Max Defenders Tier List (June 2025)

Explore our in-depth Tier List of best Max Defenders to use in Pokémon GO’s Max Battles. Our Max Defenders Tier List is sorted into five categories, starting from the top tier Defenders and moving downwards. Our Tier List takes many things into account including Defense, HP and longevity of usefulness. Hopefully this will help you to spend your precious resources in the right place!

We also have articles for top Attackers and Defenders:

• Max Attackers Tier List.
• Max Healers Tier List.

S Tier

Pokémon	Best Move and resistances
Crowned Shield Zamazenta	Metal Claw Resistances:
Latias	Dragon Breath Resistances:
Crowned Sword Zacian	Metal Claw Resistances:
Metagross	Fury Cutter Resistances:

Explanation

S Tier Max Defenders are the best Defenders that you can obtain and use in the game right now. These Pokemon have a combination of high Defence, high HP and a good range of resistances. Blissey has an incredibly high HP stat and can be considered the best healer in the game. Blastoise and Corviknight both have very high Defense stats and cover each other’s resistances so choose whichever one is most appropriate for the opponent.

A Tier

Pokémon	Best Move and resistances
Latios	Dragon Breath Resistances:
Blastoise	Bite/Water Gun Resistances:
Raikou	Thunder Shock Resistances:
Corviknight	Sand Attack Resistances:
Blissey	Pound Resistances:
Lapras	Water Gun Resistances:

Explanation

A Tier Max Defenders are versatile replacements for S Tier Defenders when you are unable to obtain them. They can all hold their own when pitted against the right opponent having good Defence, HP and resistances. All of these options are well worth your time.

B Tier

Pokémon	Best Move and resistances
Snorlax	Lick Resistances:
Dubwool	Tackle Resistances:
Urshifu Single Strike	Sucker Punch Resistances:
Venusaur	Vine Whip Resistances:
Zapdos	Thunder Shock Resistances:

Explanation

B Tier Max Defenders are decent Defenders in their own right, but they are either highly situational or a better alternative exists in higher tiers. They simply do not have the Defence and HP stats to rival the better tiers and their resistances are all covered by better options.

C Tier

Pokémon	Best Move and resistances
Greedent	Tackle / Bite / Mud Shot Resistances:
Rillaboom	Scratch Resistances:
Hatterene	Psycho Cut Resistances:
Kingler	Metal Claw / Mud Shot Resistances:
Charizard	Dragon Breath Resistances:
Cinderace	Tackle Resistances:

Explanation

C Tier Max Defenders are decent Defenders, but they are very situational and will become less useful as more options keep becoming available. They simply do not have the Defence and HP stats to rival the better tiers and their resistances are all covered by better options.

D Tier

Pokémon	Best Move and resistances
Excadrill	Metal Claw / Mud Shot Resistances:
Gengar	Sucker Punch / Shadow Claw / Lick Resistances:
Inteleon	Pound / Water Gun Resistances:
Toxtricity	Spark Resistances:
Darmanitan	Tackle Resistances:
Butterfree	Bug Bite Resistances:
Sableye	Shadow Claw Resistances:

Explanation

D Tier Max Defenders are the remaining useful Defenders available however they have glaring weaknesses in the stats and there are plenty of other better options further up the tier list.

F Tier

Explanation

F Tier Max Defenders unfortunately do not have any 0.5 second fast moves available which renders them useless in max battles as a charger. Check back in future however, if given an appropriate move some of these options might eventually become useful!