Stay on top of Pokémon Go battles, Gyms, and more with these movesets

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. 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 Slowbro
Confusion + Psychic

Mega Gengar
Lick* or Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball

Mega Gyarados
Waterfall + Hydro Pump
Bite + Crunch

Mega Aerodactyl
Rock Throw + Rock Slide

Mega Steelix
Iron Tail + Heavy Slam

Mega Ampharos
Volt Switch + Zap Cannon

Mega Houndoom
Snarl + Foul Play

Mega Manectric
Charge Beam + Wild Charge

Mega Altaria
Dragon Breath + Dazzling Gleam

Mega Absol
Snarl + Dark Pulse

Mega Lopunny
Low Kick + Focus Blast

Mega Abomasnow
Powder Snow + Weather Ball

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
Extrasensory or Incinerate + Brave Bird

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 forme)
Charge Beam + Thunderbolt

Deoxys (Attack forme)
Poison Jab + Dark Pulse

Deoxys (Defense forme)
Counter + Thunder Bolt or Rock Slide

Deoxys (Speed forme)
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 (Incarnate forme)
Air Slash + Hurricane

Tornadus (Therian forme)
Gust + Hurricane

Thundurus (Incarnate forme)
Thunder Shock + Thunder Punch

Thundurus (Therian forme)
Volt Switch + Thunderbolt

Reshiram
Fire Fang + Overheat

Zekrom
Dragon Breath + Outrage
Charge Beam + Wild Charge

Landorus (Incarnate forme)
Mud Shot + Earth Power

Landorus (Therian forme)
Mud Shot + Earthquake

Kyurem
Dragon Breath + Draco Meteor

Meloetta (Aria forme)
Confusion + Psyshock

Genesect
Fury Cutter + X-Scissor

Xerneas
Zen Headbutt + Moonblast

Yveltal
Gust + Hurricane
Snarl + Dark Pulse

Hoopa (Confined)
Confusion + Psychic

Hoopa (Unbound)
Confusion + Psychic
Astonish + Shadow Ball

Meltan
Thunder Shock + Thunderbolt

Melmetal
Thunder Shock + Thunderbolt

Zacian (Hero of Many Battles forme)
Psycho Cut + Play Rough

Zamazenta (Hero of Many Battles forme)
Bite + Focus Blast

Zarude
Vine Whip + Power Whip

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

Charizard
Fire Spin + 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 or Psychic*

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
Mud Shot + Earth Power
Dragon Tail + Outrage

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

Klinklang
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

Druddigon
Dragon Tail + Dragon Claw

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
Fire Fang + Overheat

Pangoro
Low Kick + Close Combat
Snarl + Night Slash

Meowstic (Female)
Confusion + Shadow Ball

Meowstic (Male)
Confusion + Psychic

Clawitzer
Water Gun + Crabhammer

Malamar
Psycho Cut + Foul Play

Sylveon
Charm + Dazzling Gleam or Psyshock*

Trevenant
Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball

Gourgeist
Hex + Shadow Ball

Avalugg
Ice Fang + Avalanche

Noivern
Air Slash + Hurricane or Psychic

Goodra
Dragon Breath + Draco Meteor

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:

Shadow Mewtwo
Shadow Metagross
Shadow Salamence
Shadow Machamp
Shadow Mamoswine
Shadow Raikou
Shadow Dragonite
Shadow Weavile
Shadow Tyranitar
Shadow Moltres
Shadow Swampert
Shadow Hariyama
Shadow Zapdos
Shadow Electivire
Shadow Magnezone
Shadow Aerodactyl
Shadow Entei
Shadow Torterra
Shadow Venusaur
Shadow Tangrowth
Shadow Gyarados
Shadow Honchkrow
Shadow Exeggutor
Shadow Charizard
Shadow Alakazam
Shadow Staraptor
Shadow Gardevoir
Shadow Scizor
Shadow Pinsir
Shadow Blaziken
Shadow Gallade
Shadow Mismagius
Shadow Shiftry
Shadow Arcanine
Shadow Banette
Shadow Victreebel
Shadow Houndoom
Shadow Magmortar
Shadow Omastar
Shadow Porygon-Z
Shadow Cacturne
Shadow Sharpedo
Shadow Blastoise
Shadow Flygon
Shadow Scyther
Shadow Absol
Shadow Lugia
Shaodw Ho-Oh

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!