Storming onto the AR scene back in 2016, Niantic’sPokemon GOhas captivated audiences worldwide, offering players the chance to catch, train, and battle with hundreds of their favorite Pokemon from the nearly 30-year-oldPokemonfranchise.
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ForPokemon GOplayers who place a greater emphasis on in-game combat (and are level 10 or higher), battling in the GO Battle League is a great way to experience player battles from around the globe. At the higher levels of the League, players will start toencounter trainers using far more powerful Pokemon, and as such, players will need to prepare an equally powerful team to match.
Updated on June 02, 2025, by Reyadh Rahaman:To determinewhich Pokemon in Pokemon GO are the best picks for a trainer’s Ultra League PVP team, one will have to gauge their stats and moves. There will be some variability between which pocket monsters fit best into the player’s battle plans, however, a great general rule of thumb for PVP is to consider what the opponent will do.
Being able to counter common threats is crucial, so having a moveset that can accommodate combating known enemies will allow trainers to reach victory more often.The best way to put down a threat in Pokemon GO is with a hard-hitting move timed to perfection.
10Abomasnow
Introduced back in Gen IV,Abomasnow is a fantastic pick for players competing in the Ultra League. With access to moves like Powder Snow, Energy Ball, and Razor Leaf, a well-balanced Abomasnow has a number of tools at its disposal.
These skills in particular make it an excellent counter to even the strongest of legendary Pokemon. Be mindful, however, as Abomasnow isweak to a stunning seven different move types, so use caution when putting Abomasnow into battle.
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9Umbreon
One of the few single-type Pokemon to be competitive in the Ultra League, Umbreon is a surprisingly sturdy option for any trainer.Snarl, Foul Play, and Last Resort will give Umbreon users a powerful skillset, especially against dark and psychic-type Pokemon.
Umbreon is a Pokemon that also benefits from the “Best Buddy” boost, which increases Umbreon’s already noteworthy defense to make them even more viable at this rank.
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8Galarian Stunfisk
Despite its rather unassuming figure, theGalarian Stunfisk isone of the best Pokemon a trainer can bring into PVP battles.
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Utilizing moves like Mud Shot, Earthquake, Muddy Water, and Rock Slide, Stunfisk makes for a potent ground/steel type combo that can be difficult to counter even with Pokemon who are (at least on paper) more powerful, such as the legendary Registeel. However, it’s important to be mindful of opponents utilizing water-type moves, as they’ll deal massive damage.
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7Sirfetch’d
The Pokemon Sirfetch’d takes a somewhat more unusual approach when it comes to Ultra League combat.Its combat focuses less on high defensive stats and puts a greater emphasis on raw attack power.
Moves such as Counter, Leaf Blade, and Close Combat work exceedingly well with this Pokemon, as Sirfetch’d is often able to outspeed its opponents with relative ease.
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6Galvantula
Released back in Gen V,Galvantula has one of the more unusual type combinations of any Pokemon in the Ultra League.
As a bug/electric type, Galvantula is capable of utilizing some interesting move combos, with a special emphasis on electric moves like Volt Switch and Discharge. Fury Cutter also pairs well with Galvantula. Be sure to watch out for fire and rock-type Pokemon, however, as Galvantula is highly vulnerable to these types.
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5Altaria
Asa bulky dragon type from Gen III,Altaria is a potent addition to any Ultra League team. Capable of learning powerful dragon, flying, and fairy-type moves, Altaria is a first-strike attacker, and on the off chance it does get out-sped by the competition, Altaria is bulky enough to shrug off attacks from most neutral matchups.
The clearest threats to Altaria are steel and fellow dragon types, so striking quickly and disposing of threats before they become a larger problem will be key to any strategy involving Altaria.
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4Venusaur
Introduced inPokemon’s first generation, Venusaur is a powerful grass type well balanced in both its health and attack stats, making Venusaur a solid tanky build.Moves like Vine Whip, Sludge Bomb, and Razor Leafwill make Venusaur a threat to all but the most rugged types.
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However, it’s important to use Venusaur cautiously, for if an opponent uses a Registeel or other steel-type Pokemon, Venusaur will have little to no moves to counter it.
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3Togekiss
In much the same vein as Venusaur, Togekiss is a bulky Pokemon that specializes in taking hits. However, Togekiss is hardly just a punching bag.
Rather,Togekiss is a solid counter to any and all fighting and dark-types a player is likely to encounter in the Ultra League. Additionally, Togekiss is a useful counter to the often used Giratina, making for asolid wall against a legendary Pokemon.
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2Talonflame
A rare combinationof flying and fire-type, Talonflame might not be most players' first port of call when it comes to Pokemon selection, but Talonflame is a tremendously useful addition to any team looking for a fast-hitting fire type.
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A Talonflame using Incinerate, Brave Bird, Hurricane, or any number of other flying or fire-type moves can be a useful way to deal with opponents quickly and efficiently. Talonflame rarely benefits from a long, drawn-out fight, so use it wisely.
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1Jellicent
Another unusual type combination,Jellicent’s ghost/water typing makes it an interesting counter to a number of other Pokemon commonly seen in the Ultra League. Its neutral coverage is second to none in the league, and utilizing moves such as Bubble, Shadow Ball, and Bubble Beam makes it a potent offensive weapon against other high-tier options, such as Talonflame, Stunfisk, and other fire, rock, and ghost-type Pokemon.
One of the only drawbacks is its weakness to electric or ghost-type moves, but otherwise, Jellicent is a powerful choice for any trainer trying to tackle the Ultra League.
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Pokemon GOis available on Android and iOS.
