Best team for the Great League in Pokemon GO
The Great League is the entry-level tier of the Pokemon GO Battle League, but that doesn't mean it's an easy ride - you'll still need to put the best team possible together for a chance at victory.
There are three major leagues in the Pokemon GO Battle League: the Great League, the Ultra League, and the Master League. For those who are new to the game or don't want to dedicate too much time to powering their Pokemon up, the Great League is a perfect option.
With a 1500 CP limit on all Pokemon that enter, you won't have to spend too much Stardust and Candy to get your Pokemon ready for the Great League. It also means you don't need to have Legendaries or Mythicals for a shot at success, as most of them aren't viable here.
To help you rise to the top of the Great League, we've recommended some of the best teams you can use as well as some of the general top-performing Pokemon in the meta.
Best team for the Great League in Pokemon GO
One of the best teams you can use for the Great League would be Galarian Stunfisk, Swampert, and Abomasnow. I've been using this team for months now and it still manages to get me a win the majority of the time, although it's not perfect - because no team is!
Click to enlargeAnother good team suggestion for the Great League would be Carbink, Medicham, and Azumarill. Carbink is the latest Pokemon to shoot straight to the top of the rankings, while Medicham is a huge threat and Azumarill is a longtime favourite that still packs a punch.
As with any league or cup in the GO Battle League, it's impossible to recommend a team that will work for every single scenario, as it will always depend on what Pokemon your opponent is using - and you won't know that until the battle has already started.
For example, Galarian Stunfisk might be one of our top recommendations thanks to its easily accessible Charged Moves and high win rate, but it will always struggle when it comes up against a Medicham that can target its vulnerability to Fighting-type attacks.
This is why it's so important to have a variety of types in your team when entering the Great League. If you had three Grass-types on your team, all it would take is one powerful Charizard with Fire-type attacks to wipe them out in no time at all.
You can find more information about all of our recommended Pokemon below, including the movesets they'll need to reach their full potential.
Best Pokemon recommendations for the Great League
Galarian Stunfisk
Click to enlargeGalarian Stunfisk is my personal favourite Pokemon for the Great League. With the right moveset, it can dish out Charged Moves at an incredible rate, while its unique Ground/Steel-typing gives it a whopping 10 type resistances. Combine that with above-average bulk, and you've got yourself a winner.
Mud Shot is the go-to Fast Move for Galarian Stunfisk, letting it generate energy very quickly. Rock Slide should be its primary Charged Move, as it's relatively cheap and has good coverage against Fire, Flying, and Ice-type opponents. Follow that up with Earthquake for some massive STAB damage.
Registeel
Click to enlargeIf you've got a Registeel under 1500 CP, you should absolutely be using it in the Great League. This Legendary titan has impressive bulk and a massive 11 resistances - yes, you read that right. It's a nightmare to take down and can access Charged Moves relatively quickly, making it a great lead Pokemon for any team.
Make sure you have Lock On as Registeel's Fast Move, as this will help you generate energy as quickly as possible - you'll need it to be able to unleash the expensive but devastating Charged Moves Focus Blast and Zap Cannon. If you don't have an Elite Charged TM to get Zap Cannon, Flash Cannon is an okay backup.
Swampert
Click to enlargeSwampert is a champion in both the Great League and the Ultra League, so it's a good idea to have one prepared for each league. I've had a lot of luck with Swampert on my team, largely due to the fact that it only has one weakness (watch out for Grass-type attacks!) and an excellent moveset at its disposal.
Just like Galarian Stunfisk, we recommend running Mud Shot on Swampert due to its excellent energy generation. This will give you access to two brilliant Charged Moves: Hydro Cannon and Earthquake. The former is a Community Day-exclusive move, but it's absolutely worth using an Elite Charged TM to get it.
Annihilape
Click to enlargeAs many Trainers expected, Annihilape is already making waves in the Pokemon GO Battle League following its debut in the Raging Battles event. With an excellent Fighting/Ghost typing that allows it to tackle almost anything you'll come across, you'll want one in your collection.
Annihilape has access to the excellent Counter, so make sure you've got that as a Fast Move. When it comes to Charged Moves, I'd recommend going with Shadow Ball for a heavy-hitting STAB attack and Ice Punch for extra coverage. If you prefer, you can swap the latter out for Night Slash.
Abomasnow
Click to enlargeDespite its imposing appearance, Abomasnow is quite frail in the Great League, with seven weaknesses (including a double weakness to Fire) to watch out for. When it gets a chance to shine, though, it's a machine that's capable of dealing massive damage to anything that's vulnerable to Grass or Ice-type attacks.
Powder Snow is the best Fast Move for Abomasnow, with quick energy generation letting you bust out either Energy Ball or Ice Weather Ball depending on what the situation calls for. Even better, this entire moveset has STAB. Our best advice for using Abomasnow is to hold it back until you know it's safe to unleash it.
Carbink
Click to enlargeCarbink is a very expensive investment to get powered up for the Great League, especially as it's not easy to encounter outside of special events. It's worth the cost, though, as it's currently one of the top-ranked Pokemon in the meta. I've been battling with a 1,375 CP Carbink and it still performs very well!
With such high bulk, Carbink's playstyle is open to slight variation. Rock Throw is a great Fast Move that comes with STAB, but if you'd rather prioritise energy generation, Tackle is a decent alternative. Whichever Fast Move you choose, go with the low-cost Rock Slide and the devastating Moonblast as Charged Moves.
Medicham
Click to enlargeAnother relatively expensive Pokemon for the Great League is Medicham, which is an absolute menace in the meta. I've lost track of the number of times I've come up against a Medicham and not had a suitable counter for it - so it's a good idea to not only have a Medicham of your own, but also a Pokemon that can counter it.
When it comes to Medicham's moveset, the general recommendation is to go with Counter as a Fast Move and pair that with Ice Punch and Psychic as Charged Moves. With this wide coverage, you'll be able to land key wins over big threats like Galarian Stunfisk, Swampert, and even the Legendary titan Registeel.
Azumarill
Click to enlargeAzumarill has been a standout in the Great League for what seems like forever. It might not be as unbeatable as it once was, but it's still an excellent bulky choice for your team (assuming you've got enough Candy to power it up close to that 1,500 CP limit).
I've been running Azumarill with Bubble, Ice Beam, and Play Rough. Some people prefer to go with Hydro Pump over Play Rough, but with Medicham being such a huge threat in the current meta, I think it's best to stick with Play Rough so you've got a guaranteed counter on your team.
Great League rules & restrictions
The single rule of the Great League is that all Pokemon on your team must be 1,500 CP or below.
Once a Pokemon's CP goes above this number, there's no going back, so make sure you don't accidentally power up one of your favourite Pokemon too much!
When does the Great League start & end?
The Great League will appear in the GO Battle League from Friday, January 19, 2024, at 1PM PST / 4PM EST / 9PM BST until Friday, February 2, 2024, at 1PM PST.
It will run alongside the traditional Ultra League and Master League in its first week, followed by the Hisui Cup in its second week - so there are plenty of battles to be had.
That's everything you need to know about the Great League! Make sure you visit our Pokemon homepage for the latest news and guides or check out the upcoming events and this month's Spotlight Hour schedule.
