert / Shadow Swampert / Mega Swampert (Water/Ground)

  • Fast Attack:Water Gun (Water)

  • Charged Attack:Hydro Cannon (Water)*, Muddy Water (Water), Surf (Water)

• Kyogre (Water)

  • Fast Attack:Waterfall (Water)

  • Charged Attack:Hydro Pump (Water), Surf (Water)

• Samurott (Water)

  • Fast Attack:Waterfall (Water)

  • Charged Attack:Hydro Cannon (Water)*, Hydro Pump (Water), Razor Shell (Water)

• Golem / Shadow Golem (Rock/Ground)

  • Fast Attack: Mud Shot (Ground)*, Mud-Slap (Ground)

  • Charged Attack: Earthquake (Ground)

• Groudon (Ground)

  • Fast Attack:Dragon Tail (Dragon), Mud Shot (Ground)

  • Charged Attack:Earthquake (Ground)

• Garchomp (Dragon/Ground)

  • Fast Attack:Mud Shot (Ground)

  • Charged Attack:Earth Power (Ground)*, Earthquake (Ground), Sand Tomb (Ground)

• Rhyperior (Ground/Rock)

  • Fast Attack: Mud-Slap (Ground)

  • Charged Attack: Earthquake (Ground)

• Excadrill (Ground/Steel)

  • Fast Attack:Mud Shot (Ground), Mud-Slap (Ground)

  • Charged Attack:Drill Run (Ground), Earthquake (Ground)

• Therian Forme Landorus (Ground/Flying)

  • Fast Attack:Mud Shot (Ground)

  • Charged Attack:Bulldoze (Ground), Earth Power (Ground)*, Earthquake (Ground)

* An Elite Fast TM or an Elite Charged TM is typically required to teach this Pokémon this attack.

Make the Most of Premier Balls and Berries

Don’t forget that Primal Groudon will return to its usual form after the Raid Battle. After a successful Primal Groudon raid, you’ll have a limited number of Premier Balls you can use to catch Groudon, so make each one count. You can earn extra Premier Balls by battling with friends and defeating Groudon more quickly.

In an encounter with Groudon, your chance of catching it is greatest when the target ring is small enough for you to score Excellent Throws. Throwing Curveballs can improve your chances even more. But work within your abilities—if you don’t think you can reliably make Excellent Curveball Throws, aim for Nice Throws or Great Throws rather than risk missing the target ring completely.

Groudon isn’t going to make it easy on you by sitting still while you’re trying to catch it. Don’t waste your Premier Balls by throwing while it’s moving around. Watch Groudon to get a feel for its cycle of movement and the pauses in between the cycles. During one of these pauses, wait for the target ring to reappear, and then throw as it starts to grow smaller to increase your odds of making a Great Throw or an Excellent Throw.

Berries can help you catch Groudon. A Razz Berry will make it easier to catch, and a Golden Razz Berry will make it much easier to catch. If you find yourself failing to land any throws, a Nanab Berry will calm Groudon, making its movements less erratic and allowing you to make precise throws more easily. If you need extra Groudon Candy, using a Silver Pinap Berry will make Groudon easier to catch and grant you extra Candy when you catch it.

Buddy Pokémon with a Buddy Level of Great Buddy or higher have the Catch Assist Perk. If a Pokémon—even a Legendary Pokémon—deflects a Poké Ball, your buddy might bounce it back for a second catch opportunity!

Like all Legendary Pokémon, Groudon is tricky to catch, so don’t be discouraged if it escapes. Get a second wind by stocking up on useful items—like Max Potions, Max Revives, and Golden Razz Berries—and try again.

What to Do with Primal Groudon Once You’ve Caught It

After you battle Primal Groudon, it will return to its usual form, which is just Ground type. As a Ground-type Pokémon, Groudon is resistant to Electric-, Poison-, and Rock-type attacks. When used in raids, Groudon’s considerable CP and bulk make it one of the best Ground-type attackers in Pokémon GO. As such, it’s an excellent choice to include in raids against Legendary Pokémon like Dialga, Heatran, Cobalion, and Zekrom. When using Groudon as a Ground-type attacker in raids, be sure to teach it Mud Shot and Earthquake to deal maximum damage.

After a Primal Groudon raid, you’ll gain Primal Energy that can be used to help Groudon undergo Primal Reversion. Primal Reversion functions similar to Mega Evolution, with Pokémon retaining this change for a period of eight hours before returning to its usual form. While Primal Groudon can’t be used in GO Battle League, it can be used in Raid Battles and against Team GO Rocket, making it an enormous asset.  

Groudon is considered a useful Pokémon in the GO Battle League Master League with its high CP and diverse range of Charged Attacks. When choosing move sets for Groudon for Trainer battles, it’s worth noting the benefits of your various options. For example, Mud Shot has high energy generation, benefits from a same-type attack bonus, and is effective against the Steel-type Pokémon that appear frequently in the Master League. Precipice Blades is Groudon’s signature attack in the core video games and is now available to the Continent Pokémon in Pokémon GO for the first time. The Charged Attack Fire Punch charges up quickly, providing opportunities for shield baiting, and is super effective against Grass- and Ice-type Pokémon—two of Groudon’s weaknesses—as well as Steel-type Pokémon. The Ground-type Earthquake hits hard and benefits from a same-type attack bonus, making it a solid second choice of Charged Attack. When battling in the GO Battle League, teaching your Pokémon a second Charged Attack is essential. For Master League, powering up your Pokémon to their max CP is also a good idea. For a Pokémon like Groudon with a high max CP, that’s going to require a lot of Candy and Stardust, so participate in as many raids as possible to earn the necessary Candy.

Good luck with your next Raid Battle, and remember to check back to Pokemon.co.uk/Strategy for more Pokémon GO, video game, and Pokémon TCG tips.