Pokemon Go’s Battle League provides a competitive outlet for trainers to engage in head-to-head battles. Success in the Battle League hinges on crafting a team that can effectively handle a wide variety of threats and withstand different playstyles.
Unlike Gym Battles or Raids, where players often rely on raw power and specific counters, theBattle League requires a more balanced approach. Pokemon with strong movesets, versatility, and good type coverage shine here. Trainers must also consider stamina management, charge move strategy, and shield usage. Because the meta is constantly evolving, staying up-to-date with the latest stats and buffs is crucial for building a solid and adaptable team.
Metadata referenced in this article comes fromPV Pokeand thePokemon Go Database.
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Dragon Breath
Glaciate
Kyurem is the third strongest Ice-type attackerin Pokemon Go, particularly formidable when equipped with Dragon Breath and Glaciate. With an impressive 18.21 damage per second (DPS) and a total damage output (TDO) of 607.8, Kyurem excels in both PvE and PvP settings; in PvP battles, Dragon Breath applies significant fast move pressure, consistently dealing damage while bypassing shields. Its quick energy gain is key to deploying Glaciate, a powerful charged move that not only delivers substantial damage but also lowers the opponent’s Attack by 20 percent, weakening their offensive capabilities.
Kyurem truly shines as a Lead Pokemon, where it can leverage its raw power and shield-burning potential. As a lead, it sets up the battle by applying pressure, burning through shields, and making it easier for your other team members to clean up. Complementing Kyurem with strong partners like Necrozma, Rhyperior, Solgaleo, Mewtwo, or Ho-Oh can create a well-rounded team.
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Vine Whip
Moonblast
Florges is a versatile Pokemon in the Pokemon Go Master League, offering both durability and solid damage output. Its flexibility makes it a valuable addition to any PvP team, as it can fill various roles depending on your team’s needs. Its resistance to Dragon, Fighting, Dark, and Bug-types further bolsters its defensive abilities, making it a tough Pokemon to crack.
However, Florges is vulnerable to Poison and Steel-type Pokémon, which can easily exploit its weaknesses. To compensate for this, it’s crucial to build your team with strong counters to those types, such as Zygarde, Landorus, and Rhyperior, ensuring Florges has the support it needs to thrive.
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Extrasensory, Incinerate
Brave Bird, Sacred Fire
Shadow Ho-Oh thrives due to Shadow Pokemon Attack buffs, making it a powerhouse on any PvP team. Its greatest strength lies in its role as a Closer, where it can deliver massive damage once your opponent’s shields are down. With its high-damage moves, Ho-Oh can obliterate opponents, but slow move animations and complex moves demand a lot of practice to use effectively.
While Shadow Ho-Oh is a formidable Fire-type attacker, its Flying-type moveset is more efficient in PvP, especially when considering move animation speed. Sacred Fire, while visually impressive and capable of high damage, takes longer to execute compared to Brave Bird. This makes Sacred Fire better suited for Raids, where the longer animation isn’t as much of a drawback, while Brave Bird’s faster execution makes it ideal for PvP battles where speed and timing are crucial.
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Smack Down
Rock Wrecker
Rhyperior has been a powerhouse in Pokemon Go ever since its debut during the Hatchathon 2018 event. Known for its versatility, Rhyperior is not only a strong pick for the Master League but also a reliable Gym Defender and Raid Attacker. With the optimal moveset of Smack Down and Rock Wrecker, Rhyperior can deal an impressive 17.72 DPS with a TDO of 670.4.
Rock Wrecker is a Legacy Elite Charge Attack, so you’ll need to use an Elite Charge TM to teach the move to Rhyperior.
In PvP battles, Rhyperior shines as the lead Pokemon. Its high DPS ensures it can consistently chip away at opponents while using its charged attack to burn through their shields. Built like a tank, Rhyperior can absorb damage, allowing you to save your heavy hitters for later in the battle; however, be cautious of its double weakness to Grass and Water-type Pokemon. To cover these weaknesses, having counters like Tapu Bulu, Dragonite, or Zygarde (Complete Forme) in your team can be a game-changer.
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Fire Spin, Zen Headbutt
Iron Head, Psychic Fangs
Solgaleo is a versatile Pokemon, but unlocking its full potential requires careful strategy and team composition. The key to building Solgaleo lies in deciding whether to use it as a Psychic-type or Steel-type attacker based on its charged attack. However, it can also function as a Fire-type attacker with Fire Spin and Flamethrower in a pinch.
As a lead Pokemon, Solgaleo excels at burning through your opponent’s shields, using its reliable DPS to steadily chip away at their HP. Once you’ve cleared their shields, it’s often best to switch to a stronger attacker, like Palkia or Yveltal, to deliver the final blow and secure the win. Solgaleo’s ability to pressure early in a battle makes it a strong opener, but you’ll need to plan your transitions carefully to maximize its effectiveness.
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Metal Claw
Sunsteel Strike
Necrozma, an Alolan Legendary Pokemon, has three alternate forms: Dusk Mane, Dawn Wings, and Ultra. You can obtain Dusk Mane Necrozma by fusing Necrozma with Solar Fusion Energy collected in Raids. Dusk Mane Necrozma currently stands as the strongest Steel-type attacker in the game, surpassing Steel-type champions like Shadow Excadrill and Shadow Metagross.
With the optimal moveset of Metal Claw and Sunsteel Strike, Dusk Mane Necrozma dishes out an impressive 30.46 DPS with a massive TDO of 1068.2. Beyond its offensive power, Dusk Mane Necrozma is also built to tank damage, making it a durable and formidable presence in battle. Its strength is further amplified by its ten different types of resistance, allowing it to hold its own in various matchups while dishing out consistent damage.
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Gust, Sucker Punch
Oblivion Wing, Dark Pulse
Yveltal’s performance in the Master League PvP is nothing short of impressive. It can be effectively used as either your lead Pokemon to burn through your opponent’s shields or as a closer to secure the win. For optimal results, Yveltal should be paired with a strong attacker like Togekiss or Florges to provide support as your second Pokemon.
Yveltal excels as both a Dark- and Flying-type attacker, but you’ll want to tailor its build to its role on your team; if you’re using Yveltal as a lead, Sucker Punch is a great choice due to its quick animation, allowing you to rack up hits fast and charge your attacks to pressure your opponent’s shields. On the other hand, if you’re saving Yveltal for the endgame as a closer, running Gust and Oblivion Wing will give you a high TDO, making it a solid option for finishing battles with power and endurance.
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Dragon Tail
Spacial Rend
Palkia, a Legendary Pokemon from the Sinnoh region, is part of the Creation Trio alongside Dialga and Giratina. Its most powerful charged move is Spacial Rend, which deals 95 damage and costs only 50 energy in the GO Battle League.This event-exclusive move debuted during the Pokemon Go Tour: Sinnoh. If you missed the chance to get Spacial Rend during the event, Draco Meteor is a strong alternative.
Palkia is a highly dynamic Pokemon, known for its ability to deal significant damage quickly while applying constant shield pressure on opponents. Thanks to its fast-charging moves and short animation times, Palkia can fire off its charged moves at a rapid pace, keeping opponents on their toes. This makes it a strong lead or closer in battle, depending on how you build your team.
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Earthquake
Complete Forme Zygarde (Zygarde-C) is one of the most powerful Pokemon in Pokemon Go, ranking among the top contenders even without Mega or Primal Evolutions. However, it is notoriously difficult to obtain. To reach Zygarde’s Complete Forme, players must collect 200 Zygarde Cellsby following routes, allowing them to Forme Change their Zygarde.
Keep in mind that after your Zygarde-C surpasses 4,000 CP, the game will stat-drop its Attack.
Zygarde-C boasts an incredible stat product and exceptional tankiness, making it capable of absorbing hits as easily as it dishes them out. It’s so durable that, when fully built, it can even survive devastating moves like Dialga’s Draco Meteor. While Zygarde-C is an undeniable powerhouse, its weaknesses to Fairy- and Ice-type Pokemon, like Togekiss and Mamoswine, mean you’ll need to prepare countermeasures when building your team. By balancing Zygarde-C with Pokemon like Solgaleo or Ho-Oh, you’re able to maximize its potential and dominate in battle.
