InPokemon Sword and Shield, trainers explore the expansive Galar region, which introduced the 8th Generation of Pokemon. The Galar Pokedex added 88 new species to the global lineup, expanding the diversity of Pokemon available in the series. Over time, many of these Pokemon have made their way intoPokemon GO, where trainers can incorporate them into their battle strategies.
However, not all Galarian Pokemon are equally helpful. Some are designed to fill specific roles in certain battle situations, offering unique advantages in PvP or Raids. Others, thanks to their move sets and stats, dominate any challenge you set before them, making them valuable contenders in a well-rounded team.
All statistics and metadata referenced below are from thePokemon GO DatabaseandPV Poke.
248
176
Counter
Close Combat
When Farfetch’d evolved into Sirfetch’d, it transitioned from a Normal/Flying-type to a pure Fighting-type Pokemon. Despite this shift, Sirfetch’d offers a versatile charged move pool: Close Combat, Leaf Blade, Brave Bird, and Night Slash. While Sirfetch’d’s strongest stats come from using Counter and Brave Bird with 14.69 DPS (damage per second) and 336.8 TDO (total damage output), Brave Bird isn’t an optimal move for a Fighting-type attacker due to its type misalignment.
In PvP, Sirfetch’d is a glass canon. It can deal a lot of damage, but struggles to endure attacks.
To better leverage Sirfetch’d in battles, it’s more effective to build it as a Fighting-type attacker with Close Combat, though this reduces its DPS to 13.77 and TDO to 315.8. The drop in overall stats is worth it, as it better fits Sirfetch’d’s role as a Fighting-type Pokemon.
253
174
Air Slash
Rock Slide
Kleavor is a niche Pokemon, most effectively built as a Rock-type attacker and especially useful against Flying-types in PvP and Team Rocket battles. However, its moveset makes it challenging to optimize due to its lack of Bug or Rock-type Fast Attacks.
Equipping Kleavor with Air Slash and Rock Slide results in 16.05 DPS and a TDO of 393.75. To use Kleavor effectively, it’s ideal to evolve a smaller, faster Scyther, giving Kleavor a speed boost. This allows Kleavor to use Air Slash to quickly generate energy and charge Rock Slide, giving you the chance to unleash powerful Rock-type damage before your opponent can retaliate with their own charged attack.
242
215
Vine Whip
Power Whip
Zarude the Rogue Monkey is a Mythical Legendary Pokemon with impressive versatility as both a Dark and Grass-type Attacker, depending on your team composition. When built as a Grass-type, Zarude becomes the third strongest Grass-type attacker in the game, making it a top choice for both Raids and PvP battles.Its overall DPS and TDO are slightly higher in this form, giving it a small edge over its Dark-type build.
According to PvP Metadata, Zarude is most effective when paired with two of the following Pokemon: Ho-Oh, Solgaleo, Necrozoma (Dawn Wings), Rhyperior, or Palkia (Origin).
In battle, Zarude excels at applying shield pressure and acting as a tank, absorbing damage while dishing out strong attacks. However, it has a double weakness to Bug-type Pokemon, meaning it takes 256% more damage from Bug-type moves.
Despite this vulnerability, Zarude’s diverse strengths allow it to be super effective against a wide range of other types, making it highly valuable in well-rounded team builds. As long as you have a reliable strategy to deal with Bug-type opponents, Zarude is a strong and versatile addition to almost any team.
163
237
Shadow Claw
Shadow Ball
Despite being primarily a Ground-type Pokemon, Runerigus excels as an A-tier Ghost-type attacker when equipped with Shadow Claw and Shadow Ball, offering a DPS of 14.26 and a TDO of 414.1. Both of these stats are boosted in foggy weather, making it even more formidable in certain conditions. Its flexibility allows Runerigus to perform well in a variety of settings, including PvP, Raids, and Gym defense.
Evolving Runerigus requires you to win ten Raidswhen Galarian Yamask is your buddy.
In the Battle League, Runerigus can hold its own in every League, but it particularly shines in the Great and Ultra Leagues. Its versatility allows it to fill multiple roles: it can break shields, close out battles, and quickly charge attacks. In Metadata, Runerigus performs best as a Lead Pokemon, where its spammy moves and shield pressure can put early stress on opponents, setting the stage for your team’s success.
250
125
Thunder Shock
Zap Cannon
Regieleki, Galar’s Legendary Electric-type Pokemon, stands out for its versatile movepool, optimizing its performance in battle despite having lower base stats compared to other top-tier Electric-types. When equipped with Thunder Shock and Zap Cannon, Regieleki ranks as the 24th strongest Electric-type attacker in the game.
Regieleki is effective in both Raid battles and PvP, especially in the Ultra League. It can be obtained at a CP as low as 1143 in Research, making it viable in all standard Battle Leagues. Its strength in PvP comes from its ability to bait shields, thanks to the fast-charging Zap Cannon. This move not only pressures opponents by burning through shields but also has a 33 percent chance of decreasing their Attack by 20 percent, giving Regieleki a tactical edge.
254
236
Snarl, Metal Claw
Close Combat, Crunch
Zamazenta is a top-tier Fighting-type attacker, ranking as the seventh strongest Fighting-type in Pokemon GO. With Metal Claw and Close Combat, Zamazenta delivers 17.56 DPS and a TDO of 633.16, both of which can be boosted in snowy or cloudy weather.
Despite its strength, Zamazenta’s movepool is not ideal for organic in-game battles, such as fighting Team Rocket or engaging in Raids. However, it truly shines in PvP, especially in the Master League. For PvP, switching Metal Claw to Snarl is recommended. While Snarl lowers Zamazenta’s overall DPS (14.70) and TDO (530.1), it generates 13 energy per attack, allowing you to quickly charge up Close Combat, making it an ideal move for longer, drawn-out PvP matches.
To enhance Zamazenta’s versatility, consider investing in Crunch as an additional charged move. While Close Combat is the primary offensive option, Crunch has a 30 percent chance of lowering your opponent’s Defense. When timed correctly, this debuff can make Close Combat even more effective, allowing Zamazenta to hit harder and dominate the battlefield.
Metal Claw
Play Rough
Zacian is one of the top Fairy-type attackers in Pokemon GO, surpassed only by Mega Gardevoir and Tapu Lele.Equipped with Metal Claw and Play Rough, Zacian boasts an impressive 18.19 DPS and a TDO of 655.9. What sets Zacian apart is her access to Metal Claw, allowing her to capitalize on her resistance to Fairy-type moves, making her a powerful counter to Fairy opponents.
According to Pokemon Shield’s Pokedex entry, Zacian is Zamazenta’s older sister and potential rival, making Zacian one of the few Legendary Pokemon with a confirmed gender.
While Zacian performs well in most challenges, she truly shines in the Master League for PvP battles. Her diverse movepool gives her incredible versatility, allowing her to switch between roles depending on your team’s needs. Her three available charged moves, Play Rough (Fairy-type), Close Combat (Fighting-type), and Wild Charge (Electric-type), allow her to cover a wide range of match-ups. This flexibility makes Zacian an excellent closer in PvP battles, especially after your faster Pokemon have depleted your opponent’s shields.
262
142
Water Gun
Surf
Galar’s Water-type starter Pokemon, Inteleon, excels as a Water-type attacker, particularly when equipped with Water Gun and Surf. This combo delivers a solid 17.22 DPS and a TDO of 350.8. While Inteleon ranks 26th among all Water-type attackers, it falls short compared to other Water starters. For instance, Greninja outperforms Inteleon with an 18.41 DPS and a TDO of 407.6. However, Inteleon’s potential will rise once its Shadow form is introduced, which will increase its overall damage output.
Inteleon shines most brightly in PvP battles, where its speed and access to Surf give it a tactical edge. Catching smaller and faster Inteleons allows you to maximize its charge rate, as its low-energy Surf (requiring only 50 energy) can be quickly recharged, inflicting steady damage on opponents. This makes it an excellent choice for chipping away at an opponent’s shields, quickly depleting both of them and setting up stronger, high-damage moves for other Pokemon in your lineup.
266
170
Astonish
Dragapult, a Dragon/Ghost-type Pokemon, stands out as a powerful Ghost-type attacker in Pokemon GO. While it has dual typing, it is most effective when focused on its Ghost-type abilities, where it ranks fifteenth among all Ghost-type attackers. When equipped with the fast move Astonish and the charged move Shadow Ball, Dragapult delivers an impressive 17.88 DPS and boasts a TDO of 502.8.
Dragapult’s design is a cross betweenLepospondylitetrapods and a fighter jet, especially with how it launches Dreepy at its opponents at Mach speeds.
Where Dragapult truly shines is in Gym and Raid battles, where its efficiency as a Ghost-type attacker comes into play. Shadow Ball, its signature charged move, is highly energy-efficient, requiring only 50 energy to charge. In Raid and Gym scenarios, this results in 2.00 damage per energy (DPE), allowing Dragapult to quickly deal heavy damage to foes while cycling through attacks with minimal downtime.
