The Battle Leagues of Pokémon GO allow you to fight other trainers in PvP battles, which can easily be challenging if you aren't using a strong team. The best teams for the Great League, Ultra League, and Master League ranks of this competitive mode all look different due to different restrictions. It's up to you to build the best squad of Pokémon possible to take on each League's strongest trainers.

The lowest rank of the Battle League is the Great League, followed by the Ultra League, and finally, the Master League. The Master League allows any Pokémon of any to participate, but the preceding Ranks have different cap limits on power. Even if you have some of the rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO, they may be too strong to choose for battle in the Great or Ultra Leagues.

Best Pokémon Teams For Great League

Largest Pool Of Possible Team

The Great League has a cap of 1,500​​​​​, making only a select number of Pokémon available for you to use. However, this restriction actually makes this Rank full of possibilities, as it allows Pokémon you normally wouldn't see in the higher Leagues to thrive. The meta of this League is constantly shifting as more Pokémon are added to Pokémon GO's various events.

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Like any Pokémon team, you want to pick a squad of pocket monsters who for each other's weaknesses. As you may know, you only get to pick three Pokémon for battles in any League, so you have to choose wisely. If you have too many Pokémon who take super-effective damage from the same type, you'll struggle to beat trainers who have a powerful team member who counters your group directly.

As of this time of writing, some of the best Pokémon teams for the Great League are:

Team

Types

Pros

Cons

  1. Galarian Corsola
  2. Shadow Drapion
  3. Azumarill
  • Ghost
  • Poison/Dark
  • Fairy/Water

Very strong type spread that counters a variety of other meta picks in the Great League. Has almost no shared type weaknesses as well.

Has greater defensive than offensive power, causing it to lose some wars of attrition.

  1. Mandibuzz
  2. Diggersby
  3. Primeape
  • Dark/Flying
  • Normal/Ground
  • Fighting

Can tear through bulkier Pokémon fast with powerful attacking strength in moves like Earthquake, Air Slash, and Cross Chop.

Very limited bulk in Pokémon choices, so the team can get taken out fast if it is countered.

  1. Corviknight
  2. Dunsparce
  3. Gastrodon
  • Steel/Flying
  • Normal
  • Water/Ground

Extremely defensive team that has safe swaps to balance itself, allowing it to adapt to any threats.

Dunsparce loses to strong Fighting-types seen often in Great League, making this team weak in certain match-ups.

Due to the variety of Pokémon you'll encounter in the Great League, it's best to have multiple teams at your disposal to get wins. You need multiple victories against other trainers to rank up to the Ultra League, so experiment with different swaps from time to time. Some other Pokémon who are very strong in Great League are:

  • Clodsire
  • Morpeko (Full Belly)
  • Shadow Feraligatr
  • Dachsbun
  • Shadow Marowak
  • Talonflame

Best Pokémon Teams For Ultra League

Ramp Up The Power Of Your Team

Pokémon GO Clefable, Tentacruel, and Malamar in Battle League keyart

Unlike the Great League, you can use Pokémon up to a of 2,500 in the Ultra League Rank. This will allow you to start seeing Legendary Pokémon in Pokémon GO, especially ones from community days or special events. Several starter Pokémon and their final evolutions are in this League as well, creating a large selection of possible creatures you can put on a winning team.

Here are some of the best teams you can choose once you get into Ultra League:

Team

Types

Pros

Cons

  1. Malamar
  2. Tentacruel
  3. Clefable
  • Dark/Psychic
  • Water/Poison
  • Normal/Fairy

An incredibly bulky team that's difficult for opponents to take down. It covers a wide variety of types with hard-hitting moves as well.

Struggles against a team that it only does normal damage against. It is specialized to counter meta teams, so it struggles when it can't target a weakness.

  1. Giratina
  2. Nidoqueen
  3. Steelix
  • Ghost/Dragon
  • Ground/Poison
  • Steel/Rock

Well-balanced team with strong offense and defense. Has a wide variety of moves available that cover multiple type match-ups.

Can lose quickly to bulky Ghost-types like Aegislash who can defend against it. Ice-types can also target the vulnerabilities of this team.

  1. Shadow Gliscor
  2. Shadow Feraligatr
  3. Greninja
  • Ground/Flying
  • Water
  • Water/Dark

A powerful offensive team that counters its only weaknesses through its composition.

Gliscor can lose badly to Ice-type Pokémon. Also, this team has multiple glass cannons with little defenses that last when targeted.

Some of the strongest Pokémon in the Ultra League, such as Shadow Gliscor, work best when they are surrounded by Pokémon who cover their weaknesses. Similar to the Great League, you'll want to mix and match Pokémon with powerful meta picks to get the most wins you can. Some other Pokémon who dominate the Ultra League include:

  • Primeape
  • Zygarde (Complete Forme)
  • Registeel
  • Cobalion
  • Shadow Drapion
  • Shadow Galarian Weezing
  • Regirock
  • Lickilicky

Best Pokémon Teams For Master League

Choose Only The Strongest Pocket Monsters

Pokémon GO Zygarde Complete Forme, Zacian Hero of Many Battles and Ho-Oh Legendaries next to Battle League keyart

Any Pokémon of any level is allowed in the Master League, giving you endless options at your disposal. That being said, you'll typically be picking Pokémon above 2,500 to sur the power cap of the previous Ultra League. You'll often see Pokémon well into the 3,000 or higher ranges in the Master League, giving you your greatest challenges by a long shot.

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As a result, the Master League is arguably the hardest to make a team for. Sticking to Legendaries or raid bosses in Pokémon GO who you've caught is a good rule of thumb when entering this Rank. Among the Pokémon you may have, here are some of the best teams you can put together for the toughest Battle League:

Team

Types

Pros

Cons

  1. Kyogre
  2. Yveltal
  3. Dusk Mane Necrozma
  • Water
  • Dark/Flying
  • Psychic/Steel

Strong Legendary line-up with few weaknesses that exist in Master League. Fairly bulky as well with long-lasting health values.

Can have a hard time against anti-meta picks that target vulnerabilities, such as Garchomp for Necrozma and Rhypherior for Yveltal.

  1. Xerneas
  2. Palkia (Origin)
  3. Rhyperior
  • Fairy
  • Dragon/Water
  • Rock/Ground

Targets meta options in Master League with a high variety of moves available for each Pokémon.

Does not use three Legendary Pokémon, giving a clear weakness in stat value in exchange for countering meta picks from other teams.

  1. Zygarde (Complete Forme)
  2. Zacian (Hero)
  3. Ho-Oh
  • Dragon/Ground
  • Fairy
  • Fire/Flying

Offensive powerhouses that target many different weaknesses seen in Master League.

Less bulky than other teams, with a slight weakness to Ice-type attacks seen in Zygarde.

Many of the other strong Pokémon in Master League are easily swapped for each other to form a functioning team. In this Rank, you can't be picky with what Pokemon you use, as long as you have ones of extremely high . Some other options you could use in this Rank include:

  • Incarnate Forme Enamorus
  • Mamoswine
  • Garchomp
  • Shadow Heatran
  • Dusk Wings Necrozma
  • Origin Forme Dialga

Those who win enough matches in Master League may even see themselves become Legends in that Rank. This is by far the most challenging goal you can reach in Pokemon GO, as it sets you above everyone else in Great League, Ultra League, and Master League when you use your best team correctly.

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Pokémon GO
Released
July 6, 2016
ESRB
e
Developer(s)
Niantic, The Pokemon Company
Publisher(s)
Niantic
Engine
Unity
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play
ios, andriod
Cross Save
yes
Franchise
Pokemon

Platform(s)
iOS, Android