Since Goodra got Aqua Tail in Pokemon GO, it has been a decent Shadow Dragonair side-grade in Pokemon GO PvP. With the addition of Thunder Punch, it now has a stronger niche in being able to manage Flying-types and Water-types a bit better. To christen Goodra’s new found power, we put together the Goodra PvP IV Deep Dive- highlighting Goodra’s most important Breakpoints and Bulkpoints for Great League PvP.
Note: this guide discusses the hidden true stats of Pokemon in Pokemon GO. In order to see these true stats you need to use an IV checking app (CalcyIV, Pokegenie) or an IV checking website (PvPIVs.com, or PvPoke itself). To make things simple, the guide also features standard PvP IV tables.
If you’re not familiar with PvP IVs, check out this PvP IVs Simplified video.
Thunder Punch vs Power Whip vs Draco Meteor
Goodra
Typing: Dragon
- Attack: 220
- Defense: 242
- Stamina: 207
Fast Moves: Dragon Breath, Water Gun
Charged Moves: Draco Meteor, Sludge Wave, Muddy Water, Power Whip, Aqua Tail, Thunder Punch*
In general, Power Whip and Draco Meteor are better moves than Thunder Punch- both offering more punch in neutral matchups. Thunder Punch may be the default second move of choice in current meta though, as it gives Goodra a stronger option vs Fliers while maintaining its Water-type matchups. I wouldn’t consider dropping Aqua Tail, as it is Goodra’s lowest energy cost Charge Move (unless the meta really called for a different combination).
If you’re serious about PvP, you’ll probably want non-Thunder Punch IV options available for metas where Thunder Punch is less useful (so you don’t waste Elite TMs).
PvP IV Tables
The tables hyperlinked below feature the IV spreads that meet some of the more important stat checks highlighted in the article. It’s important to review the guide itself to make sure you’re getting what you want out of your Goodra. For example, you may want a slightly higher Atk or Def weight for higher Breakpoint potential.
Note: This guide exclusively covers Aqua Tail and Thunder Punch matchups. In general, Draco Meteor and Power Whip will have the same stat goals though.
Premium Bulk (135.72 Def, 117 HP) [Recommended]
- 118 HP can overcome 141 HP Altaria 1-1 w/ Thunder Punch
- 117 HP would tie
- 136.26 Def better fortifies the Azumarill 1-0 (Vig Slayer) & Mantine 1-1 (Azu Slayer)
- 137.32 Def covering 92.6 Atk Azumarill & 105.5 Atk Mantine
- Higher Atk has more potential to catch the Shadow Gligar 0-0 & 2-2
- 119.69 Atk for the Rank 1 Shadow Gligar (0/15/12)
- Note: You will likely get this Atk BP with or without an Atk weight
- 117 HP is required to not lose the Goodra mirror
Lickitung Slayer (122.01 Atk, 115 HP)
- 123.07 Atk for the max Def non-Best Buddy Lickitung
- 123.59 Atk for the Rank 1 & max Def Best Buddy
- 123.07 Atk for Clodsire 1-2 potential
- 116 HP for the high bulk Shadow Dragonair 1-1
- 123.97 Atk for the Rank 1 Altaria 1-1 & 2-2
- Note: The drop in bulk will lose several matchups, such as the Lickitung 2-2, Whiscash 1-1, & Skeledirge 0-1
- 124.5 Atk for the Pelipper 2-2 (double bait into Hurricane scenario)
Great League Goodra
In the Great League, Goodra has three flavors: High Bulk, Lickitung Slayer, and Altaria Slayer. In general, the high bulk variation may be the flavor of choice, as it plays up Goodra’s potential vs Azumarill, Mantine, Umbreon, Charjabug, Cresselia, and the mirror.
135.72 Def is a safe baseline, but slight Atk weighted Azumarill and Mantine may overcome the 1-0 and 1-1 respectively without 136.26 Def. The higher end of their “slight Atk weights” may require up to 137.32 Def even. 117 HP is also a safe spot, enabling the Azumaril 1-0, Charjabug 0-0, 1-1 mirror tie, and Altaria 1-1 tie (or win, HP depending). 118 HP could secure victory in the Altaria 1-1 (well, at least 90% of the time..). Slight Atk weights on Goodra offer more potential to catch Shadow Gligar in the 0-0 & 2-2, but due to the inconsistencies in Shadow PvP IVs, it is likely even the lowest of Atk stat Goodra would get the Breakpoint.
The “Lickitung Slayer” Goodra trades the comfort of bulk in order to hammer down on Lickitung in the 0-0 and 2-2 shield scenarios. Goodra would need 122.01 Atk for the Rank 1, non-Best Buddy Lickitung. The max Def, non-Best Buddy Lickitung would require 123.07 Atk, and the high-end of Best Buddy Lickitung would ask for 123.59 Atk. If going this route, Def means nearly nothing and HP is everything. Maintaining 115 HP may be necessary for the Lickitung 2-2, Skeledirge 0-1, Whiscash 1-1, and Shadow Dragonair 1-1 tie (or win, HP depending). 116 HP would overcome the tankiest of Shadow Dragonair.
Then finally, there is the “Altaria Slayer.” Should Goodra want to overcome Altaria in the 2-2, it would need a 123.97 Atk stat. This would cause Goodra to suffer in the Lickitung 2-2, Whiscash 1-1, Skeledirge 0-1, and Shadow Dragonair 1-1 (among other things). This Atk weight is worth being aware of, but may be dubious in practice. If you’re going this far in Atk, Goodra may as well go even further and pick up the Pelipper breakpoint at 124.5 Atk too.
Wrap Up
Thunder Punch might not be the most exciting move, but it just happens to be exactly what Goodra needs to rise up in the Pokemon GO PvP meta. Given how effective Goodra’s Atk Breakpoints look right now, it’ll be interesting to see how much Shadow Goodra will make a splash in the future.
