Giratina in Pokémon GO — Raid & Moveset Guide

The Renegade Pokémon returns in two forms: Altered Forme Giratina is the defensive Great/Ultra League staple, Origin Forme is the raid attacker with the signature Shadow Force. Both share the same weaknesses — here's how to counter and use each.

Ghost/Dragon type2 formesWeak to Dragon, Fairy, Ice, Ghost, DarkShadow Force

Weaknesses & counters

Weak to

Dragon, Fairy, Ice, Ghost and Dark — Giratina's own typing cuts both ways, so Dragon counters take super-effective damage back.

Resists

Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, Poison, Bug, Normal and Fighting — it shrugs off a huge share of the meta.

Top raid counters

Mega Rayquaza, Mega Gengar, Shadow Dragon-types (Salamence, Dragonite, Garchomp), and strong Dark attackers like Tyranitar or Hydreigon.

Raid party size

3–4 well-prepared trainers for Altered; Origin hits harder — bring 4–5 or one mega-boosted team.

Forme differences

Altered FormeOrigin Forme
RoleTank — high defenseAttacker — high attack
SignatureShadow Sneak / Dragon ClawShadow Force (charged)
Best useGreat & Ultra League PvP stapleGhost-type raid attacker
Item to switchGriseous Core swaps formes

Best movesets

  1. 1
    Altered (PvP)

    Shadow Claw + Dragon Claw and Shadow Sneak — bait shields with Dragon Claw's low cost and wall opposing Giratina.

  2. 2
    Origin (raids)

    Shadow Claw or Dragon Tail + Shadow Force — the top Ghost-type PvE attacker in the game.

  3. 3
    Origin (PvP)

    Dragon Tail + Ominous Wind / Shadow Ball — frailer than Altered but hits brutally.

  4. 4
    TM priority

    Shadow Force is Origin-only — it's the move that defines the forme, so use Elite TMs on it if needed.

FAQ

Which Giratina forme is better in Pokémon GO?

Altered for PvP (Great and Ultra League mainstay), Origin for raids — Shadow Force makes it the premier Ghost attacker.

What is Giratina weak to?

Dragon, Fairy, Ice, Ghost and Dark — the same five in both formes.

How do you switch Giratina formes?

The Griseous Core item switches between Altered and Origin — earned from raids and special research.

Is Giratina good in Pokémon GO?

Yes — it's been top-tier since release: Altered anchors PvP teams and Origin is the benchmark Ghost-type attacker.