Pokémon Go Great League: Best Pokémon
Back to the basics! The Great League returns to Pokémon Go, running from March 1 to 8, 2024. Great League is the simplest discipline in GO Battle League, Pokémon Go’s PvP mode.
With the recent World of Wonders Update having added brand-new moves, which will refresh the meta, we've adjusted this guide.
There are no restrictions on what type of Pokémon you can field, though there is a maximum limit on competition points (CP) these creatures can possess. In Great League, this is set at 1,500 CP. That also means that this competition is very easy on your Stardust and Candy XL budget, as you won’t have to power up your Pokémon all too much.
We’ve put together a list of the best Pokémon for Great League to get you started on your team building process. Our choices are based on statistics and simulations provided by PvPoke.com.
Great League is the most basic Pokémon Go PvP competition.
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Pokémon Go Great League: Best Leads
The Pokémon in this class are aggressors, able to apply pressure on your opponent right from the start of a battle. They can also drag out tough battles for a long time thanks to their bulk. This allround effectiveness makes them perfect to open a match up, enabling you to score an early knockout or set up a strong counter play.
- Shadow Gallade (Psycho Cut, Close Combat, Leaf Blade)
- Shadow Gligar (Wing Attack, Aerial Ace, Dig)
- Swampert(S) (Mud Shot, Hydro Cannon, Earthquake)
- Cresselia (Psycho Cut, Grass Knot, Future Sight)
- Shadow Feraligatr (Shadow Claw, Hydro Cannon, Ice Beam)
- Pelipper (Wing Attack, Weather Ball (Water), Hurricane)
- Shadow Quagsire (Mud Shot, Mud Bomb, Stone Edge)
- Mantine (Wing Attack, Aerial Ace, Ice Beam)
- Serperior (Vine Whip, Frenzy Plant, Aerial Ace)
- Medicham(XL) (Counter, Ice Punch, Dynamic Punch)
Pokémon marked with (S) perform very similarly in their Shadow and regular versions. Pokémon marked with (XL) require Candy XL to reach their maximum potential.
Pokémon Go Great League: Best Safe Switches
If you’re not happy with the initial pairing, you should consider switching out your lead for another Pokémon. That’s the role of a Safe Switch. They are either strong leads themselves or are specialized in countering some of the most popular leads. Putting them in will let you score an elimination, disrupt your opponent’s game plan, or at least preserve your lead for the later stage of the match.
- Feraligatr(S) (Shadow Claw, Hydro Cannon, Ice Beam)
- Shadow Gligar (Wing Attack, Aerial Ace, Dig)
- Lickitung(XL) (Lick, Body Slam, Power Whip)
- Vigoroth (Counter, Body Slam, Rock Slide)
- Cresselia (Psycho Cut, Grass Knot, Future Sight)
- Goodra (Dragon Breath, Aqua Tail, Power Whip)
- Shadow Poliwrath (Counter, Scald, Icy Wind)
- Shadow Gallade (Psycho Cut, Close Combat, Leaf Blade)
- Sableye(XL) (Shadow Claw, Foul Play, Return)
- Annihilape (Counter, Ice Punch, Shadow Ball)
Pokémon Go Great League: Best Closers
These Pokémon come in quite handy when there are no shields left in play on either side – they are incredibly tough thanks to their high bulk and many resistances or they can end battles quickly due to their access to powerful charge attacks.
- Registeel (Lock On, Focus Blast, Zap Cannon)
- Skarmory (Steel Wing, Brave Bird, Sky Attack)
- Shadow Excadrill (Mud Shot, Drill Run, Rock Slide)
- Shadow Registeel (Lock On, Focus Blast, Zap Cannon)
- Carbink(XL) (Rock Throw, Rock Slide, Moonblast)
- Shadow Electivire (Thunder Shock, Ice Punch, Wild Charge)
- Shadow Empoleon (Steel Wing, Hydro Cannon, Drill Peck)
- Shadow Gallade (Psycho Cut, Close Combat, Leaf Blade)
- Shadow Froslass (Powder Snow, Avalanche, Shadow Ball)
- Cresselia (Psycho Cut, Grass Knot, Future Sight)
Pokémon Go Great League: Best Attackers
This class is specialized in fighting an opponent who still has shields, while you no longer have any yourself. They combine strong resistances and potent fast attacks to compensate for this disadvantage. For that reason, you rarely see Shadow forms in this role – they take more damage than their regular counterparts, making them a risky card to pull out at this stage of a match.
- Bastiodon(XL) (Smack Down, Stone Edge, Flamethrower)
- Cresselia (Psycho Cut, Grass Knot, Future Sight)
- Carbink(XL) (Rock Throw, Rock Slide, Moonblast)
- Shadow Bastiodon(XL) (Smack Down, Stone Edge, Flamethrower)
- Registeel (Lock On, Focus Blast, Zap Cannon)
- Mandibuzz (Snarl, Dark Pulse, Aerial Ace)
- Azumarill(XL) (Bubble, Ice Beam, Play Rough)
- Lanturn (Spark, Surf, Thunderbolt)
- Skarmory (Steel Wing, Brave Bird, Sky Attack)
- Mantine (Wing Attack, Aerial Ace, Ice Beam)
This season has seen some big movements in all categories thanks to the latest patch. Feraligatr rose through the ranks thanks to gaining access to Shadow Claw, Cresselia and Gallade level up their game, and Pelipper alongside many other Pokémon fell a good deal. Goodra profited from the patch as well, gaining a buffed Aqua Tail, while Empoleon climbed the ladder thanks to Steel Wing.
For more Pokémon Go, check our overviews for the weekly Spotlight Hours and all 5-Star Raids.
