Tier S
Meta defining
Tier A
Top picks
Editor's notes
The state of Great League and how to build around it.
Great League meta — the state of play
This list has a clear cluster: Tinkaton and Squawkabilly lead it, then several Talonflame and Moltres forms appear alongside Torkoal, Typhlosion, Charizard and Ninetales. That makes the ranked field look unusually concentrated rather than broadly varied. This week’s raids feature Shadow Landorus and Mega Charizard X and Y, but raid appearances don’t establish Great League value; Mega Charizard is not eligible in the standard league.
Core picks & archetypes
Tinkaton and Squawkabilly are the first names I’d assess, followed by Shadow Talonflame and Talonflame. Torkoal, Dodrio, Galarian Moltres, Rufflet, Typhlosion, Shadow Moltres, Turtonator, Charizard, Honchkrow and Ninetales also appear in the current ranked group. The list supports calling these ladder picks; without moves or matchup results, it doesn’t support stronger claims about which archetypes they beat.
Team building — leads, safe swaps & closers
Use roles as a starting framework, not as a claim of proven synergy: try Tinkaton in the lead, Squawkabilly as the swap and Talonflame to close, then check whether the moves on your actual builds cover the opponents you meet. A second test could put Talonflame up front with Tinkaton and Squawkabilly behind it. I wouldn’t call either lineup matchup-safe from the ranking alone, since no moves or battle data are provided.
IVs & investment
The Great League cap is 1500 CP, so check each candidate’s CP before spending resources and keep the finished build within that limit. No species-specific IV spreads, costs or move details are available here, so I wouldn’t recommend a particular IV combination or power-up target beyond the cap. Compare the exact build you have rather than assuming a ranked species is automatically worth a large investment.
Threats to watch
Keep an eye on the repeated Talonflame and Moltres entries, as well as Charizard, Typhlosion and Ninetales; they make up a conspicuous part of this week’s ranked group. Tinkaton and Squawkabilly are also near the top of the list and deserve preparation. The supplied facts don’t identify reliable counters or moves, so don’t treat another ranked name as a hard answer without checking its actual moves and your team’s coverage.