A Guide to Pokémon GO Part 2: Picking the Right Pokémon and Item Tips

In our Guide to Pokémon GO Part 1, we shared with you a list about CP gains per Power Up for the strongest Pokémon in the game. Since Powering Up your Pokémon will require a hefty amount of Stardust and Candies, which we will share with you some tips to obtain them later, we hope this list will help you decide which Pokémon you want to train.

We’ll be listing out the best Pokémon for defending gyms and attacking gyms, as well as the strongest moves for each Pokémon type.

Best Pokémon for Defending Gyms

These Pokémon have high amounts of HP, making them the best in defending gyms.

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Tiers	Pokémon
S-TIER	Chansey, Wigglytuff, Lapras, Vaporeon, Snorlax
A-TIER	Gyarados, Slowbro, Muk, Rhydon, Clefable, Exeggutor, Kangaskhan, Dragonite
B-TIER	Arcanine, Dewgong, Lickitung, Machamp, Nidoqueen, Poliwrath, Hypno, Victreebel,Aerodactyl, Blastoise, Charizard, Nidoking, Venusaur, Tentacruel, Golem, Pidgeot, Vileplume, Flareon. Ninetales, Tauros. Venomoth, Scyther, Omastar
C-TIER	Golbat, Sandslash, Golduck, Seaking, Electabuzz, Fearow, Jolteon, Jynx, Magmar,Persian, Pinsir, Porygon, Primeape, Rapidash, Weezing, Arbok, Dodrio, Electrode, Gengar, Kabutops, Marowak, Parasect, Raichu, Starmie
F-TIER	Alakazam, Kingler, Raticate, Seadra, Cloyster, Farfetch’d, Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee,Magneton, Mr. Mime, Onix, Tangela, Butterfree, Beedrill, Dugtrio

Best Pokémon for Attacking Gyms

These Pokémon’s high attack stats and max CP make them best for attacking gyms.

Tiers	Pokemon
S-TIER	Dragonite, Arcanine, Victreebel, Exeggutor, Magmar, Flareon, Lapras, Vaporeon, Snorlax
A-TIER	Charizard, Raichu, Nidoking, Vileplume, Golduck, Machamp, Rapidash, Cloyster, Gengar, Weezing, Starmie, Electabuzz, Pinsir, Gyarados, Jolteon, Kabutops, Omastar, Aerodactyl
B-TIER	Slowbro, Venusaur, Blastoise, Nidoqueen, Clefable, Ninetales, Wigglytuff, Golbat, Parasect, Venomoth, Primeape, Poliwrath, Alakazam, Tentacruel, Golem, Magneton, Dodrio, Muk, Kingler, Rhydon, Seadra, Seaking, Scyther, Jynx
C-TIER	Pidgeot, Fearow, Arbok, Sandslash, Dugtrio, Persian, Dewgong, Hypno, Electrode, Marowak, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, Tangela, Kangaskhan, Mr. Mime, Tauros, Porygon
F-TIER	Butterfree, Beedrill, Raticate, Farfetch’d, Onix, Lickitung, Chansey

Strongest Moves for Each Type

Pokémon Type	Primary Move	Secondary Move
NORMAL	Lick	Body Slam
POISON	Poison Jab	Sludge Wave
BUG	Bug Bite	X-Scissor
GRASS	Vine Whip	Petal Blizzard
WATER	Water Gun	Aqua Tail
GROUND	Mud Shot	Earthquake
FIRE	Ember	Flamethrower
FIGHTING	Karate Chop	Cross Chop
ROCK	Rock Throw	Stone Edge
FAIRY	Pound	Play Rough
FLYING	Wing Attack	Hurrincane
ELECTRIC	Spark	Thunder Punch
PSYCHIC	Psycho Cut	Psychic
GHOST	Shadow Claw	Shadow Ball
DRAGON	Dragon Breath	Dragon Claw
ICE	Frost Breath	Blizzard

If you’re already decided which Pokémon you plan to Power Up, you’ll need to gather Stardust and Candies. It’s best if you took advantage of leveling up your trainer using Items.

To Get Candy

When you catch a Pokémon, you will receive three Candies that corresponds to the specific Pokémon you just caught.
You can transfer unwanted Pokémon to Professor Willow in exchange for Candy.
Hatch Eggs to receive large amounts of Candy based on the Pokémon that hatched.

To Get Stardust

When you catch Pokémon you receive 100 Stardust.
Store Pokémon in Gyms and obtain Stardust (and PokéCoins) from the Shop in the main menu. The higher the number of undefeated Pokémon stored in your Gyms, the more Stardust you will receive. These bonuses are available approximately every 20 hours.

Leveling up is essential for you to be able to encounter Pokémon with higher CP. Here are some ways you can gain more XP:

Activities	XP
Visiting a PokéStop	50
Visiting a large PokéStop	100
Evolving a Pokémon	500
Evolving a new Pokémon	1000
Hatching a Pokémon Egg (2KM)	200
Hatching a Pokémon Egg (5KM)	500
Hatching a Pokémon Egg (10KM)	1000
Hatching a new Pokémon	500
Training at friendly Gym	Varies
Winning a Gym battle against one Pokémon	150
Winning a Gym battle against two Pokémon	250
Winning a Gym battle against three Pokémon	350
Winning a Gym battle against four Pokémon	450
Catching a new Pokémon	500
Catching a Pokémon	100
Excellent throw	100
Great throw	50
Nice throw	10
Curve ball	10

Another tip for leveling fast is using Items! The most important Item to have when leveling is the Lucky Egg. When activated, it will double all XP earned for 30 minutes. Combine this with Incense or a Lure Module and you’ll find yourself leveling up fast just by catching lots of Pokémon! (Remember to load your bag with Pokéballs)