Pokemon Go Master League's strongest Pokemon

Pokemon Go's Battle League provides a competitive means for trainers to engage in head-to-head competition. Success in Battle League depends on building a team that can effectively deal with a variety of threats and withstand a variety of play styles.

Unlike Gym Battles or Raids, where players often rely on pure strength and specific counters, Battle League requires a more balanced approach. Pokémon with strong move sets, versatility, and good type coverage shine here. Trainers should also consider health management, charge movement strategies, and shield use. The meta is constantly evolving, so it's important to stay up to date with the latest stats and buffs to build a solid and adaptable team.

9 Kyurem

Kyurem is the third most powerful Ice-type attacker in Pokemon Go, and is especially powerful when equipped with Dragon Breath and Glaciate. With an impressive 18.21 damage per second (DPS) and 607.8 total damage done (TDO), Kyurem excels in both PvE and PvP settings. In PvP combat, Dragon's Breath applies significant fast movement pressure, bypassing shields and dealing sustained damage. Quick energy gain is key to deploying Glaciate, a powerful charged move that not only deals significant damage but also reduces the opponent's attack by 20%, weakening their offensive abilities.

Kyurem truly shines as a lead Pokémon that can utilize its raw power and shield-burning potential. As the lead, you prepare for battle by applying pressure, breaking through shields, and making it easier for other teammates to clean up. Complementing Kyurem with powerful partners like Necrozma, Rhyperior, Solgaleo, Mewtwo, or Ho-Oh makes for a well-rounded team.

8 Florhes

Florges is a versatile Pokemon in Pokemon Go Master League that offers both durability and solid damage output. Its flexibility allows it to fill a variety of roles depending on the team's needs, making it a valuable addition to any PvP team. Resistance to Dragon, Fighting, Dark, and Bug types further enhances its defensive abilities, making it a difficult Pokemon to beat.

However, Florges is vulnerable to Poison and Steel-type Pokémon, whose weaknesses can be easily exploited. To compensate for this, it's important to build a team with strong counters to types like Zygarde, Landorus, and Rhyperior to ensure Florges has the support he needs to grow.

7 Shadow or Apex Shadow Hoo

Shadow Ho-Oh thrives thanks to the Shadow Pokemon Attack buff, making it a powerful force in any PvP team. This weapon's greatest strength lies in its role as a closer, capable of inflicting massive damage once the opponent's shields are down. With its high-damage moves, Ho-Oh can take out opponents, but its slow-motion animations and complex moves require a lot of practice to use effectively.

Shadow Ho-Oh is a powerful Fire-type attacker, but its Flying-type moveset makes it more effective in PvP, especially considering its move animation speed. Sacred Fire is visually impressive and can deal high damage, but takes longer to execute compared to Brave Bird. This makes Sacred Fire better suited for Raids, where longer animations aren't a major drawback, while Brave Bird's faster runs make it ideal for PvP combat where speed and timing are important.

6 Liferier

Rhyperior has been a powerhouse in Pokemon Go since his debut at the Hatchathon 2018 event. Known for his versatility, Rhyperior is not only a strong pick for Master League, but he's also a reliable gym defender and raid attacker. With the optimal moveset of Smack Down and Rock Wrecker, Rhyperior can handle an impressive 17.72 DPS with a TDO of 670.4.

Rock Wrecker is a legacy elite charge attack, so you'll need to use Elite Charge TM to teach it the move to Rhyperior.

In PvP battles, Repairier shines as the leading Pokémon. Thanks to its high DPS, you can use charged attacks to continuously attack your opponents while burning down their shields. Built like a tank, Rhyperior can absorb damage, saving powerful enemies late in the fight. However, be careful because Grass-type and Water-type Pokémon have a double weakness. To compensate for these weaknesses, having counters like Tapu Bulu, Dragonite, or Zygarde (Complete Forme) on your team can be a game changer.

5 Solgaleo

Solgaleo is a versatile Pokémon, but it requires careful strategy and team building to reach its full potential. The key to building Solgaleo is deciding whether to use it as a psychic attack type or a steel attack type depending on the charged attack. However, in a pinch, it can also act as a Fire-type attacker using Fire Spin and Flamethrower.

Solgaleo, the leading Pokémon, is excellent at using stable DPS to burn down the opponent's shield by steadily reducing its HP. Once the shields are removed, it's best to switch to a stronger attacker like Palkia or Yveltal to deal the final blow and secure victory. Solgaleo's ability to apply pressure early in the fight is a powerful starting point, but transitions must be planned carefully to maximize effectiveness.

4 Duskmane Necrozma

Necrozma, an Alolan legendary Pokémon, has three alternate forms: Dusk Mane, Dawn Wings, and Ultra. You can obtain Duskmain Necrozma by fusing Necrozma with the solar fusion energy collected in raids. Dusk Mane Necrozma currently stands as the strongest Steel-type attacker in the game, surpassing Steel-type champions like Shadow Excadrill and Shadow Metagross.

Equipped with an optimal moveset of Metal Claw and Sunsteel Strike, Dusk Mane Necrozma boasts an impressive 30.46 DPS along with a whopping TDO of 1068.2. In addition to its damage output, Dusk Mane Necrozma is also built for tank damage, making it a durable and formidable presence in combat. Its power is further amplified with 10 types of resistance, allowing it to hold its own in a variety of matchups while dealing consistent damage.

3 Yveltal

Yveltal's performance in Master League PvP has been truly impressive. It can be used effectively as a finishing Pokémon to burn down an opponent's shield or secure victory. For optimal results, Yveltal should be paired with a strong attacker like Togekiss or Florges to provide support as a second Pokémon.

Yveltal excels as a Dark and Flying type attacker, but you'll want to tailor your build to his role on your team. If you're using Yveltal as your lead, Sucker Punch is an excellent choice due to its fast animation. This allows you to strike quickly and charge your attacks to put pressure on your opponent's shield. On the other hand, if you're saving Yveltal for an endgame finish, running Gust and Oblivion Wing will give you a high TDO, making it a solid option to finish the fight with strength and endurance.

2 Origin Form Palkia

Palkia, a legendary Pokémon from the Sinnoh region, is part of the Creation Trio along with Dialga and Giratina. The most powerful charged move is Space Shred in GO Battle League, which deals 95 damage and only costs 50 energy. This event-exclusive move debuted in Pokémon Go Tour: Sinnoh. If you missed your chance to get Spacial Rend during the event, Draco Meteor is a strong alternative.

Palkia is a very dynamic Pokémon known for its ability to quickly inflict significant damage while applying constant shield pressure to its opponents. Thanks to her fast charging moves and short animation time, Palkia can keep her opponents on their toes by firing off charging moves at high speeds. Depending on how you build your team, this gives you a strong edge in battle or brings you closer.

1 Complete Form Zygarde

Complete Forme Zygarde (Zygarde-C) is one of the most powerful Pokemon in Pokemon Go and is one of the top contenders even without Mega or Primal Evolution. However, it is notoriously difficult to obtain. To reach Zygarde's Complete Forme, players must collect 200 Zygarde Cells along the path, allowing Zygarde to Forme Change.

Keep in mind that once Zygarde-C exceeds 4,000 CP, the game's attack power decreases.

Zygarde-C boasts an incredible stat product and excellent tankiness, making absorbing hits as easy as dealing them. It is extremely durable and, when fully crafted, can survive devastating moves such as Dialga's Draco Meteor. Zygarde-C is an undeniable powerhouse, but its weakness to Fairy- and Ice-type Pokémon like Togekiss and Mamoswine means you'll need to have countermeasures ready when forming your team. By balancing Pokémon like Zygarde-C, Solgaleo, and Ho-Oh, you can maximize their potential and dominate battles.