Mega Chesnaught, Delphox or Greninja: Best PvE Choice in Pokémon GO

Greetings, Trainers! The Mega Evolution spotlight continues in Pokémon GO with a two-part celebration. The Mega Finale Event is on the horizon, but before that it is the Mega Ascension Event that takes the centre stage. This event brings the debuts of three new Mega Evolutions: Mega Chesnaught, Mega Delphox, and Mega Greninja. Unfortunately, Trainers must make a choice, as only one of the three can be selected, through a branching Timed Research which will also determine the GO Pass: Mega Finale path that the said Trainer will receive. So, here’s a quick PvE performance breakdown to help you choose the best fit for your PvE needs.

Mega Chesnaught in Pokémon GO PvE

Mega Chesnaught GrassFighting

Max CP	4628
ATK	242
DEF	282
HP	204
Weak to
Resists
Fast Attacks	Low Kick Vine Whip Smack Down
Charged Attacks	Thunder Punch Solar Beam Superpower Energy Ball Gyro Ball Frenzy Plant*

*Legacy Move

First up, we have Mega Chesnaught which is a dual Grass and Fighting type Pokémon. This combination leaves it doubly weak to Flying type attacks. On the flip side, this same typing grants it six useful resistances including Water, Ground and Rock, the three types against which Mega Chesnaught will often be used against. When we look at its PvE performance, running a moveset of Vine Whip and Frenzy Plant, Mega Chesnaught truly shines as a Grass attacker. Using our DPS Comparer Tool:

In the current meta, it sits just behind Mega Sceptile among Top Grass Attackers, while comfortably outperforming other notable Grass attackers like Mega Venusaur and Zarude. Although Mega Chesnaught does have a lower DPS than Shadow Chesnaught, its higher bulk more than makes up for it as evident from Mega Chesnaught’s higher TDO. This makes it an excellent choice for trainers who need a reliable Grass attacker for Water, Ground, and Rock type raid bosses. However, its Fighting type performance tells a different story. In this department, Mega Chesnaught falls far behind the established meta, even trailing behind options like Machamp and Buzzwole. Because of this, its best use case is clear: run it as a Grass type raid attacker and treat its Fighting typing as a secondary benefit; mainly to provide Mega evolution bonuses for Fighting type spawns in the wild.

Shiny Chesnaught Family

Mega Delphox in Pokémon GO PvE

Mega Delphox FirePsychic

Max CP	5408
ATK	331
DEF	235
HP	181
Weak to
Resists
Fast Attacks	Fire Spin Scratch Zen Headbutt
Charged Attacks	Flame Charge Mystical Fire Fire Blast Flamethrower Psychic Psyshock Blast Burn*

*Legacy Move

Next up is Mega Delphox which is a dual Fire and Psychic type. It resists seven different types, which makes it durable in many matchups. However, it does also carry five weaknesses. If we have a look at Mega Delphox’s stats, one cannot help but notice that massive 331 attack stat. This makes Mega Delphox an excellent raid attacker. 

Mega Delphox truly excels as a Fire attacker. In fact, it is currently the Best Fire Attacker in the game, using its optimal moveset of Fire Spin and Blast Burn. This is a significant shift in the meta, as Mega Charizard Y and Mega Blaziken had long been the gold standard for Fire raid attackers. As a Psychic attacker, Mega Delphox doesn’t quite reach the number one spot, but it still performs brilliantly and comfortably sits within the Top 10 Psychic Raid Attackers.

This dual-threat capability makes Mega Delphox one of those rare Pokémon that can perform outstandingly well across different meta departments, giving trainers a versatile Mega that can handle a wide variety of raid bosses while also providing strong type bonuses to their team. 

Shiny Delphox Family

Mega Greninja in Pokémon GO PvE

Mega Greninja WaterDark

Max CP	4278
ATK	299
DEF	180
HP	176
Weak to
Resists
Fast Attacks	Feint Attack Bubble Water Shuriken
Charged Attacks	Night Slash Aerial Ace Hydro Pump Surf Hydro Cannon*

*Legacy Move

Finally, we have Mega Greninja, a Water and Dark type Pokémon with a unique identity in both offense and defense. Its Dark typing gives it a double resistance to Psychic type attacks while it also resists six other types. Mega Greninja has an attack stat of 299, falling just short of the highly enviable 300 attack stat mark! Mega Greninja also stands out for its unique moveset, featuring Water Shuriken as its Fast Attack and Hydro Cannon as its Charged Attack.

Mega Greninja functions as one of the best Water Raid Attackers in the game, currently occupying the #2 spot, just behind Primal Kyogre. This makes it an incredible choice for trainers who are looking for a strong Water raid attacker to add to their roster. However, as a Dark attacker, Mega Greninja doesn’t perform nearly as well. It trails behind the likes of Incineroar and Absol, and it’s far from the top of the meta. Because of this, its best use case is as a premier Water raid attacker, with its Dark typing serving as a secondary benefit for specific matchups and for providing Mega bonuses to Dark type wild spawns.

Shiny Greninja Family

Which One should a Trainer Choose?

So, which one should trainers choose? If we go purely by PvE performance, the answer has to be Mega Delphox. All three Kalos first partner Mega Evolutions perform exceedingly well in their primary type departments: Mega Chesnaught and Mega Greninja both take the number two spot in Grass and Water respectively, but Mega Delphox is the only one that claims the number one position as the best Fire attacker in the game. The bigger difference, however, comes when analyzing their performance in their secondary types. Mega Chesnaught is far behind in Fighting and Mega Greninja is underwhelming in Dark. On the other hand, Mega Delphox remains a top-tier Psychic attacker. This gives Mega Delphox a decisive edge in overall versatility and meta relevance. That said, I’ve always believed that Pokémon GO is about more than just chasing the highest DPS numbers and top meta positions. Individual preferences, playstyle, and which Pokémon excites you the most are equally important. Ultimately, it’s up to each trainer to decide which Mega evolution they want to invest in, based on their raid needs, their existing raid roster, and, of course, which Kalos starter they connect with the most!

Parting Words

The Mega Ascension Event gives Trainers three exciting choices, but each Mega Evolution brings something different to the Pokémon GO PvE meta. Mega Chesnaught is a strong option for Trainers who need a reliable Grass attacker. Mega Greninja is another excellent investment, especially for Trainers looking to strengthen their Water type raid teams. For Trainers seeking the most complete PvE package, Mega Delphox stands out as the clear winner. Its Fire type performance places it at the top of the current raid meta, while its strong Psychic type damage gives it valuable versatility. This allows Mega Delphox to remain useful against a wider range of raid bosses.

That said, the strongest option on paper may not always be the most satisfying choice for every Trainer. Your personal connection with the Kalos starters should also influence your decision. So, while Mega Delphox claims the top spot in this PvE comparison, there is no wrong choice. All three Mega Evolutions are valuable additions to Pokémon GO, and each one can help improve your raid teams in the right situations. Choose the Pokémon that best suits your needs, and, more importantly, the one you are most excited to bring into battle.

Let us know Trainers! Which Kalos First Partner Mega Evolution are you going to choose? (I am going with Mega Greninja.) Of all the Mega Evolutions we have in the game, which one is your favourite? 

And as always, stay safe! And may you get a background shundo!