Choosing the best Pokémon in Pokémon GO is essential if you want to build strong teams, win battles, and make the most of raids and events. While some Pokémon are powerful in specific situations, others stand out as the best overall Pokémon in Pokémon GO due to their versatility, stats, and performance across multiple areas.
This guide breaks down the best Pokémon in Pokémon GO, including attackers, defenders, and all-round picks that are worth investing in.
What Makes the Best Pokémon in Pokémon GO
The best Pokémon in Pokémon GO are not just defined by high stats. Instead, they combine several important factors:
- strong attack, defence, and stamina
- powerful and efficient movesets
- usefulness in raids, PvP, and gyms
- flexibility across multiple situations
Pokémon that perform well in more than one area are usually considered the best overall.
Best Overall Pokémon in Pokémon GO

Some Pokémon consistently rank among the best Pokémon in Pokémon GO because of their balance and versatility.
Top overall picks include:
- Mewtwo
- Rayquaza
- Kyogre
- Groudon
- Garchomp
- Dragonite
These Pokémon are strong in raids and can also perform well in other areas of the game.
Best Attackers in Pokémon GO
The best Pokémon in Pokémon GO for attacking are those with high damage output and strong moves.
While this overlaps with raid performance, these Pokémon are still key overall:
- Mewtwo (high damage and versatility)
- Rayquaza (top Dragon attacker)
- Rampardos (extreme damage output)
For a deeper breakdown, see the best raid attackers Pokémon GO guide.
Best Defenders in Pokémon GO
Some of the best Pokémon in Pokémon GO are defensive, making them ideal for holding gyms.
Top defenders include:
- Blissey
- Snorlax
- Slaking
These Pokémon have high stamina and can take a long time to defeat, making them strong choices for gym defence.
Best PvP Pokémon in Pokémon GO
PvP introduces a different set of rules, making some Pokémon stronger than others.
The best Pokémon in Pokémon GO for PvP often include:
- Melmetal
- Swampert
- Galarian Stunfisk
These Pokémon are effective due to their move speed, typing, and overall balance.
If you have followed the Meltan chain, Melmetal becomes a strong PvP option once evolved.
Strongest Pokémon by Type
Another way to identify the best Pokémon in Pokémon GO is by looking at type strength.
Examples include:
- Electric → strong against Water
- Ice → strong against Dragon
- Rock → strong against Flying
Using type advantages is one of the most important strategies in the game.
Is Melmetal One of the Best Pokémon in Pokémon GO
Melmetal is a strong and unique Pokémon that can be very useful in PvP and certain battles. While it may not always be the top raid attacker, it is still one of the best Pokémon in Pokémon GO in specific situations.
If you have completed the Meltan chain, evolving into Melmetal is a worthwhile investment.
Best Strategy for Building Strong Pokémon
To build the best Pokémon in Pokémon GO, you should:
- focus on high IV Pokémon
- use Candy and Stardust efficiently
- prioritise useful Pokémon over rare ones
- build teams for different scenarios
Combining this with the Pokémon GO Candy guide and evolution guide will help you progress faster.
How This Fits Into Your Overall Strategy
Understanding the best Pokémon in Pokémon GO helps you decide where to invest your resources. Whether you are focusing on raids, PvP, or gym battles, choosing the right Pokémon makes a huge difference.
For more detailed strategies, check out how to beat raids in Pokémon GO and explore the Pokémon GO hub for more guides and updates.
Pokemon GO is available to play on android and apple mobile devices
