What are the best movesets for PvP Trainer Battles, Gym defense, and Raid attacks in Pokémon Go? These!
While it may seem like Combat Power (CP) or stats (IV) are the most important factors in Pokémon Go, movesets play a critically important role as well. Movesets are the combination of the quick move and charge move your Pokémon uses in Gym and Raid Battles.
The wonderful, terrible thing about movesets is that they’re determined at random. If you catch or hatch a Snorlax, you get whatever you get. If you evolve a Slaking, Tryanitar, Dragonite, Gyarados, Blissey, etc. or catch a Boss after a Gym Raid, they’re determined by a roll of the dice the moment you hit the evolve button or as soon as the Premiere Ball stops bouncing. That means your perfect IV Shelgon can become a less-than-ideal Salamence with just one tick or tock of the server.
The good news is that, with Technical Machines (TMs), you can re-roll your old, terrible movesets and try for new, great ones. But how do you know which movesets will help your Pokémon win at PvP Trainer Battles and decimate Gyms and Raids and which will make a fight simply unwinnable? Here’s the newly updated list!
What are the best Pokémon Go movesets cheat sheet
If all you want is a quick reference for the absolute best moveset for the most powerful Pokémon (CP) in their most efficient roles (Attack/Defense) in Pokémon Go as the game stands today, here it is. (For more details and alternate movesets, keep reading below).
Note: I’m including defensive movesets even for Legendary Pokémon. While Legendaries can’t currently be put in Gyms, they can be used in Player vs. Player as well as against Team Go Rocket.
For the Legendary and Mythical Pokémon:
| Legendary | Attack |
|---|---|
| Articuno | Frost Breath + Blizzard or Ice Beam |
| Zapdos | Charge Beam + Thunder Bolt |
| Moltres | Fire Spin + Overheat |
| Mewtwo | Confusion + Psychic |
| Armored Mewtwo | Confusion + Future Sight |
| Mew | Dragon Tail + Solar Beam |
| Raikou | Thunder Shock + Wild Charge |
| Entei | Fire Spin + Overheat |
| Suicune | Extrasensory/ Hidden Power Water + Hydro Pump |
| Lugia | Extrasensory + Future Sight |
| Ho-Oh | Extrasensory + Solar Beam |
| Celebi | Confusion + Dazzling Gleam |
| Regirock | Rock Throw + Stone Edge |
| Regice | Frost Breath + Blizzard |
| Registeel | Metal Claw + Flash Cannon |
| Latias | Dragon Breath + Dragon Claw |
| Latios | Dragon Breath + Solar Beam |
| Kyogre | Waterfall + Hydro Pump |
| Groudon | Mud Shot + Earthquake |
| Rayquaza | Dragon Tail + Outrage |
| Jirachi | Confusion + Doom Desire |
| Deoxys (Normal Form) | Charge Beam + Thunderbolt |
| Deoxys (Attack Form) | Poison Jab + Dark Pulse |
| Deoxys (Defense Form) | Counter + Psycho Boost or Rock Slide |
| Deoxys (Speed Form) | Zen Headbutt + Thunderbolt |
| Uxie | Confusion + Future Sight |
| Mesprit | Confusion + Future Sight |
| Azelf | Confusion + Future Sight |
| Dialga | Dragon Breath + Draco Meteor |
| Palkia | Dragon Breath + Draco Meteor |
| Heatran | Fire Spin + Fire Blast |
| Giratina (Origin) | Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball |
| Giratina (Altered) | Shadow Claw + Dragon Claw or Ancient Power |
| Cresselia | Confusion + Futuresight |
| Darkrai | Snarl + Shadow Ball |
| Meltan | Thunder Shock + Thunderbolt |
| Melmetal | Thunder Shock + Thunderbolt |
And for the non-Legendary Pokémon:
| Pokémon | Attack | Defense |
|---|---|---|
| Venusaur | Vine Whip + Solar Beam | Razor Leaf + Solar Beam |
| Charizard | Fire Spin + Overheat | Fire Spin + Overheat |
| Blastoise | Water Gun + Hydro Canon | Bite + Hydro Cannon Water Gun + Ice Beam |
| Arcanine | Fire Fang + Fire Blast | Snarl + Fire Blast |
| Alakazam | Confusion + Future Sight | Confusion + Shadow Ball (Dazzling Gleam) |
| Machamp | Counter + Dynamic Punch | Counter + Dynamic Punch |
| Golem | Rock Throw + Stone Edge | Rock Throw + Stone Edge |
| Slowbro | Confusion + Psychic | Confusion + Ice Beam |
| Muk | Poison Jab + Gunk Shot | Poison Jab + Gunk Shot |
| Gengar | Lick or Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball | Hex + Psychic or Sludge Bomb |
| Hypno | Confusion + Psychic | Confusion + Ice Punch or Shadow Ball |
| Kingler | Bubble + Crabhammer | Bubble + Crabhammer |
| Exeggutor | Bullet Seed + Solar Beam | Confusion + Seed Bomb |
| Rhydon | Mud Slap + Stone Edge | Mud Slap + Stone Edge |
| Chansey | Son, just don’t | Zen Headbutt + Dazzling Gleam |
| Mr. Mime | Confusion + Shadow Ball | Confusion + Shadow Ball or Psychic |
| Pinser | Bug Bite + X-Scissor | Rock Smash + X-Scissor |
| Gyarados | Waterfall + Hydro Pump | Waterfall + Hydro Pump or Crunch |
| Lapras | Frost Breath + Blizzard | Frost Breath + Blizzard |
| Vaporeon | Water Gun + Hydro Pump | Water Gun + Aqua Tail |
| Jolteon | Thunder Shock + Thunderbolt | Volt Switch + Discharge or Thunderbolt |
| Flareon | Fire Spin + Overheat | Fire Spin + Flame Thrower |
| Omastar | Water Gun + Rock Blast (Rock Throw + Rock Slide) |
Water Gun + Rock Blast (Rock Throw + Rock Slide) |
| Aerodactyl | Steel Wing + Hyper Beam | Steel Wing + Ancient Power |
| Snorlax | Lick + Return | Zen Headbutt + Body Slam or Heavy Slam |
| Dragonite | Dragon Tail + Outrage | Dragon Tail + Outrage |
| Meganium | Vine Whip or Razor Leaf + Frenzy Plant | Razor Leaf + Petal Blizzard |
| Typhlosion | Ember + Overheat | Ember + Overheat |
| Feraligatr | Water Gun + Hydro Pump | Water Gun + Ice Beam |
| Amphoros | Charge Beam + Zap Cannon | Volt Switch + Zap Cannon |
| Espeon | Confusion + Future Sight | Confusion or Zen Headbutt + Psybeam |
| Umbreon | Snarl + Foul Play | Snarl + Dark Pulse |
| Slowking | Confusion + Psychic | Confusion + Psychic or Blizzard |
| Steelix | Iron Tail + Heavy Slam | Dragon Tail or Thunder Fang + Crunch |
| Scizor | Bullet Punch + Iron Head | Bullet Punch + Iron Head |
| Heracross | Counter + Close Combat | Struggle Bug + Close Combat |
| Usaring | Counter + Hyper Beam | Counter + Hyper Beam |
| Donphan | Counter + Earthquake | Counter + Play Rough |
| Blissey | Son, just don’t | Zen Headbutt + Dazzling Gleam |
| Tyranitar | Bite + Crunch Smack Down + Stone Edge |
Iron Tail + Crunch |
| Sceptile | Bullet Seed + Leaf Blade | Bullet Seed + Leaf Blade |
| Blaziken | Counter + Overheat | Firespin + Overheat |
| Swampert | Water Gun + Hydro Cannon | Mud Shot + Hydro Cannon or Muddy Water |
| Gardevoir | Charm + Dazzling Gleam Confusion + Synchronoise |
Charm + Shadow Ball or Synchronoise |
| Breloom | Counter + Dynamic Punch Bullet Seed + Grass Knot |
Counter + Sludge Bomb |
| Slaking | Yawn + Hyper Beam | Yawn + Play Rough |
| Hariyama | Counter + Dynamic Punch | Counter + Dynamic Punch |
| Aggron | Iron Tail + Heavy Slam | Iron Tail + Heavy Slam |
| Wailord | Water Gun + Surf | Zen Headbutt + Blizzard |
| Flygon | Dragon Tail + Dragon Claw Mud Shot + Earth Power |
Dragon Tail + Dragon Claw |
| Armaldo | Fury Cutter + Rock Blast | Struggle Bug + Rock Blast |
| Claydol | Confusion + Psychic | Confusion + Earth Power |
| Milotic | Waterfall + Surf | Dragon Tail + Blizzard or Surf |
| Walrein | Frost Breath + Blizzard | Frost Breath + Blizzard |
| Salamence | Dragon Tail + Draco Meteor | Dragon Tail + Draco Meteor |
| Metagross | Bullet Punch + Meteor Mash | Zen Headbutt + Meteor Mash |
| Torterra | Razor Leaf + (Frenzy Plant) | Razor Leaf + (Frenzy Plant) |
| Infernape | Fire Spin + Flamethrower | Rock Smash + Flamethrower |
| Empoleon | Waterfall + Hydropump | Waterfall + Hydropump |
| Roserade | Razor Leaf + Grass Knot Poison Jab + Sludge Bomb |
Razor Leaf + Sludge Bomb Poison Jab + Sludge Bomb |
| Rampardos | Smack Down + Rock Slide | Xen Headbutt + Outrage or Rock Slide |
| Mismagius | Hex or Sucker Punch + Shadow Ball | Hex + Dark Pulse or Dazzling Gleam |
| Garchomp | Dragon Tail + Outrage | Dragon Tail + Outrage |
| Lucario | Counter + Close Combat Bullet Punch + Shadow Ball |
Counter + Shadow Ball |
| Weaville | Snarl + Foul Play | Ice Shard + Avalanche or Foul Play |
| Magnezone | Spark + Wild Charge | Charge Beam + Wild Charge |
| Rhyperior | Smack Down + Stone Edge | Smack Down + Stone Edge |
| Tangrowth | Vine Whip + Solar Beam | Vine Whip + Ancient Power |
| Electivire | Thunder Shock + Wild Charge | Thunder Shock + Wild Charge |
| Togekiss | Charm + Dazzling Gleam | Hidden Power + Arial Ace or Dazzling Gleam or Flamethrower |
| Yanmega | Bug Bite + Bug Buzz | Wing Attack + Arial Ace or Bug Buzz |
| Leafeon | Razor Leaf or Quick Attack + Leaf Blade | Razor Leaf + Leaf Blade |
| Glaceon | Frost Breath + Avalanche | Ice Shard + Avalanche |
| Mamoswine | Powder Snow + Avalanche | Mud Slap + Avalanche |
| Gallade | Confusion + Synchronoise | Confusion + Leaf Blade |
| Probopass | Spark + Thunderbolt | Rock Throw + Rock Slide |
| Froslass | Powder Snow + Avalanche or Shadow Ball | Powder Snow + Avalanche |
| Serperior | Vine Whip + Grass Knot | Iron Tail + Grass Knot |
| Emboar | Low Kick + Focus Blast | Ember + Rock Slide |
| Samurott | Water Fall + Hydro Pump | Water Fall + Hydro Pump or Blizzard |
| Unfezant | Air Slash + Sky Attack | Steel Wing + Sky Attack |
| Excadrill | Mud Slap + Drill Run | Mud Slap + Iron Head |
| Ferrothorn | Bullet Seed + Power Whip | Bullet Seed or Metal Claw + Powerwhip |
| Chandelure | Fire Spin + Overheat Hex + Shadow Ball |
Fire Spin + Shadow Ball |
| Golurk | Mud Slap + Earth Power | Mud Slap + Dynamic Punch |
| Hydreigon | Dragon Breath + Dark Pulse or Dragon Pulse | Dragon Breath + Dark Pulse |
Again, many Pokémon have several ideal movesets, so keep reading for more!
What if you don’t have the best movesets?
Movesets are like the lottery. Whether you catch, hatch, or evolve, you never know what you’re going to get. Some Pokémon have upwards of six or more moveset combinations, some amazingly good, others terrible.
If you have an ideal moveset, it’s great. You’ll do the most damage in the least amount of time while maintaining the best ability to dodge. If you don’t, not all is lost. You could still have the same type of moves, only less damaging or slower.
For example, Machamp with Counter and Dynamic Punch is one of the best attackers in the game. Machamp with Counter and Close Combat, though, is a fairly close second. Dragon Tail Outrage is the best for Dragonite, but Dragon Tail Hurricane isn’t far behind.
Conversely, Machamp with Bullet Punch and Heavy Slam or Dragonite with Steel Wing and Hyper Beam… nowhere close.
New with the June 2017 Raid Battle system, you can get Technical Machines to change your movesets. Two of the possible rewards for beating Raid Bosses are Quick TM and Fast TM, which can be used to change Quick Moves and Charge Moves respectively.
How do you change movesets in Pokémon Go? With Technical Machines (TM)!
What about secondary Charge Moves?
With PvP Trainer Battles has come secondary Charge Moves. You can buy them with Stardust and Candy, and TM them to whatever it is you need. So, what do you need? Typically, variety. If the best Charge Move is a full bar, get a secondary that’s multi-bar. And vice-versa. That way, you can mix things up when and as needed. However, adding a second Charge Move is expensive (up to 100K Stardust on the Legendaries) so make sure there is a good secondary move before spending on this upgrade.
What are the best Pokémon Go movesets for attack?
While new moves and new Pokémon are always being introduced, if you’re looking to attack Gyms or battle in Raids, these are the top twenty Pokémon and movesets:
- Machamp with Counter + Dynamic Punch
- Rayquaza with Dragon Tail + Outrage
- Rampardos with Smack Down + Rock Slide
- Chandelure with Fire Spin + Over Heat or Hex + Shadow Ball
- Mewtwo with Confusion + Psychic
- Salamance with Dragon Tail + Draco Meteor
- Metagross with Bullet Punch + Meteor Mash
- Kyogre with Water Fall + Hydro Pump
- Giratina (Origin form) with Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball
- Gengar with Lick or Shadow Claw or Shadow Ball
- Kingler with Bubble + Crabhammer
- Raikou with Thundershock + Wild Charge
- Electivire with Thundershock + Wild Charge
- Mamoswine with Powder Snow + Avalanche
- Moltres with Fire Spin + Overheat
- Dialga with Dragon Breath + Draco Meteor
- Palkia with Dragon Breath + Draco Meteor
- Roserade with Razor Leaf + Grass Knot
- Excadrill with Mud Slap + Drill Run
- Dragonite with Dragon Tail + Outrage
Honorable Mentions go to:
- Tyranitar with Bite + Crunch or Smack Down + Stone Edge
- Blaziken with Counter + Overheat
- Swampert with Water Gun + Hydro Cannon
- Breloom with Counter + Dynamic Punch or Bullet Seed + Grass Knot
- Garchomp with Dragon Tail + Outrage
What are the best Pokémon Go movesets for defense?
While defending a gym without constantly watching and pouring Golden Razz Berries on it during attacks is a real challenge, there are certainly some Pokémon who last longer. The top twenty along with their best movesets are:
- Blissey with Zen Headbutt + Dazzling Gleam
- Dragonite with Dragon Tail + Dragon Claw
- Metagross with Zen Headbutt + Meteor Mash
- Milotic with Dragon Tail + Blizzard or Surf
- Exeggcutor with Confusion + Seed Bomb
- Ferrothorn with Bullet Seed or Metal Claw + Powerwhip
- Gyarados with Waterfall + Hydro Pump or Crunch
- Hypno with Confusion + Ice Punch or Shadow Ball
- Slowbro with Confusion + Ice Beam
- Slowking with Confusion + Psychic or Blizzard
- Steelix with Dragon Tail or Thunder Fang + Crunch
- Chansey with Zen Headbutt + Dazzling Gleam
- Melmetal with Thunder Shock + Thunderbolt
- Slaking with Yawn + Play Rough
- Snorlax with Zen Headbutt + Body Slam or Heavy Slam
- Charizard with Fire Spring + Overheat
- Claydol with Confusion + Earth Power
- Donphon with Counter + Play Rough
- Empoleon with Waterfall + Hydropump
Honorable Mentions go to:
- Gardevoir with Charm + Shadow Ball or Synchronoise
- Togekiss with Hidden Power + Arial Ace or Dazzling Gleam or Flamethrower
Your best Pokémon Go movesets?
These are the best Pokémon Go movesets I’ve seen for the toughest Pokémon and best counters currently in the game. If you have a favorite, then let me know what it is and what moveset you is best for it!
Updated October 2019 to add Gen 5 and new Legendary Pokémon.
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Source of the article – iMore