Pokémon Go Tier List: The Best Attackers And Defenders

Catch them all! Not all Pokémon are made equal in Pokémon Go so we've made this up-to-date tier list with all the best Pokémons sorted in tiers.

The Pokémon franchise has always had a complex system hiding behind a simplistic façade. Beneath the layer of adorable pocket monsters lies a system that should make sense for new players while rewarding veterans competitively.

Pokémon Go, the 2016 augmented reality phenomenon, does little to stray from the Pokémon formula. Your pokemon’s stats and typing matter just as much as the use you’re going to put them in.

A Pokémon Go tier list would then be beneficial to new and experienced players alike. It can be used as a guide to know which monsters are worth raising/searching for to maximize your party’s potential.

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Tier List Methodology

As stated above, a Pokémon’s placement in the hierarchy would largely depend on how you’re going to utilize them. There are generalist ones that are good in both attacking and defending, while there are specialists that excel in one of the two stats.

With this in mind, there will be three separate lists available: best attackers, best defenders, and a ranked list of the best pokemon overall.

So without further ado, let’s dive straight into the list.

Best Attackers

PokémonTypeQuick MoveCharged Move
MewtwoPsychicConfusionShadow Ball
RayquazaDragon/FlyingDragon TailOutrage
LucarioFighting/SteelCounterAura Sphere
RampardosRockSmack DownRock Slide
KyogreWaterWaterfallHydro Pump
SalamenceDragon/FlyingDragon TailOutrage
DragoniteDragon/FlyingDragon TailOutrage
GarchompDragon/GroundDragon TailOutrage
TyranitarRock/DarkSmack DownStone Edge
RaikouElectricThunder ShockWild Charge
DarmanitanFireFire FangOverheat
MamoswineIce/GroundPowder SnowAvalanche

Best Defenders

PokémonTypeQuick MoveCharged Move
BlisseyNormalZen HeadbuttDazzling Gleam
SnorlaxNormalZen HeadbuttHyper Beam
SlakingNormalYawnPlay Rough
MiloticWaterDragon TailSurf
DragoniteDragon/FlyingDragon TailOutrage
LaprasWater/IceIce ShardHydro Pump
SteelixSteel/GroundIron TailHeavy Slam
MetagrossSteel/FlyingZen HeadbuttMeteor Mash
DonphanGroundCounterEarthquake
ExeggutorGrassConfusionSeed Bomb
GardevoirPsychic/FairyConfusionShadow Ball
TogekissFairy/FlyingHidden PowerDazzling Gleam
ClefableFairyZen HeadbuttDazzling Gleam

The Best Pokémons in Pokémon Go

Now that you have a working knowledge of the best Pokémon for specific uses in the game, it’s time to see how they stack against each other in general.

This tier list will work from S-tier (the best ones) down to F-tier (don’t bother investing in them).

S-Tier

PokémonType
MewtwoPsychic
DragoniteDragon/Flying
LucarioFighting/Steel
BlisseyNormal
SlakingNormal
SnorlaxNormal
MetagrossSteel/Flying
GarchompDragon/Ground
RayquazaDragon/Flying
KyogreWater
RampardosRock
TyranitarRock/Dark
GyaradosDragon/Water
GardevoirPsychic/Fairy
AlakazamPsychic
SalamenceDragon/Flying
RaikouElectric
EnteiFire
MachampFighting
ArcanineFire
DonphanGround
ExeggutorGrass
ClefableFairy
TogekissFairy/Flying
SteelixSteel/Ground
MiloticWater
MamoswineIce/Ground
DarmanitanFire
GroudonGround
Ho-OhFire/Flying
LatiosDragon/Dark
LugiaPsychic/Flying
ZapdosElectric/Flying
LatiasDragon/Flying
MoltresFire/Flying
CelebiGrass/Psychic
MewPsychic
JirachiGrass/Steel
EspeonPsychic
RhydonGround/Rock
RegirockRock
RegiceIce
VaporeonWater
HeracrossFighting/Bug
ArticunoIce/Flying
FlareonFire
AggronRock/Steel
ScizorSteel/Bug
LaprasWater/Ice

A-Tier

PokémonType
GolemRock/Ground
CharizardFire/Flying
UrsaringNormal
TyphlosionFire
SwampertWater/Ground
SuicuneWater
PinsirBug
GengarGhost/Poison
JolteonElectric
FeraligatrWater
BlazikenFire/Fighting
AmpharosElectric
KinglerWater
ArmaldoRock/Bug
SceptileGrass
AerodactylRock/Flying
MukPoison
OmastarRock/Water
HariyamaFighting
WalreinWater/Ice
VenusaurGrass
Porygon2Normal
ScytherBug/Flying
CrobatPoison/Flying
FlygonGround/Dragon
BreloomGrass/Fighting
HoundoomDark/Fire
KingdraWater/Dragon
KabutopsRock/Water
TaurosNormal
StarmieWater
PoliwrathWater/Fighting
KangaskhanNormal
NidokingGround/Poison
HitmonleeFighting
JynxIce/Poison
CloysterWater/Ice
GranbullFairy
SlowbroWater/Ice
VileplumeGrass/Poison
RelicanthWater/Rock
SlowkingWater/Ice
AbsolDark

B-Tier

PokémonType
MagnetonElectric/Steel
BlastoiseWater
GolduckWater
RapidashFire
CrawdauntWater/Dark
NidqueenPoison/Ground
GorebyssWater
RegisteelSteel
TentacruelPoison/Water
ZangooseNormal
PolitoedWater
VictreebelGrass/Poison
MagmarFire
MeganiumGrass
SandslashGround
ExploudNormal
MeganiumGrass
MagmarFire
SandslashGround
DodrioNormal/Flying
MiltankNormal
GrumpigPsychic
ShiftryGrass/Dark
ManectricElectric
HuntailWater
ElectabuzzElectric
PiloswineIce/Ground
HitmonchanFighting
LunatoneRock
OctilleryWater
CacturneGrass/Dark
BanetteGhost
PrimeapeFighting
SolrockRock
LudicoloWater/Grass
WeezingPoison
WailordWater
NinetalesFire
MasquerainBug/Flying
TangelaGrass
ChimecoPsychic
ForretressBug/Steel
BellossomGrass
RaichuElectric
XatuPsychic/Flying
SeakingWater
CradilyRock/Grass
CameruptFire/Ground
SharpedoWater/Dark
StantlerNormal
PidgeotNormal/Flying
PelipperWater/Flying
MantineWater/Flying
UmbreonDark
SunfloraGrass
SudowoodoRock
HitmontopFighting
ElecrodeElectric
SeviperPoison
SkarmorySteel/Flying
SeadraWater
HypnoPsychic
TorkoalFire
GlalieIce
VenomothBug/Poison
LaironSteel/Rock
QwilfishWater/Poison
SneaselDark/Ice
KadabraPsychic
WhiscashWater/Ground
LanturnWater/Electric
GirafarigNormal
KecleonNormal
MachokeFighting
AltariaDragon/Flying
NoctowlNormal/Flying
ShelgonDragon

C-Tier

PokémonType
DewgongWater/Ice
Mr. MimePsychic/Fairy
GolbatPoison/Flying
SwalotPoison
ClaydolGround/Flying
FearowFlying
QuagsireWater/Ground
VigorothNormal
HaunterGhost/Poison
WigglytuffNormal/Fairy
MisdreavusGhost
MightyenaDark
TropiusGrass/Flying
NinjaskBug/Flying
GligarGround/Flying
BeedrillBug/Poison
RoseliaGrass/Poison
GravelerRock/Ground
SwellowNormal/Flying
ArbokPoison
DragonairDragon
ButterfreeBug/Flying
MarowakGround
PlusleElectric
MarshtompWater/Ground
VolbeatBug
AriadosBug/Poison
BeautiflyBug/Flying
IllumiseBug
PupitarRock/Ground
FurretNormal
CroconawWater
RaticateNormal
PorygonNormal
IvysaurGrass/Poison
PonytaFire
MinunElectric
MagcargoFire/Rock
TogeticFairy/Flying
SealeoIce/Water
PersianNormal
DunsparceNormal
GrovyleGrass
GloomGrass/Poison
LinooneNormal
QuilavaFire
CharmeleonFire
CombuskenFire/Fighting
RhyhornRock/Ground
MawilleSteel/Fairy
CastformNormal
WeepinbellGrass/Poison
DusclopsGhost
JumpluffGrass/Flying
DugtrioGround
AzumarillWater/Fairy
MurkrowDark/Flying
KrabbyWater
FlaaffyElectric
AnorithRock/Bug
OmanyteRock/Water

D-Tier

PokémonType
WartortleWater
YanmaBug/Flying
WailmerWater
BayleefGrass
MedichamFighting
SableyeDark/Ghost
DelcattyNormal
PoliwhirlWater
LickitungNormal
CorsolaWater/Rock
GrimerPoison
MagnemiteElectric/Steel
KabutoRock/Water
NidorinoPoison
LedianBug/Flying
SpoinkPsychic
AbraPsychic
AipomNormal
LoudredNormal
MagbyFire
TeddiursaNormal
NidorinaPoison
AronNormal/Rock
GeodudRock/Ground
SmoochumIce/Ground
LileepRock/Grass
MachopFighting
TrapinchGround
SandshrewGround
ChanseyNormal
SnubbullFairy
HoundourDark
CacneaGrass
GrowlitheFire
ClamperlWater
SlowpokeWater/Dark
VibravaGround/Dragon
DustoxBug/Poison
NuzleafGrass/Dark
OddishGrass/Poison
CorpishWater
GhastlyGhost/Poison
KoffingPoison
SpindaNormal
PhanpyGround
ElekidElectric
DoduoNormal/Flying
LombreWater/Grass
PidgeottoNormal/Flying
ExeggcutePsychic
MankeyFighting
StaryuWater
BagonDragon
ClefairyFairy
GoldeenWater
UnownPsychic
TotodileWater
MudkipWater
ChinchouWater/Electric
BulbasaurGrass/Poison
PinecoBug
PysduckWater
NatuPsychic/Flying
OnixRock/Ground
ShellderWater
EeveeNormal
NumelFire/Ground
Farfetch’dNormal/Flying
TorchicFire
DelibirdIce/Flying
HorseaWater
TreeckoGrass
TentacoolWater/Poison
DrowzeePsychic
LarvitarRock/Ground
WobuffetPsychic
CuboneGround
ParasBug/Ground
VenonatBug/Poison
DratiniDragon
CarvanhaWater/Dark
ShuppetGhost
VoltorbElectric
SlakothNormal

E-Tier

PokémonType
MareepElectric
CyndaquilFire
SkiploomGrass/Flying
BeldumSteel/Flying
SeelWater
CharmanderFire
ElectrikeElectric
KirliaPsychic/Fairy
SphealIce/Water
SquirtleWater
PikachuElectric
ChikoritaGrass
EkansPoison
RemoraidWater
SnoruntIce
VulpixFire
GulpinPoison
LuvdiscWater
SlugmaFire
DittoNormal
SwabluNormal/Flying
PoliwagWater
SpinarakBug/Poison
ShedinjaBug/Ghost
ShroomishGrass
MakuhitaFighting
BarboachWater/Ground
SurskitBug/Water
BaltoyGround/Water
NincadaBug/Ground
TaillowNormal/Flying
WingullWater/Flying
MeowthNormal
SpearowNormal/Flying
Nidoran MPoison
Nidoran FPoison
SwinubIce/Ground
LedybaBug/Flying
RattataNormal
JigglypuffNormal/Fairy
SkittyNormal
PidgeyFlying/Normal
MedititeFighting
HoothootNormal/Flying
DiglettGround
CleffaFairy
PoochyenaDark
DuskullGhost
TogepiFairy
SeedotGrass
WurmpleBug
SilcoonBug
RaltsPsychic/Fairy
IgglybuffNormal/Fairy
WynautPsychic
CascoonBug
ZigzagoonNormal

F-Tier

PokémonType
MagikarpWater
FeebasWater
AzurillNormal/Fairy
KakunaBug/Poison
CaterpieBug
WeedleBug/Poison
MarillWater/Fairy
PichuElectric
TyrogueFighting
SmeargleNormal
ShuckleBug/Rock
SunkernGrass
MetapodBug

Conclusion

It’s no secret that there are too many monsters in Pokémon Go to manage. In progressing through the game, it’s important to prioritize those monsters who outperform others or will have high-tier evolutions later on.

In battle, it’s essential to know your pokémons’ strengths, weaknesses, and typing. There is only a handful of them who can do everything, after all, so your best bet is to know which ones are good for the job you want.

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Samuel Stewart

Samuel is GamingScan's editor-in-chief. He describes himself as a dedicated gamer and programmer. He enjoys helping others discover the joys of gaming. Samuel closely follows the latest trends in the gaming industry in order to keep the visitors in the flow.

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