Pokémon GO Best Flying-Type Attackers For Raids 2026

Flying-type attackers are an underrated part of any Pokémon GO raid roster. They hit Grass, Fighting, and Bug raid bosses for super effective damage, and the best Flying attackers combine strong damage output with decent bulk. This guide ranks the top Flying-type attackers for raids in 2026, lists the ideal movesets, and covers budget options for players who have not caught the legendary birds yet.

Top Flying-Type Attackers for Raids

Rankings combine DPS and TDO against typical raid bosses using optimal Flying-type movesets. Mega Evolutions grant a party-wide boost, making them the best anchor for any Flying raid team.

Rank	Pokémon	Fast Move	Charged Move	Notes
1	Mega Rayquaza	Air Slash	Hurricane	Best Flying attacker overall
2	Staraptor	Gust	Brave Bird	Top non-Mega DPS
3	Honchkrow	Peck	Brave Bird	High attack, fragile
4	Galarian Moltres	Wing Attack	Brave Bird	Legendary Dark/Flying
5	Braviary	Air Slash	Brave Bird	Solid all-rounder
6	Pidgeot	Gust	Brave Bird	Classic budget pick
7	Unfezant	Air Slash	Sky Attack	Easy to obtain
8	Tornadus (Therian)	Gust	Hurricane	Legendary with great stats
9	Dragonite	Dragon Tail	Hurricane	Dragon/Flying coverage
10	Swellow	Gust	Sky Attack	Best budget option

Movesets and Availability

Brave Bird is the best Flying-type charged move in the game, which is why Staraptor, Honchkrow, and the birds that learn it rank so highly. Hurricane is the best alternative on Pokémon that cannot learn Brave Bird, including Mega Rayquaza and Dragonite. Mega Rayquaza is the single best Flying attacker available, but it requires a Mega Energy investment; Staraptor is the best budget-friendly alternative and appears regularly in the wild and in events.

Pidgeot, Unfezant, and Swellow are the most accessible Flying attackers and work well for new players. If you have an Elite Charged TM, securing Brave Bird on a high-IV Staraptor or Honchkrow is one of the most efficient uses of the item. Our Elite TM guide explains which moves are worth the investment.

When to Use Flying Attackers

Flying-type attackers are the top counter for Grass-, Fighting-, and Bug-type raid bosses. They shine against Venusaur, Machamp, and Scizor raids, and they are strong neutral options against most other bosses. Avoid using Flying attackers against Electric and Rock bosses, where they take super effective damage, and against Steel and Fairy bosses, where their moves deal reduced damage.

Flying attackers complement Bug-type attackers for coverage against Grass and Psychic bosses, and they pair with Fighting-type attackers when you need a rounded raid party. Check the October 2026 raid schedule to see which bosses will make Flying attackers the MVP of the month.

Building a Budget Flying Team

You do not need legendaries or Mega Evolutions to field a strong Flying team. Pidgeot, Unfezant, Swellow, and Fearow are all common wild spawns, and a trio of them with Gust plus Brave Bird or Sky Attack can handle most Flying-weak raids. Staraptor is the single best budget Flying attacker and worth prioritizing: it appears in the wild regularly, evolves from common Starly, and out-damages several legendary options.

Shadow versions add another layer of value. Shadow Staraptor and Shadow Honchkrow deal noticeably more damage than their normal forms, so keep an eye on Team GO Rocket lineups during Grunt events. TM away Frustration during the next Rocket takeover and you will have an elite Flying attacker without spending a single raid pass.

Final Tips

Mega Rayquaza is worth the Mega Energy investment; it is a full tier above every other Flying attacker.
Build a Staraptor or Pidgeot with Brave Bird first for a reliable, low-cost Flying team.
Keep a second team ready for duo raids, where the Mega boost and fast-charging moves make the difference.