Introduction
Gen 5 movesets are out, and that means we can get a real sense of how every Unovan Pokémon will be able to perform in Trainer Battles! While this isn’t a complete list of every mon you’ll see over the next year or so, it’s certainly a good start!
Disclaimer: All of these movesets are from an initial version of the Gen 5 Game Master. This means that, by the time any given Pokémon gets released, Niantic could choose to alter the moves available to any given mon.
10 - 9
| Base HP | Base Attack | Base Defense | Max CP | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 249 | 155 | 139 | 2140 |   |
Moves
| Fast Moves | Astonish, Feint Attack |
|---|---|
| Charged Moves | Foul Play, Sludge Bomb, Grass Knot |
A mon historically more known for its utility than its damage output, Amoonguss fills a very interesting role in Great League. It manages to beat non-Tropius Grass types, a number of threatening Ghost-types and can perform fairly well against Deoxys-Defense (though it needs to shield Psycho Boost). However, it does lose to Azumarill, struggles hard against Confusion users, and obviously doesn’t really stand a chance against Grass’s normal predators (the Flying-types).
| Base HP | Base Attack | Base Defense | Max CP | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 198 | 204 | 129 | 2395 |  |
Moves
| Fast Moves | Lick, Fire Spin |
|---|---|
| Charged Moves | Power-Up Punch, Flamethrower, Thunder Punch |
It’s got Power-Up Punch, and other solid moves all around. What more needs to be said? Despite its heavily Attack-weighted stat distribution (and consequent low bulk), Heatmor’s powerful moveset could let it put in work! Especially in the lead position, as it likes being protected by shields to let Power-Up Punch do its magic. However, it will probably always have to compete for its spot with a powerhouse like Charizard. It has consistently powerful matchups against (non-Rock) Steel-types and Grass-types, but does struggle against Pokémon like Altaria, Azumarill, Lanturn and most Counter users.
8 - 7
| Base HP | Base Attack | Base Defense | Max CP | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 179 | 158 | 223 | 2321 |  |
Moves
| Fast Moves | Bullet Seed, Metal Claw |
|---|---|
| Charged Moves | Power Whip, Flash Cannon, Acid Spray, Thunder |
Ferrothorn is pretty bulky, and it has some fantastic charged moves in Power Whip and Acid Spray. Notably, Ferrothorn beats Azumarill in every single possible shield scenario! However, it is, overall, somewhat held back by mediocre fast moves. Strong matchups against the Mudbois, Charm users, Probopass, Lanturn, and some Psychic-types make it a tempting pick, though you do absolutely have to be on the lookout for Fighting-types, Flying-types, and fellow Grass types.
| Base HP | Base Attack | Base Defense | Max CP | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 233 | 188 | 150 | 2564 |   |
Moves
| Fast Moves | Mud Shot, Bubble |
|---|---|
| Charged Moves | Muddy Water, Earth Power, Sludge Bomb |
Mud Shot has the fastest energy gain available in GO PvP. Mix that with Earth Power and Sludge Bomb, and you’ve got some fantastic offensive coverage, only getting walled by a few Pokémon. Seismitoad has some pretty nice bulk as well. While it does get torn to shreds by Razor Leaf due to its Water/Ground typing, it does fill an interesting role as a faster alternative to the Sludge Bomb variant of Quagsire, boasting a similar spread of matchups.
6 - 5
| Base HP | Base Attack | Base Defense | Max CP | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 216 | 195 | 182 | 2797 |  |
Moves
| Fast Moves | Zen Headbutt, Mud Shot |
|---|---|
| Charged Moves | Megahorn, Stomp, Skull Bash, Earthquake |
Bouffalant? Yes, really. With access to Mud Shot and some really interesting charged moves, the bull could absolutely perform in PvP. It has access to the fastest possible Skull Bash (tied with the too-squishy Thunder Shock Raichu). Mix that with Megahorn and Earthquake for coverage and you’ve got a mon that could absolutely make waves as a closer. Depending on the moveset, Bouffalant can get strong matchups against a multitude of Steel-types, the Dark/Poisons, Umbreon, and a number of Psychic-types. However, it struggles to beat Flying-types, Azumarill, Grasses, Charm users, and of course, Fighting-types.
| Base HP | Base Attack | Base Defense | Max CP | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 225 | 159 | 178 | 2338 |  |
Moves
| Fast Moves | Bubble, Hex |
|---|---|
| Charged Moves | Shadow Ball, Ice Beam, Bubble Beam |
While the moustachioed jellyfish didn’t get Surf, Shadow Ball + Ice Beam should absolutely be able to carry it to glory. Its monstrous bulk, combined with incredible defensive typing, should allow it to wall Counter users very hard. Most notably, it resists the entirety of Medicham’s traditional Counter + Power-Up Punch and Ice Punch set. It also manages to beat out other Counter users, Azumarill, Mudbois, and non-Mew Psychic-types. However, it struggles against Probopass and Lanturn, as well as Grass-types and Sableye, Umbreon, and Haunter.
4 - 3
| Base HP | Base Attack | Base Defense | Max CP | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 176 | 159 | 135 | 1839 |  |
Moves
| Fast Moves | Bite, Dragon Breath |
|---|---|
| Charged Moves | Dragon Pulse, Dark Pulse, Body Slam |
Dragon Breath + Body Slam? Yes please. While this may be a bit more of an out-there pick than some of the others on this list, the mon has some objectively powerful moves. Zweilous could function as a draconic Vigoroth, powering out Body Slams while still firing off strong consistent fast move damage, so keep an eye out for this one for any cup that includes Dark-types. Just make sure to keep it away from Charm users. Zweilous is surprisingly strong, too! It beats out Umbreon, Bronzong, Hypno, Jirachi, Haunter, Sableye, Grasses, and Lanturn. As previously stated, it does lose to Charm users, but it also struggles against Flyings (Skarmory, Altaria, and Dragon Tail Lugia), Counter users, and Azumarill (even without Play Rough).
| Base HP | Base Attack | Base Defense | Max CP | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 163 | 163 | 222 | 2283 |   |
Moves
| Fast Moves | Counter, Snarl |
|---|---|
| Charged Moves | Power-Up Punch, Acid Spray, Foul Play |
While just having Counter + Power-Up Punch is exciting enough, Scrafty gets a number of other exciting moves as well! Snarl, Acid Spray, and Foul Play are all powerful moves in their own right that give Scrafty a very interesting niche. It certainly doesn’t hurt that it can hard wall Sableye, which would otherwise prey on Counter users! While it is weak to Counter, that’s never exactly stopped Lucario from being a beast in every format it’s been legal in. Once again, like with Zweilous, keep it FAR away from Charm users. Scrafty can beat Mudbois, including Swampert (outside of the 0-0 matchup), Steel tanks, Lanturn (outside of the 0-0), Bronzong, Mew, Hypno, Jirachi, Umbreon, and the Dark-Poisons with Counter. Snarl lets it pick up consistent wins against Haunter, as well as letting it handle Cresselia with shields up. However, it will consistently struggle against Tropius, Azumarill, and other Fighting-types.
2 - 1
| Base HP | Base Attack | Base Defense | Max CP | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 240 | 144 | 171 | 2162 |  |
Moves
| Fast Moves | Thunder Shock, Mud Shot |
|---|---|
| Charged Moves | Mud Bomb, Discharge, Muddy Water |
Bulky? Check. Incredibly powerful moveset? Check. Flat? Not exactly a normal category, but also check. Stunfisk got everything it needed to be a massive threat in Great League. Just to start, Stunfisk beats Skarmory by a wide margin in every shield scenario, even with Mud Shot. Consistent matchups against the Steel Tanks, Dark/Poisons, and Sableye make this a great mon to look out for. However, it does struggle against Deoxys-D, Medicham, Altaria, Umbreon, and Charm users (other than Togekiss).
| Base HP | Base Attack | Base Defense | Max CP | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 242 | 129 | 205 | 2138 |  |
Moves
| Fast Moves | Snarl, Air Slash |
|---|---|
| Charged Moves | Dark Pulse, |
Bulkier than Probopass and Deoxys-Defense, Mandibuzz was going to be a flying wall no matter what.
Niantic made the decision to alter Mandibuzz in the time after initial publication, replacing Sky Attack with Aerial Ace in Mandibuzz's movepool. This does mean that the mon is strictly weaker than it otherwise would have been. However, its raw stats should still enable it to be a very powerful Pokémon in the format, only performing worse in situations where the Flying-type damage is necessary (most notably against Pokémon like Medicham, Azumarill, and Grass-types). While this may mean it no longer deserves the #1 spot on this list, don't write it off just yet!
Honorable Mentions
Crustle (Fury Cutter + Rock slide and X-Scissor)
Crustle’s Bug/Rock typing leaves it only weak to Water, Steel, and Rock-type moves. This, combined with a high energy gain fast move and some cheap charged moves let Crustle pressure shields and hit hard.
Leavanny (Razor Leaf + Leaf Blade and X-Scissor)
One of a few Pokémon with the coveted Razor Leaf/Leaf Blade combination, this one brings some unique Bug-type coverage as well.
Krookodile (Snarl + Earthquake + Outrage)
Krookodile brings some very powerful coverage to the table. While it’s pretty Attack-heavy, its hard-hitting Charged moves can tear through anything that doesn’t resist them.
Zoroark (Shadow Slaw + Foul Play + Sludge Bomb or Flamethrower)
Zoroark functions a little like Haunter as a super squishy, high damage monster. It’s a bit slower, and it takes super effective damage from Fighting, so its niche is somewhat questionable.
Emolga (Thunder Shock + Aerial Ace + Discharge)
Emolga’s kinda like Minun, except it can perform better against Grass- and Fighting-types.
Escavalier (Bug Bite + Drill Run and X-Scissor OR Aerial Ace)
Escavalier shares its Bug/Steel typing with known threats like Forretress and Trash Cloak Wormadam. While it is uncomfortably fragile, it brings some very unique coverage which could make it a threat to be considered.
Carracosta (Water Gun + Ancient Power and Body Slam)
Carracosta is kinda like Omastar, except it trades in Mud Shot for some powerful neutral coverage in Body Slam.
Eelektross (Spark + Crunch and Dragon Claw OR Thunderbolt OR Acid Spray)
Eelektross could function kinda like Alolan Raichu, as a fast but fragile Electric-type, without the Psychic typing, and with much more diverse offensive coverage.
Conclusion
Generation 5 will be bringing a ton of new toys for battlers to play with, and they will absolutely shape both the Open and Silph Cup metagames in the coming year. All that's left is to see when the Pokémon actually get released, and if they decide to change movesets.
