Pokémon Go Great League team recommendations
The most effective creatures to compete at lower CP levels.
The Great League is the focus of every Go Battle League season for two weeks in Pokémon Go, which means you have to come up with the most effective team possible at under 1500 CP.
The Great League is one of the most accessible leagues in Pokémon Go because of this low CP requirement. This rules out almost all of the commonly known best Pokémon, which only come in their own because of later evolutions or higher CPs, giving otherwise overlooked creatures some time to shine. And thanks to the recent move shake-up, the meta going into the next Master League season is all to play for!
Of course, you have to consider specific types and moves that will work effectively against other Pokémon, and this page explains our Great League recommendations based on the current Great League meta, allowing you to piece together an effective Great League team.
If you're looking for other Go Battle League recommendations, see our Ultra League page.
On this page:
Things to know about putting together a Great League team in Pokémon Go
A side benefit of the Great League is putting a team together is cheaper and easier than other leagues, meaning if you want to make inroads through the Go Battle League ranks without spending a lot of Stardust, you can.
Though there are fewer Legendaries and Mythicals to consider (though one or two are worth exploring, as your list below explains) you'll be leaning on more common catches which, given the restrictions, start to shine.
And if you don't have our recommended Great League choices, chances are you can find them pretty easily in the wild. It also makes Community Day, which offers an easy source of strong Pokémon that fare well at lower CP levels, a more attractive proposition.
No matter which League you participate in, remember you are after Pokémon with a decent amount of bulk (the ability to survive charged moves - type weakness depending - so you can fire off a few of your own) and those that best counter or expose weaknesses in the current meta (which is a term for what the community is using at present).
Though there are specific Pokémon and types that dominate the meta, remember with the Go Battle League (and player versus player battles in general) you'll be going in blind; so even if you cover yourself with a wide range of offence and defence options, no team is invincible.
Still - even with a few of the below Pokémon in your team, you should be able to fare better than if you just selected those as close to the 1500 CP cap as possible.
Our Pokémon Go Great League recommendations, from Lickitung to Annihilape
There is no one 'best' team you can choose – since, as mentioned previously, you don't know what you are up against – and not everyone has access to every type of Pokémon.
Instead, here is a general list of recommended Great League Pokémon to build a team from, with a wide range of sources that should suit all players, whether you've been collecting creatures since day one or just started playing. If it's been a while since you checked in with our recommendations, make sure you check that your Pokémon still has the best moves for Great League, because the summer 2023 move shake-up has really affected the meta. The top dog (rabbit?) Azumarill, for example, has tumbled down the rankings because of this, which means what you’re coming out swinging with will likely have changed, too.
Remember you are only allowed one of each in the Go Battle League, and ideally you'd want to build a team with different type strengths and defense. For example, if you build a team with Altaria, Skarmory and Azumarill, you’ll be especially open to electric-types.
It’s also worth noting that if you want to really compete, each of your Pokémon need two Charged moves. If you want to skimp on Stardust and only run the one move, do so at your own peril; you have been warned.
Our Pokémon Go Great Team recommendations, as of June 2024, in order of their appearance in the National Pokédex:
Lickitung
Type: Normal
Perfect IVs: 8/14/15
Recommended: Lick (Fast), Body Slam (Legacy Charged) and Power Whip (Charged)
Weaknesses: Fighting
Normal-types take up an interesting part of the PVP meta, especially when, like Lickitung, they offer extreme bulk, the ability to lay down spammy attacks, and have a single weakness in the form of Fighting-type attacks.
Lickitung runs Lick as a Fast attack to help get around said Fighting-types, Body Slam as a spammy shield-bait attack and Power Whip as coverage should the occasion call for it. And with the Perfect IVs above, you can get a Level 50 Lickitung into Great League at CP 1499, meaning that you can absolutely dominate other Pokémon with your formidable stats.
So, how does Lickitung perform in terms of match-ups? You can expect wins against Shadow Whiscash, Charjabug, Annihilape, Skarmory and Shadow Gligar. Expect to get licked by Vigoroth, Wigglytuff, Mandibuzz, Talonflame and Bastiodon
Shadow Feraligatr
Type: Water
Perfect IVs: 0/11/13
Recommended: Shadow Claw (Fast), Hydro Cannon (Legacy Charged) and Ice Beam (Charged)
Weaknesses: Electric and Grass
If you’re looking for a spammy and dynamic Water-type Pokémon that lays down shield pressure, Shadow Feraligatr is a great choice. It’s significantly better than the regular version, but of course comes with the caveat that all Shadow Pokémon carry: it’s a glass cannon.
If that doesn’t bother you, get ready to spam Hydro Cannon, with the occasional Ice Beam for when you need to take out a Flying-type or the rare Grass-type opponent.
In terms of match-ups, you can look forward to wins against Registeel, Talonflame, Shadow Gligar, Shadow Whiscash and Annihilape, which is pretty impressive considering the meta. Losses will come from Lickitung, Vigoroth, Skarmory, Charjabug and Azumarill.
Shadow Gligar
Type: Ground /Flying
Perfect IVs: 0/15/12
Recommended: Wing Attack (Fast), Aerial Ace (Charged) and Dig (Charged)
Weaknesses: Ice (2x) and Water
Spammy and flexible, Gligar has always been a strong contender in PVP. It has recently shot up the rankings, thanks to it being a positive matchup against Annihilape.
The spamminess is helped by Wing Attack being a fast-charging move. Aerial Ace is cheap to fire off; Dig is slightly more expensive, but not so expensive that it can’t be considered spammy. All in all, it’s a very aggressive Pokémon that can lay down a lot of shield pressure.
Other than Annihilape, Shadow Gligar beats Charjabug, Vigoroth, Lanturn and Shadow Whiscash. Losses come from Skarmory, Azumarill, Talonflame, Mandibuzz and Lickitung.
Mantine
Type: Water/Flying
Perfect IVs: 0/15/14
Recommended: Wing Attach (Fast), Aerial Ace (Charged) and Ice Beam (Charged)
Weaknesses: Electric (2x) and Rock
Bulky and spammy are two of the best traits for Pokémon you’d normally consider for PVP – Mantine has both of these. It’s main drawback? Double-weakness to Electric-type attacks. Fortunately, this typing is massively underrepresented in Great League.
This means that you can spend your matches spamming Wing Attack to quickly charge your cheap Aerial Ace and, if needed, Ice Beam as a coverage nuke.
So, how does this all translate in terms of wins and losses? Wins come from matches against Annihilape, Shadow Whiscash, Shadow Gligar, Azumarill and Vigoroth. Losses, meanwhile, will come from Lanturn, Charjabug, Lickitung, Talonflame and Skarmory.
Skarmory
Type: Steel/Flying
Perfect IVs: 0/15/14
Recommended: Steel Wing (Fast), Brave Bird (Charged) and Sky Attack (Charged)
Weaknesses: Electric and Fire
Skarmory has long been a reasonable Pokémon in Great League, but it has recently shot to the top of the meta. This bulky and defensive Pokémon is great at laying down shield pressure, but is held back by how difficult it can be to use.
The reason for this is Brave Bird – it comes with a guaranteed self nuke, dropping Skarmory’s defense by three stages. Sky Attack also had a recent move update, increasing the energy cost to use it.
So, why is Skarmory suddenly a staple again? Well, the aforementioned bulk and the fact that it beats pretty much every Grass-type with its Fast move alone are obvious bonuses. Used properly, this defense nuke doesn’t matter when firing off two Brave Birds back-to-back for massive damage. Having no defense is irrelevant if you have already won the match!
In terms of match-ups, Skarmory beats Shadow Gligar, Wigglytuff, Vigoroth, Shadow Whiscash and Azumarill. Losses will come from Lanturn, Charjabug, Talonflame, Annihilape and Lickitung.
Swampert
Type: Water / Ground
Perfect IVs: 0/14/14
Recommended: Mud Shot (Fast), Hydro Cannon (Legacy Charged) and Earthquake (Charged)
Swampert Weaknesses: Grass
Swampert was once at the very top of the meta. Recent updates have pushed it down the rankings slightly, but it is still incredibly good here, an in the Ultra and Master League.
Its dual Water/Ground-typing not only decreases the amount of Pokémon Swampert is weak too, but it increases the amount of Pokémon it can have an advantage over. The fact that it is a spammy Pokémon with access to Hydro Cannon and Earthquake only makes it more of a threat.
You can look forward to wins against Lanturn, Talonflame, Shadow Gligar, Skarmory and Charjabug. Still, it’s not all upside: you will lose to Shadow Whiscash, Lickitung, Azumarill, Vigoroth and Annihilape.
Pelipper
Type: Water / Flying
Perfect IVs: 0/12/15
Recommended: Wing Attack (Fast), Weather Ball (Water) (Charged), Hurricane (Charged)
Pelipper Weaknesses: Electric, Rock
Abomasnow fans will know how much fun it is to use a hard-hitting, fast-charging Fast move so you can fire off Weather Balls left, right and centre. This bird fits that bill nicely.
Pelipper also has the bonus of only having two weaknesses that aren’t particularly meta-relevant, making it a very attractive pick for those who want something spammy and flexible that also applies a lot of shield pressure.
If this is sounds like your cup of tea, you can look forward to wins against Shadow Whiscash, Annihilape, Azumarill, Shadow Gligar and Vigoroth. However, you do lose to Lanturn, Charjabug, Skarmory, Mandibuzz and Lickitung, so keep that in mind.
Medicham
Type: Fighting / Psychic
Perfect IVs: 5/15/15
Recommended: Counter (Fast), Psychic, and Ice Punch (Charged)
Medicham Weaknesses: Flying, Ghost, Fairy
Medicham is a powerhouse in the Great League, thanks to both its bulk and its spammy fast move. It has slipped down the rankings, sure, but it is still a strong contender for the best teams.
This is because it is a bulky Pokémon that is spammy and applies a lot of Fast Move pressure.
The shifting meta, of course, means there are new match-ups to be aware of. Medicham is now favoured against Vigoroth, Shadow Whiscash, Lanturn, Lickitung and Shadow Gligar. It will lose against Annihilape, Azumarill, Talonflame, Charjabug and Skarmory.
The Max Out Season is here. The new global event, Wild Area, is nearly here and In the Wild is our lead-up event, which includes the global release of Toxel. You can now catch Dynamax Pokémon through Max Battles. First, however, you need to visit Power Spots to collect Max Particles and complete the To the Max! quest. Don't forget to try out Routes, Gift Exchange and Party Play while you're hunting down rare Pokémon, fighting in the Go Battle League or competing in PokéStop Showcases.
Registeel
Type: Steel
Perfect IVs: 2/13/14
Recommended moves: Lock On (Fast), Focus Blast (Charged), Zap Cannon (Legacy Charged)
Registeel Weaknesses: Fighting, Ground, Fire
Legendaries are harder to catch than most – and unlocking a second charge move for them is very expensive – but between the many opportunities players have had to get a Registeel, and Steel coming highly recommended in the Great League thanks to few meta weaknesses and staying in fights for longer, it’s well worth investing in. Thanks to its extreme bulk and agility, it’s widely believed to be the best Pokémon in the Great League.
You can look forward to this investment paying off against Skarmory, Azumarill, Vigoroth, Lickitung and Charjabug. However, you will get poor returns against Shadow Whiscash, Medicham, Annihilape, Shadow Gligar and Quagsire.
Bastiodon
Type: Rock / Steel
Perfect IVs: 0/15/14
Recommended moves: Smack Down (Fast), Stone Edge (Charged), Flamethrower (Charged)
Deoxys (Defence) Weaknesses: Fighting, Ground, Water
Nothing quite says bulk like a walking bastion revived from an Armor Fossil, does it?
Bastiodon has long been a staple in the Great League, though its popularity tends to wax and wane. Right now, it’s a top-10 pick, pulling in wins against Talonflame, Charjabug, Skarmory, Azumarill and Lickitung.
However, for all its extreme bulk, it has double weakness against both Fighting and Ground-type attacks, making it lose very quickly to the likes of Annihilape, Shadow Whiscash, Vigoroth, Shadow Gligar and Lanturn.
If your team needs a strong defensive line, Bastiodon is a good choice, but just be aware that it is very slow and to use and has a couple of matchups it loses very quickly to!
Galarian Stunfisk
Type: Ground and Steel
Perfect IVs: 0/12/15
Recommended moves: Mud Shot (Fast), Rock Slide and Earthquake (Charged)
Galarian Stunfisk Weaknesses: Fighting, Fire, Ground and Water
Galarian Stunfisk has slipped from the top of the meta, but it is still an excellent Pokémon that is well worth considering for your Great League team.
Thanks to being a Ground and Steel-type Pokémon, the Galarian Stunfisk is resistant to the majority of the other Pokémon types, which means that, compared to other Pokémon, it can last longer in battles.
It’s a great counter for Great League favourite Bastiodon, along with Charjabug, Lanturn, Lickitung and Skarmory. Losses come from Annihilape, Shadow Whiscash, Shadow Gligar, Vigoroth and Azumarill.
Carbink
Type: Rock / Fairy
Perfect IVs: 5/15/15
Recommended: Rock Throw (Fast), Rock Slide (Charged) and Moonblast (Charged)
Swampert Weaknesses: Steel (2x), Grass, Ground and Water
As expected, Carbink’s extreme bulk made a huge dent in the Great League meta. While it’s not particularly useful anywhere else in the game, the fact that it gets to Level 49.5 at CP 1498 while also having an incredible defense stat makes it huge here.
Rock Throw is a great Fast attack, offering heavy damage. Rock Slide is an ok Charged attack and Moonblast is a nuke you have for coverage, should the situation call for it. Carbink has two main downsides though - the first being that while Moonblast can debuff the opponent’s attack, it only does so 10% of the time. While that’s not a huge problem, the other issue is that both charged moves are fairly slow, meaning Carbink can’t apply much shield pressure.
So how does this incredibly bulky entry into the Great League stack up? It beats Charjabug, Shadow Gligar, Vigoroth, Lickitung and Annihilape. However, it will lose to Quagsire, Shadow Whiscash, Bastiodon, Skarmory and Azumarill.
Annihilape
Type: Fighting/Ghost
Perfect IVs: 2/15/15
Recommended: Counter (Fast), Night Shade (Charged) and Shadow Ball (Charged)
Weaknesses: Fairy, Flying, Ghost and Psychic
The death monkey is an absolute beater in Great League. Not only is it spammy and dynamic, but is excellent at both Fast Move and Shield pressure. Counter is one of the best moves in the game, Night Slash is a great move to spam shields away with, while also boosting your attack by two stages 12.5% of the time, and Shadow Ball is a cheap nuke. Three great moves with three different typings.
The reason for this is Brave Bird – it comes with a guaranteed self-nuke, dropping Skarmory’s defense by three stages. Sky Attack also had a recent move update, increasing the energy cost to use it.
So, what are its drawbacks? It has multiple weaknesses to be aware of, but if you know when to switch out, you should be fine. You can look forward to wins against Vigoroth, Skarmory, Shadow Whiscash, Lanturn and Charjabug. Switch out against or lose to Shadow Gligar, Mandibuzz, Azumarill, Talonflame and Lickitung.
Good luck in the Great League!