Cramorant is a new addition to Pokémon Go during 2026's 'Water Festival' event.
The Gulp Pokémon comes from Gen 8, and can only be used in Go Battle League, and not raids or other battle types. This is because it can change forms during battle, where it attempts to gobble down either an Arrokuda and a Pikachu.
Though there's only one Cramorant form to catch, it won't be easy - as it won't appear in the wild during the event.
This guide explains how to get Cramorant in Pokémon Go's 'Water Festival' event this week, the Cramorant forms available, and a look at shiny Cramorant for when it arrives in the game.
How to get Cramorant in Pokémon Go
This week in Pokémon Go, Cramorant can be found from the following sources during the 'Water Festival' event, which runs from 10am Tuesday, 18th August to 8pm Monday, 24th August:
- Snapshot Photobombs
- It could take a couple of attempts to work!
- 5km Eggs
- 5km pool also features Azurill, Mantyke and Frillish
- Go Battle League rewards
- From Rank 16; more likely to appear in the Premium track
- 'Water Festival' Go Pass encounters
- Free track at rank 30
- Deluxe track at rank 30
Thanks to Grass Cat at PokeMiners for helping flesh out the above.
In summary, the easiest way is to get a Snapshot Photobombs - though it may take a attempt or two first. From there, you can get another at the end of the 'Water Festival' Go Pass, with an additional encounter in the Deluxe track. Elsewhere, there's hatching from a 5km Egg, but that's always a roll of the dice. Similarly, you could get lucky with a Go Battle League reward - but you have to have reached Rank 16 first.
How to change Cramorant forms in Pokémon Go
There are three Cramorant forms available:
- Base form
- Gulping form (swallowing an Arrokuda)
- Gorging form (swallowing a Pikachu)
To change Cramorant forms in Pokémon Go, you must use either Surf or Dive during battle. At high HP, this will see them change into Gulping Form, and at low HP, into Gorging Form; when next hit with a Charged Attack, it'll then see the opponent's Attack or Defence drop respectively.
In the mainline games, Cramorant worked very similarly, changing form based on its HP and the use of the Surf or Dive moves. If it uses these above 50% health, it'll become the Gulping form with Arrokuda. Below 50% health? Then it's time for the Gorging form, and poor old Pikachu is going down the gullet.
Is Cramorant any good, and why can't it be used in raids?
Due to the unique nature of its form changes, Cramorant cannot be used in raids, gym battles, or other PvE (player versus environment) activities - meaning it is Go Battle League exclusive.
As for whether Cramorant is any good, you can read a full Go Battle League analysis by JRE47 on reddit - but in short, it "already manages to compete with the best Flying Waters in the game", meaning for PvP heads, it's worth picking up.
Can Cramorant be shiny in Pokémon Go?
It cannot. Cramorant is not shiny in Pokémon Go on its debut, so you'll have to wait for a future event to get its orange shade.
Here's what shiny Cramorant looks like in the meantime (and no, the Pokémon it's swallowing won't be shiny either):
Best of luck with the 'Water Festival' event, including catching an Arrokuda and Barraskewda.
You can find out what else is going on this week in the latest One More Catch newsletter.
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