Ekans Guide: Best Moveset, Counters & Pokemon GO Tips

Ekans is a popular Poison-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO. With a maximum CP of 927, Ekans is a viable option for Great League PvP battles where its unique typing and moveset can shine.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Ekans in Pokemon GO, including its stats, best moveset, counters, and tips for using it effectively in both PvE raids and PvP battles.

📊 Ekans Base Stats & Overview

Ekans (#023) is a Poison-type Pokemon from Generation 1.

Base Stats
Attack	110
Defense	97
Stamina	111
Total Stats	318
Max CP	927
Buddy Distance	3 km

With 110 Attack, 97 Defense, and 111 Stamina, Ekans has a total stat product of 318. While not the highest in any single stat, Ekans’s balanced stats make it versatile in various battle situations.

⚔️ Best Moveset for Ekans

Choosing the right moveset is crucial for maximizing Ekans’s potential in Pokemon GO. The optimal moveset varies depending on whether you’re using Ekans for raids, gym battles, or PvP.

Best Raid & Gym Moveset

For PvE content like raids and gym battles, you want moves that maximize DPS (Damage Per Second). The best Poison-type moves will benefit from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), increasing damage by 20%.

Best PvP Moveset

In PvP battles, energy generation and coverage moves become more important. You’ll want a fast move that charges energy quickly and charged moves that provide good type coverage.

🎯 Ekans Type Effectiveness

Understanding type effectiveness is crucial for both using Ekans effectively and knowing how to counter it. As a Poison-type Pokemon, Ekans has specific strengths and weaknesses.

⚠️ Weaknesses (Takes Super Effective Damage From)

Ekans is weak to: Ground, Psychic-type moves. When battling against Ekans, use Pokemon with these types to deal 1.6x (or 2.56x for double weaknesses) damage.

• Ground – Deals increased damage
• Psychic – Deals increased damage

🛡️ Resistances (Takes Reduced Damage From)

Ekans resists: Grass, Fighting, Poison, Bug, Fairy-type moves. This means Ekans takes reduced damage (0.625x or less) from these attack types.

• Grass – Reduced damage
• Fighting – Reduced damage
• Poison – Reduced damage
• Bug – Reduced damage
• Fairy – Reduced damage

🏆 Ekans PvP Analysis

Ekans can be used in Pokemon GO’s GO Battle League PvP battles. Here’s how it performs in each league:

Great League (1500 CP Limit)

Ekans can reach its full potential in Great League since its max CP (927) is at or below the 1500 CP limit. This makes it a viable option if its typing and moveset align with the current meta.

Ultra League (2500 CP Limit)

With a max CP of 927, Ekans may struggle in Ultra League against bulkier opponents with higher stat products.

Master League (No CP Limit)

Ekans is generally not recommended for Master League due to its lower max CP (927). Focus on other leagues instead.

⚔️ Ekans Raid Guide

Ekans is primarily used as a raid attacker rather than a raid boss. Here’s how to use it effectively in raids:

Using Ekans in Raids

When using Ekans as a raid attacker:

• Best against raid bosses weak to Poison-type moves
• Power up to at least level 30-35 for decent performance
• Ensure you have the optimal moveset for maximum DPS

🎯 Best Counters for Ekans

Whether you’re battling Ekans in raids, gyms, or PvP, knowing the best counters is essential for victory. Here are the top Pokemon to use against Ekans:

Top Counter Pokemon

The best counters exploit Ekans’s weaknesses to Ground, Psychic-type moves:

Pokemon	Type	Why It Works
Garchomp	Dragon/Ground	Mud Shot + Earth Power deals massive damage
Groudon	Ground	Legendary with Precipice Blades
Excadrill	Ground/Steel	High Ground DPS
Mewtwo	Psychic	Best Psychic attacker with Psystrike
Alakazam	Psychic	Glass cannon with high Psychic DPS
Espeon	Psychic	Accessible Psychic attacker

Counter Strategy Tips

1. Prioritize Type Advantage: Use Pokemon with moves that are super effective against Ekans
2. Consider Bulk: Tankier counters can survive longer and deal more total damage
3. Watch for Coverage Moves: Ekans may have moves that counter its own counters
4. Weather Boost: Take advantage of weather conditions that boost your counter’s attacks

📍 How to Get Ekans in Pokemon GO

There are several ways to obtain Ekans in Pokemon GO:

• Wild Encounters: Ekans can spawn in the wild, especially in areas matching its type
• Eggs: May hatch from 3km eggs
• Evolution: Evolve from its pre-evolution using Candy
• Raids: Occasionally appears in raid battles
• Research Tasks: Complete field research for a chance to encounter
• Trading: Trade with friends

Shiny Ekans

Yes, Shiny Ekans is available in Pokemon GO! The shiny variant has a different coloration and is highly sought after by collectors. The shiny rate for wild encounters is approximately 1 in 500, though this can be boosted during special events like Community Days or Spotlight Hours.

Ekans Evolution

Check the Pokédex for complete evolution information including candy costs and special evolution requirements.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

💡 Pro Tips for Using Ekans

Here are some advanced strategies and tips to maximize Ekans’s potential in Pokemon GO:

1. IV Optimization

For raids and gym battles, prioritize Ekans with high Attack IVs (15 Attack is ideal). The Attack stat contributes most to damage output in PvE content.

For PvP battles, the ideal IVs depend on the league:

• Great League: Look for low Attack, high Defense and HP (0/15/15 is often ideal)
• Ultra League: Similar to Great League, optimize for stat product under 2500 CP
• Master League: Perfect 15/15/15 IVs are best since there’s no CP cap

2. Power Up Priority

Before investing Stardust and Candy into Ekans, consider:

• Do you have enough resources? (Powering to level 50 costs 296,000 Stardust and 296 Candy)
• Will this Pokemon fill a gap in your battle team?
• Are there better alternatives for the same role?
• Do you have the optimal moveset or need Elite TMs?

3. Team Composition

Ekans works best when paired with Pokemon that cover its weaknesses. As a Poison type weak to Ground, Psychic, consider adding team members that resist these types.

4. Weather Considerations

Take advantage of weather boosts:

• When catching: Weather-boosted Ekans spawns at higher levels (up to 35)
• When battling: Weather that boosts Poison moves increases your damage output
• When raiding: Spawn weather-boosted counters by raiding in appropriate weather

📚 Ekans in the Pokemon Franchise

Ekans first appeared in Generation 1 of the main Pokemon series. For more detailed lore and information about Ekans’s origins, check out Bulbapedia.

In Pokemon GO, Ekans was introduced as part of the Generation 1 Pokemon rollout. Being a Generation 1 Pokemon, Ekans has been available since the game’s launch in July 2016.

📊 How Ekans Compares

Let’s see how Ekans stacks up against other Poison-type Pokemon:

Stat	Ekans	Type Average	Rating
Attack	110	~180	⭐
Defense	97	~160	⭐
Stamina	111	~170	⭐
Max CP	927	~2,500	⭐

🎯 Conclusion

Ekans is a versatile Poison-type Pokemon that can be a valuable addition to your Pokemon GO roster. With a max CP of 927 and solid base stats (110/97/111), it can shine in Great League PvP where its unique typing and moveset options provide interesting strategic possibilities.

Remember to:

• Optimize IVs based on your intended use (PvP vs PvE)
• Use the recommended moveset for maximum effectiveness
• Build a team that covers Ekans’s weaknesses
• Take advantage of weather boosts when possible

For more Pokemon guides and the complete Pokedex, visit our Pokemon GO Database. Check out our PvP Rankings for the current meta and Raid Guides for battle strategies.

Last updated: January 2026. Information based on the latest Pokemon GO game data.

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