Stardust is the most valuable resource inPokemon Go, and XL Candies come in a close second. It’s essential to be strategic in spending these resources, as wasting them could set back your progress significantly. It’s like the philosopher’s stone of the game, but instead of turning lead into gold, it turns ordinary Pokemon into powerful creatures that can take down any gym.
But here’s the catch:Stardust is finite, and wasting it is like throwing away a winning lottery ticket. So, if you’re looking to power up your Pokemon game, you better be smart about how you use it. Because let’s face it, there’s nothing worse than investing all your resources in a weak Pokemon, only to get crushed by a rival trainer. So buckle up, grab your phone, and let’s dive into the wonderful world of Pokemon Go and find out which Pokemon to prioritize.
Updated on Jul 13, 2025, by Ryan Hay:If there’s Pokemon Go is good at, its taking your favorite Pokemon and letting you take them anywhere you go. Among the best Pokemon in the game we have found that some Pokemon have found their way to the upper echelon of power, being some of the best to take with you to raids, on adventures, and against Team Go Rocket.
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Razor Leaf
Grass Knot
The final form of the Grass-type starter from Generation 8, Rillaboom comes in as a very solid attacker with a fairly high attack for a Grass-type Pokemon. The nicest thing about this Pokemon is that since it’s a starter, it is relatively easy to get Candies for, thanks to a lower Buddy distance and still being fairly common in the wilds.
If you’re able to get a Dynamaxed Rillaboom, you get access to the exceptionally strong Max Overgrow to help you take down Dynamax battles, making it a solid addition to any team. While its regular moveset might leave a little to be desired, it does pretty well against any Rock, Water, or Ground-type Pokemon.
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Dragon Tail
Outrage
Dragonite has been a powerhouse since Pokemon Go launched in 2016, but it received abuff when Shadow Dragonitewas introduced. Dragonite is aDragon and Flying-type Pokemonthat boasts bothhigh defense and attack stats. Outside special events, Dratini candies are hard to farm, so the fastest way to level up Dragonite is to make it your buddy and feed it rare candy.
Shadow Dragonite’sbest move is Dragon Tail, which deals 15 damage and generates nine energy, andOutrage, which deals 110 damage and costs 50 energy. Dragon Tail is a fast move, allowing you toquickly build Outrage to pummel your opponents, especially in PVP where speed is key. This combination lets Shadow Dragonite deal out 20.49 DPS and achieve a whopping 565.4 total damage output!
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Smack Down
Rock Wrecker
Let’s talk about Rhyperior, the steadfast Pokemon that’s causing a stir among the Pokemon Go community. It’s atop-tier Rock-typethat is accessible and available in bothnon-shadow and shadow variations. Finding Rhyhorn, the pre-evolution of Rhyperior, in the wild is simple, so gathering candies to help your Rhyperior evolve and power up won’t be difficult.
If you can teach your Rhyperior theRock Wreckermove, you’ve struck gold. It’s one of the strongest Rock-type attacks in the entire game and, when paired with Rhyperior’shigh Attack and Defensenumbers, it creates a very terrifying foe that can compete in both raid battles and gym defense. Rhyperior is undoubtedly the way to go if you’re looking for a Pokemon that’s simple to catch and incredibly powerful.
Raids and Gym
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Bite
Brutal Swing
The Rock and Dark-type Pokemon might be a bit weak against Fighting-type moves, but don’t let that stop you from running this vicious attacker in some of your more difficult raids. Tyranitar is in the top precentile for Raid attackers, making it a solid non-legendary choice to invest in, especially considering it has had a few Community Days to help stockpile candies.
Helping Tyranitar is the fact that it’s one of the best Dark-type attackers, with Bite and Brutal Swing being very strong moves, and with the STAB bonus, you get some extra damage to push through. Tyranitar is boosted in Fog, so if you’re off hunting raids in the early morning, you’ll want this powerhouse on your team.
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Mud Shot
Hydro Cannon
Swampert is a truly exceptional Pokemon that you’ll definitely want on your team. Its supreme performance in bothshadow and non-shadow variations, plus itsMega Evolution, makes it a popular and formidable choice among trainers.
But that’s not all — teach Swampert theHydro Cannonmove, and you’ll have a true warrior at your fingertips. This deadly Water-type attack can defeat even the toughest of opponents, making Swampert a force to be reckoned with in any battle.
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Meteor Mash
Earthquake
Metagross is aSteel-type powerhousethat any trainer would be lucky to have on their team. With itsimpressive Attack and Defense stats, it’s a top-tier choice for any Steel-type enthusiast. And the best part? Its pre-evolution Beldum can still be found in the wild during special events, making it a relatively easy Pokemon to obtain and power up.
But don’t let its accessibility fool you — Metagross is a force to be reckoned with. Itsshadow and non-shadow iterationsare both strong contenders, with the shadow version, in particular, dominating the Steel-type game. AddMega Evolutionto the mix, and Metagross is a ‘mon to be reckoned with!
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Garchomp is one of the top-tierGround-typeattackers in all of Pokemon Go. Sure, finding its pre-evolution Gible may not be the easiest task, but investing in a Garchomp with good IVs is definitely worth it.
This Pokemon is an absolute force to be reckoned with. Itshigh Attack and Defense statsmake it a formidable opponent against any electric or poison types that dare to challenge it. So, if you’re looking to add a strong and versatile Ground-type Pokemon to your team, Garchomp should definitely be at the top of your list.
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Force Palm
Aura Sphere
The Fighting and Steel-type puppy is a strong attacker that can rush down opposing Pokemon, being particularly good at taking down raids. Lucario has resistance to nine different types, ranging from Dark to Rock-type moves, while only being weak to three: Fighting, Fire, and Ground.
Lucario is capable of Mega Evolving, gaining not only a cooler design but a huge boost to its stats. Once Mega Evolved, Mega Lucario counts itself among the top attackers from Fighting-type Pokemon, making it a vital choice for any player.
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Lick
Shadow Ball
Gengar, ah. The king of spookiness. It has themove Lick in addition to being a Ghost-type, one of the most helpful in the game, making it an absolute threat. Lick can deal ten DPS while accruing six energy in Gym and Raid battles. You shouldn’t mess with this ‘mon.
Gengar can only learn Lick with an Elite Fast TM.
Gengar is theideal choice for those difficult Psychic-typeraid bosses and legendary raids. With the addedbenefit of mega evolution, it becomes an even more potent and versatile opponent. So, Gengar is a good choice if you’re looking for a Pokemon that can compete in even the toughest battles.
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Breaking Swipe
Dragon Ascent
Rayquaza’s usefulness as a PvP competitor has varied over the years; for a while,it was the best Dragon-Typeoption available. It was overcome by some really strong Shadow Pokemon, but it became a strong contender again whenits signature move, Dragon Ascent, was added to the game.
Rayquaza can get an added power boostthrough Mega Evolution.
Teaching RayquazaDragon Ascentrequires a special item, a Meteorite. It arrived aspart of Go Fest 2023, so the only way to get a Meteorite was to complete the associated quest. You could get a second Meteorite if you purchased a ticket to, and completed all the quests for, the special Sky High event on Jul 14, 2025. Unfortunately, if you didn’t get a Meteorite during Go Fest 2023, there’s no other way to get it, at least for now. On the bright side, if you did get it and use it on a strong Rayquaza, you’ve got a strong competitor on your hands!
