Pokemon Go Ground Raid Attackers: Top Counters

This article answers the question of which Ground-type Pokemon are the current best raid attackers in Pokemon Go, and what moves they should have. You’ll get a clear ranking of the top counters, their ideal fast and charged moves, and the reasoning behind their placement, so you can build the most effective team for Ground-type raids.

Why Ground-Type Attackers Matter

Ground-type moves are super effective against Electric, Fire, Poison, Rock, and Steel-type Pokemon. This makes them incredibly useful for raiding against popular Legendary Pokemon like Raikou, Entei, Heatran, and Regirock, as well as many Mega Evolutions. A strong Ground-type team is a core asset for any serious raider. The best Ground-type attackers are defined by their high Attack stat, access to powerful Ground-type moves, and good overall bulk to survive long enough to deal damage.

The Top Ground-Type Attackers

As of the current game meta (post-2023 move updates), the undisputed leaders are Primal Groudon and Shadow Garchomp. They are followed closely by a group of high-performance Pokemon that are more accessible to most players.

• Primal Groudon – The absolute best Ground-type attacker. Its Primal Reversion boosts its already massive Attack and gives it a Primal Boost that increases Ground-type damage for all Pokemon on the field.
• Shadow Garchomp – With its high Attack and the 20% Shadow damage bonus, it out-damages even regular Garchomp and most other Ground-types. Its frailty is its only downside.
• Shadow Mamoswine – A top-tier Ice/Ground type. Its high Attack and Shadow bonus make it a phenomenal Ground attacker, though it’s even glassier than Garchomp.
• Garchomp – A reliable and powerful Ground/Dragon type. It has excellent stats and a great movepool, making it the best non-Shadow, non-Primal option for most players.
• Landorus (Therian Forme) – A strong Ground/Flying type with high Attack. It’s a solid choice, but its Flying typing makes it weak to Ice and Water moves, which are common in raids.
• Groudon – The base form of Primal Groudon is still a very capable attacker, especially when it has its signature move, Precipice Blades.
• Excadrill – A fast, high-DPS Ground/Steel type. It’s more fragile than Garchomp but deals comparable damage in ideal conditions.
• Rhyperior – A bulky Ground/Rock type with a high Attack stat. It’s a solid budget option that’s easier to obtain and power up than many Legendaries.

Best Movesets for Each Attacker

Having the right moves is just as important as having the right Pokemon. The best movesets for the top Ground attackers are listed below. Always aim for the move that has the highest damage per second (DPS) combined with good energy generation.

• Primal Groudon: Fast Move – Mud Shot; Charged Move – Precipice Blades. (Earth Power is a good alternative if you don’t have Precipice Blades).
• Shadow Garchomp / Garchomp: Fast Move – Mud Shot; Charged Move – Earth Power. (Outrage is a good secondary move for Dragon-type coverage, but Earth Power is essential for Ground DPS).
• Shadow Mamoswine: Fast Move – Mud-Slap; Charged Move – High Horsepower. (Avalanche is a great secondary move for Ice coverage).
• Landorus (Therian): Fast Move – Mud Shot; Charged Move – Earth Power. (Superpower is a good secondary Fighting move).
• Groudon: Fast Move – Mud Shot; Charged Move – Precipice Blades. (Earth Power is a good alternative if you don’t have Precipice Blades).
• Excadrill: Fast Move – Mud-Slap; Charged Move – Drill Run. (Iron Head is a good secondary move for Fairy coverage).
• Rhyperior: Fast Move – Mud-Slap; Charged Move – Earthquake. (Rock Wrecker is a great secondary move for Rock coverage).

How to Choose Your Team

When building a raid team, you should consider the raid boss’s type and moves. If the boss is a Fire-type like Entei, your Ground-types will take neutral damage from its Fire moves, making them ideal. However, if the boss has a move that is super effective against one of your Pokemon (e.g., a Water move against Garchomp), you may want to swap it out for a Pokemon that resists that move. For example, Rhyperior resists Fire and Rock, making it a safer choice against a Heatran with Stone Edge. Also, remember that Primal Groudon’s Primal Boost is a huge team-wide advantage, so always include it if you have it.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

One common mistake is using a Ground-type Pokemon that doesn’t have a Ground-type fast move. For example, a Garchomp with Dragon Tail and Outrage is a great Dragon attacker, but it’s a terrible Ground attacker. Always check the moves. Another misconception is that all Ground-types are equally good. A Pokemon like Donphan or Golurk may have Ground-type moves, but their stats are significantly lower than the top attackers, leading to much lower damage output. Finally, don’t forget that Shadow Pokemon deal 20% more damage but take 20% more damage. This means they are great for short, fast raids, but they may faint too quickly in longer battles if they are not high level.

Budget and Alternative Options

Not everyone has a Primal Groudon or a maxed-out Shadow Garchomp. Fortunately, there are several budget-friendly Ground-type attackers that still perform well. These are often easier to find in the wild, hatch from eggs, or get from raids.

• Excadrill – It’s a common spawn in some biomes and can be caught as a Drilbur. It’s a great investment.
• Rhyperior – Rhyhorn is a common spawn, and Rhyperior is a very strong, bulky attacker.
• Mamoswine – Swinub is very common in snowy weather and during certain events. It’s a top-tier attacker that is easy to get.
• Golem – Geodude is a common spawn, and Golem is a decent budget option, though it’s outclassed by Rhyperior.
• Donphan – Phanpy is a common spawn in some regions. Donphan is a solid mid-tier Ground attacker.

Remember to check the moves on these budget Pokemon. A Rhyperior with Mud-Slap and Earthquake is a great budget option, but one with Smack Down and Rock Wrecker is a Rock attacker, not a Ground attacker.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Primal Groudon always the best Ground attacker?
A: Yes, Primal Groudon is the best Ground-type attacker in almost every scenario. Its high Attack, combined with the Primal Boost that increases Ground damage for the entire party, makes it the top choice. The only exception is when the raid boss has a move that is super effective against it, like a Water or Grass move, but even then, it’s often still worth using.

Q: Should I use a Shadow Garchomp or a regular Garchomp?
A: Shadow Garchomp has significantly higher damage output (about 20% more) than a regular Garchomp. However, it is much frailer and will faint more often. If you have a high-level Shadow Garchomp with the right moves, it is almost always better for DPS. If you don’t have a good Shadow Garchomp, a regular Garchomp is still an excellent choice.

Q: What is the best fast move for Garchomp?
A: Mud Shot is the best fast move for Garchomp as a Ground attacker. It has high energy generation, allowing you to use Earth Power more often. Dragon Tail is a good fast move for Dragon-type damage, but it is not useful for Ground-type raids.

Q: Is Landorus (Therian) better than Garchomp?
A: In terms of raw damage, Garchomp is slightly better than Landorus (Therian). However, Landorus has a higher Attack stat, but its Flying typing makes it take super effective damage from Ice, Water, and Electric moves. Garchomp’s Dragon typing gives it a resistance to Electric and Water, making it more durable in many raids. Overall, Garchomp is generally considered the better choice for most players.

Q: What is the best budget Ground attacker?
A: The best budget Ground attacker is Rhyperior. It’s easy to get Rhyhorn, and Rhyperior has high Attack and great bulk. It’s also relatively cheap to power up. Excadrill is another great budget option, but it’s frailer. Mamoswine is also excellent if you can find Swinub.

Q: How many Ground attackers do I need for a raid?
A: For a standard Tier 5 raid, you typically need 6 Pokemon in your team. However, if you have a Primal Groudon, its Primal Boost will make your other attackers more effective, so you might not need as many. For shorter raids, you might not even need a full team of 6, but it’s always good to have a full team ready.

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