A Pokémon is only a good as its moves.
While it may seem like Combat Power (CP) or stats (IVs) are the most important factors in Pokémon Go, movesets play a critical role as well. Movesets are the combination of the fast attack and charged attack your Pokémon uses in battles.
The wonderful, terrible thing about movesets is that they're usually determined at random. If you catch or hatch a Snorlax, you get whatever you get. If you evolve a Tyranitar, or catch one after a Raid, their moves are determined by a roll of the dice the moment you hit the evolve button or as soon as the Premier Ball stops bouncing. That means your perfect IV Shelgon can become a less-than-ideal Salamence.
The good news is that, with Technical Machines (TMs) and Elite TMs, you change your old, terrible moves. 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! And be sure to check out our best Pokémon Go accessories to take your game to the next level!
What are the best Pokémon Go movesets?
While we won't go into the best movesets for every single Pokémon - after all, even with the best moves, a Pidgey isn't getting you very far - we do have the best moves for all the Legendary and Mythical Pokémon, as well as the best non-Legendary Pokémon. And now, with the introduction of Mega Evolution, we've got your Mega Pokémon too!
Mega Pokémon
Mega Evolution has finally made its way to Pokémon Go and it's quite the game changer! Mega Evolution gives your Pokémon a huge stat boost, as well as boosting other Pokémon you battle with during Raids.
| Pokémon | Attack |
|---|---|
| Mega Venusaur | Vine Whip + Frenzy Plant* |
| Mega Charizard X | Dragon Breath* + Dragon Claw |
| Mega Charizard Y | Fire Spin + Blast Burn* |
| Mega Blastoise | Water Gun + Hydro Cannon |
| Mega Beedrill | Poison Jab + Sludge Bomb |
| Mega Pidgeot | Wing Attack* + Brave Bird |
| Mega Gengar | Lick* or Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball |
| Mega Houndoom | Snarl + Foul Play |
| Mega Abomasnow | Powder Snow + Weather Ball |
| Mega Ampharos | Volt Switch + Zap Cannon |
| Mega Gyarados | Waterfall + Hydro Pump Bite + Crunch |
Legendary and Mythical Pokémon
While there are some Trainers who have entire teams of each Legendary Pokémon, Legendaries and Mythicals are some of the rarest Pokémon in the game. On top of that, they require the most walking to earn Candies, so it can be extremely time-consuming and outright expensive to power them up and teach them new moves. However, they're also some of the most powerful Pokémon in the game, so you'll want them to have the best possible movesets.
| Pokémon | Attack |
|---|---|
| Articuno | Frost Breath + Ice Beam or Blizzard |
| Zapdos | Thunder Shock* + Thunder Bolt |
| Moltres | Fire Spin + Overheat Wing Attack + Sky Attack* |
| Mewtwo | Confusion or Psycho Cut + Psystrike* or Shadow Ball* |
| Armored Mewtwo | Confusion + Psystrike* |
| Mew | Shadow Claw + Psyshock |
| Raikou | Thunder Shock + Wild Charge |
| Entei | Fire Fang + Overheat |
| Suicune | Snarl + Hydro Pump |
| Lugia | Extrasensory + Aeroblast* |
| Ho-Oh | Incinerate + Brave Bird or Fire Blast |
| Celebi | Confusion + Psychic |
| Regirock | Rock Throw or Lock-On + Stone Edge |
| Regice | Frost Breath or Lock-On + Blizzard |
| Registeel | Metal Claw or Lock-On + Flash Cannon |
| Latias | Dragon Breath + Outrage |
| Latios | Dragon Breath + Dragon Claw |
| Kyogre | Waterfall + Surf |
| Groudon | Mud Shot + Earthquake or Solar Beam |
| 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 + Thunder Bolt 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 Tail + Draco Meteor |
| Heatran | Fire Spin + Flamethrower |
| Regigigas | Hidden Power + Giga Impact |
| Giratina (Origin Forme) | Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball |
| Giratina (Altered Forme) | Shadow Claw + Dragon Claw |
| Cresselia | Confusion + Futuresight |
| Darkrai | Snarl + Shadow Ball or Dark Pulse |
| Victini | Confusion + V-Create or Psychic |
| Cobalion | Metal Claw + Sacred Sword* |
| Terrakion | Smack Down + Rock Slide |
| Virizion | Zen Headbutt + Leaf Blade |
| Tornadus | Air Slash + Hurricane |
| Thundurus | Thunder Shock + Thunder Punch |
| Reshiram | Fire Fang + Overheat |
| Zekrom | Dragon Breath + Outrage Charge Beam + Wild Charge |
| Landorus | Mud Shot + Earth Power |
| Kyurem | Dragon Breath + Draco Meteor |
| Genesect | Fury Cutter + X-Scissor |
| Genesect Burn Drive | Fury Cutter + Techno Blast or X-Scissor |
| Meltan | Thunder Shock + Thunderbolt |
| Melmetal | Thunder Shock + Thunderbolt |
- Note on Mew and Mewtwo: Mew's best moveset is technically Shadow Claw and Psyshock; however, Mew and Mewtwo's greatest strength is the wide variety in their movepools. Mewtwo can excel as with Ice Beam, Flamethrower, and Thunderbolt in special cases. The big difference is that Mew's stats aren't particularly great, while Mewtwo is the best in the game.
Non-Legendary Pokémon
Most other species of Pokémon can be found more easily than Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. Many are featured in Community Days and other events, so earning Candies for these Pokémon is easier. You probably won't want to waste Elite TMs on most of these Pokémon, but normal TMs can definitely get you some really good moves. While we won't tell you every single Pokémon's best moves (because, let's face it, even with the best moves and top CP, Pidgey isn't going to serve you well in any sort of fight,) here are some of the best non-Legendary Pokémon in the game, along with their ideal movesets:
| Pokémon | Attack |
|---|---|
| Venusaur | Vine Whip + Frenzy Plant* Razor Leaf + Sludge Bomb |
| Mega Venusaur | Vine Whip + Frenzy Plant* |
| Charizard | Fire Spin + Blast Burn* |
| Mega Charizard X | Dragon Breath* + Dragon Claw Fire Spin + Blast Burn* |
| Mega Charizard Y | Fire Spin or Wing Attack + Blast Burn* |
| Blastoise | Water Gun + Hydro Canon* |
| Mega Blastoise | Water Gun + Hydro Canon* |
| Arcanine | Fire Fang + Flamethrower |
| Alakazam | Confusion + Psychic* |
| Machamp | Counter + Dynamic Punch |
| Victreebel | Razor Leaf + Leaf Blade |
| Golem | Rock Throw + Stone Edge or Rock Blast |
| Alolan Golem | Rock Throw + Rock Blast Volt Switch + Wild Charge |
| Slowbro | Confusion + Psychic or Ice Beam |
| Muk | Poison Jab or Acid + Gunk Shot |
| Alolan Muk | Poison Jab + Gunk Shot Bite + Dark Pulse |
| Gengar | Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball |
| Hypno | Confusion + Psychic |
| Kingler | Bubble + Crabhammer |
| Exeggutor | Confusion + Psychic Bullet Seed + Solar Beam |
| Alolan Exeggutor | Bullet Seed + Solar Beam |
| Rhydon | Mud Slap + Stone Edge or Earthquake |
| Mr. Mime | Confusion + Psychic |
| Galarian Mr. Mime | Confusion + Psychic or Ice Punch |
| Pinser | Bug Bite + X-Scissor |
| Gyarados | Waterfall + Hydro Pump |
| Lapras | Frost Breath + Blizzard |
| Vaporeon | Water Gun + Hydro Pump |
| Jolteon | Thunder Shock + Thunderbolt |
| Flareon | Fire Spin + Overheat |
| Omastar | Rock Throw* + Rock Slide* |
| Aerodactyl | Rock Throw + Rock Slide |
| Snorlax | Lick + Return* |
| Dragonite | Dragon Breath or Dragon Tail + Outrage |
| Meganium | Vine Whip or Razor Leaf + Frenzy Plant |
| Typhlosion | Ember + Overheat |
| Feraligatr | Waterfall + Hydro Cannon |
| Ampharos | Charge Beam + Zap Cannon |
| Espeon | Confusion + Psychic |
| Umbreon | Snarl + Foul Play |
| Slowking | Confusion + Psychic |
| Steelix | Iron Tail + Heavy Slam |
| Scizor | Bullet Punch + Iron Head |
| Heracross | Counter + Close Combat |
| Usaring | Counter + Hyper Beam |
| Donphan | Counter + Earthquake |
| Tyranitar | Bite + Crunch Smack Down* + Stone Edge |
| Sceptile | Bullet Seed + Frenzy Plant* |
| Blaziken | Fire Spin + Blast Burn* |
| Swampert | Water Gun + Hydro Cannon* |
| Gardevoir | Charm + Dazzling Gleam Confusion + Synchronoise |
| Breloom | Counter + Dynamic Punch |
| Slaking | Yawn + Hyper Beam |
| Hariyama | Counter + Dynamic Punch |
| Aggron | Iron Tail + Heavy Slam |
| Wailord | Water Gun + Surf |
| Flygon | Dragon Tail + Dragon Claw Mud Shot + Earth Power |
| Armaldo | Fury Cutter + Rock Blast |
| Claydol | Confusion + Psychic |
| Milotic | Waterfall + Surf |
| Banette | Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball |
| Walrein | Frost Breath + Blizzard |
| Salamence | Dragon Tail + Outrage* |
| Metagross | Bullet Punch + Meteor Mash* |
| Torterra | Razor Leaf + Frenzy Plant* |
| Infernape | Fire Spin + Blast Burn* |
| Empoleon | Waterfall + Hydro Cannon* |
| Roserade | Razor Leaf + Grass Knot Poison Jab + Sludge Bomb |
| Rampardos | Smack Down + Rock Slide |
| Mismagius | Hex or Sucker Punch + Shadow Ball |
| Honchkrow | Peck + Sky Attack |
| Garchomp | Dragon Tail + Outrage Mud Shot + Earthquake |
| Lucario | Counter + Aura Sphere |
| Weavile | Snarl + Foul Play Ice Shard + Avalanche |
| Magnezone | Spark + Wild Charge |
| Rhyperior | Smack Down + Rock Wrecker* Mud Slap + Earthquake |
| Tangrowth | Vine Whip + Power Whip |
| Electivire | Thunder Shock + Wild Charge |
| Togekiss | Charm + Dazzling Gleam |
| Yanmega | Bug Bite + Bug Buzz |
| Leafeon | Razor Leaf or Quick Attack + Leaf Blade |
| Glaceon | Frost Breath + Avalanche |
| Mamoswine | Powder Snow + Avalanche |
| Porygon Z | Lock-On + Tri-Attack* |
| Gallade | Confusion + Synchronoise |
| Probopass | Spark + Thunderbolt |
| Froslass | Powder Snow + Avalanche or Shadow Ball |
| Rotom (Wash) | Thunder Shock + Thunderbolt |
| Serperior | Vine Whip + Grass Knot |
| Emboar | Low Kick + Focus Blast |
| Samurott | Water Fall + Hydro Pump |
| Unfezant | Air Slash + Sky Attack |
| Excadrill | Mud Slap + Drill Run |
| Conkeldurr | Counter + Dynamic Punch |
| Darmanitan | Fire Fang + Overheat |
| Galarian Darmanitan | Ice Fang + Avalanche |
| Cofagrigus | Astonish + Shadow Ball |
| Gothitelle | Confusion + Psychic |
| Reuniclus | Hidden Power + Shadow Ball |
| Escavalier | Bug Bite + Megahorn |
| Ferrothorn | Bullet Seed + Power Whip |
| Klinklag | Thunder Shock + Zap Cannon |
| Chandelure | Fire Spin + Overheat Hex + Shadow Ball |
| Haxorus | Dragon Tail + Dragon Claw |
| Beartic | Powder Snow + Ice Punch |
| Golurk | Mud Slap + Earth Power |
| Bisharp | Snarl + Dark Pulse |
| Braviary | Air Slash + Brave Bird |
| Mandibuzz | Snarl + Foul Play |
| Hydreigon | Bite + Dark Pulse Dragon Breath + Dragon Pulse |
| Chesnaught | Vine Whip + Solar Beam |
| Delphox | Fire Spin + Flamethrower Zen Headbutt + Psychic |
| Greninja | Bubble + Surf |
| Talonflame | Fire Spin or Peck + Fire Blast or Brave Bird |
| Pyroar Female | Fire Fang + Overheat |
| Pyroar Male | Fire Fang + Overheat |
| Meowstic Female | Confusion + Shadow Ball or Psychic |
| Meowstic Male | Confusion + Psychic |
| Noivern | Air Slash + Hurricane or Psychic |
| Obstagoon | Lick + Night Slash |
| Perrserker | Metal Claw + Iron Head |
| Sirfetch'd | Counter + Close Combat |
| Mr. Rime | Confusion + Psychic Ice Shard + Ice Punch |
- Legacy Moves are indicated with an asterisk.
Shadow Pokémon
With the latest rebalance of Shadow Pokémon and the addition of events where you can change Frustration for another Charged attack, there are Shadow Pokémon that you will want in your roster too. You can only change a Shadow Pokémon's Charged attack during specific events, but once it knows a normal attack, you can change it again and again. Here are the Shadow Pokémon worth keeping and investing in:
- Mewtwo
- Metagross
- Salamence
- Machamp
- Raikou
- Dragonite
- Weavile
- Tyranitar
- Moltres
- Swampert
- Zapdos
- Electivire
- Magnezone
- Entei
- Torterra
- Venusaur
- Gyarados
- Exeggutor
- Charizard
- Alakazam
- Gardevoir
- Gallade
- Mismagius
- Shiftry
- Arcanine
- Banette
- Victreebel
- Houndoom
- Magmortar
- Pinsir
- Scizor
- Omastar
- Porygon-Z
- Cacturne
- Sharpedo
- Blastoise
- Flygon
- Scyther
- Absol
Note: While most Shadow Pokémon have the same ideal movesets as their normal counterparts, Shadow Mewtwo is in a class unto itself. It is by far the strongest Pokémon in the game. As such, many of its Charged attacks are well worth having. Shadow Ball is exceptionally useful against other Psychic types. Psystrike makes it the most powerful Psychic-type attacker. Even some of its other attacks, like Ice Beam, Flamethrower, and Thunderbolt are very useful in particular Raids and PVP fights. Focus Blast and Hyper Beam are the only Charged attacks without good uses.
What if you don't have the best movesets in Pokémon Go?
Since the introduction of the Raid Battle system in June 2017, 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. Regular TMs are completely random and cannot access Legacy Moves.
Legacy Moves are special moves that were once available for a Pokémon but are no longer. Sometimes they were removed when Niantic re-balanced the game. Some were only available on Community Day or in special Raids. Either way, if a Legacy Move happens to be the best possible move for a Pokémon and you don't have it, you cannot get it with a normal TM. Before you use a TM on any Pokémon, you should always check to see if the move you're changing is a Legacy Move and if that move is worth having. A lot of Legacy Moves don't perform well, but some of them are the best moves in the game.
More recently, Niantic introduced Elite TMs. These TMs are rare, and often difficult to get or expensive, but allow you to choose from any move a Pokémon can have, including Legacy Moves. They aren't random either. You get to choose the move. Because of how hard it is to get Elite TMs, you'll want to save them for your very best Pokémon, but hey, now you can have a Mewtwo with Shadow Ball and Psystrike!
How do you change movesets in Pokémon Go? With Technical Machines (TM)!
What about Types in Pokémon Go?
It's also important to keep in mind types! While some Pokémon only have one type, most have two and all Pokémon can learn moves from multiple types. Although most Pokémon have a single moveset that is the best for their whole species, there are some Pokémon who have multiple sets. Take Chandelure, for example; Chandelure is a Fire and Ghost type and can be one of the best of either. If you're using your Chandelure as a Fire type, you'll want it to know Fire Spin and Overheat, but if you're going for Ghost type, you'll want Hex and Shadow Ball.
What about secondary Charge Moves in Pokémon Go?
With PvP Trainer Battles, Niantic also introduced 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. If there are two possible types for the Charged move, get both. For example, a Mewtwo with Shadow Ball or Psystrike is incredible, but one with both? Gamebreaker! 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.
Your best movesets in Pokémon Go?
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 that didn't make the list, let us know in the comments. And be sure to check out our Best Portable Battery Packs so your phone never runs out of juice on the way to becoming a Pokémon Master!
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