Top 7 regional variants in Pokemon GO that outshine their original forms

Regional variants in Pokemon GO are the same species as a certain Pokemon from another region in the world of Pocket Monsters that have adapted to different living conditions. These regional variants tend to have different elemental type combinations, learnable moves, and sometimes even different base stats. Occasionally, regional variants even perform better than their original counterparts.

With that in mind, let's examine some of the best regional variants in Pokemon GO that outshine their originally released counterparts. Some regionals included in this list may be much more effective while others are only marginally improved over their original counterparts, but they're all an improvement in some way.

Note: The rankings are based on how much better these regional variants are in PvE/PvP than their originals

---

The Top 7 Regional Creatures that are Better than their Originals in Pokemon GO

7) Galarian Darmanitan

Galarian Darmanitan (right) can deal great Ice-type damage in Pokemon GO (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Darmanitan and its Galarian counterpart are pretty similar performance-wise in Pokemon GO. However, Galarian Darmanitan's Ice-typing allows it to counter fearsome Dragon-types, particularly in PvE raids where its lack of durability isn't as cumbersome. Galarian Darmanitan is a glass cannon of sorts, but it does well as an Ice-type while standard Darmanitan falls short compared to several Fire-types.

---

6) Alolan Golem

Alolan Golem serves an intriguing multi-type PvE role in Pokemon GO (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Golem has been a reliable PvE attacker in Pokemon GO as a Rock-/Ground-type attacker but is a bit unspectacular compared to other specialized Rock/Ground-type Pokemon. Alolan Golem gains an edge since it has an improved type combination of Electric/Rock, a unique combo that few other species in the franchise possess.

With its stats leaning a bit more toward offense than defense, Alolan Golem can serve as both a capable Rock and Electric-type attacker while also remaining durable enough to perform and throw off opponents in some special formats of the Great League PvP.

---

5) Alolan Marowak

Alolan Marowak is a vast improvement over Marowak in Pokemon GO (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Marowak and its Alolan counterpart may have the same base stats in Pokemon GO, but the latter has a much-improved type combination (Fire/Ghost instead of Marowak's mono Ground-type). It still retains access to the move Bone Club while gaining several quality Ghost-type moves including its exclusive move Shadow Bone.

While Alolan Marowak still doesn't have much firepower to accomplish much in raids, it has become a Great League PvP staple thanks to its rare type combination and ability to cause havoc against a broader collection of opponents compared to its Kantonian original.

---

4) Alolan Sandslash

Alolan Sandslash is a much better PvP pick than Sandslash in Pokemon GO (Image via The Pokemon Company)

With a base stat spread of 182 Attack, 175 Defense, and 181 Stamina, Sandslash is an extremely niche pick in Great League PvP, as there are several Ground-types that outperform it. However, Alolan Sandslash's spread of 177 Attack, 195 Defense, and 181 Stamina as well as its Ice-/Steel-type combination makes it a much more viable PvP pick in both the Great and Ultra League formats.

---

3) Alolan Muk

Alolan Muk has a better type combination and PvP viability than Muk in Pokemon GO (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Muk is a fairly average Poison-type PvE attacker and PvP option in Pokemon GO's Great and Ultra Leagues. Alolan Muk, while it loses firepower in PvE, gets the trade-off of a Poison/Dark-type combination while keeping the same great defensive base stats (172 Defense, 233 Stamina) that make Muk capable in PvP. Plus, its Dark typing gives it access to quality moves like Bite and Dark Pulse.

Moreover, as a partial Dark-type, Alolan Muk isn't susceptible to Psychic-type moves like standard Muk and can resist them instead, making it a quality defender in both the Great and Ultra League; particularly the latter.

---

2) Alolan Ninetales

Alolan Ninetales dwarfs its Kantonian version in Pokemon GO (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Ninetales is often seen as a niche pick in Pokemon GO's Great and Ultra Leagues, but the fact of the matter is that as a mono Fire-type, there are just too many options that will serve players better. Alolan Ninetales, on the other hand, is a Dragon-type slayer with a great Ice/Fairy-type combination and a wide variety of moves that encompass Ice, Fairy, Dark, and Psychic-type attacks.

Moreover, Alolan Ninetales has a higher base Attack and Defense stat and a type combination that isn't easy to counter. This makes it a huge improvement over standard Ninetales in the PvP arena, particularly in the Great and Ultra Leagues.

---

1) Galarian Stunfisk

Galarian Stunfisk is one of GO's finest regional variants (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Stunfisk and its Galarian counterpart are both very capable PvP defenders, but Galarian Stunfisk is arguably one of the best regional variants in the game. With a Ground/Steel-type combination, incredible base defensive stats (171 Defense, 240 Stamina), and access to some of the best Rock, Steel, and Ground-type moves in the game, Galarian Stunfisk is a top-tier defender in PvP.

Even though neither Stunfisk is well-suited for Master League PvP due to their CP cap, Galarian Stunfisk immensely outshines its standard version in the Great and Ultra League and has been a PvP meta staple ever since its debut.