Pokemon GO Palkia & Origin Forme: Weakness, Counters & Best Moveset

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Palkia is one of the most iconic Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO, originally introduced from the Sinnoh region (Generation IV). With the introduction of its Origin Forme, trainers now have access to two different versions of Palkia, each with unique strengths, movesets, and battle potential.

In this guide, we’ll cover both Palkia and Origin Forme Palkia - including their type, weaknesses, best counters, and how to catch them in Pokemon GO 2025. Let’s dive in!

What is Pokemon GO Palkia?

Palkia is a Dragon- and Water-type Legendary Pokemon. In Pokemon GO, it is primarily available through 5-star raids and occasionally during special events. What makes Palkia stand out is that it exists in two different forms:

Palkia (Standard Form): The original version that has been available since its first raid debut.

Origin Forme Palkia: A newer and more powerful variant introduced later in the game, featuring higher stats and stronger performance in both raids and PvP battles.

Next, you can read sections 2-3 to learn about their types, weaknesses, stats, and more.

Palkia Type, Weakness, Stats and Best Moveset

Palkia in Pokemon GO is a Dragon- and Water-type Legendary Pokemon, which makes it a strong but also vulnerable option in battles. Its dual typing gives it a unique role, but also leaves it with some clear weaknesses.

Palkia Type: Water, Dragon

Palkia Weaknesses: Dragon, Fairy

Palkia Stats

Max CP

4512 CP

Attack

280 ATK

Defense

215 DEF

Stamina

189 HP

Buddy distance 20 km

Shiny released Yes

Palkia’s Best Moveset

When it comes to the best Palkia moveset, trainers generally favor Dragon Tail (Fast Move) paired with Draco Meteor (Charged Move) for maximum Dragon-type damage output. Alternatively, Hydro Pump can add strong Water-type coverage, making Palkia versatile in both raids and PvP.

#	Fast Attack	Charged Attack	DPS	TDO	Score
1.	Dragon Tail	Draco Meteor	15.91	348.0	14.30
2.	Dragon Tail	Hydro Pump	15.23	333.1	13.67

Palkia (Origin Forme) Type, Weakness, Stats and Best Moveset

Origin Forme Palkia is considered the stronger version of Palkia in Pokemon GO. It retains the same Dragon- and Water-type combination but comes with higher stats and access to its signature move, Spacial Rend, which greatly boosts its performance.

Palkia-O Type: Water, Dragon

Palkia-O Weaknesses: Dragon, Fairy

Palkia (Origin Forme) Stats

Max CP

4683 CP

Attack

286 ATK

Defense

223 DEF

Stamina

189 HP

Buddy distance 20 km

Shiny released Yes

Palkia-O’s Best Moveset

#	Fast Attack	Charged Attack	DPS	TDO	Score
1.	Dragon Tail	Spacial Rend	17.79	402.6	16.03
2.	Dragon Breath	Spacial Rend	17.06	386.0	15.36

What Are The Best Palkia Counters in Pokemon GO?

When facing Palkia in raids, the main strategy is to target its Dragon- and Fairy-type weaknesses. Since both its standard form and Origin Forme share the same typing, many counters overlap, but the difficulty differs because Origin Forme Palkia has higher stats and stronger moves.

1 Best Counters for Palkia Pokemon GO

Tip: Avoid using Water-types, since Palkia resists Water moves.

#	Pokemon	Type	Fast Attack	Charged Attack
1.	Mega Rayquaza	Dragon/Flying	Dragon Tail	Breaking Swipe
2.	Eternatus	Poison/Dragon	Dragon Tail	Dynamax Cannon
3.	Mega Garchomp	Dragon/Ground	Dragon Tail	Outrage
4.	Shadow Palkia	Dragon/Water	Dragon Tail	Draco Meteor
5.	Mega Salamence	Dragon/Flying	Dragon Tail	Draco Meteor

2 Best Counters for Palkia (Origin Forme)

Tip: Because Spacial Rend deals so much damage, bringing tanky Fairy-types like Shadow Gardevoir is often safer than relying only on Dragons.

#	Pokemon	Type	Fast Attack	Charged Attack
1.	Mega Rayquaza	Dragon/Flying	Dragon Tail	Breaking Swipe
2.	Eternatus	Poison/Dragon	Dragon Tail	Dynamax Cannon
3.	Mega Garchomp	Dragon/Ground	Dragon Tail	Outrage
4.	Shadow Gardevoir	Psychic/Fairy	Charm	Dazzling Gleam
5.	Mega Salamence	Dragon/Flying	Dragon Tail	Outrage

3 Bonus: Recommended Raid Group Size for Palkia

Palkia, especially its Origin Forme, is a very powerful raid boss. The number of trainers needed depends on the form and your team’s strength:

2–3 Trainers (Extreme Challenge)

Only possible under favorable weather boost (such as Windy weather) with maxed-out counters like Mega Rayquaza or Zekrom, plus strong friendship bonuses. This is recommended only for top-level players against Standard Forme Palkia.

4–5 Trainers (Recommended for Stability)

With high-level Dragon- and Fairy-type attackers, a group of 4–5 can consistently defeat both Standard and Origin Forme Palkia. This is the sweet spot for most experienced players.

6–8+ Trainers (Safe Option)

For newer trainers or those without optimized counters, bringing at least 6 or more players is the safest choice. Make sure to use type advantages and take advantage of weather boosts (Rainy or Windy) and friendship bonuses to maximize your chances.

How to Get Palkia in Pokemon GO?

Currently, you can obtain Palkia in Pokemon GO through 5-star raids, Raid Hour events, Special Research, and by using a location changer tool like LocaChange.

Method 1 Join 5-Star Raids (September 2 - September 16, 2025)

According to the official Pokemon GO raid schedule, Palkia will appear as a 5-star Raid Boss from September 2 to September 16, 2025.

When you encounter Palkia in raids, its maximum CP will vary depending on the weather:

Form	Weather Boost	Perfect IV CP
Standard Palkia	No boost	~2,280 CP
	Rain/Windy	~2,850 CP

Method 2 Join Raid Hour for Origin Forme Palkia

Raid Hour offers a higher spawn rate of the featured Legendary Pokemon, giving Trainers more chances to battle and catch it. In September 2025, Origin Forme Palkia will be featured during the following Raid Hours:

September 3, 2025 - 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM local time

September 10, 2025 - 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM local time

To maximize your chances, consider coordinating with local or online communities, such as the official LocaChange Discord, where experienced Trainers often share strategies and raid invites.

Method 3 Special Research and Event Rewards

Occasionally, Niantic (Scopely) includes Palkia as a reward in Special Research or timed events. However, these opportunities are rare compared to raids. If you missed Palkia in a previous event, you’ll need to wait until it cycles back into raid rotations.

Method 4 Use Pokemon GO Location Changer

The following method is especially helpful if you want to target both Standard Palkia and Origin Forme Palkia during limited raid rotations. If you live in an area with few active raids, using a trusted Pokemon GO spoofer LocaChange can help.

LocaChange can help you view nearby raid data and use the one-click teleport feature to join the raid immediately. Because it comes with a cooldown timer, you don't have to worry about your account being banned.

Key Features of LocaChange

• Teleport instantly to regions where Palkia raids are active, so you never miss a chance to catch it.
• Join international Raid Hours from anywhere, and participate in exclusive events without leaving your home.
• Connect with global raid groups to receive more remote raid invites and maximize your chances of finding Palkia.
• Compatible with Android and iOS, and supports 10 devices at the same time.
• More advanced Pokemon GO Feature: Pokemon GO Raid Map, Raid Finder, PvP Rankings, and more.
• Free trial is available for new user now!

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Is Shiny Palkia Available in Pokemon GO?

Yes, Shiny Palkia is available in Pokemon GO, and both its Standard Forme and Origin Forme have shiny variants.

The Shiny version changes Palkia’s appearance from its usual light pink and purple tones to a deeper pink body with striking dark-purple pearl-like shoulder accents. This gives Shiny Palkia a more mysterious and elegant look, making it one of the most desired Legendary shinies in the game.

Like other Legendary Pokemon, the Shiny Palkia encounter rate is approximately 1 in 20 during raids. While this does not guarantee a shiny on every attempt, consistently participating in 5-Star Raids or Raid Hour events significantly increases your chances of finding one.

Hot FAQs About Palkia in Pokemon GO

1. Is there a Shadow Palkia in Pokemon GO?

Yes. Shadow Palkia was first introduced through Team GO Rocket Special Research in 2025. Trainers could encounter and catch Shadow Palkia after defeating Giovanni. Although not always available, it may return in future Rocket events.

2. Is Shadow Palkia stronger than normal Palkia?

Yes, Shadow Palkia has higher attack power compared to the normal version, making it one of the most powerful Dragon-type raid attackers. However, it is also more fragile due to lower defense.

3. What is Palkia weak against?

Both Standard Palkia and Origin Forme Palkia are Water- and Dragon-type Pokemon, which makes them weak to Dragon- and Fairy-type moves.

4. Is Palkia good in PvP (GO Battle League)?

Yes. Palkia is a powerful choice in the Master League. Origin Forme Palkia performs even better thanks to its stronger stats and Spacial Rend, allowing it to compete directly with other top meta Pokemon like Dialga, Giratina (Origin Forme), and Zacian.

5. What are Palkia’s weaknesses in Pokemon GO?

Because Palkia is a Water- and Dragon-type Pokemon, it is weak to Dragon and Fairy attacks. Origin Forme Palkia shares the same weaknesses.

6. Which is better: Palkia or Origin Forme Palkia?

Origin Forme Palkia is considered the superior version. With higher base stats and access to its signature move Spacial Rend, it deals more consistent damage in both raids and PvP, making it one of the strongest Dragon-type attackers in Pokemon GO.

7. Is Palkia better than Dialga in Pokemon GO?

Not exactly. Dialga is generally considered stronger in PvP (Master League) because of its Steel and Dragon typing, which gives it fewer weaknesses (only Fighting and Ground) compared to Palkia’s Dragon and Fairy weaknesses. Dialga also benefits from powerful moves like Iron Head and Draco Meteor.

However, Palkia (especially Origin Forme with Spacial Rend) is one of the top Dragon-type raid attackers in Pokemon GO. In raids and PvE, Palkia often outdamages Dialga, while in PvP, Dialga is usually the safer pick.

8. Can Palkia be traded after raids?

Yes. Just like other Legendary Pokemon, Palkia can be traded after catching it in raids.

Conclusion

Palkia is one of the most powerful Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO, especially its Origin Forme with access to Spacial Rend. Whether you are challenging it in raids, using it as a counter in battles, or hunting for its Shiny version, Palkia remains a valuable addition to your team.

With the right counters and best moveset, trainers can maximize its potential in both raids and the GO Battle League. Keep an eye out for special events and raids to catch Palkia or even its Shadow variant, making sure you don’t miss the chance to strengthen your Pokemon GO lineup.

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Philip Williams

• Pokémon GO
• GPS Spoofing
• AR Gaming

• AR gaming and GPS spoofing specialist with over a decade of software experience. He is a trusted writer on Pokémon GO tips and safe location-changing strategies, helping over 2 million users worldwide. As an Apple enthusiast and expert in location-changing technology, he brings both technical depth and gaming insight to every guide.

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