Pokemon GO Retro Cup Best Team | Retro Cup Rules And Recommendations
Looking for the Pokemon GO Retro Cup best team? The Retro Cup is the latest tournament to come to Pokemon GO, which throws back to Gen 1 when there were only 15 types. Hoping to rise through the ranks and defeat your opponents in this limited-time PvP tournament? Here are the Retro Cup rules and the Pokemon GO Retro Cup best team you should consider using.
- While the Retro Cup gets going, the Pokemon GO Sustainability Week event is also happening this week.
Pokemon GO Retro Cup Rules
Click to enlargeThe Pokemon GO Retro Cup rules are pretty straightforward:
- Pokemon must be CP 1,500 or lower
- Fairy-types, Dark-types, and Steel-types cannot be used
This is, of course, a throwback to the first generation when these three types did not exist. Since they serve as popular types in the GO Battle League, Trainers need to get creative to work around their absence.
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Pokemon GO Retro Cup Best Team
Click to enlargeAnyone who was around for the first generation of Pokemon may be feeling a bit nostalgic as they return to the old type matchups before Dark, Steel, and Fairy were added. Ghost-types and Psychic-types benefit by losing one of their major weaknesses in Dark, and Fairy-types will no longer be the scourge of Dragon-types.
In the first slot of your team, you'll want to try and use Pokemon with moves that quickly charge up a charged move, causing your opponent to use their shields up quickly. After that, a second and third slot can be bulky or aggressive. In the third spot especially, bulk with little attack won't serve well, but sometimes outlasting can be a good strategy.
Here are some great options:
Trevenant (Shadow Claw | Shadow Ball/Seed Bomb)
This Ghost/Grass-type is currently dominating the meta, and it'll work extremely well in the Retro Cup. Sucker Punch as a Dark-type fast move will knock out rival Ghost-types nicely, but its better option for a fast move, Shadow Claw, receives the Same-Type Attack Bonus and works well against most opponents.
For a charged move, opt for Shadow Ball or Seed Bomb (or, ideally, both). Seed Bomb charges up fast, allowing you to draw out those shields. Trevenant is best utilized in the first slot.
Walrein (Powder Snow | Icicle Spear/Earthquake)
An Ice/Water-type, Walrein is proving to be quite the force in this tournament. It'll do great in the first slot, where it's able to take down any aggressive Dragon-types or Trevenant with its Ice-type moves, or in the second/third slot for its impressive bulk.
Unfortunately, both Powder Snow and Icicle Spear are exclusive moves, meaning if you don't have a Walrein from its Community Day, you'll need some Elite TMs.
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Lickitung (Lick | Body Slam/Power Whip)
This Gen I Normal-type is going to serve well when going up against Ghost-types, like Trevenant, given its increased resistance to their attacks. In turn, Lickitung can learn Lick, which is super effective against said Ghost-types.
Given its bulk, Lickitung works best in the second slot after using your first Pokemon to bait out the opponent's shields.
It might take you some Candy XL and an Elite Charged TM (for Body Slam), depending on what Lickitung you might have in your storage, but it's a good investment for the Retro Cup.
Altaria (Dragon Breath | Sky Attack/Dragon Pulse)
With one less weakness to worry about, Altaria gained a boost in its ability to survive a battle. It also has access to a powerful Dragon-type moveset. Just watch out for those Ice-types, which will do extra damage because Altaria is Flying/Dragon.
Altaria is a great choice for a third slot Pokemon, because it can clean up in a pinch.
Cresselia (Psycho Cut | Grass Knot/Moonblast)
Removing the Dark-type from the meta helps Psychic quite a bit, since it was basically introduced as a check on this once overpowered type. As a result, Cresselia can be a great choice to bring into battle in the Retro Cup.
Some Fighting-types will be used by quite a few people, like Medicham, meaning a Psychic-type is a great counter. It can also do a pretty decent job at taking down Walrein.
Medicham (Counter | Psychic/Ice Punch)
Speaking of Medicham — it's a great choice for going up against Walrein or other Fighting-types, thanks to its Fighting/Psychic-typing. Additionally, access to Ice Punch lets it hold up decently against Flying-, Dragon-, and Grass-types like Altaria and Trevenant.
Medicham's access to Counter can help make quick work of Normal-types like Lickitung and Snorlax, too. Throw it in the middle slot to surprise your opponent when they send out a bulky Pokemon like Walrein or Lickitung.
Froslass (Powder Snow | Avalanche/Shadow Ball)
Froslass can be a very interesting choice. As a Ghost/Ice-type, it'll pick up the roles of Walrein and Trevenant as Ice- and Ghost-type attackers. It may not be as powerful, but it can throw off your opponent.
Froslass's Ghost-typing makes it extremely resistant to Fighting, which is one of Ice's weaknesses. This makes it great against Medicham, who is weak to Ghost moves, as well as Cresselia and the Deoxys forms. Froslass being an Ice-type also gives it an advantage against Trevenant and Altaria. It's also immune to Normal-type attacks from the likes of Lickitung.
Defense Form Deoxys is a titan of the GBL. Catch one of your own and want to give it the best moves? Check out our guide to Pokemon GO Defense Form Deoxys counters.