Tired of Buzzwole fleeing? Discover exactly how to catch Buzzwole in Pokémon GO (2026). Get the best movesets, top raid counters, and easy catch strategies!
Catching powerful raid bosses in Pokémon GO can sometimes feel frustrating—especially when a Pokémon escapes after several excellent throws. Many of us have experienced this when trying to catch Buzzwole, one of the massive Ultra Beasts introduced through special raid events. Even if you use Golden Razz Berries and land perfect curveball throws, you might still watch Buzzwole break free and flee after your final Premier Ball.
If you’ve spent multiple Raid Passes just to watch Buzzwole run away, don’t worry—you are definitely not alone!
Community discussions reveal that this experience is fairly common. Some players report spending multiple raid passes before successfully catching one, while others manage to secure it on their first attempt. This inconsistency leads many trainers to wonder whether Buzzwole is fundamentally harder to catch than other raid bosses.
The reality is that Buzzwole follows the exact same raid capture mechanics as many other legendary or Ultra Beast Pokémon. However, its appearance in high-level raids, combined with limited Premier Balls and random catch probability, can make it feel particularly challenging. In this guide, we’ll walk through why players sometimes struggle to catch Buzzwole and how you can significantly improve your chances using practical, actionable strategies.
What Is Buzzwole in Pokémon GO?
Buzzwole is a powerful Ultra Beast Pokémon that appears in Pokémon GO during special raid events. Originating from the Alola region in the Pokémon series, Buzzwole belongs to the Bug and Fighting type, giving it a distinctive appearance and unique battle strengths.
Unlike regular Pokémon that spawn in the wild or hatch from eggs, Buzzwole typically appears as a Tier-5 Raid Boss with a massive Raid Boss CP of 44,654. This means players must participate in raids with other trainers to defeat it before getting a chance to catch it.
Because of its high combat power and raid difficulty, Buzzwole is usually encountered during:
- Ultra Beast events
- Special raid rotations
- Limited-time Pokémon GO events
After defeating Buzzwole in a raid, players are given Premier Balls to attempt the catch. The number of balls depends on several factors, including raid performance, damage contribution, and friendship bonuses with other players in the raid.
Why Some Players Struggle to Catch Buzzwole
Many Pokémon GO trainers have shared their experiences online about Buzzwole escaping despite strong throwing techniques. Some players report landing multiple excellent curveball throws with Golden Razz Berries, yet still failing to catch it.
These experiences highlight several reasons why Buzzwole can feel difficult to capture:
- Random Catch Probability (RNG): The biggest factor affecting raid captures in Pokémon GO is random number generation (RNG). Each throw has a probability of success based on bonuses such as berries, throw accuracy, and medals. Like most Legendary and Ultra Beast Pokémon, Buzzwole has a notoriously low base catch rate of just 2%. However, even a perfect throw does not guarantee a catch. One trainer might catch Buzzwole on the first throw, while another might fail after using every available Premier Ball.
- Limited Premier Balls: Raid bosses can only be caught using Premier Balls, and the number you receive is limited. Players typically receive around 8 to 14 balls, depending on raid completion speed, individual damage contribution, gym control bonuses, and friendship levels with raid partners. Fewer Premier Balls naturally reduce your total catch attempts.
- Medal Bonuses: Many experienced trainers emphasize the importance of type medals. Because Buzzwole is a Bug and Fighting-type Pokémon, having Platinum Bug and Fighting medals increases your catch bonus slightly. While the increase may seem small, every bonus helps improve the overall catch probability!
- Throw Accuracy and Timing: Accurate throws play a major role in raid captures. Landing excellent curveball throws provides the highest catch bonus available. However, Buzzwole’s movement patterns and attack animations can sometimes make precise throws more difficult. Patience and careful timing are key when attempting these throws.
How Do You Catch a Buzzwole in Pokémon GO?
Catching Buzzwole involves a combination of preparation, teamwork, and accurate throws. Following the right process can dramatically increase your success rate.
- Find a Buzzwole Raid: Buzzwole appears primarily in Tier-5 raids, which are indicated by a large raid egg at gyms. Once the raid begins, players can join using a Raid Pass or Remote Raid Pass. These raids usually require multiple trainers due to Buzzwole’s high combat power.
- Defeat Buzzwole in the Raid: Before catching Buzzwole, you must defeat it in battle. This requires a strong team of Pokémon and cooperation with other players. The faster your group defeats Buzzwole, the more Premier Balls you are likely to receive afterward.
- Use Golden Razz Berries: Golden Razz Berries significantly increase the catch probability for raid bosses. Using one before every throw is a common strategy among experienced trainers. If you run out of Golden Razz Berries, Silver Pinap Berries can also provide a moderate catch boost while increasing candy rewards.
- Throw Curveball Excellent Throws: Curveball throws increase catch probability compared to standard throws. When combined with excellent throw accuracy, the bonus becomes even stronger. To perform a curveball, spin the Poké Ball before throwing and release it while aiming for the smallest possible target circle.
- Maximize Your Premier Balls: Earning more Premier Balls gives you additional chances to catch Buzzwole. You can increase the number of balls by dealing higher damage in the raid, raiding with best friends, battling at gyms controlled by your team, and completing the raid quickly.
Is Buzzwole Beatable in Pokémon GO?
Yes, Buzzwole is definitely beatable in Pokémon GO! Although it appears as a high-level raid boss, it has a very significant weakness that makes it easier to defeat with the right counters.
With strong Flying-type Pokémon and coordinated teamwork, many players can defeat Buzzwole using three to five trainers. Larger groups make the raid even easier and allow players to finish faster, earning more Premier Balls afterward.
Buzzwole Weakness in Pokémon GO
Understanding Buzzwole’s weaknesses is essential for winning raids efficiently. Buzzwole’s Bug and Fighting typing makes it especially weak to Flying-type moves. In fact, Flying attacks deal quadruple damage (a massive 256% damage multiplier), making them the most effective option during raids. If the in-game weather is Windy, these Flying-type attacks will receive an additional 20% weather boost, making the raid even easier to complete.
To take Buzzwole down quickly, you should build a team around the strongest Flying-type attackers. Here are some of the top-tier counters to bring to the battle:
| Top-Tier Flying-Type Counters |
| Mega Rayquaza |
| Yveltal |
| Staraptor |
| Shadow Moltres |
| Braviary |
Other types that can deal solid damage include Psychic, Fairy, and Fire types. However, Flying-type Pokémon remain the absolute strongest counters because they exploit Buzzwole’s biggest vulnerability. Choosing Pokémon with powerful Flying moves allows you to defeat Buzzwole faster and secure additional raid bonuses.
Pokémon GO Buzzwole Best Moveset
Buzzwole has a variety of powerful attacks that make it a formidable fighter in both raids and PvP battles. Choosing the right moveset can maximize its performance, especially considering it can reach an impressive Max CP of 3,912 at Level 50.
The most effective moveset generally includes:
| Move Type | Best Attack |
| Fast Move | Counter |
| Charged Moves | Superpower and Lunge |
This combination allows Buzzwole to deal strong Fighting-type damage while maintaining pressure with fast energy generation. Because of its high attack stats, Buzzwole can be surprisingly effective in certain battle formats when used correctly.
Is Buzzwole in Pokémon GO Battle League?
Yes, Buzzwole is a fantastic choice in the Pokémon GO Battle League, particularly in the Ultra League where its combat power fits perfectly within the league limits.
In PvP battles, Buzzwole performs incredibly well against Pokémon that are weak to Fighting-type moves, such as Steel, Dark, and Normal-type Pokémon. However, you must be cautious when facing Flying or Psychic Pokémon, as these can easily exploit Buzzwole’s weaknesses. With the right moveset and strategic play, Buzzwole is a very strong contender in competitive matchups.
Can Buzzwole Be Shiny in Pokémon GO?
Yes! Shiny Buzzwole is currently available in Pokémon GO, having made its global shiny debut during GO Fest 2024 (specifically launching on July 5, 2024, during the New York City event). This makes it a highly sought-after target for collectors during its active raid rotations.
When Buzzwole is in raids, players have a chance to encounter its shiny form after successfully completing the battle. Like other Tier-5 raid bosses, the shiny odds are typically much higher (usually around 1 in 20) than standard wild encounters. If you want to obtain a shiny version, your best bet is to participate in multiple raids during events to maximize your chances.
Does Buzzwole Evolve in Pokémon GO?
Buzzwole does not evolve in Pokémon GO. As an Ultra Beast Pokémon, it exists as a single-stage species.
This means there are no evolutions before or after Buzzwole, and players cannot evolve it using candies. Instead, trainers focus on capturing stronger versions with higher IVs and powering them up to improve their battle performance.
Tips to Increase Your Buzzwole Catch Rate
While catching Buzzwole ultimately involves some randomness, these practical strategies can greatly improve your success rate:
- Know Your 100% IV Targets: Before throwing, check Buzzwole’s CP to see if it’s a perfect 100% IV (a “hundo”). A perfect non-weather-boosted Buzzwole at Level 20 will have exactly 1977 CP. If it is weather-boosted by Cloudy or Rainy weather, a perfect Level 25 Buzzwole will have exactly 2472 CP.
- Consistently Use Golden Razz Berries: This is one of the most effective ways to increase catch probability, providing the strongest capture bonus available.
- Be Patient for Excellent Throws: Practice landing excellent curveball throws, which provide the highest throw bonus in the game. Take your time to wait for Buzzwole’s attack animation to finish before throwing to avoid wasted attempts.
- Raid With Friends: Participating in raids with friends increases the number of Premier Balls awarded after the battle. Friendship bonuses often provide extra balls, giving you crucial extra chances to capture it.
- Level Up Your Medals: Improving your Bug and Fighting-type medals provides small but highly useful catch bonuses that accumulate over time.
FAQs About Buzzwole in Pokémon GO
How do you catch Buzzwole in Pokémon GO?
To catch Buzzwole, you must defeat it in a Tier-5 raid and then use Premier Balls to capture it. Using Golden Razz Berries and landing excellent curveball throws will significantly improve your catch chances.
Is Buzzwole beatable in Pokémon GO?
Yes, Buzzwole is highly beatable with a group of trainers using strong counters. Flying-type Pokémon are particularly effective because Buzzwole takes quadruple damage from Flying attacks.
Is Buzzwole in Pokémon GO Battle League?
Yes, Buzzwole is excellent in the Pokémon GO Battle League, especially in Ultra League battles where its combat power and Fighting-type moves can be incredibly effective.
Conclusion
Buzzwole may feel difficult to catch, especially when it escapes after several well-placed throws. However, its capture mechanics follow the exact same system used for many other raid bosses in Pokémon GO.
The key to success lies in maximizing your Premier Balls, using Golden Razz Berries, and landing accurate curveball throws. Combining these strategies with strong Flying-type raid teams and proper preparation will greatly increase your chances of catching this powerful Ultra Beast. With patience and the right approach, you can easily add Buzzwole to your collection—and perhaps even encounter its awesome shiny form during special events!
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