The moveset shakeup of the Pokémon GO Tales of Transformation Season has created a paradigm shift in the PvP meta, with plenty of Pokémon gaining new tools to dominate in PvP battles
Dragon types took the nerf hammer, hard, with many losing out on their charm. However, a couple of popular Pseudo Legendary dragons gained moves that give them more relevance, albeit in the PvE scene.
Indeed, Garchomp gained Breaking Swipe and Salamence gained Brutal Swing (and Crunch), which may not have much of a difference in PvP but it sure does elevate, or at least, diversify them as Raid attackers.
Obviously, these gains go to the Mega Evolutions and Shadow variants of Garchomp and Salamence. With that said, let’s explore their powers.
Mega and Shadow Garchomp as Dragon-type attackers in PvE (Raids)
Here are the best Dragon-type attackers in Pokémon GO, sorted as per our GO Hub DPS Comparer Tool:
- Eternatus and Mega Rayquaza will remain unchallenged in the lofty heights of their thrones, so no point comparing Mega and Shadow Chomp with those behemoths.
- Mega Garchomp was always a top-tier Dragon with Outrage but with Breaking Swipe, it manages to slide past Shadow Salamence in DPS.
- Breaking Swipe Mega Garchomp does a neat 6.3% more damage than Outrage Mega Garchomp, marking a small but significant improvement. Moreover, dodging is more efficient with Breaking Swipe, making this Pokémon more efficient in Raid battles.
- Shadow Garchomp is another monster, dealing 2.3% more damage than Shadow Salamence and 0.29% damage than Outrage Mega Garchomp.
- Breaking Swipe Mega Garchomp sports 0.2% more TDO than Mega Rayquaza as well.
- Mega Salamence is down the line, being bulky enough to pull off a Draco Meteor and possessing the rare distinction of using both Outrage and Draco Meteor. That said, Draco Meteor can often result in wasted energy, especially against Dragon Raid Bosses. As such, the trinity of Eternatus (whatever level you managed to power it up to), Mega Rayquaza, and Shadow Garchomp is perfect. If you can’t Mega Evolve Rayquaza, feel free to go ahead with Mega Garchomp.
- Remember that a lvl 47 Eternatus surpasses a lvl 50 Mega Rayuaza in DPS.
- Overall, while Mega Rayquaza and Eternatus are supreme, Mega Garchomp is a fantastic addition to the Dragon PvE meta.
Mega and Shadow Salamence as Dark-type attackers in PvE (Raids)
Salamence embraced the Dark side by gaining access to Brutal Swing and Crunch (it already had Bite in its kitty). Obviously, this won’t make Mega and Shadow Salamence top-notvh Dark-type attackers but it sure gives them some use against Ghost and Psychic Raid Bosses.
Let’s check out how loud Mega and Salamence roar over the moon when it comes to Dark-type damage in Raids. Since it doesn’t get STAB, let’s be a little generous and take other Shadows out of the picture (but include Shadow Salamence):
- Surprise, surprise! Shadow Salamence actually flexes as a [drak] type attacker, dishing out as much DPS as Mega Houndoom, although with less TDO.
- Coming from a Pokémon that lacks STAB Dark is impressive. With Mega and Shadow Garchomp gaining Breaking Swipe, and a future Shadow Haxorus, Shadow Salamence as a Dragon type is sort of a downhill spiral. Moreover, Dragapult with a well-tuned Dragon Darts could surpass Salamence as well.
- Shadow Salamence can also dodge pretty well with Brutal Swing, something it struggles with Outrage and Draco Meteor.
- Mega Salamence’s Dark type DPS is even lower than regular Hydreigon. However, it has the second-best TDO (after Mega Tyranitar). Add the dodging ease with Brutal Swng, it can out in some numbers.
- Also, Dark types resist Ghost and Psychic moves, someting Salamence cannot boast about.
- With Shadow Hydreigon, the Dark meta gains a new monster.
- Some Ghost and Psychic type Raid Bosses tend to have a Fighting-type coverage move (usually Focus Blast). In those cases, Salamence (Mega or Shadow) can function quite well.
- In a nutshell, Salamence wasn’t expected to break out in the Dark meta as it lacks STAB moves, but its performance is definitely notable, all thanks to Brutal Swing and its high ATK.
For PvE enthusiasts, Garchomp and Salamence certanly have it better when compared to their PvP outing.
Garchomp now has the best moves it could and Dark-type Salamence is more Roaring Moon than Roaring Moon itself, the latter having only 255 ATK and not learning Brutal Swing in the mainline games.
Basically, we got more ways to train our dragons. Enjoy!
