While the world of Pokemon is full of many different things trainers can do with their pocket monsters, the main (and most fun) activity is battling. Putting teams up against each other to determine the best trainer is a thrill like no other. Battling through the single-player campaign to become champion is all well and good, but some seek to go further.

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Players worldwide look to compete with each other, pushing their teams to the limits to call themselves world champions. Over the past decade or so, when Pokemon VGC has been officially recognized, some Pokemon have risen to the top. While different meta-games come and go, some Pokemon always find a way to be useful and have helped win multiple world championships.

Updated June 24, 2024 by Stephen LaGioia: The realm of Ranked Battles and competitive Pokemon is exciting, in-depth, and challenging. Battles can seem simple on the surface, but there are many subtle nuances that expert players can exploit when it comes to the vast range of match-ups and counters. This is partly because of a growing number of features introduced in more recent Generations, such as abilities and Terastallizing.

To stand up against skilled opponents, players should get their hands on the strongest, most effective Pokemon to fight in competitive matches. To better showcase the best competitive Pokemon, the following guide has been updated and includes even more entries for competition-viable creatures.

27 Dragonite

A Dragon Juggernaut

Aside from just having impressive stats across the board, Dragonite is a tried-and-true option to hold out for a while in heated battles because of its Miultiscale ability, which mitigates enemy damage by half when at maximum HP. This gives the already potent Pokemon a clear advantage from the get-go. Its bulk allows it to absorb ample damage, and it’s also versatile in terms of the moves it can learn, especially physical ones.

It’s fairly quick for its size, with moves like Extreme Speed and Quick Attack further boosting this area. Moves like Outrage and Superpower can also be exploited to wipe out most or all of a foe’s HP rather quickly.

26 Flutter Mane

A Deceptive Disruptor

While a bit vulnerable when it comes to raw power and defense, players delving into more involved battles — which usually involve special moves — will notice a nice advantage with this Ghost-Fairy hybrid. It excels when it comes to STAB (same-type attack bonus) and coverage moves, making it a good match-up for many opponents.

Since it’s quite versatile in its movesets, there are plenty of decent counters for Pokemon types that hold an advantage over it. Shadow Ball and Moonblast can be exploited in particular, ensuring ample damage to a wide range of targets.

Players will want to use Flutter Mane as a quick disruptor — getting in attacks swiftly and effectively — as it’s not great for wars of attrition. However, for practiced fighters, Flutter Mane can be a deceptively effective option.

25 Koraidon

Magic And Muscle

With its Orichalcum Pulse ability alone, which shifts the weather to Harsh Sunlight — boosting its Attack by 30% for the five turns this chance occurs — Koraidon is hard to contend with. The Fighting-Dragon-type is bred for dishing out plenty of pain on its targets, especially with physical attacks.

There is quite a long list of moves this Pokemon can learn whose power goes well into the triple digits, including Outrage, Close Combat, and Giga Impact. It’s also handy that there are few elementals the monster is vulnerable against, while Koraidon is resistant to quite a few, including Rock, Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, and Dark.

With its raw power and bulkiness, Koraidon can usually withstand a lot, while putting a nice dent in the HP of various lineups.

24 Donphan

A Force To Be Reckoned With

While there aren’t a ton of nuances or fancy bells and whistles with Donphan, this big-tusked monster is just straight-up powerful. The Pokemon serves as a good tank option, as well as an offensive threat, making it a tough out in battle. It helps that its ability Sturdy ensures it won’t be knocked out with a single hit — even one-hit-KO moves.

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It can use several disruptive moves to throw opponents off-balance, such as Encore, Rapid Spin, and Knock Off — the latter of which wipes out a target’s held item. This beast is simply a sturdy, reliable utility choice for experts and less-practiced players alike. And given all the nuances that can arise in battle, this is a welcome trait.

23 Meowscarada

A Quick And Versatile Feline

Meowscarada is the final form of the Grass-type starter from Generation 9, bringing the unique supplement of the Dark elemental. While not having the massive firepower of some competitive favorites, this humanoid feline is subtly useful in a few areas.

This begins with the handy move Flower Trick — which only Meowscarada is capable of learning as of now. Flower Trick is a great option in a heated match, as it’s fairly powerful, and always hits for criticals. The move boasts a base power of 70, which, coupled with a fairly high Attack stat, can chip away at opponents’ HP quite quickly.

Added to this is the cat’s immense speed, which allows players to get a jump on opponents, making it more likely for them to have to play catch-up. Finally, its Hidden Ability called Protean allows it to transform into a single type (taking the form of the move it used last). This whittles down the number of elemental types that are strong against this Pokemon.

22 Yveltal

Fiery Death From Above

This already potent Dark/Flying-type’s power is amped up even more with its Dark Aura ability, which bumps up Dark-type move strengths by about 33%, and this applies to all Pokemon on the field. However, it should be noted that this effect doesn’t stack if there is more than one Pokemon with this ability.

This also yields a 30% chance of causing flinching, keeping targets on their heels for much of the match. On top of this, Yveltal is the only Pokemon currently able to learn the nifty move Oblivion Wing. This acts as a secondary STAB, which inflicts loads of damage and even restores 75% of the damage dealt.

Heat Wave is an excellent coverage move that wallops various Pokemon types. Put simply — this draconian Flying Pokemon is pretty much stacked across the board, and has several tricks up its sleeve.

21 Ho-Oh

An Avian Legend

The Pokemon that spurred the imagination and wonder of Ash Ketchum (and viewers) in the Pokemon anime’s pilot episode is also a great option for competitive matches.

This Fire/Flying-type can turn up the heat with its Special Attack power and ability to weather moves from opponents’ Special moves. Players can enjoy the benefits of a strong, well-rounded moveset with Earthquake, Sacred Fire, Extrasensory, and the healing move Recover.

These all cover a range of elementals and move types, while helping ensure the Pokemon can win a war of attrition. Its survivability is further strengthened by its hidden ability Regenerator, which, as its name implies, restores a decent chunk of HP (specifically 33%) after switching it out. This majestic bird can help players soar to victory in battle.

20 Zapdos

Truly Electrifying

Players were elated to see the original Legendary Bird Trio get their own unique redesigns with Galarian forms in Generation 8 but Zapdos retains most of its competitive viability when in its Generation 1 form. The high-flying Electric-type can be devastating thanks to its array of powerful moves, high Special Attack stat (125) and solid Speed (100). This combination has seen many players use it well in Sword & Shield Ranked Battles.

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Those looking to get the most out of their Zapdos should find one with a Timid nature, as it will boost its Speed in favor of Attack. This isn’t a huge deal as Zapdos is a Special Attacker, so it will benefit from the speed boost without losing its edge. Players can dominate the competition with moves like Hurricane, Heat Wave, and Rising Voltage. Zapdos also has some staying power thanks to Roost.

19 Dragapult

The Living Missile Launcher

Those looking for a unique and competitively viable Dragon-type should check out Dragapult. The living missile launcher is a mixed attacker with a ton of speed, giving it the ability to out-maneuver its opponents. It’s very capable of sweeping a team and its Clear Body ability will keep it safe from any negative stat-affecting moves. It also comes with the Cursed Body hidden ability which can outright disable an opponent’s move (30 percent chance) if it hits Dragapult.

Players can push Dragapult’s already impressive Speed stat (142) even further by snagging one with the Naive nature, which will also leave its Attack (120) and Special Attack (100) intact. Its unique typing of Dragon/Ghost can go a long way in battle and it will benefit from STAB on moves like Dragon Darts and Phantom Force.

18 Mimikyu

A Surprisingly Effective Counter

One of the most entertaining things about competitive Pokemon play is that dedicated trainers often find ways to introduce some truly unique Pokemon into the meta. Mimikyu is an example of a competitively viable Pokemon that doesn’t look like it belongs with the powerhouses present in most battles. Looks can be very deceiving, however, as this pint-sized cosplaying Pokemon is capable of taking a hit and dishing out serious damage if used correctly.

Its Disguise ability allows it to tank one hit per battle, giving smart players a chance to set up Swords Dance and punish their opponents with an array of Ghost or Fairy-type moves. Players can help Mimikyu out-speed the competition by finding one with a Jolly stat, which will give it a better chance of tanking a hit and then getting the jump on the opponent.

17 Tapu Fini

A Fairy With Bulk

One of Alola’s guardian spirits, all four of them have seen a fair amount of competitive usage since their introduction in Generation 7. Tapu Koko has always been a force to be reckoned with, while Tapu Bulu and Tapu Lele had their niches. However, Tapu Fini has benefitted from the jump to Generation 8 the most.

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With 130 in Special Defense, and a Water/Fairy-type combination, Tapu Fini can take a hit and keep on trucking. Its Attacking power isn’t incredible, but it has access to moves like Nature’s Madness, which is guaranteed to halve an opponent’s HP. It usually carries Icy Wind to slow other Pokemon down and sometimes uses Heal Pulse to support its allies.

16 Venusaur

Teaching An Old Pokemon New Tricks

Venusaur is the final evolution of the very first Pokemon in the Pokedex. To say it’s been around for a while would be quite an understatement. Despite this, it was never used very prominently as a top competitive Pokemon. That was until Sword & Shield came along and breathed new life into it.

For a long time, it had good Special Attack and Defence, with 100 in each, but its low HP and Speed meant it could never be put to good use. However, with its Chlorophyll hidden ability, its Speed doubles in sunlight, and suddenly, it becomes a bulky tank with a turbocharger strapped to it. The Isle of Armor DLC giving it a Gigantamax form was quite a boost too.

15 Galarian Moltres

Fire And Fury

At first glance, it doesn’t look like Galarian Moltres would be all that great, but it benefitted from the circumstances in which it came about. As an addition to the Crown Tundra DLC, it popped up simultaneously as popular Pokemon like Cresselia made their return, and new ones like Calyrex and Spectrier appeared. Galarian Moltress could obliterate them all.

Combining the Weakness Policy item with Dynamax means that Galarian Moltres can hit powerful Dark-type moves that nothing can resist. It has great Special Attack and even better Special Defence, allowing it to give and take hits with ease. Plus, even when it isn’t Dynamaxed, its signature move Firery Wrath, has a 20% chance of causing the opponent to flinch, meaning they may not even move.

14 Regieleki

Faster Than Light

One of the newer Pokemon in the franchise, being added in the Crown Tundra DLC in late 2020, Regieleki has quickly become a force to be reckoned with. 200 Speed is an incredible place to start and makes it one of the best Electric-types in the scene right now.

With 100 in both Physical and Special Attack, it can hit with some fierce power. What’s more, its Transistor ability boosts its Attack by 1.5x when using an Electric move. This means it can savor moves like Thunderbolt to hit with some force or Volt Switch to keep as fast as possible and never take a hit.

13 Rillaboom

Attacking With Priority

Rillaboom saw spotty usage throughout the first few Players Cups. There were ways it could work, but Pokemon like Incineroar were still somewhat boxing it out. This changed in a major way when Players Cup events started allowing restricted Pokemon on teams (a group that mostly includes Legendary Pokemon).

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Here, Rillaboom found its place as a Pokemon that could handle some of the most powerful ones. With its Grassy Surge Hidden Ability, combined with the move Grassy Glide, Rillaboom held a powerful Grass-Type move that had priority, guaranteeing it would move before even some of the fastest Pokemon. It meant that even monsters like Regieleki and Urshifu were now far less of a threat.

12 Bronzong

Slayer Of Fairy-type Pokemon

Bronzong is an unassuming Pokemon that many trainers may not think would be a good fit for competitive play. While its usage hasn’t been widespread, it has proved to be an essential player on teams in certain years.

Its Steel/Psychic typing makes it a tough nut to crack. Additionally, its versatile move set allows it to control the pace of battle with moves like Trick Room and hit hard with Gyro Ball. In 2016, it was near-essential to have on teams due to the prevalence of Fairy Types, which Bronzong could rip right through.

11 Calyrex

Two In One

The headline Pokemon for The Crown Tundra DLC, Calyrex was immediately made a Restricted Pokemon, limiting its competitive use. However, when it’s been allowed to step onto the battlefield, it has wreaked havoc.

With Special Attack and Speed that few Pokemon can match, there is little most Pokemon can do to stop it. Additionally, when combined with Spectrier, its As One Ability is like two in one. Calyrex’s Unnerve stops the opponent from eating crucial Berries, while Spectrier’s Grim Neigh boosts its Special Attack every time it gets a KO. It is a threat that will be immediately prioritized when the opponent pulls it out because letting it get going will result in a total team sweep.

10 Urshifu

Fast, Furious Fists

Several Pokemon have seen heavy usage in the Pokemon Sword and Shield era of competitive play. With a more limited Pokedex, players have been forced to get more creative with their teams. Urshifu has risen to the occasion as a solid pick.

With a high Speed stat, Urshifu can get onto the battlefield and strike before many other powerful Pokemon. On top of that, its two forms often mean opponents won’t know what they’re up against until it’s too late. Combine that with a signature move that guarantees a critical hit, and players have a tournament-winning Pokemon on their hands.

9 Amoonguss

Supportive Spores

With the double-battle format of VGC, trainers don’t have to focus on raw attacking power. Supportive Pokemon can be just as effective in keeping the opponent’s strikes at bay. Amoonguss is one of the better Pokemon for keeping the fight going.

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It can put opponents to sleep with frightening accuracy using Spore and can focus attacks on itself with Rage Powder. Additionally, it boasts enviable Abilities. Effect Spore means an attacker may find themselves victim to a status condition, while Regenerator restores Amoonguss’ health when it switches out.

8 Incineroar

Intimidating Sweeper

Generation 7 left a large impact on the Pokemon franchise, and the competitive scene was no exception. Incineroar’s power is rivaled by very few Pokemon. It managed to break the mold of starter Pokemon being fairly useless in competitive play. Its move pool lets trainers have their pick of the litter, but what set it into the mainstream was its Hidden Ability.

Incineroar’s intimidating ability makes it a mainstay on almost all of the top teams. Lowering the opponent’s Attack stat upon switching in is a huge boon, and Incineroar can back it up with attacking moves that destroy anything in its path. This dominance has seen it claim a world championship every year since its Intimidate Ability was released in 2018.