Lunala Pokémon GO: How to Get, Shiny, Weakness, Counters & Fusion

Lunala has become much more important in Pokémon GO than it was when the Legendary first arrived. It is now obtainable from five-star raids, Shiny Lunala is available for the first time in August 2026, and improvements to Lunala's moveset have turned it into a powerful Ghost attacker and one of the strongest current Master League Pokémon.

That creates a new problem for Trainers: a good Lunala is no longer something you should automatically sacrifice for Dawn Wings Necrozma. Before using your best one for fusion, it is worth checking its IVs, moves, PvP potential, and whether you have another Lunala available.

Lunala Pokémon GO 2026 Raid Schedule

Lunala is currently appearing in five-star Raid Battles from Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 6:00 a.m. until Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 10:00 p.m. local time.

There is also a dedicated Lunala Raid Hour on August 19 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time, during which more five-star raids featuring Lunala will appear.

This is not Lunala's first appearance in Pokémon GO raids. The important debut in this rotation is Shiny Lunala, so older guides describing shiny Lunala as unavailable are now outdated.

Lunala's raid encounter range is 2219–2310 CP at Level 20 or 2774–2887 CP at Level 25 when boosted by Windy or Fog weather.

How to Get Lunala in Pokémon GO

1 Catch Lunala From Five-Star Raids

During the August 19–25 rotation, defeating Lunala in a five-star raid gives you a chance to catch it directly. This is currently the best opportunity to obtain multiple Lunala, hunt better IVs, collect Candy, and search for the newly available shiny.

Raids also remove one of the biggest restrictions Lunala historically had: you no longer need to spend a limited Cosmog evolution just to obtain another Lunala.

2 Evolve Cosmog Into Lunala

The evolution chain is:

Cosmog → Cosmoem → Lunala

First, evolve Cosmog into Cosmoem with 25 Cosmog Candy. Cosmoem can then evolve into Lunala using 100 Cosmog Candy at nighttime. Using the corresponding evolution option during daytime leads to Solgaleo instead.

Lunala and Solgaleo fill different roles, and Lunala's value has increased significantly after gaining access to Shadow Claw.

3 Trade for Lunala

A Lunala obtained by another Trainer can also provide another route to ownership when trading conditions allow. Because Lunala is Legendary, expect the trade to be treated under Pokémon GO's rules for special Pokémon rather than like an ordinary common trade.

For most players in August 2026, however, raids are much more practical because they allow repeated attempts at high-IV and shiny Lunala.

Can Lunala Be Shiny in Pokémon GO?

Yes. Shiny Lunala is now available in Pokémon GO.

Shiny Lunala officially makes its Pokémon GO debut with the August 19–25, 2026 Lunala five-star raid rotation. After winning a Lunala raid, the encounter therefore has a chance to be shiny.

Legendary raid shiny odds are commonly tracked at around 1 in 20, although this should be treated as a community/database estimate rather than a guaranteed result for an individual Trainer.

A 1-in-20 rate also does not mean one shiny is guaranteed every 20 raids. Each encounter is an independent chance, so it is possible to find one immediately or complete many raids without seeing one.

Lunala Pokémon GO Weakness and Raid Counters

Lunala is a Psychic/Ghost-type Pokémon, which gives it an unusually exploitable defensive profile.

Its two important weaknesses are:

Both deal approximately 256% damage, effectively making Lunala double weak to attacks of those types.

That double weakness is the reason Lunala can be defeated much faster than many other five-star Legendary raid bosses.

Best Lunala Counters in Pokémon GO

Current raid simulations place Mega Tyranitar with Bite + Brutal Swing at the top of the Lunala counter list, followed closely by Shadow Tyranitar.

You do not need an entire team of Mega or Shadow Pokémon. Regular Tyranitar, Kingambit, Darkrai, Hydreigon, Gholdengo, and other strong Dark/Ghost attackers can still take advantage of Lunala's double weakness.

Can You Solo Lunala in Pokémon GO?

A solo can be possible under highly optimized circumstances, but that does not make soloing the recommended strategy for a typical Trainer. Lunala raid simulations vary significantly depending on Pokémon level, friendship bonuses, weather, Party Power, moves, and available Mega/Shadow attackers.

For normal play, bring at least three strong Trainers if possible. A group of roughly four to six gives considerably more room for weaker counters, lower Pokémon levels, bad raid-boss movesets, or imperfect coordination.

Lunala Pokémon GO Hundo CP and Catch Guide

After defeating Lunala, check its CP before spending time evaluating IVs.

100% IV Lunala CP

A perfect raid Lunala has:

If either number appears on the catch screen, you are looking at a 15/15/15 Lunala.

Lunala's maximum CP reaches 4042 at Level 40 and 4570 at Level 50, backed by base stats of 255 Attack, 191 Defense, and 264 Stamina.

Tips for Catching Lunala

Use Golden Razz Berries when Lunala matters to you, throw Curveballs, and aim for Great or Excellent throws only when you can land them consistently. Waiting through the attack animation before releasing the ball can also make the target more predictable.

If your device makes Lunala feel unusually distant, experiment with the available catching/AR settings rather than repeatedly wasting Premier Balls.

Lunala Pokémon GO Best Moveset

The correct moveset depends on whether Lunala is being built for raids or Master League PvP.

Best Lunala Moveset for Raids

For a dedicated Ghost-type attacker, use:

Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball

This combination currently places Lunala among the strongest Ghost attackers, with GO Hub listing it at #8 among Ghost-type raid attackers.

If you specifically need Psychic-type damage, use:

Confusion + Psychic

That configuration currently ranks Lunala as an A+ tier Psychic attacker in the same database.

Lunala's current move pool includes three Fast Attacks—Shadow Claw, Confusion, and Air Slash—and four Charged Attacks—Shadow Ball, Moonblast, Psychic, and Future Sight.

Best Lunala Moveset for PvP

For Master League, the preferred configuration is:

Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball + Moonblast

Shadow Claw provides strong energy generation and Ghost pressure, Shadow Ball supplies threatening STAB damage, and Moonblast gives Lunala important coverage rather than leaving it completely dependent on Ghost damage.

Unlocking Lunala's second Charged Attack costs 100,000 Stardust and 100 Candy, so this is a meaningful investment.

For that reason, check your Lunala's IVs before spending heavily.

Is Lunala Good in Pokémon GO?

Yes—and much better than many older Lunala guides suggest.

Lunala currently has three separate reasons to matter:

1. It is a strong Ghost-type raid attacker.

2. It is one of the highest-ranked Master League Pokémon.

3. It can be fused with Necrozma to create Dawn Wings Necrozma.

Is Lunala Good for Raids?

With Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball, Lunala currently ranks in the S-tier range among Ghost attackers. Its 255 Attack is not the absolute highest in the game, but its combination of offense, useful moves, and respectable bulk produces strong raid performance.

Dawn Wings Necrozma is still a stronger specialist for Ghost-type raid damage, particularly because Moongeist Beam is extremely powerful. That does not make regular Lunala obsolete.

If you already own Dawn Wings, Lunala can still serve as another strong Ghost attacker rather than merely sitting unused in storage.

Is Lunala Good in Master League PvP?

As of August 19, 2026, PvPoke ranks Lunala #5 overall in open Master League.

That ranking is based on simulation and can change as moves, formats, and the metagame change, but it clearly establishes Lunala as a serious competitive option rather than a spice pick.

Ultra League is a different story. Lunala performs much worse there, so investing in Lunala primarily makes sense for Master League if PvP is your goal.

Which Lunala IVs Are Worth Keeping?

If your only goal is raids, small IV differences generally matter far less than Pokémon level and having the correct moves.

Master League is different.

Because Master League has no normal CP cap, you generally want Lunala as close to 15/15/15 as possible. A perfect Lunala reaches 4570 CP at Level 50.

Attack IV is particularly valuable because Charged Move Priority goes to the Pokémon with the higher actual Attack stat when both use a Charged Move on the same turn. PvPoke's Master League CMP data shows Lunala's relevant Attack range, which makes Attack IV meaningful in mirrors and other close CMP situations.

A practical priority is therefore:

15/15/15 > high-IV Lunala with 15 Attack > other high-IV Lunala

Before transferring or fusing a questionable specimen, use an IV checker and compare it with your alternatives.

Lunala vs Solgaleo in Pokémon GO: Which Is Better?

Cosmoem can evolve into either Solgaleo during the day or Lunala at night, with both requiring 100 Cosmog Candy.

Lunala currently has an especially strong argument because Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball gives it genuine raid utility while its Master League performance is also excellent. Lunala is therefore easier to justify as a Pokémon you actively use across multiple parts of the game.

Solgaleo remains valuable for its own matchups and for Dusk Mane Necrozma fusion, so there is no universal rule that every Cosmoem should become Lunala.

But if your choice is based primarily on current general usefulness, Lunala is now one of the strongest reasons to choose the nighttime evolution.

Lunala Pokémon GO Fusion: How to Get Dawn Wings Necrozma

Lunala is one of two Pokémon that can fuse with Necrozma.

Combining Necrozma + Lunala creates:

Dawn Wings Necrozma

The required resources are:

Once fused, Dawn Wings Necrozma remains fused until you choose to separate the Pokémon. Separating them costs no Candy or Fusion Energy.

If you separate them and later want Dawn Wings again, you will need the resources required for another fusion.

How to Get Lunar Fusion Energy

Lunar Fusion Energy is associated with relevant Dawn Wings Necrozma raids and eligible research, not ordinary Lunala five-star raids.

So farming Lunala during the August 2026 rotation can give you more Lunala to use as fusion partners, but it should not be treated as a Lunar Fusion Energy farming event unless an event specifically states otherwise.

Should You Keep Lunala or Fuse It Into Dawn Wings Necrozma?

If you have several Lunala, the best approach is usually to separate their roles:

Keep your best Lunala → build it for Master League or raids.

Use another Lunala → fusion partner for Dawn Wings Necrozma.

That is especially sensible now that five-star raids provide repeated chances to catch Lunala rather than forcing you to choose between using one scarce evolution and preserving it.

If you own only one Lunala and it has excellent Master League IVs, do not automatically fuse it just because Dawn Wings is powerful.

How to Find More Lunala Raids Before They End

Limited Legendary rotations create a simple problem: even if Lunala is available globally, your local area may not have enough active Gyms or enough Trainers to complete repeated raids.

Start with the normal in-game and community options. Check nearby Gyms frequently, make the most of Raid Hour, and coordinate with local communities or remote raid groups where available.

For the August rotation, August 19 from 6:00–7:00 p.m. local time is particularly valuable because Lunala Raid Hour increases the number of relevant raids.

Use PoKeep to Explore Raid-Dense Areas From Your Device

For Trainers who already choose to use location-changing software, PoKeep Location Changer provides several tools that fit raid hunting particularly well.

Try It Free

Try It Free

PoKeep supports one-click location changing on iPhone and Android as well as a 360° GPS joystick for manually exploring an area.

For raid hunting, its more relevant options are multi-point movement and Jump Teleport. Jump Teleport lets you create multiple locations and switch between them, while the product also includes an automatic jump option tied to its cooldown timer. The feature is specifically designed around checking locations such as raid areas and rare Pokémon spots more efficiently.

A practical Lunala workflow could therefore be:

Step 1. Identify an area with a high concentration of Gyms.

Step 2. Check available Lunala raids before committing resources.

Step 3. Save useful locations or build a route for repeat visits during the limited raid rotation.

PoKeep also offers joystick and location-changing functionality in its free trial, so the basic modes can be tested before upgrading.

Lunala Pokémon GO FAQ

Final Verdict: Is Lunala Worth Getting in Pokémon GO?

Lunala is one of the more worthwhile Legendary Pokémon to target in Pokémon GO right now.

The August 19–25, 2026 raid rotation combines three strong incentives: Lunala is finally available as a shiny, repeated raids make high-IV specimens easier to hunt, and the Pokémon itself has real endgame value.

A strong Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball Lunala is useful for Ghost-type raid damage, while a properly built Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball + Moonblast Lunala is currently one of the highest-ranked Master League Pokémon. It also remains necessary if you want to create Dawn Wings Necrozma.

That changes the best strategy for 2026: do not hunt only one Lunala for fusion. If possible, use the current raid window to look for a high-IV Lunala to keep, another specimen for Dawn Wings fusion, and a Shiny Lunala for your collection.