The competitiveness in the Pokémon Go Battle League is extraordinary, and climbing to the top ranks in the Master League is quite a challenge. However, our recommendations for the best teams should assist you during the Max Out season.
Trainers keen on showcasing their power in Pokémon Go should participate in the Go Battle League, which serves as the game’s competitive PvP mode. Here, players can battle against others worldwide using their strongest Pokémon and earn rewards along the way.
There are three leagues to compete in: Great League, Ultra League, and Master League. Currently, we’re focusing on the Master League, which is the premier competitive tier of the Go Battle League, where there are no restrictions on the Pokémon you can bring into battle.
Only the toughest competitors stand a chance of success in this free-for-all league, so to help you identify which Pokémon are worth your time and resources, we will explore the best team options for the Master League.
Best Team for Pokémon Go Master League
One of the most effective teams to use in Pokémon Go’s Master League includes Zygarde (Complete Forme), Solgaleo, and Rhyperior. These Pokémon are among the strongest in the meta and provide comprehensive type coverage.
While it’s difficult to pinpoint what constitutes the ‘ultimate team’ in every scenario, as this depends on your opponent’s lineup, we’ve listed several Pokémon below that can perform well in most battles. These Pokémon require XL Candy to reach their maximum potential, making the Master League quite a costly endeavor.
Best Pokémon for Pokémon Go Master League
Xerneas (XL)
- Fast Move: Geomancy
- Charged Moves: Close Combat and Moonblast
- Resistances: Fighting, Bug, Dark, and Dragon
- Weaknesses: Poison and Steel
The introduction of Xerneas’ unique move, Geomancy, has elevated this Legendary to the top Fairy-type Pokémon in the game.
Xerneas is versatile, functioning well as either a lead or a closer, boasting strong bulk and impressive Attack. Like many top-tier competitive Pokémon, it charges its Charged Moves quickly, applying pressure on opponents and forcing them to utilize their shields.
Geomancy deals substantial damage for a reasonable energy cost, and although all Charged Moves require the same energy, Moonblast offers higher damage and benefits from STAB. Close Combat is advantageous as a secondary Charged Move, targeting Xerneas’ primary weakness: Steel types.
Dragonite (XL)
- Fast Move: Dragon Breath
- Charged Moves: Dragon Claw and Superpower
- Resistances: Bug, Fighting, Fire, Grass, Ground, and Water
- Weaknesses: Dragon, Fairy, Ice, and Rock
Dragonite has always been a solid pick for the Master League, especially with the addition of Superpower, which allows it to effectively counter Steel-type opponents like Melmetal and Dialga. This improvement has pushed it up the rankings, currently sitting at number four on PvPoke.
Dragon Breath is the top choice for a Fast Move, combining well with Dragon Claw for significant STAB power against other Dragon types, while Superpower serves as a secondary Charged Move to tackle those tricky Steel-type Pokémon.
Galarian Moltres (XL)
- Fast Move: Sucker Punch
- Charged Moves: Payback and Ancient Power
- Resistances: Psychic, Ground, Grass, Ghost, and Dark
- Weaknesses: Electric, Fairy, Ice, and Rock
Galarian Moltres is a robust option for countering Master League leaders such as Solgaleo, Dusk Mane Necrozma, and Landorus, plus its solid Defense can anchor any team.
Sucker Punch rapidly builds energy and pressures opponent shields, leading to quicker Charged Moves. Payback is potent, boasts STAB, while Ancient Power is cheap yet provides substantial damage and enhances type coverage.
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
Both forms of Giratina are competitive in the Master League, though Altered Forme has superior defensive stats, making it a favorite among Trainers. Regardless of the form, Shadow Claw is the best Fast Move. Use Dragon Claw and Ancient Power for Altered Forme, while the Origin Forme excels with Shadow Ball and Ominous Wind as Charged Moves.
Landorus (Therian Forme XL)
- Fast Move: Mud Shot
- Charged Moves: Sandsear Storm and Stone Edge
- Resistances: Electric, Fighting, Poison, Bug, and Ground
- Weaknesses: Ice and Water
While not the bulkiest Ground-type Pokémon, Landorus Therian Forme offers good coverage against various types and quickly accesses Charged Moves, putting pressure on foes to use their shields.
Mud Shot’s energy generation is impressive, allowing rapid access to Charged Moves. Although Sandsear Storm requires an Elite TM, it offers valuable debuffs, while Stone Edge acts as a potent damage dealer.
Dawn Wings Necrozma (XL)
- Fast Move: Shadow Claw
- Charged Moves: Moongeist Beam and Dark Pulse
- Resistances: Fighting, Normal, Psychic, and Poison
- Weaknesses: Dark and Ghost
Recently introduced, Dawn Wings Necrozma quickly garnered a top-tier spot thanks to its Psychic/Ghost typing, which provides key resistances against many Psychic Pokémon dominating the Master League.
This bulky contender can effectively apply pressure early by forcing opponents to deplete their shields using its potent Fast Move, Shadow Claw. Its Charged Moves, Moongeist Beam and Dark Pulse, also expand its coverage.
Kyurem (XL)
- Fast Move: Dragon Breath
- Charged Moves: Dragon Claw and Glaciate
- Resistances: Water, Grass, and Electric
- Weaknesses: Fighting, Rock, Steel, Dragon, and Fairy
Featuring a solid moveset, decent Attack stat, and a good amount of HP, Kyurem ranks highly. Following the addition of its Legendary move Glaciate, it has become a powerhouse in battles.
This Charged Move not only provides excellent coverage but also debuffs opponents’ Attack. The combination of Glaciate, Dragon Breath, and Dragon Claw (which also benefits from STAB) is an excellent strategy.
Florges (XL)
- Fast Move: Fairy Wind
- Charged Moves: Disarming Voice and Moonblast
- Resistances: Dragon, Fighting, Dark, and Bug
- Weaknesses: Poison and Steel
Florges recently entered our rankings due to its well-balanced stats, exhibiting high Attack and Defense.
As a solid competitor, Florges withstands various opponents with only two weaknesses while boasting resistances to favored types such as Dragon, Fighting, and Dark.
Although Florges can utilize Grass and Psychic-type moves, its performance excels with Fairy-type attacks. Fairy Wind offers decent damage despite a higher energy cost, while Disarming Voice serves as an efficient Charged Move with Moonblast as a powerful finisher.
Ho-Oh (XL)
- Fast Move: Incinerate
- Charged Moves: Brave Bird and Sacred Fire
- Resistances: Ground, Fighting, Steel, Fire, Fairy, Bug, and Grass
- Weaknesses: Rock, Water, and Electric
This stunning Pokémon, Ho-Oh, strikes a balance between bulk and power in the Master League.
Its Fast Move, Incinerate, delivers substantial damage, and Ho-Oh’s Charged Moves are exceptionally potent, with both moves regarded as among the finest in the game. Additionally, Sacred Fire carries a 50% chance to lower opponents’ Attack.
Rhyperior (XL)
- Fast Move: Mud-Slap
- Charged Moves: Rock Wrecker and Breaking Swipe
- Resistances: Poison, Electric, Rock, Normal, Flying, and Fire
- Weaknesses: Grass, Water, Fighting, Ground, Ice, and Steel
Rhyperior is a robust Pokémon suitable for leading a team due to its high Stamina that helps it absorb hits effectively.
Mud-Slap inflicts considerable damage as a Fast Move while also allowing quick access to Charged Moves, forcing opponents to expend their shields early. Rock Wrecker is one of the game’s best Charged Moves, offering minimal energy cost combined with an impressive damage output of 110.
Dusk Mane Necrozma (XL)
- Fast Move: Shadow Claw
- Charged Moves: Sunsteel Strike and Dark Pulse
- Resistances: Psychic, Poison, Steel, Rock, Normal, Ice, Grass, Flying, Fairy, and Dragon
- Weaknesses: Dark, Fire, Ghost, and Ground
Dusk Mane Necrozma offers excellent type coverage in the Master League, able to withstand hits from popular Pokémon like Lugia, Mewtwo, Dialga, and Giratina.
As a formidable attacker, it boasts impressive bulk, complemented by a versatile moveset that leverages STAB advantages and pressures opponents into using their shields early.
Shadow Claw delivers consistent coverage and access to Charged Moves. Sunsteel Strike is its signature Steel-type nuke, while Dark Pulse provides further coverage options.
Solgaleo (XL)
- Fast Move: Fire Spin
- Charged Moves: Psychic Fangs and Iron Head
- Resistances: Normal, Flying, Rock, Steel, Grass, Ice, Dragon, Fairy, Poison, and Psychic
- Weaknesses: Ground, Ghost, Fire, and Dark
As a dual Steel-type Pokémon, Solgaleo possesses extensive resistances, making it challenging to defeat. This Pokémon is also the foremost counter against Dialga, a crucial addition for any Master League team.
Its effective moveset, combined with Fire, Psychic, and Iron-type moves, grants tremendous versatility against other high-ranking Master League contenders like Dragonite and Zacian.
Yveltal (XL)
- Fast Move: Sucker Punch
- Charged Moves: Dark Pulse and Oblivion Wing
- Resistances: Psychic, Ground, Grass, Ghost, and Dark
- Weaknesses: Electric, Fairy, Ice, and Rock
The Legendary Pokémon Yveltal has made a significant return to the Master League due to shifts in the meta.
With high Attack and Stamina stats, Yveltal excels as a switch-in Pokémon. It can come in, inflict damage, and withstand hits effectively. As a dual Dark/Flying-type Pokémon, employing a moveset that benefits from STAB is optimal.
Sucker Punch is efficient and boosts energy for Charged Moves, while both Dark Pulse and Oblivion Wing feature similar energy costs and damage outputs, allowing players to choose based on their matchup.
Palkia (Origin Forme XL)
- Fast Move: Dragon Breath
- Charged Moves: Aqua Tail and Spacial Rend
- Resistances: Steel, Fire, and Water
- Weaknesses: Dragon and Fairy
Palkia in its Origin Forme stands as a formidable contender in the Master League, boasting exceptional Defense, HP, and Attack stats, making it an effective fighter for both leading and closing battles due to its powerful moveset.
With Dragon Breath as a strong Fast Move, it’s complemented by Aqua Tail and the new high-damage Charged Move, Spacial Rend.
Zygarde (Complete Forme XL)
- Fast Move: Dragon Tail
- Charged Moves: Crunch or Earthquake
- Resistances: Poison, Rock, Fire, and Electric
- Weaknesses: Ice, Dragon, and Fairy
With a high HP stat and a well-rounded balance of resistance and damage, Zygarde has emerged as a prominent Pokémon since its debut in July 2023.
This Pokémon is notably challenging to defeat and effectively counters many common Dragon-type opponents, including Dialga, Lugia, and Kyurem.
Additionally, its moveset, featuring Dragon Tail and Earthquake for solid damage, along with Crunch to strategically bait shields, is highly valuable.
Pokémon Go Master League Start & End Date
The latest Pokémon Go Battle League season will run from September 3, 2024, until December 3, 2024.
Throughout this period, the Master League will be active on the following dates:
- September 17 – September 24
- September 24 – October 1
- October 15 – October 22
- October 29 – November 5
- November 19 – November 26
- November 26 – December 3
These are the best Pokémon to utilize in the Master League during the upcoming season. For additional Pokémon Go content, refer to our guide on the Go Battle League schedule, rewards, and tips for the best attackers and defenders.
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