You remember the early days of Pokemon GO, right? Chasing a silhouette of those tiger-striped arms through a park at 11 PM. Electabuzz has always been one of those "prestige" spawns. It isn't a Legendary, but it's always felt like one. Honestly, in 2026, the game has changed so much that you might wonder if this Gen 1 classic is just a Pokedex filler now.
It isn't.
If you’re sitting on a pile of Electabuzz candy or a Shadow variant with decent IVs, you have a powerhouse in the making. But there's a catch. You have to know exactly how to use it, because a "regular" Electabuzz is a very different beast from its evolved form or its Shadow counterpart.
The Current State of Electabuzz in Pokemon GO
Let’s be real: Electabuzz itself is rarely the end goal. Most trainers are looking at it as a stepping stone to Electivire. However, Electabuzz does have a niche in certain limited PvP formats, like the Evolution Cup.
🔗 Read more: Free Games From Nickelodeon Are Way Better Than They Have Any Right To Be
In the open Great League, it's... well, it's fragile. You've got a base Attack of 198, which is solid, but the Defense (158) and Stamina (163) don't exactly scream "tank." If you're running it, you're playing a high-stakes game of "glass cannon" poker.
Understanding the Stats
- Attack: 198
- Defense: 158
- Stamina: 163
- Max CP at Level 50: 2,639
Basically, it hits hard but folds like a lawn chair if a Ground-type move so much as breathes in its direction. This is why most high-level players focus on the Shadow version. Shadow Electabuzz (and eventually Shadow Electivire) gets that 20% attack boost. It makes the "glass" even thinner, but the "cannon" becomes a railgun.
Best Movesets for Every Scenario
Don't just hit the "evolve" button yet. You need to know what moves actually work. If you're using Electabuzz in a specialized cup or just defending a local gym for some daily coins, the moveset is everything.
For PvE (Raids and Gyms):
You want Thunder Shock as your Fast Move. It’s snappy. It generates energy fast. For the Charged Move, Thunderbolt is the gold standard. It’s more reliable than Thunder because you can fire it off more often.
For PvP (Trainer Battles):
This is where things get spicy. Thunder Shock is still the go-to for energy generation. But for your Charged Moves, you want coverage.
- Thunder Punch: Use this for baiting shields. It’s cheap and fast.
- Thunderbolt: This is your "nuke."
- Low Kick (Fast Move): Honestly? Avoid it. It’s a Fighting-type move, which sounds good for coverage, but the energy generation is trash compared to Thunder Shock.
Evolution: From Electabuzz to Electivire
To get the most out of Electabuzz in Pokemon GO, you usually need to take it to its final form. This isn't a simple "feed it candy" situation like with Pidgey.
👉 See also: Word with Six or Sea NYT: Why This Clue is Driving Solvers Crazy
You need 100 Electabuzz Candies and one Sinnoh Stone.
Sinnoh Stones can be annoying to find if you aren't active in PvP. You can grab them from your 7-day Research Breakthroughs, or by battling Team GO Rocket Leaders. I’ve found that the most consistent way is actually just doing your three daily battles against friends—the drop rate isn't 100%, but it's your best bet.
Why Electivire is a Top-Tier Electric Attacker
Once you evolve, you have access to Wild Charge. This is one of the best moves in the entire game. It hits like a truck. In Raids, Shadow Electivire often outclasses Legendaries like Zapdos or Raikou in terms of raw Damage Per Second (DPS). If you're going up against a Kyogre or a Mega Blastoise, a team of Electivires will tear through them.
The Shiny Hunt and Shadow Variants
Shadow Electabuzz is currently one of the most sought-after catches from Team GO Rocket Grunts (specifically the "Get ready to be shocked!" grunt).
The Shadow Shiny: Yes, it exists. If you manage to snag a Shiny Shadow Electabuzz, keep it. Don't purify it. The purple flames on an orange-gold shiny body look incredible, but more importantly, the Shadow bonus makes it a monster in PvE.
📖 Related: Should I Let Alex Out of the Trunk? The Truth About Night City’s Darkest Gig
Shiny Odds: In the wild, Electabuzz is usually a "full odds" shiny (about 1 in 512). However, during specific events or Community Day Classics, those odds usually jump to about 1 in 25. The shiny version is a deeper, almost burnt orange compared to the standard yellow.
How to Counter Electabuzz (If You’re Facing One)
If you run into an Electabuzz in a Raid or a specialized PvP cup, remember one word: Ground. Electric types only have one weakness. Ground moves deal 1.6x damage.
- Rhyperior with Mud-Slap and Rock Wrecker (or Earthquake) deletes it.
- Garchomp is a hard wall.
- Excadrill is great because its Steel typing also gives it extra resistances.
If you don't have a dedicated Ground-type, even a strong Dragon-type like Dragonite or Haxorus works well because they resist Electric attacks. Just don't bring your Vaporeon. Please.
Actionable Steps for Trainers
If you're looking to optimize your roster today, here is exactly what you should do:
- Check your Shadows: Look for a Shadow Electabuzz with high Attack IVs. Even a 15/0/0 is better for raids than a 15/15/15 non-shadow.
- Save your Sinnoh Stones: Don't waste them on a low-stat Electabuzz. Wait for a "Wonder" or a high-level Shadow.
- Farm Candies during Cloudy weather: While Electric types usually boost in Rain, Electabuzz often pops up more in urban biomes. Use Pinap Berries every single time.
- Unlock a second move: If you're going to use Electivire for anything, you need Wild Charge paired with Ice Punch. The Ice Punch covers its Ground-type weakness and catches people off guard in PvP.
Electabuzz isn't just a nostalgia trip; it’s a foundational piece of a high-DPS Electric team. Whether you're hunting that deep orange shiny or building a Shadow army to take down Primal Kyogre, it remains one of the most relevant Gen 1 Pokemon in the modern meta.