Pokemon GO Gym Attackers and Defenders tier list for January 2025

Choosing the ideal Pokemon GO Gym Attackers and Defenders is very important. This is because, apart from hosting raid battles, they double up as PokeStops and fighting grounds for the three factions in the game — Valor, Instinct, and Mystic. One group gets to keep critters in Gyms while the others try to knock out the Pocket Monsters holding them. Using the right creatures for Gym fights can give you a headstart over others.

Defending Gyms is even more crucial because it is the only way to earn free PokeCoins. This currency can be used to buy items from the in-game shop. To help you excel in Gym fights, you can check out some of the best performers on defense and attack.

In this Pokemon GO tier list, the ranks are determined in order of overall strength. The creatures in the S tier are the strongest, while the ones in the subsequent tiers are weaker. However, considering there are hundreds of critters in the game, each of the Pocket Monsters here has some use or another when it comes to Gym Battles.

Note: This tier list is subjective and reflects the opinions of the writer

Check out the current Pokemon GO raid bosses that you can encounter in-game

Best Pokemon GO Gym Defenders in January 2025

The most important aspect of a Gym Defender is its bulk. In addition, the critter must also have decent offensive pressure.

S tier

Blissey

Type: Normal
Attack: 129
Defense: 169
Stamina: 496
Moveset: Pound and Dazzling Gleam

Snorlax

Type: Normal
Attack: 190
Defense:169
Stamina: 330
Moveset: Lick and Hyper Beam

Metagross

Type: Steel and Psychic
Attack: 257
Defense: 228
Stamina: 190
Moveset: Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash

Also read: Everything you need to know about alleged Pokemon GO raid battle changes

A tier

Drifblim

Type: Ghost and Flying
Attack: 180
Defense: 102
Stamina:312
Moveset: Hex and Shadow Ball

Togekiss

Type: Fairy and Flying
Attack: 225
Defense: 217
Stamina: 198
Moveset: Charm and Aure Sphere

Milotic

Type: Water
Attack: 192
Defense: 219
Stamina: 216
Moveset: Dragon Tail and Surf

Also Check:- Pokemon Go Evolution Calculator

B tier

Dragonite

Type: Dragon and Flying
Attack: 263
Defense: 198
Stamina: 209
Moveset: Dragon Breath and Draco Meteor

Garchomp

Type: Dragon and Ground
Attack: 261
Defense: 193
Stamina:239
Moveset: Dragon Tail and Earth Power

Gyarados

Type: Dragon and Flying
Attack: 277
Defense: 168
Stamina: 216
Moveset: Dragon Tail and Outrage

Tyranitar

Type: Rock and Dark
Attack: 251
Defense: 207
Stamina: 225
Moveset: Smack Down and Brutal Swing

Also read: Pokemon GO All Out preparation guide

C tier

Gardevoir

Type: Fairy and Psychic
Attack: 237
Defense: 195
Stamina: 169
Moveset: Charm and Psychic

Magnezone

Type: Electric and Steel
Attack: 238
Defense: 205
Stamina: 172
Moveset: Volt Switch and Wild Charge

Venusaur

Type: Grass and Poison
Attack: 198
Defense: 189
Stamina: 190
Moveset: Razor Leaf and Sludge Bomb

Azumarill

Type: Water and Fairy
Attack: 112
Defense: 152
Stamina: 225
Moveset: Water Gun and Play Rough

Salamence

Type: Dragon and Flying
Attack: 277
Defense: 168
Stamina: 216
Moveset: Dragon Tail and Outrage

Also Check:- Pokemon Type Calculator

Best Pokemon GO Gym Attackers in January 2025

Unlike the Defender tier list, where the bulkiest critters get the highest priority, the hardest-hitting Pocket Monsters are ideal for Attacking.

S tier

Kartana

Type: Grass and Steel
Attack: 323
Defense: 182
Stamina: 139
Moveset: Razor Leaf and Leaf Blade

Mega Rayquaza

Type: Dragon and Flying
Attack: 377
Defense: 210
Stamina: 227
Moveset: Dragon Tail and Breaking Swipe

Mega Blaziken

Type: Fire and Fighting
Attack: 329
Defense: 168
Stamina: 190
Moveset: Fire Spin and Blast Burn

Shadow Metagross

Type: Steel and Psychic
Attack: 257
Defense: 228
Stamina: 190
Moveset: Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash

Shadow Mewtwo

Type: Psychic
Attack: 300
Defense: 182
Stamina: 214
Moveset: Psycho Cut and Shadow Ball

Shadow Tyranitar

Type: Rock and Dark
Attack: 251
Defense: 207
Stamina: 225
Moveset: Smack Down and Brutal Swing

Also read, Best Pocket Monsters to train for Pokemon GO Battle League Max Out season:

A tier

Mega Charizard X

Type: Fire and Flying
Attack: 273
Defense: 213
Stamina: 186
Moveset: Fire Spin and Blast Burn

Shadow Swampert

Type: Water and Ground
Attack: 208
Defense: 175
Stamina: 225
Moveset: Mudshot and Hydro Cannon

Latios

Type: Psychic and Dragon
Attack: 268
Defense: 212
Stamina: 190
Moveset: Dragon Breath and Luster Purge

Shadow Ho-Oh

Type: Fire and Flying
Attack: 239
Defense: 244
Stamina:214
Moveset: Incinerate and Brave Bird

Shadow Mamoswine

Type: Ice and Ground
Attack: 246
Defense: 146
Stamina:242
Moveset: Powder Snow and High Horsepower

B tier

Mega Lopunny

Type: Normal and Fighting
Attack: 282
Defense: 214
Stamina: 163
Moveset: Double Kick and Focus Blast

Mega Blastoise

Type: Water
Attack: 264
Defense: 237
Stamina: 188
Moveset: Water Gun and Hydro Cannon

Shadow Aerodactyl

Type: Rock and Flying
Attack: 221
Defense: 159
Stamina: 190
Moveset: Rock Throw and Rock Slide

Salamence

Type: Dragon and Flying
Attack: 277
Defense: 168
Stamina: 216
Moveset: Dragon Tail and Outrage

C tier

Mega Scizor

Type: Steel and Bug
Attack: 279
Defense: 250
Stamina: 172
Moveset: Bullet Punch and X-Scissor

Shadow Victreebel

Type: Grass and Poison
Attack: 207
Defense: 135
Stamina: 190
Moveset: Razor Leaf and Sludge Bomb

Shadow Gyarados

Type: Dragon and Flying
Attack: 277
Defense: 168
Stamina: 216
Moveset: Dragon Tail and Outrage

Alolan Golem

Type: Rock and Electric
Attack: 211
Defense:198
Stamina: 190
Moveset: Rollout and Wild Charge

Shadow Lugia

Type: Psychic and Flying
Attack: 193
Defense: 310
Stamina: 235
Moveset: Dragon Tail and Aeroblast

Yveltal

Type: Dark and Flying
Attack: 250
Defense: 185
Stamina: 246
Moveset: Snarl and Oblivion Wing

Check out our other Pokemon GO guides:

🚨 Calculate the Pokemon type effectiveness to win battles with our newly launched Pokemon GO Type Calculator 🚨

Edited by Rachel Syiemlieh