Poison Type Pokemon GO

Poison-type Pokemon GO is more famous for its PvP impact than its raid DPS. Poison attackers like Roserade, Toxicroak, Mega Beedrill, and Mega Gengar see consistent meta usage, and Poison-type moves are super-effective against Grass and Fairy. The Fairy weakness is especially important in Master League, where Xerneas and Crowned Zacian dominate. Signature Poison moves include Sludge Bomb, Sludge Wave, Gunk Shot, Poison Jab, and Acid Spray (the bait-king PvP move). Poison types are weak to Ground and Psychic, with most dual-type Poison Pokemon (Grass/Poison, Bug/Poison) carrying additional weaknesses that complicate raid planning.

Best Poison-type attackers

The top Poison attackers are Mega Beedrill, Mega Gengar, Roserade, Shadow Victreebel, and Shadow Roserade. Mega Beedrill with Poison Jab and Sludge Bomb has one of the cheapest Mega Energy costs in the game, making it the go-to budget Mega Poison attacker. Roserade with Poison Jab and Sludge Bomb is the strongest non-Mega Poison option. Shadow Victreebel, Shadow Vileplume, and Shadow Roserade all sit near the top of the Shadow Poison tier. Toxicroak (Poison/Fighting) flexes as a Fighting raider too. Naganadel (Ultra Beast Poison/Dragon) brings unique typing to specialty roles.

Poison type in PvP and GO Battle League

Poison types are PvP heavyweights. Toxicroak with Counter and Mud Bomb dominates Great League. Skuntank (Poison/Dark), Nidoqueen (Poison/Ground), Galarian Slowking (Poison/Psychic), and Drapion (Poison/Dark) anchor open league cores. In Ultra League, Roserade, Toxicroak, Skuntank, and Drapion continue. In Master League, Mega Gengar and Naganadel flex into anti-Fairy roles. Acid Spray Mantine, Acid Spray Roserade, and Sludge Bomb meta picks define the “bait” strategy — Acid Spray cuts opposing Defense by two stages, enabling chains of charged moves. Galarian Slowking with Future Sight is a unique anti-meta Master League pick.

Strengths, weaknesses and strategy

Poison attackers shine against Grass (Tangrowth, Mega Sceptile, Kartana) and Fairy (Xerneas, Togekiss, Crowned Zacian). They are 1.6× weak to Ground and Psychic — and Bulbasaur-line Pokemon (Grass/Poison) take 4× damage from Psychic moves. Cloudy weather does NOT boost Poison; instead Cloudy boosts Fighting, Grass, and Fairy. Use Mega Beedrill in Sunny weather to maximize damage output. Avoid Poison attackers against Garchomp, Excadrill, Mewtwo, and Mega Latios — these counters one-shot most Poison glass cannons. Poison is also unique in that it deals super-effective damage to Fairy, which is otherwise immune to Dragon, making it a Master League meta-buster.

Notable Poison Pokemon

Poison Community Days have included Bulbasaur (Grass/Poison) with Frenzy Plant, Weedle → Beedrill with Drill Run, Ekans → Arbok with Iron Tail, Grimer → Muk (and Alolan Muk) with Lick, Trubbish → Garbodor with Gunk Shot, Salandit → Salazzle with Disarming Voice, and Poipole → Naganadel during a paid event. Mega Beedrill was the second Mega ever released in 2020 and remains the cheapest Mega in the game. Mega Gengar and Mega Venusaur appear in regular Mega Raid rotations. Galarian Slowking added Poison/Psychic typing in 2022 with Future Sight, an instant Master League meta shake-up.