Pokémon GO Lunala Raid Guide: Best Dark and Ghost Counters to Win

You can now take on Lunala in Pokémon GO: a Generation 7 legendary with Psychic and Ghost typings. The raid window runs from Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. until Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at 10:00 p.m. (local time), and Lunala is available in 5-star raids. Since it’s weak to Ghost and Dark moves, the most effective counters lean heavily into those damage types.

Lunala in Pokémon GO: what it is and why it matters

  • Pokémon: Lunala (Legendary)
  • Typing: Psychic / Ghost
  • How it connects to Cosmog: Having a Cosmog lets you evolve into Cosmovum, which then can become either Lunala or Solgaleo.

When to raid Lunala

Lunala appears in 5-star raids during the following timeframe: Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. through Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at 10:00 p.m.

Best counters to beat Lunala (and the moves they use)

Use the list below to build a raid group around the strongest options. The raid guide highlights these Pokémon and move combinations as effective against Lunala:

  1. Mega Tyranitar with Bite and Twister
  2. Shadow Tyranitar with Bite and Twister
  3. Mega Mewtwo Y with Psycho Cut and Shadow Ball
  4. Mega Houndoom with Stomp and Thief
  5. Mega Mewtwo X with Psycho Cut and Shadow Ball
  6. Mega Absol with Stomp and Twister
  7. Shadow Trevenant? (listed as Crypto-Trikephalo) with Bite and Twister
  8. Shadow Darkrai with Stomp and Shadow Ball
  9. Shadow Giratina (Origin Forme) with Dark Pulse and Unseen Power
  10. Mega Brutalanda with Bite and Twister
  11. Tyranitar with Bite and Twister
  12. Necrozma (Dawn Wings) with Dark Pulse and Shadow Ball
  13. Gladimperio with Stomp and Thief
  14. Darkrai with Stomp and Shadow Ball
  15. Mega Gyarados with Bite and Crunch
  16. Shadow Absol with Stomp and Twister
  17. Shadow Snibunna (listed as Crypto-Snibunna) with Stomp and Thief
  18. Shadow Houndoom with Stomp and Thief
  19. Lunala with Dark Pulse and Shadow Ball
  20. Monetigo with Burden and Shadow Ball

Lunala’s weaknesses (type effectiveness)

  • Psychic / Ghost typing: Lunala has a double weakness to Ghost and Dark type attacks.
  • What to focus on: Bring Pokémon and moves from those two types to maximize your damage.

How many players do you need?

  • If you have strong counters and they’re leveled up, two trainers may be enough to defeat Lunala.
  • If you want a more comfortable fight, bring more trainers.

Raid prep tip: organize teams before you queue

It helps to sort your raid teams ahead of time. That way, you won’t rely on just your best setup every time, and you can also save time in each raid lobby by keeping your team options organized.

Can you get Shiny Lunala?

Yes. Lunala can now be encountered as a Shiny in Pokémon GO.

Marcus Chen is a gaming journalist and industry reporter with more than 10 years of experience. He covers releases, announcements, and trends across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo, and keeps a close eye on the indie scene and esports. Previously an editor at several gaming publications, he now writes news, reviews, and breakdowns of major industry moments—from big showcases to updates on popular titles. His work is aimed at players who want a clear, fast read on what happened and why it matters.