Among the many types in Pokemon, and in particular Pokemon Go, Flying is one with a history that's almost strictly had an upward trend from the start. Considered one of the "early game" types, Flying didn't really make waves in Pokemon Go until the release of Sky Attack Moltres back in 2018. Nowadays, it's considered an overall great type with powerful options, but it's only occasionally the top type outside of a double-weakness, which admittedly isn't that uncommon. Still, Flying is definitely a worthwhile type, and its future shines extremely brightly as we'll soon see.
The State of the Type
The current top Fighting Type attackers in the game are already outlined in our Best Attackers by Type list, linked above, so we recommend that you take a look at that to get a better list-breakdown, but these are the current candidates that we'll be working with in this article:
Currently, Flying is the single strongest type in the entire game, and it owes that title to Dragon Ascent and the monster that is Mega Rayquaza. Mega Rayquaza and basic Rayquaza rule this entire meta, and outright centralize the meta around the Sky Dragons in all of their glory. Beyond these, we actually do have a number of strong Flying Type attackers that are great in their own right, though they also tend to be a bit glassy and their power drops pretty quickly after the current king of the game with the main notable exceptions being Shadow Moltres and Yveltal.
The Secondary Options
While the top options are pretty much always the best way to go, Flying does have a number of options that don't quite hit the numbers of the Pokemon above. So here are a few options for those struggling to put together a team that can help out in Flying-weak raids.
Flying Type Moves
As of the publishing of this article, we currently have access to 19 different Flying Type attacks, divided into 5 Fast Moves and 14 Charged Moves.
| Fast Moves | Charged Moves |
|---|---|
| Air Slash | Acrobatics |
| Gust | Aerial Ace |
| Peck | Aeroblast |
| Wing Attack | Aeroblast+ |
| Hidden Power (Flying) | Aeroblast++ |
| Air Cutter | |
| Brave Bird | |
| Dragon Ascent | |
| Drill Peck | |
| Feather Dance | |
| Fly | |
| Hurricane | |
| Oblivion Wing | |
| Sky Attack |
The Good Moves
The best Flying Type Fast Move is currently a toss-up between Gust and Wing Attack. While the former is generally superior on paper in terms of raw power, it also has a very long attack window, meaning it can delay some Charged Moves and is hard to dodge with. Wing Attack, meanwhile, is an all-around strong move with great overall performance. Peck is the last genuinely good Flying Type Fast Move, and it's another good move worth utilizing for Flying Type damage, but is also kind of unremarkable, as nothing about its stats really make it stand out beyond being just "good".
The best Flying Type Charged Move, and possibly the best Charged Move period, we have Dragon Ascent. The signature move of Rayquaza, this move is obscenely strong, and helps makes the Sky High Pokemon into the absolute monster that it is. Up next is Aeroblast+, the signature move of Apex Shadow Lugia. This is a great move that actually gives this hyper-bulky Pokemon some degree of raid-utility despite its otherwise lackluster damage output. Following that is Oblivion Wing, which is an objectively great move, but sadly too weak to compete with Dragon Ascent. Aeroblast is definitely weaker than its + variant, but it's still very strong and enough to make Lugia or Shadow Lugia at least niche in terms of utility. Moving on, Fly is the strongest Flying Type Charged Move with general distribution in the main series.... and absolutely nothing good in Pokemon Go currently learns it, meaning it has 100% wasted potential in Raid terms. Next is the classical gold-standard Flying move; Sky Attack. Strong and flexible, this is the old-fashioned "good" Charged Move that just about any Flying Type would love to have. It's a step down from Fly, but it's actually has decent distribution to make up for that fact. Next is Brave Bird, which is easily the best single-bar Flying Type move with actual distribution, though being single-bar brings its own disadvantages, making it a bit below the competition in some cases. From here, we break into the "passable" territory with Drill Peck, which is pretty flexible but a bit weak. Finally, Acrobatics is a bit weaker and less flexible due to being a single-bar move.
The Bad Moves
When it comes to bad Fast Moves, we start with Hidden Power Flying. This is a move that's actually on a par with Peck in terms of raw stats, but the poor implementation of this move that makes it terribly unreliable and drops it into this section. If you can get it then it's good, but you probably won't when you need it, so it's down here for now. And to finish off Fast Moves, Air Slash is the Flying Type Fast Move that currently has the worst stats in Pokemon Go, making it a disappointing move whenever it shows up. That said, it's generally only about 7% weaker than Wing Attack in practice, so it's still not the worst Fast Move in the game and doesn't necessarily doom whatever Pokemon that's forced to run it into obscurity.
First of all for bad Charged Moves; we kind of have to talk about Aeroblast++. This is actually the single strongest Flying Type move in the game, but it's a move that no Lugia should ever know due to the fact that an Apex Shadow Lugia with Aeroblast+ is always the superior option, so nothing should ever actually utilize this move despite its power! After that comes Hurricane, which is okay but pretty underwhelming overall. About on the same level is Arial Ace, which is flexible, but doesn't hit hard enough to be worth using. A similar case is Air Cutter, which is a genuinely unimpressive move. Finally, Feather Dance should only be used in PvP... it's downright abysmal in PvE.
The Future of Flying Types
Currently Unreleased Flying-Type Pokemon
Currently Unreleased Flying-Type Moves
- Beak Blast*
- Toucannon
- Bleakwind Storm*
- Tornadus Therian, Tornadus Incarnate
- Bounce
- Chatter*
- Chatot
- Defog
- Dual Wingbeat
- Floaty Fall*
- Pikachu (Let's Go Eevee)
- Mirror Move
- Pluck
- Roost
- Tailwind
*: Signature Move
**: Formerly a Signature Move
The Non-Threats
Aside from the Pokemon that aren't fully evolved, we can pretty safely rule out Rotom Fan, Cramorant, Squwakabilly, Kilowattrel, Bombirdier, Minior, and Flamigo due to the lack of strong stats or good moveset potential.
Candidates that will only make the cut if we get some new, really good moves that they can utilize are Silvally and Arceus. While potential exists, these Pokemon are not projected to be genuinely great for the Flying meta unless their signature moves end up really powerful for whatever reason.
For Signature Moves that probably won't pan out in the future (if we get them at all), we have Floaty Fall and Chatter. This is because of low stats, odd movesets, or other issues with the Pokemon that can utilize them.
On that note, non-signature moves that turn out to be extremely meta will frequently drop as part of events or general moveset updates each season, and Flying has a fair number of currently unused, non-signature moves ready to go. While the outline below covers the most likely candidates for future meta viability, Niantic could blind-side us with new content at literally any time and turn this article on its head instantly.
The Existing Threats
Pokemon in this section have already been released into Pokemon Go, but their future is still bright. Due to moveset updates or other bonuses, they have the potential to rise on the list to varying degrees.
Note that we may treat select unreleased Mega Evolutions and alternate formes as Existing Threats, where applicable, due to their base-formes already existing in-game.
Also note that we're not going to lean too hard into the move Fly, as it has HUGE power and OUTSTANDING distribution in the main series. If we just highlighted Pokemon that could be made better with Fly alone, then this list would be far longer than it already is. On that note, expect just about everything on this list to have Fly listed, because chances are that any Flying Type Pokemon with real potential has access to this move in the main series.
- Best Possible Moveset: Gust + Fly
- Current Moveset: Hidden Power Flying + Brave Bird
One of the biggest issues with the move Gust is how long the move window is, as discussed above, meaning dodging can be really hard. So what happens if you give it to a Pokemon with great bulk? You get one of the best Flying Types in the game. Ho-oh has long been held back by its need to rely on Hidden Power Flying, but giving it Gust could be absolute huge, making Shadow Ho-oh in particular absolutely outstanding. And it doesn't even need Fly to be great, as leaving it with Brave Bird is more than enough to get the job done.
- Best Possible Moveset: Gust + Fly
- Current Moveset: (Any) + Brave Bird
This one may come as a surprise to some, but Galarian Articuno actually has a lot of potential in Pokemon Go. This Cruel Pokemon has an Attack stat similar to Moltres with higher bulk and a potentially outstanding moveset for Flying Type damage, potentially putting it right around Ho-oh's power without having to worry about rolling for Hidden Power Flying.
- Best Possible Moveset: Air Slash + Fly
- Current Moveset: None
Shadow Salamence weighs heavily on the Dragon meta, but what if we gave it access to an amazing Flying Type moveset too? With the simple set of Air Slash and Fly, Shadow Salamence has the potential to rise to the silver medal of Flying Mega Evolutions. But, sadly, that silver medal would be way smaller than Mega Rayquaza's gold medal.
- Best Possible Moveset: Wing Attack + Fly
- Current Moveset: (Any) + Hurricane
Yup, the original Dragon has a Flying sub-typing, access to the best generally-available Flying Type moveset possible, and a Shadow forme. This is the perfect storm, and could potentially make Dragonite the king of the Flying Types... until Dragon Ascent happens. And let's be honest; Dragonite deserves to sit at or near the top of at least one meta, as it's been around from the very start! ...it's just a shame that a Flying Type Shadow Salamence would still out-pace it, even with an objectively worse Flying Type moveset.
- Best Possible Moveset: Wing Attack + Fly
- Current Moveset: None
Oh look, yet another Pokemon with a Flying sub-typing that's fully neglected!
Mega Aerodactyl has the potential to sit around Shadow Moltres and Shadow Honchkrow in terms of DPS if given its best possible moveset, making it a very viable option in raids where its Rock sub-typing doesn't act as a hinderance. Meanwhile, Shadow Aerodactyl would sit around Shadow Starraptor in terms of DPS, and basic Aerodactyl would see improved performance, but not enough to sit in the big-leagues of the type.
- Current Moveset: Wing Attack + (Any)
- Best Possible Moveset: Wing Attack + Fly
One of the unofficial mascots of the Pokemon franchise, Charizard has long been a viable Pokemon for various reasons, and it can go even farther! Already sporting Wing Attack is pretty big, but add to that the fact that it can learn Fly in the main series games and you've got a potential dual-type monster. With this moveset, Mega Charizard Y could surpass the entire current meta including pre-Dragon-Ascent Mega Rayquaza, beaten only by the above theorycrafted abominations in this section. Shadow Charizard also has some real potential, sitting around Shadow Staraptor with this moveset, while basic Charizard sits in a solid position for a non-Shadow/Mega as well. All-in-all, Charizard and its various formes would really appreciate a good Flying Type Charged Move!
- Best Possible Moveset: Peck + Fly
- Current Moveset: (Any) + Drill Peck
The Instinct bird has long fallen behind Moltres in terms of raw utility.... but does it have to always be that way? Nope! With the simple moveset change of Peck and Fly, both variants of Zapdos can actually surpass their Moltres-based counterparts, and Shadow Zapdos in particular can become a strong contender for best Flying Type attacker in the game until Dragon Ascent drops!
And oh look, Galarian Zapdos is here too! It's very close to normal Zapdos in terms of stats and can learn the same moveset in the main series, so it can also sit here and dream of Flying Type relevance.
- Best Possible Moveset: Hidden Power Flying + Fly
A definite odd-ball on this list, Thundurus - Therian Forme is mostly known for its Electric Type power, but if given its optimal Flying Type moveset it could actually approach the top Shadows in terms of DPS. Is this moveset likely? No. First it would need access to a move that Niantic has traditionally been very stingy with, and then it would need to roll well on Hidden Power, so Thundurus probably won't ever see any real utility. But it is theoretically possible.
The same points also apply to Incarnate forme, but to a substantially lesser degree.
- Best Possible Moveset: Hidden Power Flying + Fly
- Current Moveset: None
Check out the review of Thundurus - Therian above, and apply all of those same points to Landorus - Therian, as it's the exact same case. Incarnate is weaker, but if it was the only one given the Flying Type treatment then it would still be a solid option.
- Best Possible Moveset: Gust + Aeroblast/Aeroblast+/Aeroblast+
- Current Moveset: Extrasensory + Aeroblast/Aeroblast+/Aeroblast+
Lugia is one of the premier Flying tanks, but it has one major issue; a lack of a Flying Type Fast Move. While Extrasensory works against Fighting Types in particular, the ability to utilize Gust would allow Shadow Lugia with Aeroblast+ in particular to rule on-high as the undisputed Flying Type tank. On top of this, Lugia's tremendous natural bulk allows it to really not care much about the long move animation on Gust, making it the perfect Pokemon to utilize this powerful move.
Just please, please don't purify your Apex Shadow Lugia!
- Best Possible Moveset: Gust + Fly
- Current Moveset: Air Slash + Hurricane
Let's be honest here; if any single Pokemon on this list deserves a boost, it's Tornadus. This is the original mono-Flying Type Pokemon! That's right, it took 5 generations for a Pokemon to come around that wasn't packing some other type, meaning Tornadus is arguably the purest Flying Type in the whole of the Pokemon franchise.
And while the mix of Gust and Fly is objectively great and able to put Tornadus on a par with many of the Shadow Flying Types, it may have an even brighter future than that. In the main series, Tornadus has a Signature Move by the name of Bleakwind Storm, meaning Tornadus does have the potential to be a genuinely good Flying Type attacker in the future.
And what if this treatment is given to Therian Forme? Well... it won't quite make that much of an impact, sadly.
- Best Possible Moveset: Wing Attack + Fly
- Current Moveset: Wing Attack + (Any)
What's a "Shadow Pokemon"...?
Archeops has gotten the short end of the stick. It's a funny little Pokemon with tremendous potential, and it's so close to living up to that potential. For example; give this freaky little bird-dino access to Fly, and instantly you've got a rival to Shadow Moltres. It's not as bulky, and its Rock sub-typing will tend to hurt more than it helps, but that's still huge! Archeops deserves the proper treatment... it's just sad that its Defeatist nature means it will probably never live up to this potential.
- Best Possible Moveset: Hidden Power Flying + Fly
- Current Moveset: None
It's so easy to forget that Gyarados is part Flying Type, but its potential is... pretty dubious, if we're being honest. If given its best possible moveset (which has to include Hidden Power, unfortunately), Shadow Gyarados will sit around Hurricane Rayquaza with a different sub-typing. Okay, but not ground-breaking.
- Best Possible Moveset: Wing Attack + Fly
- Current Moveset: Air Slash + Brave Bird
We're firmly into the "lower end" Pokemon with potential here, but Braviary is another Pokemon that can sit around Hurricane Rayquaza if given its best possible moveset. And its Hisuian forme is weaker, but still decent if given this treatment. Neither version would be great without a moveset update and the Shadow treatment, but it would be fine if just given the moveset.
- Best Possible Moveset: Air Slash + Air Cutter
- Current Moveset: Hidden Power Flying + (Any)
Shaymin - Sky Forme has long been considered one of the poster-children of having an absurdly annoying moveset. Well, that continues here as it actually can learn a Flying Type moveset in the main series that's at least okay, but instead it has nothing but... Hidden Power Flying. It wouldn't be a great Pokemon if given a Flying moveset, but at least that would give it some discernible utility somewhere!
The Future Threats
These are the Pokemon that we don't currently have in-game, but have the potential to join our Top Attackers by Type list if Niantic does them justice. Note that this list won't necessarily order Pokemon according to their potential, as we will take likelihood of a good implementation into consideration as well.
- Best Possible Moveset: (Any) + Fly
Another oddball option, the latest member of the Forces of Nature actually has... a bit of potential? Not a lot, but not "absolutely doomed to obscurity". It has access to Fly (like practically every other Flying Type), but no Flying Type Fast Moves... not even Hidden Power Flying, as that move was banished in the generation before Enamorus made its debut. In fact, it has almost no good fast moves at all. Its best hope is Zen Headbutt, which would make it a decent counter to Fighting Types, or any dual-combos that are weak to Flying and Psychic alike. It's not likely and wouldn't be great, but it's worth mentioning as a Pokemon that has some potential at least.
Its Therian forme is the same story, but to a much lesser degree, as it's substantially weaker.
- Best Possible Moveset: Air Slash + Fly
Iron Jugulis has the potential to get a fairly strong moveset, in part because it's one of ten million Pokemon that can learn Fly in the main series. If given the above set, it's set to sit around the power of Moltres; definitely good, but not earth-shatteringly so.
The Looming Shadows
We can safely say that Shadow Rayquaza is probably coming someday, and post-Dragon-Ascent it's set to just be absurdly powerful, assuming Dragon Ascent doesn't get curb-stomped too badly by Niantic pre-release. Another potential power-house is Shadow Yveltal, but only if it gets access to a good Oblivion Wing. Other, less potent options that could make a splash include Shadow Braviary, Shadow Tornadus - Incarnate, Shadow Kartana (which would break the Grass meta first), Shadow Toucannon, and Shadow Braviary.
The Gigantamax Factor
While not extremely likely, it's possible that Niantic could release the Dynamax/Gigantamax system first introduced in Generation 8/Galar into Pokemon Go. For those unaware, this system turns Pokemon giant, gives them new/overpowering moves, and grants a tremendous HP boost while active. And while the release of this feature isn't super likely, we thought it best to at least list the possible candidates with unique formes just to cover all bases, so these are all of the Flying Type Pokemon with a Gigantamax forme:
- Gigantamax Charizard
- Gigantamax Butterfree
- Gigantamax Corviknight
Verdict for the Future
The release of Mega Rayquaza and Dragon Ascent basically centralized the Flying Type, making it the type to call on when/if it's super effective, even trumping the monsters in its rival-types in most scenarios. On top of that, most of its potential for the future is pretty well already on full display. Our future options likely won't make huge waves outside of specific Shadows, and even then we're probably looking at more Rayquaza as the result of that. The biggest problem with Flying right now has to be its heavy centralization, as the top performers stand head-and-shoulders above the competition, meaning you're using one of 3-4 Pokemon or you're using a sub-par type. Flying needs more power given to its lower echelon in order to make it a compelling type again, because as-is every Flying-weak raid boils down to "throw some form of Rayquaza at it".
All in all, Flying really only needs one thing: better distribution of Fly!
