Great League PvP Tier List — Pokemon GO
Top 50 ranked Pokemon for Great League PvP with best movesets, win rates, and ideal IVs.
The Great League tier list ranks the top 50 Pokemon for GO Battle League PvP in 2026 with a CP cap of 1500. Rankings are based on win rates across the current meta, optimal movesets, and overall versatility. Each Pokemon links to its full stats page with detailed PvP analysis.
How We Calculate These Rankings
Our Great League rankings evaluate every released Pokemon using four factors derived from the actual Pokemon GO game data, including the real PvP damage formula and type effectiveness multipliers from the game master file.
1. Stat Product at Optimal IVs
We brute-force every IV combination (0–15 for ATK/DEF/STA across all levels) to find the spread that maximizes Attack × Defense × HP under the 1500 CP cap. In capped leagues, low Attack with high Defense and Stamina (e.g. 0/15/15) often wins because CP weighs Attack more heavily, letting bulkier spreads squeeze in more total stats.
2. Moveset & Damage Formula
Every fast + charged move combination is simulated using the actual PvP damage formula: floor(0.5 × Power × Atk/Def × STAB × TypeEff) + 1. We compute a full attack cycle (N fast moves to charge one charged move) to get Damage Per Turn. Energy generation rate is also factored in, rewarding fast moves that reach charged moves quickly for shield pressure. Moves with buff/debuff effects get a 5% bonus.
3. Offensive Type Coverage
Each move's type effectiveness is averaged across all 18 Pokemon types using the multipliers from the game master (1.6× super effective, 0.625× not very effective, 0.391× double-resisted). This means a Fighting-type move (super effective against 5 types) scores higher than a Normal-type move (super effective against nothing). The coverage is baked directly into the damage calculation, not applied as a separate bonus.
4. Defensive Typing
We calculate how much damage each Pokemon's type(s) receive on average from all 18 attacking types. For dual types, both multipliers compound (e.g. Steel/Fairy resists 10 types). This defensive score adjusts the Pokemon's effective bulk — a Steel-type with the same DEF/HP as a Normal-type will rank higher because it takes less damage from the average opponent.
Final Score Formula
Score = Offense × Survivability0.5, where Offense is the cycle DPT (with type coverage baked in), and Survivability is DEF × HP adjusted for defensive typing. The square root on survivability gives diminishing returns to pure bulk — a Pokemon needs strong moves to rank high, not just tankiness.
How Tiers Are Assigned
Pokemon are placed into tiers based on how their score compares to the #1 ranked Pokemon:
Shadow Pokemon
Shadow Pokemon receive a 20% Attack boost but suffer a ~17% Defense penalty. Both adjustments flow through the full damage and survivability calculations, so the ranking naturally captures whether the offensive gain outweighs the defensive loss for each specific Pokemon.
What We Don't Simulate (and Why)
Our rankings evaluate Pokemon against the average meta, not specific matchups. This means we don't simulate:
- Round-robin matchups — simulating every Pokemon vs every other Pokemon would give matchup-specific data, but the meta shifts constantly. Our approach rewards versatile Pokemon that perform well broadly.
- Second charged move — we evaluate the single best moveset. In practice, a second charged move adds coverage and bait potential, which can change rankings for Pokemon like Swampert (Hydro Cannon + Earthquake).
- Shield strategy — shielding and baiting (throwing cheap moves to burn shields, then landing the nuke) is a skill-based factor that's hard to quantify. Our EPT bonus partially captures shield pressure.
- Switch and role dynamics — some Pokemon excel as leads, closers, or safe swaps. These roles depend on team composition, not the Pokemon alone.
Win rates shown are estimated from the Pokemon's score percentile and ranking position. Rankings are recalculated after every game master update to reflect the latest move changes and balance patches from Niantic.
S-Tier — Meta Defining
5 Pokemon
A-Tier — Top Picks
10 Pokemon
B-Tier — Strong Options
35 Pokemon
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Pokemon for Great League in Pokemon GO?
The top 3 Great League Pokemon are Carbink, Chansey, Skarmory. These consistently perform well with high win rates across the meta. Check the full tier list above for the top 50 ranked Pokemon with optimal movesets.
What is the best Great League team in Pokemon GO 2026?
A strong Great League team combines Pokemon that cover each other's weaknesses. Start with a top-tier pick like Carbink, add a Pokemon that counters its weaknesses, and finish with a safe swap. Use the tier list above to find S-tier and A-tier Pokemon with complementary types.
What IVs are best for Great League PvP?
For Great League (CP cap 1500), you generally want low Attack with high Defense and Stamina (e.g., 0/15/15). This maximizes stat product within the CP cap. However, some Pokemon like Medicham and Sableye want higher Attack IVs because they max out below the cap.
How often does the Great League meta change?
The Great League meta shifts whenever Niantic releases move updates, new Pokemon, or balance changes — typically every 1-2 months. Community Days and events can also introduce new threats. We update our rankings daily to reflect the latest data.
Is Shadow Carbink good for Great League?
Shadow Pokemon deal 20% more damage but take 20% more damage in return. This makes them glass cannons — great for closing games or shield pressure, but risky as leads or safe swaps. Check the individual ranking above to see if Shadow Carbink is ranked and how it compares to the regular form.
What moves should I use on my Great League team?
Each Pokemon in the tier list shows its optimal PvP moveset. Generally, you want a fast-charging fast move and at least one low-energy charged move for shield pressure. The moveset column in our rankings shows the highest win-rate combination for each Pokemon.