Despite the intense competition in the Pokemon Go Battle League, reaching the top ranks of the current season’s Master League is no easy feat. However, our carefully curated list of the best team recommendations should provide you with the necessary tools to achieve success.
To put their strength to the test in Pokemon Go, trainers should make their way to the Go Battle League, the game’s competitive PvP mode. This feature allows players to engage in battles against opponents worldwide, using their top-performing Pokemon and earning rewards along the way.
Currently, our focus is on the Master League, the highest level of competition in the Go Battle League, which consists of three leagues: Great League, Ultra League, and Master League. In this league, there are no limitations on which Pokemon can be used in battle.
In this free-for-all league, success is only attainable for the most powerful fighters. To assist in determining which Pokemon are worth the effort and resources to enhance, we have compiled a list of the best team to use in the Master League.
Table of Contents
- Best team for Pokemon Go Master League
- Best Pokemon for Pokemon Go Master League
- Pokemon Go Master League start & end date
Best Team for Pokemon Go Master League
Palkia Origin Forme, Landorus Therian Forme, and Xerneas are among the top teams to use in Pokemon Go’s Master League. These three Pokemon are highly ranked in the meta and offer a wide range of coverage against various types.
No matter the situation, it is difficult to determine the perfect team as it ultimately relies on the Pokemon that your opponent chooses to use, which can only be known once the battle commences.
With that being said, we have compiled a list of Pokemon below that will prove to be valuable in most battles you encounter. However, it is important to note that these Pokemon require XL Candy in order to reach their maximum power, which can be quite costly in this league.
Best Pokemon for Pokemon Go Master League
Lugia (Extra Large)
- Fast Move: Dragon Tail
- Charged Moves: Sky Attack or Aeroblast
- Resistances: Fighting, Ground, Grass, and Psychic
- Weaknesses: Dark, Electric, Ghost, Rock, and Ice
Lugia’s remarkable bulk and arsenal of powerful moves make it a top contender in the Master League, as it has proven its strength by defeating formidable opponents such as Groudon and Mewtwo. The recent introduction of the exclusive move Aeroblast has only further enhanced Lugia’s performance.
It is recommended to use Dragon Tail as Lugia’s Fast Move and Sky Attack as its primary Charged Move. This combination is beneficial as Sky Attack has STAB and is a low-cost attack. Additionally, Aeroblast should also be included in its move set as it inflicts a considerable amount of damage and has a chance to increase its Attack stat significantly.
Dialga
- Fast Move: Dragon Breath
- Charged Moves: Roar of Time and Iron Head
- Resistances: Poison, Grass, Bug, Electric, Flying, Normal, Psychic, Rock, Steel, and Water
- Weaknesses: Fighting and Ground
Dialga has always been renowned as a top contender in the Master League, and with its newly released Origin Forme, its strength has only increased. What sets it apart even more is its Dragon-type, which is not vulnerable to Fairy-type or Dragon-type moves, giving it a significant advantage on the battlefield.
Dialga’s best Fast Move is Dragon Breath, which is essential to have. When it comes to Charged Moves, Roar of Time is the most powerful and should be used. It is a devastating attack that can defeat any opponent and can also be used frequently alongside Iron Head.
Zekrom (XL)
- Fast Move: Dragon Breath
- Charged Moves: Crunch or Wild Charge
- Resistances: Electric, Fire, Flying, Grass, Steel, and Water
- Weaknesses: Dragon, Fairy, Ground, and Ice
Zekrom is equipped with identical stats to Dialga, including its impressive Attack stat, making it a worthy contender. However, what sets it apart is its atypical resistance to Steel types, a rarity among Dragon-type Pokémon. It also boasts important victories against Lugia, Giratina (Origin Forme), Kyogre, and Metagross, making it a valuable addition to any team.
When deciding on Zekrom’s Fast Move, Dragon Breath is the recommended option as it provides reliable STAB damage. For Charged Moves, Crunch and Wild Charge are ideal choices as they offer a diverse range of coverage. Additionally, these moves are the most cost-effective, allowing for frequent usage.
Xerneas (XL)
- Fast Move: Geomancy
- Charged Moves: Close Combat or Moonblast
- Resistances: Fighting, Bug, Dark, and Dragon
- Weaknesses: Poison, and Steel
The addition of its signature move Geomancy solidified Xerneas’ position as the leading Fairy-type Pokemon in the game. In addition, the move Close Combat effectively tackles its main vulnerability to Steel types.
Additionally, Xerneas’ exceptional balance in stats enables it to withstand extended battles while also inflicting significant damage through its moveset, which effectively targets the numerous and formidable Dragon types.
Ho-Oh (Extra Large)
- Fast Move: Incinerate
- Charged Moves: Brave Bird or Sacred Fire
- Resistances: Ground, Fighting, Steel, Fire, Fairy, Bug, and Grass
- Weaknesses: Rock, Water, and Electric
Ho-Oh is consistently praised for its stunning appearance and is widely regarded as one of the most well-rounded Pokemon in the Master League, possessing both impressive defensive capabilities and considerable strength.
Although its Fast Move Incinerate deals a significant amount of damage, it is Ho-Oh’s Charged Moves that truly stand out. Both are widely recognized as some of the most powerful moves in the game. In particular, Sacred Fire has a 50% chance of debuffing the enemy’s ATK stat, making it extremely impressive.
Mewtwo (Shadow XL)
- Fast Move: Psycho Cut
- Charged Moves: Psystrike or Shadow Ball
- Resistances: Fighting and Psychic
- Weaknesses: Bug, Dark, and Ghost
No mention of the Master League would be complete without acknowledging Mewtwo. This legendary Psychic-type has solidified its position as one of the most formidable competitors in the Pokemon Go Battle League, boasting a high Attack stat and a diverse range of powerful moves.
It is recommended to use Psycho Cut as Mewtwo’s Fast Move due to its superior energy generation. This will allow you to utilize Pystrike, an effective and reasonably priced Charged Move with STAB damage, as well as Shadow Ball, which offers additional coverage against Ghost-type Pokemon.
Meloetta – Aria XL
- Fast Move: Quick Attack
- Charged Moves: Psyshock or Dazzling Gleam
- Resistances: Ghost and Psychic
- Weaknesses: Bug and Dark
Since being added to the game, Meloetta has dominated the Master League with its impressive resistances, incredible bulk, and ability to put pressure on opponents with its shields.
It is worth noting that this particular Pokemon has the ability to defeat powerful opponents such as Giratina and Mewtwo. Therefore, it would be wise to keep this in mind when constructing your team. Additionally, having Psyshock as a move with STAB increases its effectiveness, while Dazzling Gleam provides an advantage against Dark-type Pokemon, which happen to be Meleotta’s weaknesses.
Kyurem (XL)
- Fast Move: Dragon Breath
- Charged Moves: Dragon Claw or Glaciate
- Resistances: Water, Grass, and Electric
- Weaknesses: Fighting, Rock, Steel, Dragon, and Fairy
Ever since Kyurem gained access to its signature move Glaciate, its already impressive ranking has been solidified due to its well-rounded moveset, high ATK stat, and substantial amount of HP. This combination makes it virtually unbeatable in battles.
In addition to providing excellent coverage, this Charged Move also has the added benefit of lowering the enemy’s ATK stat. When paired with Dragon Breath and Dragon Claw, both of which receive a STAB boost, this move becomes a powerful combination to have on any team.
Solgaleo (Extra Large)
- Fast Move: Fire Spin
- Charged Moves: Psychic Fangs or Iron Head
- Resistances: Normal, Flying, Rock, Steel, Grass, Ice, Dragon, Fairy, Poison, and Psychic
- Weaknesses: Ground, Ghost, Fire, and Dark
Being a half-Steel-type Pokemon, Solgaleo possesses a vast array of type resistances that, when coupled with its remarkable bulk, render it extremely challenging to defeat. This makes it an essential Dialga counter, a crucial asset for any Master League team.
Solgaleo’s optimal moveset, which consists of a combination of Fire, Psychic, and Iron-type moves, provides it with extensive coverage against popular Master League champions such as Dragonite and Zacian.
Groudon (XL)
- Fast Move: Mud Shot
- Charged Moves: Precipice Blades or Fire Punch
- Resistances: Electric, Poison, and Rock
- Weaknesses: Grass, Ice, and Water
Groudon’s exceptional bulk and powerful STAB moveset make it a valuable asset in the Master League. However, its true strength lies in its ability to defeat highly prevalent Steel-types, such as Dialga, Metagross, and Melmetal.
Ensure that Groudon has Mud Shot as its Fast Move, as it provides excellent energy generation which allows you to utilize two powerful Charged Moves: Fire Punch and Precipice Blades. While both moves require an Elite TM, the investment is worthwhile given their cost-effectiveness, high power, and ability to bait shields.
Giratina (Altered Forme XL)
- Fast Move: Shadow Claw
- Charged Moves: Dragon Claw and Ancient Power
- Resistances: Normal, Fighting, Bug, Electric, Fire, Grass, Poison, and Water
- Weaknesses: Dark, Dragon, Fairy, Ghost, and Ice
While both forms of Giratina are well-suited for the Master League, the Altered Forme stands out with its superior defensive stats that allow it to endure battles for a longer period of time. This is why it is the preferred choice of many Trainers. However, both forms are valuable additions to any team.
Regardless of your version, Giratina’s most powerful Fast Move is Shadow Claw. For the Altered Forme, it is recommended to choose Dragon Claw and Ancient Power as Charged Moves, while for the Origin Forme, Shadow Ball and Ominous Wind should be selected.
Dragonite (Extra Large)
- Fast Move: Dragon Breath
- Charged Moves: Dragon Claw or Superpower
- Resistances: Bug, Fighting, Fire, Grass, Ground, and Water
- Weaknesses: Dragon, Fairy, Ice, and Rock
Dragonite has consistently proven to be a strong contender in the Master League, however, with the recent addition of Superpower to its moveset, it has gained the capability to defeat dominant Steel types such as Melmetal and Dialga. As a result, its ranking on PvPoke has significantly risen and it now occupies the fourth spot.
Dragon Breath is undoubtedly the top choice for Fast Moves, and combining it with the Charged Move Dragon Claw will provide a significant boost in STAB power. This winning combination is highly effective in defeating other Dragon-type Pokemon. Additionally, Superpower makes for an excellent secondary Charged Move, specifically designed to counter the tricky Steel-type Pokemon.
Landorus Therian Forme XL
- Fast Move: Mud Shot
- Charged Moves: Sandsear Storm or Stone Edge
- Resistances: Electric, Fighting, Poison, Bug, and Ground
- Weaknesses: Ice and Water
Despite not being as bulky as other Ground-type Pokemon, Landorus Therian Forme still boasts great coverage against a diverse range of types. Its quick access to Charged Moves also puts pressure on opponents to use their shields.
Just like Groudon, using the Fast Move Mud Shot will allow for quick access to Charged Moves due to its excellent energy generation. While Sandsear Storm may require an Elite TM, its debuff makes it a worthwhile choice, and Stone Edge serves as a strong coverage attack.
Complete Forme XL
- Fast Move: Dragon Tail
- Charged Moves: Crunch or Earthquake
- Resistances: Poison, Rock, Fire, and Electric
- Weaknesses: Ice, Dragon, and Fairy
Despite only being introduced in July 2023, Zygarde has quickly become one of the most sought-after creatures in Pokemon Go due to its impressive HP stat and well-balanced combination of resistance and damage.
This particular Pokemon is not only highly formidable to defeat, but it also serves as a perfect antidote against the numerous Dragon-type creatures that are prevalent in this rank, including others such as Dialga, Lugia, and Kyurem.
Additionally, its optimal moveset packs a powerful punch with the combination of Dragon Tail and Earthquake, and the inclusion of Crunch can also serve as a strategic tool by tempting opponents to use their shields.
Palkia (Origin Form XL)
- Fast Move: Dragon Breath
- Charged Moves: Aqua Tail and Spacial Rend
- Resistances: Steel, Fire, and Water
- Weaknesses: Dragon and Fairy
The Palkia Origin Forme, which was recently introduced, holds the top spot in our ranking and is undeniably the ultimate champion in the Master League of Pokemon Go. Its impressive Defense and HP, combined with an exceptional Attack stat, make it a formidable charger that excels at both initiating and finishing battles due to its exceptional moveset.
Dragon Breath is more powerful than Dragon Tail, making it the preferred Fast Move. When it comes to Charged Moves, Spacial Rend, similar to Dialga Origin Forme’s move, is the ultimate attack to use. Additionally, Aqua Tail is a great option for rapid use.
Pokemon Go Master League Start & End Date
The upcoming season of the Pokemon Go Battle League is scheduled to take place from March 1, 2024, until June 1, 2024, with battles starting at 10:00 AM according to local time.
Throughout its duration, the Master League will be featured on the following:
- March 15 – March 22
- March 22 – March 29
- April 12 – April 19
- April 19 – April 26
- April 26 – May 3
- May 10 – May 17
- May 24 – May 31
The current schedule for Season 18 of the Go Battle League can be viewed here.
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