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| GO Battle League Season 16 PvP Reward Pokémon Analysis |
Greetings, fellow Pokémon trainers! A new season of the Pokémon GO Battle League has arrived, bringing it with fresh moves, rebalances, and new contenders for PvP battles. While some of this information has already been extensively covered by our fellow trainers at GOHub, such as in-depth move rebalance analyzes by JRE and September's catch priorities by Jtizzler, today, I want to delve into a less-discussed aspect of Pokémon GO PvP : The Pokémon you can earn as rewards for achieving three wins in the GO Battle League.
Key Terms
The main objective of this article is to introduce you to the Pokémon available as rewards in the GO Battle League, analyze their best applications, and determine which league they excel in. Since you'll naturally encounter these Pokémon while engaging in PvP battles, why not make the most of them?
To make this article a valuable reference while participating in the GO Battle League, I'll provide essential information at the beginning of each Pokémon's analysis, including:
Type: The Pokémon's primary or evolved type, whichever is more relevant for PvP.
Required Rank: Some Pokémon in the GO Battle League become available only after reaching a certain rank. I'll indicate that rank.
Viable League: I'll specify which leagues the Pokémon is suitable for, whether it's the Great League (1500 CP), Ultra League (2500 CP), Master League (Unlimited), or even the Little League (500 CP).
Best IVs: The generally accepted ideal Individual Values (IVs) for the Pokémon, presented as Attack/Defense/HP. For example, 5/13/15 indicates 5 Attack, 13 Defense, and 15 HP/Stamina.
Usability As Is: Not all Pokémon you obtain in the GO Battle League have ideal IVs for PvP. Since GO Battle League Pokémon have a minimum IV requirement of 10/10/10, and many Great and Ultra League Pokémon benefit from low Attack with high Defense and Stamina, I'll classify usability into three categories: Absolutely, Yes, or No.
Now, let's dive into the analysis, starting with:
Bisharp
Required Rank: 1
Viable League: None (yet). Potential for the Master League in the future.
Best IVs: 15/15/15 (Potentially)
Usability As Is: Absolutely Probably!
We begin with an unusual choice. Bisharp is a confirmed reward for winning three games in Rank 1, and it's not considered a strong Pokémon for PvP at the moment. However, considering the introduction of a new evolution for the Bisharp line in Generation IX, Kingambit, and its typing and moves from the main series games, it might become a valuable addition to the Master League in Pokémon GO. This season, we're getting Paldean Pokémon, and with a second-stage evolution that has a minimum IV floor of 10/10/10, this is an opportunity to secure one with solid IVs that will be more cost-effective to build up .
Marill
Required Rank: 1+
Viable League: Great League
Best IVs: 0/15/15
Usability As Is: No
Marill has been a staple in the Great League, and its evolution has a promising future this season. With the addition of Galarian Stunfisk, Gliger, and Carbink, which are weak to Water-type moves, there's a case to be made for using Hydro Pump alongside Marill's popular charged attacks, Moonblast and Ice Beam. While a 10/15/14 IV spread isn't ideal, Marill is relatively common in the wild, making it unnecessary to hold onto one obtained from league rewards. However, these Pokémon are useful for obtaining XL candies.
Sneasel
Required Rank: 1+
Viable League: Great League, Ultra League
Best IVs: 0/15/15
Usability As Is: No
Unlike Bisharp, Sneasel doesn't have much potential in open metas. Its Hisuian variant, Sneasler, performs slightly better in the Great League and Ultra League but isn't a top-tier pick in the open meta. Since Hisuian Sneasel isn't part of the GBL reward pool, Sneasel might not have much relevance unless it receives a new evolution in a future generation or undergoes significant changes.
Meditite
Required Rank: 1+
Viable League: Great League
Best IVs: 5/15/15
Usability As Is: Yes
Meditite's evolution, Medicham, has been a dominant force in the Great League, and this season is no different. With its solid bulk, access to Counter (the best fighting-type fast attack), Fighting/Psychic typing, and strong charged attacks, Medicham maintains its prominence. A 10/15/14 or 10/14/15 IV spread from GBL is still suitable and cost-effective for building a competitive Medicham.
Croagunk
Required Rank: 1+
Viable League: Great League, Ultra League
Best IVs: 1/15/15 (Great League), 0/15/12 (Ultra League)
Usability As Is: Yes (Great League), No (Ultra League)
Toxicroak, Croagunk's evolution, shares similarities with Sneaseler as a glass cannon Poison/Fighting type. While Toxicroak excels as a spice pick in the Great League and Ultra League, it struggles with low bulk and weaknesses to Psychic/Flying and Ground types. Toxicroak stands out due to its access to Counter, making it a potent choice for those seeking an offbeat option. A 10/15/15 IV spread works decently in the Great League, but remember that you're sacrificing some bulk on an already fragile Pokémon.
Skwovet
Required Rank: 1+
Viable League: Great League, Ultra League
Best IVs: 1/12/14 (Great League), 3/15/15 (Ultra League)
Usability As Is: No (Great League), Yes (Ultra League)
Greedent, the evolution of Skwovet, is generating buzz in PvP after receiving Mud Shot this season. It functions similarly to other bulky Normal types like Lickitung and Dubwool in the Great League, serving as a dependable safe swap due to its lone weakness to fighting. Although Dubwool has slightly greater bulk, Greedent is more cost-effective to build, requiring no XL candies in the Great League and offering Body Slam without the need for a legacy move. Greedent even triumphs over Lickitung in direct matchups due to Lick's ineffectiveness against it. In the Ultra League, its added bulk makes Greedent a strong contender, and a 10/15/15 IV spread is suitable and budget-friendly.
Carbink
Required Rank: 6+
Viable League: Great League
Best IVs: 5/15/15
Usability As Is: Yes (Great League)
Carbink, an exceptionally bulky Rock/Fairy type, shines in the Great League, serving as a sturdy swap or closer similar to Bastiodon. Its Fairy typing grants it defensive advantages against Fighting-type moves, and offensively, it wields the potent Moonblast. While Carbink is costly to build, a 10/15/15 or 10/14/15 IV spread is efficient for Great League play, offering a high-stat product while remaining budget-friendly.
Frillish
Required Rank: 6+
Viable League: Great League, Ultra League
Best IVs: 1/14/14 (Great League), 6/14/15 (Ultra League)
Usability As Is: No (Great League), Yes (Ultra League)
Jellicent, the evolution of Frillish, boasts impressive bulk and rapid energy generation. He has been a strong pick in the Ultra League and a solid contender in the Great League since gaining Surf. With its Water typing and Ghost subtyping, it excels against various opponents, including Medicham. In the Ultra League, Jellicent handles many popular threats, including Charizard, Swampert, Walrein, and Cresselia. However, it struggles against Giratina and Dark types. A 10/14/15 IV spread suffices for the Great League, while the Ultra League may require different IVs.
Skarmory
Required Rank: 11+
Viable League: Great League
Best IVs: 1/15/14
Usability As Is: No
Skarmory's role in high-rank PvP or PvP in general this season is uncertain. It has faced competition from other flyers like Noctowl, and with the Sky Attack nerf, it may no longer see much use. However, there's always potential for future updates to breathe new life into Skarmory's PvP viability.
Lickitung
Required Rank: 11+
Viable League: Great League
Best IVs: 1/15/14
Usability As Is: Yes (Nearly Absolutely!)
Lickitung, once prevalent in early Pokémon GO PvP, regained popularity after Trevenant's nerf last season. With access to Power Whip, Lickitung plays a role akin to a pseudo Grass type, countering Medicham and others. It excels as a safe swap due to its Normal typing and access to Lick and Body Slam for fast, spammy moves. A 10/15/14 IV spread, while not perfect, comes close to the ideal stat product for Great League, making Lickitung a fantastic choice.
Wobbuffet
Required Rank: 11+
Viable League: Great League
Best IVs: 15/15/15
Usability As Is: Absolutely
Wobbuffet may have a low CP, but its impressive bulk, boasting over 300 HP and solid Defense, allows it to thrive in the Great League despite not reaching the CP cap. With Counter as its fast move, Wobbuffet can hang around in battles, making it a viable spice pick. However, its limited movepool, primarily consisting of Mirror Coat, keeps it from excelling in the open meta. Wobbuffet performs better in limited metas, where its movepool limitations are less pronounced.
Phantump
Required Rank: 11+
Viable League: Great League, Ultra League
Best IVs: 0/15/15 (Great League), 1/15/15 (Ultra League)
Usability As Is: Yes (Great League), No (Ultra League)
Trevenant, the evolution of Phantump, was once a prominent choice in the Great League, benefiting from its unique Ghost/Grass typing and Shadow Claw. While its popularity waned after Seed Bomb's energy increase, Trevenant remains a solid option. In the Ultra League, it boasts wins against Cresselia, Giratina (Altered), and Tapu Fini but struggles against Giratina and Dark types. A 10/15/15 IV spread is suitable for the Great League, but you may need different IVs for the Ultra League.
Mareanie
Required Rank: 11+
Viable League: Great League
Best IVs: 0/15/15 (Great League)
Usability As Is: Yes
Toxapex, Mareanie's evolution, has always been a dependable pick for the Great League. Its Water/Poison typing opposes Carbink's Rock/Fairy type, providing a strong counter. With Carbink and Azumarill expected to remain in this season's Great League, Toxapex becomes even more relevant. However, it remains susceptible to Ground types such as Gligar and Stunfisk. You won't find ideal IVs for Toxapex in the GBL reward pool, but it was available in the wild during Global GO Fest, making it an excellent candidate for GBL rewards to collect candies.
Wooloo
Required Rank: 16+
Viable League: Great League, Ultra League
Best IVs: 1/15/15 (Great League), 15/15/15 (Ultra League)
Usability As Is: No (Great League), Absolutely! (Ultra League)
Dubwool, Wooloo's evolution, has become a PvP star with the addition of Double Kick, making it a potent choice for PvP. Like Lickitung and Greedent, Dubwool is a bulky, spammy Normal type with Body Slam. However, Dubwool exerts more pressure with its fast attacks. Additionally, it has a choice between Wild Charge and Payback for coverage. While you can acquire the best Dubwool for the Ultra League in GBL, you'll need to look elsewhere for a Great League Dubwool.
Falinks
Required Rank: 16+
Viable League: Great League, Ultra League
Best IVs: 0/15/15 (Great League), 2/15/15 (Ultra League)
Usability As Is: Yes (Great League), Yes (Ultra League)
Falinks is a unique mono-Fighting type with no evolutions, making it a suitable spice pick for the Great League and Ultra League. It offers Counter as a fast move and a choice between two fast-charging Fighting-type charged moves, along with a Bug-type nuke. You can find a good Falinks for both the Great League and Ultra League in GBL rewards, with a 10/12/15 IV spread being suitable for the Great League and a 10/14/14 IV spread for the Ultra League.
Scraggy
Required Rank: 16+
Viable League: Great League, Ultra League
Best IVs: 0/8/15 (Great League), 9/15/15 (Ultra League)
Usability As Is: No (Great League), Yes (Almost Absolutely!) (Ultra League)
Scrafty, a Dark/Fighting type with Counter, serves as an excellent safe swap option for both the Great League and Ultra League. Its limited weaknesses and decent bulk make it a strong choice. While you won't find an ideal Scrafty for the Great League in GBL, a 9/15/15 IV spread is close enough to perfection. In the Ultra League, Scrafty performs admirably, and GBL rewards may provide you with a nearly perfect Ultra League Scrafty.
Goomy, Gabite, and Jangmo-o
Required Rank: Ace+ (Goomy), Veteran+ (Gible), Expert+ (Jangmo-o)
Viable League: Great League, Ultra League, Master League
Best IVs: N/A
Usability As Is: Depends
These high-rank required dragons offer versatility in various leagues, with Kommo-o (Jangmo-o's final evolution) being a potential spice pick for all three leagues, and Garchomp (Gible's final evolution) excelling in Master League Premier. Goomy, while less prominent, may have a chance to shine with the introduction of its Hisuian variant.
Pikachu Libre
Pikachu Libre is more than just a trophy Pokémon for reaching Legend. It surprisingly found use in the Little Jungle Cup last season, thanks to its access to Flying Press.
In conclusion, this article provided an in-depth look at every Pokémon available as rewards in the GO Battle League. For Pokémon GO PvP enthusiasts, strategic resource management and maximizing rewards are crucial. Since you'll obtain these Pokémon while participating in GBL, it's essential to know how to leverage them effectively in your battles. This article aims to provide valuable insights for trainers looking to make the most of their GBL rewards in their PvP endeavors. Good luck and happy battling, Pokémon trainers!
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