You know what grinds my gears? Seeing trainers use terrible movesets on awesome Pokemon. I watched a guy use Fire Blast on his Kyogre last week - pure pain. Movesets make or break battles, period. Getting your pokemon best moveset pokemon go setup right is more important than CP or IVs, and I'll prove it.
After three years of daily raiding and PvP, I've messed up enough to know what works. This guide cuts through the noise – no theorycraft, just battle-tested movesets that win gyms and raids. Forget generic lists, we're diving into specific energy costs, animation times, and real matchups. Let's fix your Pokemon Go battle game.
Why Your Pokemon Go Moveset Choices Matter More Than You Think
Remember that Dragonite raid where everyone timed out? Yeah, probably wrong moves. Movesets determine three big things:
- Damage Output: Some moves hit 50% harder than others (looking at you, Psystrike)
- Energy Generation: Fast moves charge your big attacks - pick wrong and you're waiting forever
- Survivability：Long animations get you killed in PvP before firing
I learned this the hard way when my 100% IV Garchomp kept fainting in raids. Turns out Mud Shot generated energy twice as fast as Dragon Tail for Earth Power. Small change, double the wins.
The STAB Secret Most Players Miss
STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) gives 20% damage boost when move type matches Pokemon type. But here's the kicker - it's not always best. My Darkrai with Dark Pulse (STAB) actually loses to Focus Blast (non-STAB) against Normal types. Type advantage trumps STAB every time.
Funny story: My nephew insisted Hyper Beam was best for Snorlax because "big number." We battled - his Hyper Beam Snorlax got wrecked by my Body Slam version that fired three times as often. Moveset > CP.
2024 Top Tier Pokemon Best Movesets (Tested in Battle)
These aren't just spreadsheet picks - I use them daily in Master League and 5-star raids. Actual energy costs and DPS calculations included:
Mewtwo: The Legendary Game-Changer
Psycho Cut vs Confusion debate? Psycho Cut wins for PvP (faster energy), Confusion for raids (higher damage). But the real magic?
| Scenario | Fast Move | Charged Move | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| General PvE | Psycho Cut | Psystrike + Shadow Ball | Psystrike fires every 5 seconds (insane DPS) |
| Master League PvP | Psycho Cut | Psystrike + Ice Beam | Covers Dragons and Ground types threatening it |
| Ghost Raids | Confusion | Shadow Ball | Max ghost DPS when weather boosted |
Elite TM warning: Shadow Ball is legacy - don't waste charge TMs trying to get it!
Dragonite: The Old School King
Dragon Breath vs Dragon Tail? Breath for PvP, Tail for raids. But Dragon Claw is the MVP charged move:
| Move | Type | Damage | Energy Cost | DPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Breath (Fast) | Dragon | 4 | 3 energy/turn | 4.0 |
| Dragon Tail (Fast) | Dragon | 15 | 9 energy/turn | 3.75 |
| Dragon Claw (Charged) | Dragon | 50 | 35 energy | 30-35 DPS* |
| Outrage (Charged) | Dragon | 110 | 60 energy | 25-30 DPS* |
*With STAB and same-type bonus. Claw's low energy cost means firing 2x more often - total damage wins.
Personal take: I run Dragon Breath/Dragon Claw/Superpower. Superpower nukes Steels that wall Dragon moves. Got me to Veteran rank last season.
PvP Movesets That Actually Win Matches
Great League needs different strategies than Master League. Common mistakes I see:
- Using slow charging moves in 1500CP meta (you'll die before firing)
- Ignoring bait moves (fire a cheap move to force shields)
- Overloading on same-type coverage
PRO TIP: Want to climb PvP ranks? Record your battles. I realized I lost 80% of matches when my Swampert didn't have Muddy Water to bait shields. Changed moveset, win rate jumped.
Great League MVP: Galarian Stunfisk
This thing is everywhere for a reason. But most trainers run wrong moves:
| Recommended Moveset | Alternative | Moves to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Fast: Mud Shot | Rock Throw (vs fliers) | Thunder Shock (terrible energy gain) |
| Charged: Rock Slide + Earthquake | Earthquake + Muddy Water | Flash Cannon (too slow) |
Why this works: Mud Shot generates energy crazy fast. Rock Slide costs only 45 energy - spam it to burn shields. Save Earthquake for knockout.
Gym Attack & Defense: Different Strategies
Raiding gyms? Go full offense. Defending? Annoy them with slow damage and debuffs.
Best Gym Defender: Blissey
Zen Headbutt + Dazzling Gleam. Why? Psychic/Fairy coverage hits common fighters and dragons. DG's double-bar cost wastes attackers time. Avoid Hyper Beam - single bar moves are defender suicide.
Top Raid Attacker: Lucario
Counter + Aura Sphere is absolute fire. Here's the math:
- Counter: 8 damage, 7 energy (4.0 DPS)
- Aura Sphere: 100 damage, 55 energy (35+ DPS with STAB)
- Fires charged move every 10 seconds
I duo'd Genesect with this setup when others failed with Machamp. Type advantage + moveset synergy > raw power.
Essential Moveset Mechanics You Must Know
Game doesn't explain these - learned through painful testing:
Energy Generation Secrets
Fast moves generate energy while dealing damage. Key numbers:
- 1-turn moves (Lock On): 5 energy/turn (spam heaven)
- 2-turn moves (Psycho Cut): 9 energy/2 turns
- 3-turn moves (Confusion): 12 energy/3 turns
This decides how fast you fire charged moves. Lock On Registeel charges Flash Cannon in 5 fast moves!
When to Break STAB Rule
Tyranitar example: Bite (Dark) gets STAB but Smack Down (Rock) doesn't. Against Fire types? Use Smack Down for 160% damage bonus despite no STAB. Type effectiveness > STAB bonus.
Confession: I wasted 20 charge TMs trying to get Ancient Power on my Rayquaza. Turns out it's legacy! Check move availability before TMing.
FAQs: Real Trainer Questions Answered
Q: How many TMs to get the best moveset pokemon go?
A: Painfully random. My record: 12 TMs to get Wild Charge on Zapdos. Average is 3-5 per move slot. Stockpile before events!
Q: Are legacy moves really necessary?
A: Some are meta-defining (Psystrike Mewtwo). Others like Icy Wind Dewgong are PvP staples. But for most raiding? Current moves work fine. Don't stress.
Q: Best moveset for starters like Charizard?
A: Fire Spin + Blast Burn (CD move). Dragon Breath + Dragon Claw for PvP spice. Ember is garbage - delete immediately.
Q: How important are IVs vs moveset?
A: Got a 0% Mewtwo with Psystrike? Still outdamages 100% Psycho Cut/Focus Blast. Moveset > IVs every time. Stop obsessing over IVs!
Advanced Moveset Tech Most Sites Ignore
Little things that win close matches:
Fast Move Denial in PvP
Tapping rhythm matters. If you throw charged move right after opponent's fast move ends, you deny their energy gain. I practice timing against Team Leaders.
Underrated Moves That Slap
- Weather Ball: 55 energy for 60 damage (Roserade/Pelipper)
- Body Slam: Instant 60 damage (Snorlax/Lickitung)
- Muddy Water: Cheap shield bait (Swampert/Whiscash)
Final thought: Stop copying online lists blindly. My Kyogre with Surf outperforms Hydro Pump in PvP because I fire three Surfs per Pump. Test movesets against friends - what works for them may suck for your playstyle. Now go fix those moves!
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