Choosing the best Pokemon for gym battles in Pokemon Go is tougher than it should be. Unlike in classic Pokemon games, where pretty much any Pokemon can be leveled up to the point where it’s great at battling, Pokemon Go definitely favors specific Pokemon for its best gym fighters.
We’ll share with you the best types of Pokemon for gyms, which Pokemon are best for holding versus battling and how to choose the right Pokemon to power up.
What are the best gym fighters in Pokemon Go?
Lapras, Dragonite, Snorlax, and Vaporeon are currently the best Pokemon for gyms available in Pokemon Go.
For some reason, Pokemon Go heavily favors water-type Pokemon for battling. That’s why you’ll frequently see Lapras and Vaporeons at gyms — they’re not very difficult to get, but they are very strong.
If you manage to take down a gym and install your own Pokemon, you should consider leaving a Lapras or Vaporeon there!
Which Pokemon are best for battling gyms in Pokemon Go?
Really, your strongest Pokemon are the best for battling. But if you have a variety of strong Pokemon at hand, you should favor grass or electric Pokemon. A fighter like Exeggutor is great against water types.
If the gym you are battling isn’t primarily water, you should base your line up of gym fighters on the types there. If there’s a Magmar, use a water Pokemon. If you see a Psychic or Dark type Pokemon, you should probably use a Pokemon of the same type.
If there are multiple Pokemon, try to order your line up so that your type advantage persists throughout the match.
What Pokemon should I leave in a gym in Pokemon Go?
Vaporeon, Snorlax, Lapras, and Dragonite are good choices to leave in a Pokemon Go gym. If you don’t have any of these, choose one of your highest CP Pokemon and leave it in the gym.
You probably don’t want to choose your absolute highest CP Pokemon because then you won’t have it to battle with.
Choose the right Pokemon to power up for the best gym fighters
To get a really strong Pokemon for battling in Pokemon Go, you will probably have to use some stardust to power it up. So how do you decide which Pokemon to spend your hard-earned stardust on?
Believe it or not, a high CP isn’t the only sign that you should power up a particular Pokemon. You should also look for a Pokemon with two attacks of the same type.
For example, if your Vaporeon has two water attacks instead of one normal and one water, it will be stronger.
You should also check out where the CP arc lands on the Pokemon you’re considering powering up. If your CP arc is very close to the right-hand side, it will take fewer power ups, but your Pokemon will not be much stronger once you’ve finished.
A typical power up adds about 30 CP and 1-3 HP. If you’ve only got a couple to go, your Pokemon won’t end up that much stronger than it started.
Weight also matters in Pokemon Go. Pokemon that have an XS or XL next to their size have different advantages.
XS Pokemon will be faster than their average counterparts. This means they can land more blows in a battle. However, because they are small, their attacks are generally a bit weaker.
XL Pokemon are slower but stronger. So, their moves will take a bit longer but will cause more damage once landed.
If either of these options is available to you while you’re choosing a Pokemon to power up, seriously consider them. Both XS and XL Pokemon cause more damage in Pokemon Go.
