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Pokemon Go’s battle arena is always evolving. With each update comes new challengers, throwing the meta into disarray and dethroning old champions. Even thoseshiny legendary Pokemonyou tried so hard to catch may be out of style in the arena.
If you’re new to it, the Great League is where you’ll start. The level cap is only 1500, and it’s not hard to put a good team together. Of course, that’s only the beginning of your journey to being the very best, but the tips, tricks, and rewards will come later.
Mandibuzz, Clodsire, And Lapras
The top three of thePvPokerankings also form a stellar team, making up for each other’s weaknesses and carrying a bevy of resistances too.
Mandibuzz
Sitting at the top of the current ranking, and withexceptional stamina and a diverse movepool,Mandibuzz serves as areliable defender.
Fitted withSnarl, Aerial Ace and Dark Pulse,it counters tough customers like Feraligator, Clodsire, and Diggersby. Not to mention it’sresistant to Ghost, Psychic, and Fighting types.
Clodsire
Clodsire issecond in the current ranking, and should bepaired with Poison Sting, Earthquake, and Sludge Bomb.
Itsresistance to Electric and Rock attacksmakes it a perfect tag-in for when Mandibuzz is being countered. Use it tocounter Primeapes and Wigglytuffs.
Lapras
Lastly,Mandibuzz and Clodsire are both vaporized when faced with an Ice-type,making other Laprases their biggest enemy.
A Lapras is oftenkitted with Psy-Wave, Ice Beam, and Sparkling Aria, but Ice Shard is viable too, if you have it.Use Lapras to counter other Mandibuzzes and Clodsires.
Malamar, Shadow Dusknoir, And Morpeko (Full Belly)
If you haven’t caught and trained the Pokemon in team 1, these Pokemon are the best alternatives, and fit together as one of the best teams too.
Malamar
Lapras, Clodsire, and Diggersby are amongthe most popular Pokemonin the Great League, but theyall fall to a Malamar.
Use Malamar first in your teamwith the fast-chargingPsywave to prepare Superpower and Foul Play,then burn their shields with these spam attacks.
Malamar’sbiggest counters are Mandibuzz, Azumarill, and Primeape.
Shadow Dusknoir
Dusclops XL and Galarian Corsola are also great Ghost-type picksto round out this team with. They all haveunique types of attacksto fill out your coverage– Dusclops has Ice Punch, while Galarian Corsola has Power Gem– butShadow Dusknoir’s Dynamic Punch tends to be the most useful, especially in this team.
Astonish and Shadow Punchare generally not used for their super-effective matchups, and instead fill Shadow Dusknoir out as a versatile team member.These quick movestake extra advantage of the 20% attack bonusfrom being a Shadow Pokemon.
Morpeko (Full Belly)
Morpeko is considered thebest electric Pokemon for the Great Leagueright now, making it theperfect counter to high rankerslike Lapras and Mandibuzz.
Thunder Shock, Aura Wheel, and Psychic Fangsare the best picks for Morpeko, with Psychic Fangs being perfect for drawing out shields too.
Shadow Galarian Wheezing, And Annihilape
Shadow Galarian Wheezing
Second only to Clodsire,Shadow Galarian Wheezing beats out old favourites like Drapion and Toxapexin the Poison type ranking. Theircoverage as Fairy-types, along with their Dark-type move Brutal Swingmake them perfect counters to Mandibuzz, Primeape, and Annihilape.
That said, they areweak to Ground-types,so Clodsire and Diggersby are their biggest fears. Round out their kit with Fairy Wind and Sludgefor a dynamic teammate.
Annihilape
Annilhilape is new to the meta, but their unique typing makes them tough to counter.Ghost, Fairy, Flying, and Psychic are their weaknesses,while they havefar more resistances.
Counter, Rage Fist, and Ice Punchgive them great coverage against Morpeko (Full Belly), Lapras, and Corviknight. Their one downside is thatthey’re a glass cannon, and will be KO-ed by Mandibuzz and other Ghost-types.
It’s safe to invest in these Pokemon now, as they’re at the top of the food chain. When the meta changes, you can mix and match these Pokemon to keep climbing that competitive ladder. And for more help with your climb, check out ourBattle League Guide.
