Best Pokémon for Gym Battles in Pokémon GO

In Pokémon GO, Gym Battles are a core feature where players can challenge gym leaders or take control of gyms for their team. Selecting the best Pokémon for these battles significantly impacts your winning chances and overall gym control. This guide explores the top Pokémon currently favored for Gym Battles, considering their types, stats, movesets, and synergy.

Steel Type Pokémon

Metagross

Type: Steel/Psychic
Best Moveset: Bullet Punch (Fast Move) & Meteor Mash (Charged Move)
Strengths: Metagross boasts impressive stats, particularly in Defense and Attack, making it a tanky powerhouse. With Steel typing, it resists many types like Dragon, Fairy, and Normal. Meteor Mash is a high-damage move that provides STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), further enhancing its power.

Melmetal

Type: Steel
Best Moveset: Thunder Shock (Fast Move) & Superpower (Charged Move)
Strengths: With its flexible movepool, Melmetal can adapt to various opponents. Its bulk allows it to withstand several hits, and Superpower provides excellent coverage against threats like Rock and Ice types.

Dragon Type Pokémon

Garchomp

Type: Dragon/Ground
Best Moveset: Dragon Tail (Fast Move) & Earthquake (Charged Move)
Strengths: Garchomp excels due to its versatile typing, making it resistant to Electric and Poison moves. With high Attack stats and a powerful STAB Earthquake, Garchomp can deal massive damage, especially against Steel types and Fire Pokémon.

Rayquaza

Type: Dragon/Flying
Best Moveset: Air Slash (Fast Move) & Outrage (Charged Move)
Strengths: This legendary Pokémon is known for its incredible damage output. Rayquaza’s high Attack and the ability to learn various powerful moves make it a versatile choice, effective against Fighting and Bug types. Its high-speed stat can often turn the tide in battles.

Fighting Type Pokémon

Machamp

Type: Fighting
Best Moveset: Counter (Fast Move) & Dynamic Punch (Charged Move)
Strengths: Machamp is a staple in many players’ rosters, and for good reason. As a Fighting type, it excels in taking down Normal, Rock, and Steel Pokémon. Dynamic Punch offers high damage and confusion, making Machamp both a brawler and a tactician.

Lucario

Type: Steel/Fighting
Best Moveset: Counter (Fast Move) & Aura Sphere (Charged Move)
Strengths: Lucario’s dual typing grants it resistances to several types, including Dragon and Fairy. It deals excellent damage with Aura Sphere, which is fast and charges quickly. Its versatility, combined with good Speed, makes Lucario a reliable option.

Fairy Type Pokémon

Togekiss

Type: Fairy/Flying
Best Moveset: Air Slash (Fast Move) & Dazzling Gleam (Charged Move)
Strengths: As one of the top Fairy types, Togekiss is formidable against Dragon and Fighting types. With a robust bulk and the capability to inflict significant damage, it’s a solid choice for countering threats in the current metagame.

Gardevoir

Type: Psychic/Fairy
Best Moveset: Confusion (Fast Move) & Moonblast (Charged Move)
Strengths: Gardevoir stands out due to its dual typing, allowing it to deter Dragon and Dark types effectively. Its excellent Special Attack and access to powerful moves like Moonblast make it a top contender in fights against opponents weak to Fairy.

Water Type Pokémon

Kyogre

Type: Water
Best Moveset: Waterfall (Fast Move) & Hydro Pump (Charged Move)
Strengths: Kyogre’s sheer power as a Legendary Pokémon gives it an advantage in most matchups. Hydro Pump offers incredible damage output, and its Water typing grants resistances against Steel and Fire types, making it versatile in various gym battles.

Swampert

Type: Water/Ground
Best Moveset: Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Hydro Cannon (Charged Move)
Strengths: Swampert’s dual typing affords it resistances to Electric moves, making it a counter to many Water types. Its Hydro Cannon is a formidable Charged move, capable of delivering substantial damage in fights against popular opponents.

Bug Type Pokémon

Scizor

Type: Bug/Steel
Best Moveset: Fury Cutter (Fast Move) & Bullet Punch (Charged Move)
Strengths: Scizor’s prominence is attributed to its bulk and resists, including Ghost, Grass, and Fairy. With a moveset that generates energy efficiently, it can unleash powerful moves like Bug Bite, which is effective against Psychic and Dark Pokémon.

Pinsir

Type: Bug
Best Moveset: Bug Bite (Fast Move) & Close Combat (Charged Move)
Strengths: Known for its high Attack stat, Pinsir is a fierce competitor. Its access to Close Combat offers excellent coverage against Steel and Rock types, making it a surprising threat in various matchups.

Ground Type Pokémon

Groudon

Type: Ground
Best Moveset: Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Earthquake (Charged Move)
Strengths: As another legendary choice, Groudon’s unparalleled bulk and Ground typing can absorb many hits. Earthquake is a powerful and high-damage move, capable of taking down fodder and other Ground types quickly.

Excadrill

Type: Ground/Steel
Best Moveset: Mud Slap (Fast Move) & Drill Run (Charged Move)
Strengths: Excadrill combines the strengths of both Ground and Steel types. It excels against Fairy and Poison types and can dish out quick damage with Drill Run, making it a valuable asset in any gym battle setup.

Conclusion

Choosing the right Pokémon for Gym Battles in Pokémon GO is vital for achieving victory and securing gym control. The versatility and strength of these top selections cover various types and playstyles, enhancing your chances against diverse Gym challenges. Adaptability, strong movesets, and well-planned strategies are key components to succeeding in the competitive realm of Gym Battles in the Pokémon GO universe.