Ultra League PvP Tier List — Top 50 Pokemon GO Rankings

Tier S

Meta defining

S

1

Shadow Talonflame PeckBrave Bird 75.0%Win rate 0/15/15Ideal IVs 2

Mega Charizard Y Wing AttackOverheat 75.0%Win rate 1/15/15Ideal IVs 3

Turtonator EmberOverheat 75.0%Win rate 12/15/15Ideal IVs 4

Talonflame PeckBrave Bird 75.0%Win rate 13/15/14Ideal IVs 5

Ninetales EmberOverheat 75.0%Win rate 8/14/15Ideal IVs 6

Dodrio PeckBrave Bird 75.0%Win rate 0/15/14Ideal IVs 7

Typhlosion Shadow ClawOverheat 75.0%Win rate 0/13/15Ideal IVs 8

Shadow Charizard Wing AttackOverheat 75.0%Win rate 0/15/14Ideal IVs 9

Charizard Wing AttackOverheat 75.0%Win rate 0/13/15Ideal IVs 10

Shadow Moltres Wing AttackOverheat 75.0%Win rate 0/15/14Ideal IVs 11

Tinkaton Fairy WindGigaton Hammer 75.0%Win rate 10/15/15Ideal IVs 12

Moltres Wing AttackOverheat 75.0%Win rate 0/13/14Ideal IVs 13

Moltres (Galarian) Sucker PunchBrave Bird 74.6%Win rate 1/15/15Ideal IVs 14

Honchkrow PeckBrave Bird 74.2%Win rate 0/15/15Ideal IVs 15

Shadow Moltres (Galarian) Sucker PunchBrave Bird 73.8%Win rate 1/14/15Ideal IVs 16

Shadow Honchkrow PeckBrave Bird 73.2%Win rate 0/15/15Ideal IVs 17

Shadow Pidgeot Wing AttackBrave Bird 72.8%Win rate 4/15/14Ideal IVs 18

Shadow Typhlosion (Hisuian) EmberOverheat 72.4%Win rate 0/14/14Ideal IVs 19

Rotom (Heat) Thunder ShockOverheat 71.9%Win rate 0/14/15Ideal IVs 20

Typhlosion (Hisuian) EmberOverheat 71.5%Win rate 0/13/15Ideal IVs 21

Staraptor Wing AttackBrave Bird 71.1%Win rate 0/15/15Ideal IVs 22

Shadow Staraptor Wing AttackBrave Bird 70.7%Win rate 1/15/14Ideal IVs 23

Shadow Typhlosion EmberOverheat 70.2%Win rate 0/15/14Ideal IVs 24

Shadow Ninetales EmberOverheat 69.8%Win rate 0/15/15Ideal IVs

Tier A

Top picks

A

25

Shadow Machamp Karate ChopClose Combat 69.4%Win rate 0/13/14Ideal IVs 26

Machamp Karate ChopClose Combat 68.9%Win rate 0/15/14Ideal IVs 27

Shadow Camerupt EmberOverheat 68.5%Win rate 0/15/15Ideal IVs 28

Togedemaru Thunder ShockWild Charge 68.1%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 29

Pangoro Karate ChopClose Combat 67.7%Win rate 0/15/14Ideal IVs 30

Pyroar EmberOverheat 67.3%Win rate 0/15/12Ideal IVs 31

Shadow Primeape Karate ChopClose Combat 66.8%Win rate 0/15/15Ideal IVs 32

Shadow Zapdos (Galarian) Low KickBrave Bird 66.4%Win rate 0/14/14Ideal IVs 33

Zapdos (Galarian) Low KickBrave Bird 66.0%Win rate 1/15/15Ideal IVs 34

Primeape Karate ChopClose Combat 65.6%Win rate 5/15/15Ideal IVs 35

Mega Pidgeot Wing AttackBrave Bird 65.2%Win rate 0/15/15Ideal IVs 36

Flamigo Wing AttackBrave Bird 64.7%Win rate 0/15/13Ideal IVs 37

Mega Charizard X EmberOverheat 64.3%Win rate 0/15/15Ideal IVs 38

Flareon EmberOverheat 63.8%Win rate 0/15/14Ideal IVs 39

Camerupt EmberOverheat 63.4%Win rate 14/15/15Ideal IVs 40

Mega Blaziken EmberOverheat 63.0%Win rate 0/15/15Ideal IVs 41

Pidgeot Wing AttackBrave Bird 62.5%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 42

Shadow Blaziken EmberOverheat 62.1%Win rate 0/14/14Ideal IVs 43

Revavroom Metal SoundOverheat 61.6%Win rate 1/15/15Ideal IVs 44

Blaziken EmberOverheat 61.2%Win rate 1/15/15Ideal IVs 45

Shadow Swellow Wing AttackBrave Bird 60.7%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 46

Mega Lucario Bullet PunchClose Combat 60.3%Win rate 0/15/15Ideal IVs 47

Squawkabilly PeckBrave Bird 59.8%Win rate 15/15/15Ideal IVs 48

Pawmot Thunder ShockClose Combat 59.4%Win rate 0/15/15Ideal IVs 49

Raikou Thunder ShockWild Charge 59.0%Win rate 0/14/15Ideal IVs 50

Darmanitan (Standard) Fire FangOverheat 58.5%Win rate 0/14/14Ideal IVs

Editor's verdict

Build around Shadow Talonflame, Turtonator and Talonflame: they’re the highest-ranked choices here that are legal in standard Ultra League. Mega Charizard Y appears near the top of the ranking, but Mega Pokémon are not eligible for this league, so don’t spend resources on it for this team.

Toni Ramón

Founder & lead editor · 2026-08-30

Methodology

Stat product: Every IV spread and level is brute-forced under the 2500 CP cap to maximise Attack × Defense × HP.
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 Ultra League and how to build around it.

Ultra League meta — the state of play

The listed rankings lean heavily toward Fire and Flying picks, with Shadow and regular forms both represented: Shadow Talonflame leads, followed by Turtonator and Talonflame. Tinkaton adds a different option among the higher-ranked entries. Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y are in the current Mega Raid rotation, but neither belongs in standard Ultra League; raid availability doesn’t change that league restriction.

Core picks & archetypes

Shadow Talonflame is the top-ranked legal pick in this list, with Turtonator and Talonflame close behind. Ninetales, Dodrio, Typhlosion, Shadow Charizard, Charizard and Tinkaton also feature, giving you alternatives if you don’t want to build around the top three. Treat Mega Charizard Y as a ranking outlier for this page: it cannot enter standard Ultra League.

Team building — leads, safe swaps & closers

A straightforward team to try is Talonflame in the lead, Ninetales as the safe swap and Tinkaton to close. If you want to lean into the highest-ranked legal picks instead, try Shadow Talonflame, Turtonator and Talonflame, assigning the lead and swap based on the Pokémon you have ready to invest in. The provided rankings don’t establish matchup coverage or ideal moves, so check your team against the threats you’re seeing rather than assuming this trio answers everything.

IVs & investment

Ultra League has a 2500 CP cap. Check each candidate’s projected CP before spending Stardust and Candy, and aim for a build that fits the cap rather than chasing a particular IV spread without matchup or breakpoint data. The ranking gives no IV recommendations, so I wouldn’t treat a specific spread as essential; prioritize a Pokémon you can build to the league limit and are willing to use.

Threats to watch

Shadow Talonflame, Turtonator and Talonflame are the highest-ranked legal threats in the supplied list, with Ninetales, Dodrio, Typhlosion and Tinkaton also worth planning around. Shadow Charizard and Charizard add more ranked Fire picks. Keep your team flexible enough to face those names, but the facts here don’t provide moves or matchup results, so there’s no grounded counter list to prescribe.

FAQ

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

The top 3 Ultra League Pokemon are Shadow Talonflame, Mega Charizard Y, Turtonator. 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 Ultra League team in Pokemon GO 2026?

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

For Ultra League (CP cap 2500), 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 Ultra League meta change?

The Ultra 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 Shadow Talonflame good for Ultra 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 Shadow Talonflame is ranked and how it compares to the regular form.

What moves should I use on my Ultra 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 Master League tier list No CP cap — level 50 monsters Search strings Copy-paste filters to find PvP candidates Best attackers by type Raid DPS rankings for all 18 types