Pokemon GO: the best Pokemon for raids of every type

If you’re trying to build the best possible team – either for PvE or PvP – you’re going to have to create something very versatile. Between GO Battle League and all the raids we get treated to, there is simply no “one size fits all” solution to taking them down. Be it because of stat requirements, category restrictions, or just the plain typing of your opponents. This is why it’s much better to have at least one Pokémon of every type that’s battle-ready, so you can face whatever comes your way.

We’re going through each Pokémon type and picking out the best monsters for raids. We’re skipping Normal-type though, as they lack type advantages, so aren’t ever particularly useful. We’ve also combined Ghost and Dark-types, as they go hand-in-hand for our purposes.

Best Water Pokémon in Pokémon Go

• Mega Swampert (Water Gun, Hydro Cannon)
• Shadow Swampert (Water Gun, Hydro Cannon)
• Shadow Feraligatr (Waterfall, Hydro Cannon)

Best Fire Pokémon in Pokémon Go

• Mega Charizard Y (Fire Spin, Blast Burn)
• Reshiram (Fire Fang, Fusion Flare)
• Shadow Moltres (Fire Spin, Overheat)

Best Grass Pokémon in Pokémon Go

• Mega Sceptile (Bullet Seed, Frenzy Plant)
• Kartana (Razor Leaf, Leaf Blade)
• Shadow Tangrowth (Vine Whip, Power Whip)

Best Electric Pokémon in Pokémon Go

• Shadow Raikou (Thunder Shock, Wild Charge)
• Xurkitree (Thunder Shock, Discharge)
• Mega Manectric (Thunder Fang, Wild Charge)

Best Ice Pokémon in Pokémon Go

• Shadow Mamoswine (Powder Snow, Avalanche)
• Shadow Weavile (Ice Shard, Avalanche)
• Shadow Mewtwo (Confusion, Ice Beam)

Best Bug Pokémon in Pokémon Go

• Mega Scizor (Fury Cutter, X-Scissor)
• Pheromosa (Bug Bite, Bug Buzz)
• Shadow Scizor (Fury Cutter, X-Scissor)

Best Psychic Pokémon in Pokémon Go

• Shadow Mewtwo (Confusion, Psystrike)
• Mega Alakazam (Confusion, Psychic)
• Mewtwo (Confusion, Psystrike)

Best Fighting Pokémon in Pokémon Go

• Terrakion (Double Kick, Sacred Sword)
• Shadow Machamp (Counter, Dynamic Punch)
• Keldeo (Low Kick, Sacred Sword)

Best Flying Pokémon in Pokémon Go

• Shadow Moltres (Wing Attack, Sky Attack)
• Shadow Ho-Oh (Hidden Power (Flying), Brave Bird)
• Shadow Dragonite (Dragon Tail, Dragon Claw)

Best Ground Pokémon in Pokémon Go

• Shadow Mamoswine (Mud Slap, High Horsepower)
• Mega Swampert (Mud Shot, Earthquake)
• Shadow Golurk (Mud Slap, Earth Power)

Best Rock Pokémon in Pokémon Go

• Mega Aerodactyl (Rock Throw, Rock Slide)
• Shadow Tyranitar (Smack Down, Stone Edge)
• Rampardos (Smack Down, Rock Slide)

Best Dragon Pokémon in Pokémon Go

• Mega Latios (Dragon Breath, Dragon Claw)
• Shadow Salamence (Dragon Tail, Outrage)
• Shadow Dragonite (Dragon Tail, Dragon Claw)

Best Steel Pokémon in Pokémon Go

• Shadow Metagross (Bullet Punch, Meteor Mash)
• Metagross (Bullet Punch, Meteor Mash)
• Dialga (Metal Claw, Iron Head)

Best Poison Pokémon in Pokémon Go

• Mega Gengar (Shadow Claw, Sludge Bomb)
• Nihilego (Poison Jab, Sludge Bomb)
• Roserade (Poison Jab, Sludge Bomb)

Best Fairy Pokémon in Pokémon Go

• Shadow Gardevoir (Charm, Dazzling Gleam)
• Mega Alakazam (Confusion, Dazzling Gleam)
• Shadow Granbull (Charm, Play Rough)

Best Ghost/Dark Pokémon in Pokémon Go

• Mega Gengar (Shadow Claw, Shadow Ball)
• Shadow Mewtwo (Confusion, Shadow Ball)
• Hydreigon (Bite, Brutal Swing)

Written by Marco Wutz and Ryan Woodrow on behalf of GLHF.