[Toplist] Best Pokemon in Pokemon GO for Raids/PvP 2025

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Looking for the strongest and best Pokemon in Pokemon GO? Whether you're aiming to dominate raids, climb PvP ranks, or simply build the strongest team, knowing which Pokemon stand out in 2025 is important.

In this guide, we break down the top-tier attackers across Raids and PvP (Great, Ultra, and Master League), highlight the best Pokemon attackers by type, and share expert tips on how to catch or obtain them. Let's start!

In Pokemon GO, the idea of the “best” Pokemon can vary based on context — whether it’s dominating raids, winning PvP battles, high rarity or being a versatile all-rounder. For this article, we’ve introduced a flexible scoring approach to highlight Pokemon that perform well across key areas of gameplay.

Each Pokemon should be scored based on its effectiveness in:

Rather than chasing a single “#1,” this method helps surface Pokemon that consistently perform well across multiple formats, depending on your personal playstyle and priorities. Some might excel in one category, while others offer balance and flexibility — both matter when building a strong roster.

There’s no single Pokemon that dominates every corner of Pokemon GO — the best choice often depends on where you’re battling and what role you need it to fill.

If we consider overall usefulness across PvE raids, PvP battles, and other gameplay scenarios, a few standout Pokemon emerge. For example:

1 Mewtwo

Mewtwo is widely regarded as a top-tier attacker in raids and Master League PvP due to its raw power and diverse movepool.

2 Garchomp

Garchomp brings excellent value across raids, PvP, and even Rocket battles, especially with access to both Ground and Dragon-type moves.

3 Dragonite & Metagross

Dragonite and Metagross also earn high scores for their broad utility and relatively easy accessibility (especially during Community Days or events).

Next, we’ll introduce the top 10 best Pokemon for both Raids and PvP battles respectively.

When it comes to raiding in Pokemon GO, high DPS (damage per second), strong type matchups, and availability of Mega or Shadow boosts define the true powerhouses. Below are the ten most dominant raid attackers and strongest Pokemon in Pokemon GO across all types as of 2025:

No. 1 Primal Groudon

Type: Ground / Fire

Max CP at Level 50: 6672

Best Moveset:

• Fast Move: Mud Shot
• Charged Move: Precipice Blades

Primal Groudon stands as one of the most formidable raid attackers in Pokemon GO, boasting the highest CP in Pokemon GO and devastating damage output. Its unique Ground/Fire typing grants it powerful advantages against a wide array of raid bosses, making it a versatile counter. With Precipice Blades, it delivers massive Ground-type damage, while its Fire typing helps it counter Steel- and Grass-types effectively. Its high CP ceiling and balanced stats make it a staple for many raid teams.

Suggested Raid Use:

Particularly effective against Electric-, Steel-, Fire-, and Fairy-type raid bosses, such as Zapdos, Metagross, and Mega Charizard Y.

No. 2 Primal Kyogre

Type: Water

Max CP at Level 50: 6672

Best Moveset:

• Fast Move: Waterfall
• Charged Move: Origin Pulse

Primal Kyogre is an exceptional Water-type attacker renowned for its massive CP and outstanding bulk, making it a powerhouse in raid battles. Its signature move, Origin Pulse, deals heavy Water-type damage with excellent energy efficiency, allowing sustained output during prolonged fights. As a pure Water-type, Primal Kyogre excels in taking down Fire-, Rock-, and Ground-type raid bosses, while its high stamina helps it survive tough encounters. It’s often a top pick for many raid teams aiming for maximum efficiency.

Suggested Raid Use:

Especially effective against Fire-, Ice-, and Steel-type raid bosses like Rhyperior, and Charizard.

No. 3 Mega Rayquaza

Type: Dragon / Flying

Max CP at Level 50: 6458

Best Moveset:

• Fast Move: Dragon Tail
• Charged Move: Dragon Ascent

Mega Rayquaza is still, without question, one of the most powerful non-Primal Mega evolution currently in Pokemon GO. Its sky-high base stats, combined with the exclusive move Dragon Ascent, make it a top-tier attacker with overwhelming Dragon- and Flying-type DPS.

Unlike many Megas, it doesn’t require a separate Mega Energy to evolve after the first time, giving it practical long-term utility. Its sheer dominance makes it a must-have in nearly every meta-relevant raid scenario, especially with its bonus boost to other Dragon and Flying-type teammates.

Suggested Raid Use:

Especially effective against Dragon, Grass, Fighting, Bug, and Ground-type raid bosses, Mega Rayquaza is a go-to counter for bosses weak to Dragon or Flying moves, such as Dialga and Giratina.

No. 4 Shadow Mewtwo

Type: Psychic

Max CP at Level 50: 4724

Best Moveset:

• Fast Move: Psycho Cut
• Charged Move: Psystrike

Shadow Mewtwo boasts an exceptionally high attack stat, making it one of the top Psychic-type attackers in Pokemon GO. Its Shadow form increases its attack power by 20% compared to regular Mewtwo, enabling it to dish out massive damage quickly. The combination of Psycho Cut and Psystrike optimizes energy gain and damage output, essential for raid battles.

Suggested Raid Use:

Shadow Mewtwo is especially effective against Fighting, Poison, and Psychic-type raid bosses, where its high damage can shorten battle times significantly. However, users should be mindful of its vulnerabilities, such as to Bug, Ghost, and Dark-type moves.

No. 5 White Kyurem

Type: Dragon / Ice

Max CP at Level 50: 5206

Best Moveset:

• Fast Move: Dragon Breath
• Charged Move: Ice Burn

In Pokemon GO raids, White Kyurem is favored for its powerful Ice-type fast move, Ice Fang, enabling quick energy gain and strong charged attacks—making it ideal against Dragon-type raid bosses. Black Kyurem, with higher overall stats and the ability to benefit from Party Power boosts, performs better in group raids where Party Power is active. For solo or non-Party Power raids, White Kyurem’s focused Ice-type offense often makes it the better choice, while Black Kyurem is more versatile for team-based raid strategies.

Suggested Raid Use:

Particularly useful against Electric-, Grass-, and Water-type raid bosses such as Rayquaza, Salamence, and Landorus.

No. 6 Dawn Wings Necrozma

Type: Psychic / Ghost

Max CP at Level 50: 4634

Best Moveset:

• Fast Move: Psycho Cut
• Charged Move: Moongeist Beam

Dawn Wings Necrozma stands out as a versatile and powerful Psychic/Ghost-type attacker in raids, offering excellent damage output against Fighting, Psychic, and Poison-type raid bosses. Its dual typing allows it to resist common raid attacks and hit hard with Psycho Cut and Moongeist Beam. Although less bulky than some legendary counterparts, its strong offensive stats and solid moveset make it a valuable counter, especially in raids where Fighting and Normal types shine.

Suggested Raid Use:

Ideal for countering Fighting-type bosses like Machamp, and Psychic-type raid bosses such as Mewtwo.

No. 7 Mega Salamence

Type: Dragon / Flying

Max CP at Level 50: 5688

Best Moveset:

• Fast Move: Dragon Tail
• Charged Move: Fly

Mega Salamence is a devastating Dragon-type attacker in raids, combining its massive Attack stat with a dual typing that grants it wide offensive coverage. With a signature crescent-wing design and one of the highest Dragon-type DPS potentials in the game, it excels in both raw power and versatility. While it lacks the secondary utility of certain Megas, it remains a reliable nuke in many raid battles.

Suggested Raid Use:

Mega Salamence performs exceptionally well against Grass- and Ground-type raid bosses. It’s a strong counter to Pokémon like Virizion, Landorus, and Groudon, making it a versatile and powerful Mega choice in PvE scenarios.

No. 8 Mega Garchomp

Type: Dragon / Ground

Max CP at Level 50: 6132

Best Moveset:

• Fast Move: Dragon Tail
• Charged Move: Outrage or Earth Power

Mega Garchomp is a formidable Mega Evolution known for its immense offensive stats and solid bulk. Its Dragon and Ground typing grants it strong neutral and super-effective damage options against many raid bosses. With access to powerful moves like Outrage and Earthquake, it excels in dishing out high sustained damage.

Suggested Raid Use:

Particularly effective against Electric-, Fire-, Rock-, and Poison-type raid bosses, Mega Garchomp is an excellent choice for tackling bosses like Raikou, Heatran, and Tyranitar.

No. 9 Mega Lucario

Type: Fighting / Steel

Max CP at Level 50: 4325

Best Moveset:

• Fast Move: Force Palm
• Charged Move: Aura Sphere

Mega Lucario stands out in Pokemon GO raids with its unique Fighting and Steel typing combined with high attack stats and versatile moves. Its fast move, Counter, charges energy quickly and deals significant damage, enabling powerful charged attacks like Close Combat and Aura Sphere. This makes it especially effective against Rock, Ice, Steel, and Fairy-type raid bosses. Besides its strong offense, Mega Lucario’s Steel typing grants it notable resistances, increasing its survivability in battles.

Suggested Raid Use:

Ideal as a top Fighting-type attacker, Mega Lucario excels against Rock and Ice raid bosses such as Tyranitar and Metagross, making it a great choice for fast and efficient raid clearing.

No. 10 Mega Tyranitar

Type: Rock / Dark

Max CP at Level 50: 6045

Best Moveset:

• Fast Move: Bite
• Charged Move: Brutal Swing

Mega Tyranitar shines with its Dark-type fast move Bite, which quickly generates energy, paired with the heavy-hitting charged move Brutal Swing. This moveset makes it especially effective against Psychic- and Ghost-type raid bosses. Its Rock/Dark typing provides useful resistances but also brings some vulnerabilities, such as to Fighting and Bug moves. With high CP and strong damage output, Mega Tyranitar remains a solid choice for many raid battles.

Suggested Raid Use:

Mega Tyranitar is particularly effective as a Dark-type counter in raids against Psychic and Ghost Pokemon.

Pokemon GO Best Attackers by Type

1Great League (CP ≤ 1500)

2Ultra League (CP ≤ 2500)

3Master League (No Limits)

1 Catching in the Wild

Many top Pokemon for PvP and raids occasionally appear in the wild, especially during special events, biomes, or weather boosts. Pokemon like Jumpluff or Drifblim can often be found more easily during seasonal rotations or spotlight hours. Keeping an eye on local spawns and nest maps can improve your chances significantly.

2 Raiding

Legendary and Mythical Pokemon such as Primal Groudon, Necrozma, or Zacian are typically available only through 5-star or elite raids. To catch them, you’ll need to team up with other players, prepare strong counters, and use Golden Razz Berries or Silver Pinaps to improve catch rates. Remote Raid Passes can help you join global raids without leaving home.

3 Hatching from Eggs

Some rare Pokemon can only be obtained through egg hatching, especially during limited-time events. For example, event-specific 7 km or 10 km eggs may contain powerful species useful in PvP or PvE. Using Super Incubators and planning your walking routes can help you hatch more efficiently.

4 Trading with Friends

Trading is a great way to get region-exclusive or rare event Pokemon you may have missed. Increasing friendship levels reduces Stardust costs, and Lucky Trades guarantee higher IVs. Coordinate with trusted friends or join local communities to find the Pokemon you need.

5 Using Location Spoofing Tools like iMyFone AnyTo

For hard-to-reach Pokemon or event-specific spawns, tools like location changer iMyFone AnyTo can simulate your location, letting you explore hotspots like New York’s Central Park or Tokyo’s Shinjuku in-game. You can teleport, plan routes, or attend raids worldwide—all without physically moving—making it a powerful solution for catching rare Pokemon fast.

1．What is the best Pokemon for raids in Pokemon GO?

Primal Groudon currently leads the charts for raids due to its massive CP and powerful Ground-type moves, making it one of the most effective attackers against Electric-, Fire-, and Poison-type raid bosses.

2．Which Pokemon are best for PvP battles in 2025?

Top PvP picks vary by league. For Great League, Tinkaton and Jumpluff stand out; Ultra League sees strong performances from Skeledirge and Jellicent; in Master League, Zacian (Crowned Sword) and Aria Meloetta dominate with versatile movesets.

3．How do I catch these top-tier Pokemon?

Some Pokemon are available through raids, research tasks, or events. Rare spawns may require location-based tools like iMyFone AnyTo to access region-exclusive or event-specific encounters.

4．Are shadow or mega evolutions better for raids?

Both can be extremely powerful. Shadow Pokemon like Shadow Rampardos offer higher raw damage, while Mega Evolutions like Mega Garchomp provide team-wide boosts and versatility depending on the raid boss.

5．Is it worth investing in PvP-only Pokemon?

Absolutely. Many PvP-optimized Pokemon like Dunsparce or Grumpig may not shine in raids but are meta-relevant in their respective leagues, helping you win more battles and earn better rewards.

6．Can I trade for these strongest Pokemon?

Yes, but keep in mind that trading legendary, shiny, or region-exclusive Pokemon may require high friendship levels and significant stardust. Special trades are limited to once per day.

From dominating raid bosses with top attackers like Primal Groudon to mastering PvP leagues with underrated picks like Tinkaton or Grumpig, building your Pokemon GO dream team requires strategy, resources, and timing. With the help of this guide, you'll be better equipped to focus on the best Pokemon in Pokemon GO and use smart tools like Pokemon GO spoofer AnyTo to catch the rarest ones. Stay ahead of the competition and keep going — both your Pokemon and your gameplay!

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Article by

Spencer Hill

Spencer Hill has over 5 years of experience specializing in mobile screen mirroring and virtual location modification. As a senior editor at iMyFone, he creates user-friendly tutorials that help mobile users maximize their device functionality.