New Competitive Pokémon Go Favorite: Johto Starter Emerges as Top Choice

The 2025 Baltimore Regional Championships kicked off the new competitive play season, showcasing a significant shift in the Pokémon GO meta. As a result, some intriguing Pokémon have ascended the rankings of the best contenders.

Previously dominating the competitive landscape, Pokémon like Gligar have been overtaken by Clodsire, a Poison/Ground-type, who has emerged as one of the most dependable choices in trainer line-ups. Additionally, a Johto starter has made an unexpected rise due to a pivotal change.

According to Reddit users, Shadow Feraligatr has surged into the top three Pokémon utilized in competitive battles, largely attributable to the attack power boost provided by its Shadow type.

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Other noteworthy Pokémon in the top 12 from the championship include Dunsparce, Azumarill, as well as some unexpected favorites like Malamar and Serperior. However, the spotlight is undoubtedly on Feraligatr’s impressive entrance into the elite ranks of Pokémon.

Reactions to this development have been enthusiastic, with one comment stating, “MY GOAT FERALIGATR IS TOP 3 LESSS GOOOO,” while another chimed in, “Not just Feraligatr…EVIL FERALIGATR.”

When someone inquired, “Evil Feraligatr specifically???” referencing the Shadow variant’s superiority over the regular form, a response clarified that Shadow Pokémon enjoy a “20% increase in attack and a 20% decrease in defense,” a significant factor in competitive matchups.

A surprising change is the absence of Charjabug, leaving many fans puzzled. One comment remarked, “I remember a post like this one a few months ago that had Charjabug at 88%, THAT was insane.”

Consistent with this confusion, another person asked, “Where’s my goat Charjabug?” An explanation followed, attributing Charjabug’s decline to a “huge balance shift” post-Worlds 2024.

As the competitive season is just beginning, there’s much to look forward to leading up to Worlds 2025. With new Pokémon entering the arena and more balance adjustments likely on the horizon, it promises to be an exciting year for competitive Pokémon GO enthusiasts.

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