Community Day PvP Tier List

Best Moveset: Vine Whip + Frenzy Plant* & Sludge Bomb

Great Moveset: Razor Leaf + Frenzy Plant* & Sludge Bomb

Venusaur is arguably the superior Grass-type in the Great League as long as it has Frenzy Plant. What makes Venusaur stand out from the crowd is its ability to punish Grass resisting Pokemon with Sludge Bomb, but without Frenzy Plant it lacks the speed and power to tackle its most important matchups. For example, Ivysaur is very similar to Venusaur in its moveset, but because Power Whip lacks the punch Frenzy Plant carries, those without Venusaur would often rather use a Razor Leaf user such as Victreebel to fulfill the Grass-type role. 

Out of all the Pokemon on this Tier List, Frenzy Plant Venusaur is the only one that cannot be worked around or directly replaced. If you don’t have a solid Great League Bulbasaur set aside to evolve already, start looking today!

Best Moveset: Mud Shot + Hydro Cannon* & Earthquake

Great Moveset: Mud Shot + Hydro Cannon* & Sludge Wave

In general, the absence of a Grass-type Pokemon on your opponent's roster suggests Mud Shot users can be brought in at will. Hydro Cannon Swampert takes the role of a Mud Shot user and turns it up to 11. Aside from its prowess in the Open Great League, any Ground or Water-type Silph Cup will have Swampert showing up. 

Additionally, unlike most Pokemon featured on this Tier List, Hydro Cannon Swampert’s prowess is recognized across all three Leagues. Most Pokemon in the Ultra and Master Leagues (that aren’t Giratina) fear the power of the Mud Fish Pokemon. So you may want to keep your eyes out for Mudkips if you do any level of PvP.

Best Moveset: Fire Spin + Blast Burn* & Dragon Claw

Great Moveset: Air Slash + Blast Burn* & Dragon Claw

Blast Burn Charizard is the champion of our hearts and of Fire-type Cups. When pitted up against other Fire-type Pokemon only Magcargo stands up to Charizard. Due to Magcargo’s limited utility outside of countering Charizard, Charizard is otherwise unchallenged in its role. While Charizard has limited utility in the general Great League, if the Rainbow Cup is any indication, when you’re missing Blast Burn Charizard, you’re really missing it.

Best Moveset: Vine Whip + Frenzy Plant* & Earthquake

Great Moveset: Razor Leaf + Frenzy Plant* &  Earthquake

Imagine having a Venusaur that could delete Steel-type Pokemon. Now open your eyes. It’s Meganium. While Meganium isn’t as sought after as Venusaur and Tropius, it is the only Grass-type Pokemon that can make quick work of their Steel-type advisories. Additionally, the lack of a second type can keep it strong in the face of Psychic attacks that melt the common Grass/Poison Pokemon. 

While Meganium typically plays second fiddle to other Grass-type Pokemon, its utility as pure Grass-type Pokemon with access to Earthquake cannot be ignored. If you miss out on getting one this December, it won’t be the end of the world, but it will feel better to have one.

Best Moveset: Snarl + Foul Play & Last Resort*

Umbreon is so tanky that it makes opponents wish they studied the matchup better. However, using Fairy, Fighting, or your own Dark-type Pokemon makes handling Umbreon easy. Last Resort is Umberon’s Last Resort to dish out meaningful neutral damage when walled by these Pokemon. Without Last Resort, Umbreon is too risky to consider due to how vulnerable it becomes.

It’s worth highlighting that Umbreon faces more challenges than all other Tier 2 Pokemon. In the Open Great League, Umbreon faces stiff competition from Zweilous, a Dark-type with a powerful Dragon sub-typing. In Cups, the alternative coverage of competing Dark-type Pokemon often pulls them ahead of Umbreon. In the future, Umbreon will also have Scrafty and Mandibuzz to compete with. While Umbreon is great, you don’t have to sweat getting one unless you have a personal preference.

Best Moveset: Counter + Blast Burn* & Blaze Kick

Great Moveset: Counter + Blast Burn* & Brave Bird

Leading up to Blaziken’s Community Day, there were several Cups in which Blaziken would have been useful had it had Blast Burn. Well, it’s Season 2 now and Blaziken finally has Blast Burn! While Blaze Kick can be enough to secure Blaziken some KOs, Blast Burn is often the final word in neutral matchups. Unlike Charizard, Blast Burn Blaziken also has the potential to stand out in the Open Great League. While its not as powerful Medicham or Deoxys Defense Forme, there’s a lot to be said for being able to harass Steel and Grass-type Pokemon.

Best Moveset: Charm + Synchronoise* & Shadow Ball

Great Moveset: Confusion + Synchronoise* & Shadow Ball

Unlike other Pokemon featured on this Tier List, Gardevoir doesn’t need its Community Day Charge Move, but it is better with it. Gardevoir’s main goal is to Charm down opponents and throw around its powerful Shadow Ball. Synchronoise is added into bait shields. Gardevoir can still fulfill its role without Synchronoise, but without it, it’ll be slightly less consistent. Every Shadow Ball missed post bait will have a lack of Synchronoise to blame. 

Alternatively, one could consider using Frustration or Return* over Synchronoise for an even earlier bait. Having Synchronoise is the more mathematically sound middle ground between baiting and damage, but if you need a bait then there are routes to it without Synchronoise. 

*Purified Pokemon cap at trainer level. As a result, a low-level trainer could Purify and sneak a Return Gardevoir into the Great League. Note that Return and Frustration disable Community Day Moves - a Return + Synchronoise Gardevoir cannot exist without the use of an Elite TM.

Best Moveset: Water Gun + Hydro Cannon* & Ice Beam

Great Moveset: Water Gun + Hydro Cannon* & Skull Bash

Due to the power of Hydro Cannon and the coverage of Ice Beam, Blastoise always has the potential to show up in a Water-type Cup. Historically, it has been outshone by Azumarill, Mantine, and Mud Shot users, and will likely continue to be outdone. However, the potential for Blastoise to become relevant will always be there. If you don’t have a Great League viable Blastoise already, December may be your chance to pick one up.

Best Moveset: Smack Down* + Crunch & Stone Edge

Swag Moveset: Smack Down* + Return & Stone Edge or Crunch

In Season 1, Tyranitar had a few niche showings as a Fast Move spamming Dark-type Pokemon in the Twilight and Nightmare Cups. However, due to how exclusive a <1500 CP Smack Down Tyranitar is, not much came of it. Should Tyranitar be useful in Season 2, we’ll at least have the option to use it now. On the topic of Great League Tyranitar, the level of Purified Pokemon caps at trainer level. If you have a level 13 or lower “friend” Purify a Shadow Larvitar and trade it to you, Smack Down + Return Tyranitar would be another option. 

Smack Down Tyranitar can also have some use in the Master League, Raids, and Rocket Battles. Securing one for those purposes is also recommended.

Best Moveset: Bullet Punch + Meteor Mash* & Earthquake

Great Moveset: Bullet Punch + Meteor Mash* & Psychic

Metagross didn’t have a lot going for it in the Great League until Gardevoir took over the Nightmare Cup. While it is unlikely we will need to call upon a Great League Metagross again, don’t risk getting caught with your pants down.

Like Tyranitar, Metagross also has utility in the Master League, Raids, and Rock Battles. In fact, Metagross is the greatest Steel-type attacker in the game! So while you’re preparing to evolve for the Great League, keep your high IV ones in mind for everything else.

Best Moveset: Razor Leaf + Frenzy Plant* & Sand Tomb

Great Moveset: Razor Leaf + Frenzy Plant* & Stone Edge

Because of Razor Leaf, Torterra has always come to mind when looking at Ground-type Silph Cups. However, due to the absence of a low-cost Charge Move nothing has really come about. Frenzy Plant may give Torterra the speed and power it needs to stand out in future Cups. While it isn’t 100% certain Torterra will get a chance to stand out, it is certain Torterra strikes fear in the heart of every single Mud Shot user. 

Best Moveset: Incinerate + Blast Burn* & Thunder Punch

Typhlosion has had a rough history in PvP. With Shadow Claw and Blast Burn alone, you’d think it had the tools for success, but it has never come to show. To add further insult, Ninetales was favored over Typhlosion in the Rainbow Cup, operating in the same Fire-type with Solar Beam niche! Years have passed since then, and Typhlosion has gotten Incinerate (which would later be buffed), and Thunder Punch, which does bring some life to it.

Best Moveset: Waterfall + Hydro Cannon* & Ice Beam or Crunch

Great Moveset: Bite + Hydro Cannon* & Ice Beam or Crunch

Feraligatr is effectively a bad Blastoise and Blastoise is already a bad Azumarill/Mantine. Will Feraligatr realistically become an important option for Cups? Not likely. But how foolish would you feel if it somehow does and you didn’t take the time to prepare one? Think about it.