Flying Type Pokemon GO

Flying-type Pokemon GO is rarely a primary attacking type because Flying-only Pokemon are extremely rare — most Flying types are dual-typed (Flying/Normal, Flying/Dragon, Flying/Steel, Flying/Electric). However, Flying moves are super-effective against Grass, Fighting, and Bug, making them niche but valuable raid picks. Top Flying attackers like Mega Rayquaza, Mega Pidgeot, Moltres, and Yveltal use Flying STAB to clean up Bug and Fighting raid bosses. Signature Flying moves include Fly, Hurricane, Sky Attack, Brave Bird, Aeroblast (Lugia exclusive), and Air Slash. Flying types are weak to Electric, Ice, and Rock, with Rock being especially common as a counter type.

Best Flying-type attackers

The top Flying attackers are Mega Rayquaza, Shadow Moltres, Mega Pidgeot, Yveltal, and Therian Tornadus. Mega Rayquaza with Air Slash and Aerial Ace (or signature Hurricane) has the highest Flying DPS in the game, also doubling as the top Dragon attacker. Shadow Moltres with Wing Attack and Sky Attack is the best non-Mega Flying attacker. Mega Pidgeot is the cheapest Mega Flying attacker and a great budget pick. Yveltal (Dark/Flying) brings unique Dark-Flying coverage. Mega Salamence and Mega Charizard Y flex between Flying and Dragon/Fire roles. Staraptor, Honchkrow, and Talonflame are Community-Day-tuned budget options.

Flying type in PvP and GO Battle League

Flying types in PvP rely heavily on dual-type advantages. Talonflame (Fire/Flying) with Incinerate and Brave Bird dominates Great League. Mandibuzz (Dark/Flying) is one of the most-used Ultra League picks ever. Skarmory (Steel/Flying) with Sky Attack remains a Great League legend. Altaria (Dragon/Flying), Charizard, and Mega Pidgeot flex into Master League. Galarian Articuno (Psychic/Flying), Galarian Zapdos (Fighting/Flying), and Galarian Moltres (Dark/Flying) bring Daily Adventure Incense exclusives that disrupt the meta. Yveltal and Mega Rayquaza are Master League fixtures alongside Crowned Zacian and Origin Forme Dialga.

Strengths, weaknesses and strategy

Flying attackers shine against Grass (Tangrowth, Kartana, Mega Sceptile), Fighting (Conkeldurr, Lucario, Terrakion), and Bug (Genesect, Volcarona, Scizor). They are 1.6× weak to Electric, Ice, and Rock — with Rock being the most common counter type. Mega Pidgeot, Mega Charizard Y, and Mega Rayquaza all melt to Tyranitar and Rhyperior in 4× weakness scenarios. Windy weather boosts Flying moves by 1.2× and is the optimal weather for Flying raids. Avoid Flying attackers against Mega Manectric, Therian Thundurus, Galarian Darmanitan, and Mega Diancie. Flying is also one of the best types to use against Genesect (Bug/Steel) due to dual super-effective hits via Aerial Ace.

Notable Flying Pokemon

Flying Community Days have included Pidgey → Pidgeot with Brave Bird, Spearow → Fearow with Drill Run, Hoothoot → Noctowl with Sky Attack, Wingull → Pelipper, Starly → Staraptor with Gust, Pidove → Unfezant, Rufflet → Braviary with Brave Bird, and Fletchling → Talonflame with Incinerate. Mega Pidgeot has the cheapest Flying Mega Energy cost. Moltres Raid Days have unlocked Sky Attack and the legacy Flamethrower. Mega Rayquaza arrived in 2024 and is universally considered the best Flying and Dragon attacker in the game. Yveltal’s 2024 raid debut introduced Dark Pulse and Hurricane as a unique Dark/Flying combination.