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Best Pokemon For Gyms & Raids - Tier List & Ranking

Pokemon Go | Best Pokemon For Gyms & Raids - Tier List & Ranking

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Pokemon Go | Best Pokemon For Gyms & Raids - Tier List & Ranking - GameWith

Find out the Best Pokemon in Pokemon Go! Use this tier and ranking list to find out which Pokemon are the best for raids, gym battles, & fights.

Pokemon Go, Best Pokemon - Tier List & Ranking

Table of Contents

Check Out All Pokemon List - Pokedex

Best Pokemon For Gyms & Raids

Ranking Is Not Based on PVP Viability

Ranking Is Not Based on PVP Performance

The criteria for Pokemon listed on this guide does not factor in their effectiveness in PVP battles. Check out the links below to find out the best Pokemon to use in PVP battles!

Related Tier List Articles

S Rank

▼Check Out the S Rank Pokemon!

A Rank

▼Check Out the A Rank Pokemon!

Rank B

▼Check Out the B Rank Pokemon!

Rank C

Check Out the Quick Ranking Criteria
RankCriteria
SBest Pokemon to use in battle. Often used in Gyms and Raids, it is often used to counter other Pokemon.
AUseful Pokemon which can be used in some scenarios. Can be used in Gyms and Raids as long as they can counter other Pokemon.
BPokemon with a high enough attack and defense, but not as effective as A-rank Pokemon.
CDespite having great stats and values, these Pokemon are purely situational options. Can be used instead of B or A rank if there are no other options.

Ranking Changes & User Poll

Latest Ranking Changes

PokemonChanges
ConkeldurrConkeldurrAdded to S Rank Tier

User Poll: What is the Best Pokemon?

Is your favorite Pokemon not in the poll? Let us know and list it out down in the comments section!

S Rank Pokemon For Gyms & Raids

Machamp

Machamp
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
3056★★★★★★★★☆☆★★★★★

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
CounterDynamic Punch
Machamp's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 3,056
HP
 207
Attack
 234
Defense
 159

Boasts One of the Best Attack Stats

Machamp boasts one of the Best attack values of all Pokemon. Not only does it have a strong attack, but the move combination of Counter and Dynamic Punch make it a near unstoppable force!

Highly Versatile in Gyms & Raids

Machamp is often used to challenge gyms in order to counter Blisseys & Snorlax that usually guard the gyms. It is also a great Pokemon to use against Tyranitars and Lapras since it can ignore the high defense stats and just lay the beatdown on them!

Examples of Favorable Machamp Matchups
Dialga IconDialgaAbsol IconAbsolBlissey IconBlisseySnorlax IconSnorlax
Check Out Machamp's Moves & Stats Here!

Mewtwo

Mewtwo
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
4178★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★☆

Recommended Moveset (Legacy)

Normal AttackCharged Attack
Psycho CutPsystrike

Recommended Moveset (Non-Legacy)

Normal AttackCharged Attack
Psycho CutPsychic
Mewto's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 4,178
HP
 214
Attack
 300
Defense
 182

Highest Attack Stat Among Other Pokemon

Mewtwo possesses the highest attack stat among all the Pokemon currently in Pokemon Go, making it the Best Pokemon based solely on stats! Mewtwo is a heavy hitter and can deal tons of damage in Raids and Gyms.

Can Use Several Charged Attacks

MoveGaugePower
(DPS)
Recharge
(Occurence)
PsychicPsychic100
(42.86)
2.8
(1.3)
Focus BlastFocus Blast140
(40.00)
3.5
(3)
ThunderboltThunderbolt80
(32.00)
2.5
(1.8)
Ice BeamIce Beam90
(27.27)
3.3
(1.3)
FlamethrowerFlamethrower70
(31.82)
2.2
(1.5)
PsystrikePsystrike108
(49.96)
2.3
(2)
Shadow BallShadow Ball100
(33.33)
3
(2.4)
Hyper BeamHyper Beam150
(39.47)
3.8
3.3

Mewtwo is able to take on a number of different enemies since it has a wide range of moves that can be used for its charged attack. Thanks to this, it can help it take on enemies of varying types!

Check Out Mewtwo's Moves & Stats Here!

Rayquaza

Rayquaza
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
3835★★★☆☆★★★☆☆★★★☆☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
Dragon TailOutrage
Rayquaza's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 3,835
HP
 213
Attack
 284
Defense
 170

Ranks 8th Highest Attack of All Pokemon

As of January 2020, Rayquaza ranks 8th as the Pokemon with the Best raw attack power. It is a very strong Pokemon that can handle several enemy types thanks to its dragon typing, meaning it can deal 1x or more damage to several Pokemon!

Examples of Favorable Rayquaza Matchups
Dragonite IconDragoniteSalamence IconSalamenceMachamp IconMachamp
Check Out Rayquaza's Moves & Stats Here!

Dialga

Dialga
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
4038★★★☆☆★★★☆☆★★★☆☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
Dragon BreathDraco Meteor
Dialga's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 4038
HP
 205
Attack
 275
Defense
 211

Dragon Type Pokemon

Dialga is a Dragon type Pokemon, meaning that it can deal out tons of damage to other Pokemon types. However, keep in mind that it will also receive effective damage against other Dragon Pokemon. Use carefully when going up against other Dragon Pokemon.

High Stat Value

Dialga is a legendary Pokemon, meaning that its maximum CP is very high. Its maximum CP also ranks as one of the highest of all the Pokemon (as of January 2020), making it a great Pokemon to use in battle!

Lucario

Lucario
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
2703★★★★★★★★★☆★★★☆☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
CounterAura Sphere
Lucario's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 2,703
HP
 172
Attack
 236
Defense
 144

Great For Challenging Gyms

Lucario is a fighting and steel type Pokemon, making it very useful for challenging gyms in the game. Since several Pokemon left to guard gyms are normal types, it would be easy for Lucario to deal damage to them thanks to its fighting moves.

Examples of Favorable Lucario Matchups
Blissey IconBlisseySnorlax IconSnorlaxTyranitar IconTyranitar
Check Out Lucario's Moves & Stats Here!

Conkeldurr

Conkeldurr
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
3337★★★★★★★★☆☆★★★★★

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
CounterDynamic Punch
Conkeldurr's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 3337
HP
 233
Attack
 243
Defense
 158

Excellent Attack Stat

Conkeldurr boasts one of the highest attack stats of all the Pokemon in the game. Not only does it have a strong attack stat, but it also can deal more damage with the Counter and Dynamic Punch moveset!

Can Be Used For Both Gyms & Raids

Conkeldurr is a highly versatile Pokemon since it is able to take out Pokemon guarding gyms such as Snorlax or Blissey. It can also bring down Tyranitars and Laprases with ease!

Examples of Favorable Conkeldurr Matchups
Dialga IconDialgaAbsol IconAbsolBlissey IconBlisseySnorlax IconSnorlax

A Rank Pokemon For Gyms & Raids

Tyranitar

Tyranitar
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
3384★★☆☆☆★★★★☆★★☆☆☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
BiteCrunch
Tyranitar's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 3,834
HP
 225
Attack
 251
Defense
 207

Good Balance Between Attack & Defense

Tyranitar has great stats for both attack and defense! Perfect for going against strong opponents in gyms. It's durability is also great since it boasts a high HP making it easier to go toe-to-toe with enemies in long battles!

Examples of Favorable Tyranitar Matchups
Deoxys IconDeoxysMetagross IconMetagrossAlakazam IconAlakazam
Check Out Tyranitar's Moves & Stats Here!

Metagross

Metagross
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
3791★★★★☆★★☆☆☆★★★☆☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
Bullet Punch Meteor Mash
Metagross' Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 3,791
HP
 190
Attack
 257
Defense
 228

Great Defense Against Many Types

Metagross is one of the most powerful Steel Types in Pokemon GO. It has high base stats and up to 10 Types are ineffective against it. It can easily deal with Fairy Pokemon in battles.

Examples of Favorable Metagross Matchups
Gardevoir IconGardevoirTyranitar IconTyranitarClefable IconClefable
Check Out Metagross's Moves & Stats Here!

Kyogre

Kyogre
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
4115★★☆☆☆★★★★★★★★☆☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
WaterfallHydro Pump
Kyogre's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 4,115
HP
 205
Attack
 270
Defense
 228

Excels With High Base Stats & Type Matching

Kyogre has very high overall base states, making it a powerful Pokemon. If you match its move set to its Type, it can deal massive damage, making it a very strong contender in battle.

Strong Water Type Pokemon

Kyogre is one of the Best water type Pokemon, making it a great option to use against rock, ground, and fire type Pokemon. Bring out a Kyogre when facing these types of Pokemon to turn the tides in your favor!

Examples of Favorable Kyogre Matchups
Alolan Marowak IconAlolan MarowakRhydon IconRhydonTyranitar IconTyranitar
Check Out Kyogre's Moves & Stats Here!

Groudon

Groudon
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
4115★★★☆☆★★★★★★★★★☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
Mud ShotEarthquake
Groudon's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 4,115
HP
 205
Attack
 270
Defense
 228

High Maximum CP

Groudon is a Pokemon that boasts one of the highest CPs in the game (as of January 2020). Therefore, it is a great Pokemon to use against enemies that are weak to ground-type moves.

Examples of Favorable Groudon Matchups
Dialga IconDialgaAlolan Marowak IconAlolan MarowakTyranitar IconTyranitarMetagross IconMetagross
Check Out Groudon's Moves & Stats Here!

Giratina (Origin Form)

Giratina Origin Form
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
3683★★★☆☆★★★☆☆★★☆☆☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
Shadow ClawShadow Ball
Giratina's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 3,683
HP
 284
Attack
 225
Defense
 187

Best Ghost Type Pokemon

Giratina (Origin Form) is a ghost type Pokemon which possesses the highest CP out of all ghost type Pokemon. Its attack and defense stats are well balanced, and with levels, can fight better when compared to a Gengar.

Useful Moveset

Giratina's Shadow Claw and Shadow Ball combo are easy to use, and one of the best ghost type attacks in the game. It can deal massive damage to enemies that are weak to ghost type moves!

Darkrai

Darkrai
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
3739★★★☆☆★★★☆☆★★★☆☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
Feint AttackShadow Ball
Darkrai's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 3,739
HP
 172
Attack
 285
Defense
 198

Strong Against Psychic & Ghost

Darkrai is a dark type Pokemon, making it effective against both psychic and ghost type Pokemon. This is useful for raids that feature legendary Pokemon such as Mewtwo (Psychic) or Giratina (Ghost).

Examples of Favorable Darkrai Matchups
Mewtwo IconMewtwoGiratina Origin IconGiratina
Check Out Darkrai's Moves & Stats Here!

Palkia

Palkia
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
3991★★☆☆☆★★★★☆★★★☆☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
Dragon BreathDraco Meteor
Palkia's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 4,369
HP
 189
Attack
 308
Defense
 215

Overall High CP

Thanks to its Legendary status, Palkia boasts a high CP compared to other Pokemon. As of January 2020, it ranks 7th among all other Pokemon, making it a strong candidate for Gyms and Raids.

Versatile For Different Situations

Aside from learning dragon type moves, Palkia is able to learn a wide variety of charge attacks allowing it to adapt to different combat situations. However, be careful as most of the moves Palkia can learn take awhile to recharge.

Check Out Palkia's Moves & Stats Here!

B Rank Pokemon For Gyms & Raids

Moltres

Moltres
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
3465★★★☆☆★★☆☆☆★★★★☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
Fire Spin Overheat
Moltres' Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 3,465
HP
 207
Attack
 251
Defense
 181

Very Strong Attack Power

Another legendary bird, Moltres has one of the highest base stat attack power in Pokemon GO. If you use moves that are the same as its Type, your attacks will be overwhelmingly powerful.

Need Experience To Use Moltres

Since the recommended moves of Moltres are Fire Spin and Overheat, it takes more knowledge to use this Pokemon in battle. Overheat can do big damage in a single shot but only has 1-gauge charge, so timing is essential.

Examples of Favorable Moltres Matchups
Mawile IconMawileMetagross IconMetagrossExeggutor IconExeggutor
Check Out Moltres's Moves & Stats Here!

Raikou

Raikou
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
3452★★★☆☆★★☆☆☆★★☆☆☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
Thunder Shock Wild Charge
Raikou's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 3,452
HP
 207
Attack
 241
Defense
 195

Powerful Electric Moves & Easy To Handle In Battle

Raikou has some of the highest stats among Electric Pokemon in the game. It is also very versatile & easy to use - with a high attack power that can easily lead to victory in gym battles & raids.

Check Out Raikou's Moves & Stats Here!

Blaziken

Blaziken
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
2848★★★☆☆★★★☆☆★★★★☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
CounterFocus Blast
Blaziken's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 2,848
HP
 190
Attack
 240
Defense
 141

Excellent Attack Stats

Blaziken is a Pokemon known for its offensive capabilities. Blaziken's move pool allows it to learn several high damage attacks, making it extremely useful when fighting against Pokemon weak to either fighting or fire moves!

Examples of Favorable Blaziken Matchups
Dialga IconDialgaAbsol IconAbsolBlissey IconBlissey

Rhyperior

Rhyperior
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
3733★★☆☆☆★★★★☆★★★★☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
Mud SlapEarthquake
Rhyperior's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 3,733
HP
 251
Attack
 241
Defense
 190

Excellent Overall Stats

Rhyperior has great overall stats and CP that puts it on par with the likes of Legendary Pokemon. Rhyperior's is ranked 18th out of all Pokemon (as of January 2020), making it a strong Pokemon to use!

Examples of Favorable Rhyperior Matchups
Dialga IconDialgaTyranitar IconTyranitarAlolan Marowak IconAlolan Marowak
Check Out Rhyperior's Moves & Stats Here!

Electivire

Electivire
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
3079★★★☆☆★★☆☆☆★★☆☆☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
Thunder ShockWild Charge
Electivire's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 3,079
HP
 181
Attack
 249
Defense
 163

High Attack Values

Electivire possesses one of the best attack values out of all the electric type Pokemon. This makes it very lethal when facing Pokemon that are weak to electric such as flying and water!

DPS Oriented Moveset

Electivire's recommended moveset focuses on dealing out as much damage as possible. Its attack power is comparable to Raikou's recommended moveset.

Check Out Electivire's Moves & Stats Here!

Zapdos

Zapdos
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
3527★★☆☆☆★★☆☆☆★★☆☆☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
Thunder Shock Thunderbolt
Zapdos's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 3,527
HP
 207
Attack
 253
Defense
 185

One Of Highest Stats In Electric Types

Zapdos has one of the highest base stats in all of Electric Types. Being a legendary Pokemon, it has strong attack & defense compared to other Electric Pokemon.

Attack Can Change Depending On Normal Move

Zapdos's performance in a battle can change depending on its normal move. Charge Beam is hard to use due to charging time and Thunder Shock is a move that can only be received during the Zapdos event.

Check Out Zapdos's Moves & Stats Here!

Gengar

Gengar
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
2878★★☆☆☆★★☆☆☆★★☆☆☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
LickShadow Ball
Gengar's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 2,878
HP
 155
Attack
 261
Defense
 149

High Attack Value

Gengar possesses a very high attack stat of 261. Because of this, it can be used to challenge gyms and raids that feature Pokemon that are weak to it.

Strong Against Psychic Type

Gengar is a ghost type Pokemon, making it very effective against other ghost and psychic Pokemon. Use this to your advantage when fighting against these enemies!

Strong Legacy Moves

Gengar will have powerful Legacy Moves that allow it to deal super effective damage against psychic Pokemon. However, if you do not have the Lick and Shadow Ball move, it may be better to consider other options.

Examples of Favorable Gengar Matchups
Mewtwo IconMewtwoDeoxys IconDeoxysCresselia IconCresselia
Check Out Gengar's Moves & Stats Here!

Dragonite

Dragonite
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
3792★★★☆☆★★★☆☆★★★☆☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
Dragon Tail Outrage
Dragonite's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 3,792
HP
 209
Attack
 263
Defense
 198

Flexible, Well-Balanced Pokemon With Strong Stats

Dragonite is an all-time favorite in gym battles, raid battles, & legendary raid battles. It has well-balanced stats, making it very versatile. It can also deliver powerful attacks with its Type, which is very hard to counter.

More Durable Than Rayquaza

Despite having lower attack stats than Rayquaza, Dragonite is more durable. This makes Dragonite a viable substitute when you plan on raiding gyms.

Examples of Favorable Dragonite Matchups
Salamence IconSalamenceMachamp IconMachamp
Check Out Dragonite's Moves & Stats Here!

Garchomp

Garchomp
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
3962★★☆☆☆★★★☆☆★★★☆☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
Dragon Tail Outrage
Garchomp's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 3,962
HP
 239
Attack
 261
Defense
 193

Effective Against Dragon & Electric

Garchomp is a dragon and ground type Pokemon, making it effective against other dragons and electric type Pokemon. Despite having less attack damage compared to higher tiered Pokemon, it is still able to perform against other strong Pokemon.

Examples of Favorable Garchomp Matchups
Alolan Marowak IconAlolan MarowakTyranitar IconTyranitarRaikou IconRaikou

Salamence

Salamence
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
3749★★★☆☆★★★☆☆★★★☆☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
Dragon Tail Outrage
Salamence's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 3,749
HP
 216
Attack
 277
Defense
 168

Versatile Dragon Type Pokemon

Salamence is a dragon type Pokemon, meaning that it is able to deal at least 1x damage or more to most if not all Pokemon. Use this Pokemon for a variety of different combat situations!

Outrage Is A Strong Legacy Technique

Salamence's move Outrage is very useful as it deals high damage to its targets. However, this move can only be learned from a limited event, making it a legacy move that cannot be learned anymore.

Examples of Favorable Salamence Matchups
Rayquaza IconRayquazaDragonite IconDragonitePalkia IconPalkia
Check Out Salamence's Moves & Stats Here!

Roserade

Roserade
Max CPVs. GymsVs. RaidsLegendary Raids
2971★★☆☆☆★★★★☆★★★☆☆

Recommended Moveset

Normal AttackCharged Attack
Razor LeafGrass Knot
Roserade's Max CP & Base Stats
Max CP
 2,971
74 / 461
HP
 155
244 / 461
Attack
 243
24 / 461
Defense
 185
77 / 461

Strong Grass Type Pokemon

Roserade is a top class grass Pokemon, making it effective against water, rock and ground types. However, it also possesses a relatively low HP stat so consider the Pokemon you're facing before using this Pokemon!

Examples of Favorable Roserade Matchups
Kyogre IconKyogreGyarados IconGyaradosTerrakion IconTerrakion
Check Out Roserade's Moves & Stats Here!

Evaluation Criteria For The Best Pokemon

Here is the criteria used for evaluating the Pokemon in the game, and for choosing the currently Best Pokemon. Evaluation criteria may change at times.

High Offensive Ability

High Offensive Ability

Pokemon are evaluated using their ability to offensively take on gyms, where Pokemon with high defensive abilities are usually placed to defend. Pokemon that can easily take on gyms are ranked higher in the list.

Can Handle Different Types Of Pokemon

Pokemon that are effective against a number of different types of Pokemon will be ranked higher in the list. The Best Pokemon must be able to outlast lots of different Pokemon in battle!

Check Out All Pokemon Types Here!

Effective In Raids

Effective In Raids

Pokemon that are very helpful in bringing down bosses in Raid battles are ranked higher in the list since they possess strong moves that can make quick work of high level enemies!

Check Out Raid Battle Guide Here!

High CP & Strong Moves

High CP & Strong Moves

Pokemon with very high combat power will be put in the list because of their sheer strength. However, it would be even better if they also possess a moveset that is strong and adaptable to different situations.

Check Out How To Raise Pokemon CP!

Rarity Not Included As Part Of Criteria

The difficulty of obtaining these Pokemon will not be included in the criteria as we are only looking at how effective these Pokemon will be during battles!

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Article Written by
Pokemon Go Strategy Team

Pokemon Go Strategy Team

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