Hello Trainers! A new season is upon us. Memories in Motion started on March 3rd and with it comes a new Special Research: Pressure Rising. Trainers who complete this Special Research will encounter a Mythical Pokémon from Gen 6: Volcanion. Trainers who already have obtained a Volcanion from the GO Fest 2025 exclusive Special Research: Full Steam Ahead, will receive Volcanion candy. Now that Volcanion is available worldwide, let’s look at its meta impact in the game, and if Volcanion is a future candidate for Bottle Caps!
Volcanion: Stats, Profile and Typing
Volcanion
FireWater
| Max CP | 4102 |
|---|---|
| ATK | 252 |
| DEF | 216 |
| HP | 190 |
| Weak to |    |
| Resists |      |
| Fast Attacks |
|
| Charge Attacks |
|
Volcanion, the Steam Pokémon, is a Mythical dual Fire Water type introduced in Generation 6 alongside Pokémon X and Y. Its complementary and unique typing shines defensively, granting just three weaknesses and five resistances—including double resistance to Fire, Ice and Steel.
Volcanion in Pokémon GO PvE
Raids
Volcanion’s performance in raids is a slightly familiar story of a Pokémon with good stats but not the best moveset. Its Max CP of 4102 and Attack stat of 252 is actually pretty solid (for reference, Hydreigon has a Max CP of 4098 and an Attack stat of 256). The reason why Hydreigon is a good Dark attacker is because it got access to Brutal Swing. Even performance of other Dark attackers like Mega Absol and Mega Tyranitar improved when they got access to Brutal Swing. That’s how a moveset can make or break a Pokémon’s performance in the meta. In the case of Volcanion, even though it has access to both Fire and Water Fast Attacks and Charged Attacks, the attacks themselves aren’t the best in the meta. Using our DPS Comparer Tool, let us first compare Volcanion’s performance as a Fire attacker against Top Fire Attackers in the game:
As we can see, Volcanion is quite a distance away from the meta as a Fire raid attacker. It also doesn’t help that there are already pretty strong Fire attackers in the game. It is fair to say that Volcanion is not earning a spot in any Trainer’s Fire team.
Volcanion, however, as a Water raid attacker is not very far off the meta. Again, using our DPS Comparer Tool to compare Volcanion’s performance with Top Water Attackers:
If you compare the difference in DPS values between Volcanion and Mega Gyarados, it is 2.37, which is almost a whole point lesser than the difference in DPS between Volcanion in Reshiram as a Fire attacker. This 1 point difference may look minor, but it’s what elevates Volcanion from a sub-par Fire attacker to a solid, if unremarkable, Water attacker. Yes, I understand that Trainers may want more from a Mythical Pokémon, considering they may get at best only 2 encounters of Volcanion. Let’s just be patient till the end!
Volcanion in Pokémon GO PvP
Ideal Moveset: Incinerate + Scald 
& Overheat
Volcanion’s story in PvP starts somewhat similar to PvE but then digresses: Good stats but not the best moveset. However, there is some depth to Volcanion in PvP. As some may expect, Volcanion’s performance in PvP improves as we go from Great League to Ultra and then to Master. The higher the CP limit, the closer Volcanion performs to its full potential.
Great League
Yes, Volcanion can be eligible for Great League, albeit barely. It certainly isn’t the best in Great League, with very few wins—Scizor, Gourgeist and Clodsire to name a few, and very high losses—Gastrodon, Lickilicky, Corviknight, Altaria and Charjabug. However, the performance improves massively in zero-shield scenario with Overheat potentially knocking out a lot of the competition, hence, gaining Volcanion a lot more wins. Some of the new wins include Furret, Empoleon, Corviknight and Lickilicky.
As Volcanion is only available via Special Research and cannot be traded, ideal IV spread for Volcanion is: 10/13/10, 1500 CP, Level 15.
Ultra League
In Ultra League, Volcanion’s performance improves, but not enough to be a meta relevant candidate. There are still more losses than wins. The wins include Corviknight, Cleafable, Bellibolt and Empoleon and the losses include Gastrodon, Feraligatr, Jellicent, Regidrago and Cobalion. Again, the performance improves in zero-shield scenario but also drops massively in 2v2 shields scenario.
As Volcanion is only available via Special Research and cannot be traded, ideal IV spread for Volcanion is: 12/15/13, 2499 CP, Level 24.5.
Master League
It is in Master League where Volcanion performs best. It has all the ingredients to be a serious anti-meta Pokémon gaining wins against a lot of top meta contenders like Crowned Sword Zacian, Crowned Shield Zamazenta, Marshadow, Xerneas, Metagross, Groudon and Yveltal. Of Course, there are losses as well like Origin Dialga and Palkia, Zekrom, Reshiram, Black and White Kyurems. Similar to Ultra League, Volcanion’s performance drops in 2v2 shields scenario. As with a lot of anti-meta picks, alignment remains the key.
Ideal IV spread for Volcanion is: 15/15/15, 4102 CP, Level 50.
What the Future Holds?
Now that we have come to the end of the analysis, let us first answer the question: Is Volcanion worth a future Bottle Cap? Currently, the answer is sadly no. If you are lucky and get a high IV Volcanion, you can invest some rare candies and power it up. But to invest a Bottle Cap? There are a lot better contenders.
However, Volcanion still has something up its sleeve. Its signature move: Steam Eruption. It is a Water type move and could potentially lift Volcanion’s position from mid-tier mediocrity to the pinnacle of the meta. Volcanian certainly has the stats, along with a pretty unique typing, all it needs is a strong move, something which can be achieved via Steam Eruption.
Parting Words
Volcanion bursts onto the scene with impressive stats, a defensively stellar typing, and Master League anti-meta promise—but its current moveset keeps it simmering on the back burner rather than erupting to the top. Unleashing Steam Eruption could transform this Mythical from “solid but unremarkable” to a raid-busting and/or PvP-disrupting force—Fingers crossed Volcanion gets its moment.
Tell us Trainers! Which is your favorite Mythical Pokémon? Have you seen the movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel? If Yes, what did you think about it?
As always, stay safe, and may everyone have a great season ahead.
