Great Ultra Master

Master League Tier List

Ranked by simulated performance against the whole Master League meta — best moveset, estimated win rate and the IV spread to hunt for.

CP cap

None

Level 50 maxes

Pokemon ranked

Updated Aug 30, 2026

#1 pick

75.0%

Primal Groudon · win rate

Tier S

Meta defining

Primal Groudon Mud ShotPrecipice Blades 75.0%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 2

Mega Mewtwo X Psycho CutFocus Blast 75.0%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 3

Mega Mewtwo Y Psycho CutPsystrike 75.0%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 4

Mega Charizard Y Wing AttackOverheat 75.0%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 5

Mega Metagross Shadow ClawMeteor Mash 74.7%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs

Tier A

Top picks

Mega Gallade Psycho CutClose Combat 73.6%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 7

Mega Garchomp Mud ShotEarth Power 73.2%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 8

Mega Salamence Fire FangDraco Meteor 72.7%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 9

Shadow Reshiram Fire FangOverheat 72.1%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 10

Shadow Groudon Mud ShotPrecipice Blades 71.5%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 11

Primal Kyogre WaterfallOrigin Pulse 71.0%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 12

Shadow Dialga (Origin) Metal ClawDraco Meteor 70.6%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs

Tier B

Strong options

Mega Heracross CounterClose Combat 70.1%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 14

Mega Blaziken EmberOverheat 69.7%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 15

Shadow Dialga Metal ClawDraco Meteor 69.1%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 16

Zacian (Crowned sword) Metal ClawClose Combat 68.4%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 17

Shadow Moltres Wing AttackOverheat 67.9%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 18

Mega Aggron Metal SoundMeteor Beam 67.3%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 19

Reshiram Fire FangOverheat 66.9%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 20

Shadow Zapdos (Galarian) Low KickBrave Bird 66.4%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 21

Mega Charizard X EmberOverheat 66.0%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 22

Dialga (Origin) Metal ClawDraco Meteor 65.5%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 23

Mega Pidgeot Wing AttackBrave Bird 65.1%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 24

Groudon Mud ShotPrecipice Blades 64.6%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 25

Zamazenta (Crowned shield) Ice FangClose Combat 64.2%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs

Tier C

Situational

Shadow Metagross Bullet PunchMeteor Mash 63.8%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 27

Dialga Metal ClawDraco Meteor 63.3%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 28

Mega Lucario Bullet PunchClose Combat 62.8%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 29

Shadow Moltres (Galarian) Sucker PunchBrave Bird 62.2%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 30

Shadow Articuno (Galarian) Psycho CutBrave Bird 61.7%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 31

Zamazenta Quick AttackClose Combat 61.2%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 32

Moltres Wing AttackOverheat 60.8%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 33

Mega Dragonite Steel WingDraco Meteor 60.4%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 34

Shadow Mewtwo Psycho CutPsystrike 60.0%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 35

Mega Rayquaza Dragon TailHurricane 59.5%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 36

Mega Gengar Shadow ClawShadow Ball 59.1%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 37

Kyurem (Black) Shadow ClawBlizzard 58.6%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 38

Shadow Entei Fire FangOverheat 58.2%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 39

Zapdos (Galarian) Low KickBrave Bird 57.8%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs

Tier D

Niche

Kyurem (White) Ice FangBlizzard 57.4%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 41

Shadow Raikou Thunder ShockWild Charge 56.9%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 42

Mega Raichu Y Thunder ShockWild Charge 56.5%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 43

Marshadow Shadow ClawClose Combat 56.1%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 44

Mega Swampert Mud ShotEarthquake 55.7%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 45

Mega Skarmory Steel WingBrave Bird 55.2%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 46

Shadow Salamence Fire FangDraco Meteor 54.8%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 47

Articuno (Galarian) Psycho CutBrave Bird 54.3%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 48

Metagross Shadow ClawMeteor Mash 53.9%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 49

Shadow Garchomp Mud ShotEarth Power 53.4%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 50

Shadow Machamp Karate ChopClose Combat 52.8%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs

Editor's verdict

Build around Shadow Groudon, Shadow Dialga (Origin), or Shadow Reshiram if you want to invest from this week’s ranked names. They’re the listed options here that are legal in standard Master League; Primal and Mega Pokémon are not. Treat that shortlist as a sensible place to start, not proof of which one is strongest for your team—the supplied update has no movesets or matchup data.

Toni Ramón

Founder & lead editor · 2026-08-30

Methodology

Stat product: Perfect 15/15/15 at level 50 — no cap, so raw stats win.
Moveset: Every fast + charged pair is simulated with the real PvP damage formula; energy generation is weighted for shield pressure.
Coverage: Move effectiveness is averaged across all 18 defending types.
Bulk: Defensive typing adjusts effective HP against the average attacker.
Shadow: +20% Attack, −17% Defense, flowed through both sides.

Final score

Score = Offense × Survivability^0.5

Tier cut-offs

Tier S: Top 5% or top 5
Tier A: Top 15% or top 12
Tier B: Top 25% or top 25
Tier C: Top 35% or top 38
Tier D: Everything else

What we do not simulate: round-robin matchups, second charged moves, shield baiting and lead/closer roles. The ranking measures how a Pokemon performs against the average meta, not against one specific opponent — so treat it as a shortlist, not a verdict on any single matchup.

Editor's notes

The state of Master League and how to build around it.

Master League meta — the state of play

The ranking list needs a legality check before you read it as a standard Master League ladder snapshot: much of its top end is made up of Megas and Primal Groudon or Primal Kyogre, none of which can enter standard GO Battle League. Among the listed Shadow picks, Shadow Reshiram, Shadow Groudon, and both Shadow Dialga entries remain eligible. Palkia and Shadow Landorus (Incarnate Forme) are in this week’s raid rotation, but raid availability alone doesn’t establish their place in the ladder meta.

Core picks & archetypes

The usable names to focus on from current_top_ranked are Shadow Reshiram, Shadow Groudon, Shadow Dialga (Origin), and Shadow Dialga. The rest of the list is largely Mega or Primal picks, so it shouldn’t be treated as a set of standard-league staples. The facts provided don’t establish particular archetypes or matchup strengths; I’d avoid drawing those conclusions from rank names alone.

Team building — leads, safe swaps & closers

A concrete legal shortlist is Shadow Dialga (Origin), Shadow Groudon, and Shadow Reshiram. I wouldn’t assign one as lead, safe swap, or closer from this snapshot: it contains no movesets or matchup information, so those role claims would be guesswork. Check the moves and coverage of the Pokémon you actually have before committing resources or setting your lineup.

IVs & investment

Master League has no CP cap, so there’s no league cap to build an IV spread around. Prioritize eligible Pokémon you can invest in for Master League rather than choosing a lower-CP build for league entry. The supplied facts don’t include IVs, levels, or cost details, so specific breakpoints or IV targets would be false precision.

Threats to watch

Shadow Groudon, Shadow Reshiram, and Shadow Dialga (Origin) are the eligible ranked names I’d keep in view. The available facts don’t provide matchup results or moves, so naming hard counters would be guesswork; check the movesets before choosing answers. Palkia and Shadow Landorus (Incarnate Forme) are available in raids this week, but neither appears in the supplied ranked list, and raid rotation alone isn’t evidence that either is a current ladder threat.

FAQ

What are the best Pokemon for Master League in Pokemon GO?

The top 3 Master League Pokemon are Primal Groudon, Mega Mewtwo X, Mega Mewtwo Y. 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 Master League team in Pokemon GO 2026?

A strong Master League team combines Pokemon that cover each other's weaknesses. Start with a top-tier pick like Primal Groudon, 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 Master League PvP?

For Master League with no CP cap, you want perfect 15/15/15 IVs to maximize total stats. Level 50 and best buddy boost are also important.

How often does the Master League meta change?

The Master 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 Primal Groudon good for Master 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 Primal Groudon is ranked and how it compares to the regular form.

What moves should I use on my Master 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.

Explore more

Great League tier list CP cap 1500 Ultra League tier list CP cap 2500 Search strings Copy-paste filters to find PvP candidates Best attackers by type Raid DPS rankings for all 18 types