Pokémon GO Datamine: large Moves update, Shadow Kangaskhan, Buzzwole, Pheromosa, Xurkitree moves, and more

Hello Trainers! Some changes were pushed to the Game Master earlier, and quite a few Pokémon have finally had moves added to their move-pools – including Pokémon with numbers 740 and beyond.

It also looks like Ultra Beasts could be coming into Pokémon GO on a regular basis, as more UBs have gained moves in the Game Master file. We are very excited for this datamine, but some of the moves added have been sitting in the game unused for a while – there could be more changes down the line.

Here’s a quick summary of everything that was added:

  • Tyrant and Amaura families gender ratios were fixed
  • Temp Evo Settings for Kangaskhan, Latias & Latios were added (this doesn’t affect the game)
  • Shadow catch rate for Kangaskhan was changed from 5 to 20%
  • Arceus’ Buddy Group Number was changed from 3 to 7 (further from the ground)
  • Tornadus & Thundurus (All forms) Buddy Group Number was changed from 5 to 7 (further from the ground)
  • Kyruem Black & White Buddy Group Number was changed from 3 to 7 (further from the ground)
  • A lot of new moves detailed below
  • All of the remaining Ultra Beasts had their class updated to Ultra Beast from Legendary
  • Buzzwole, Pheromosa & Xurkitree got moves
  • Many camera updates we won’t go into detail of, if you want to see them check out the Pokéminers repo.

💡 Disclaimer: You know the drill by now, everything in this article is data mined, and therefore subject to change or not even being released at all. Keep that in mind as we go through his. All of this information is publicly provided by the PokéMiners and includes some of my commentaries.

A couple of notes before we begin

Both Fairy wind and Crush claw have both been added as potential moves for Pokémon as part of this update. Crush claw was first added to the game way back in April of 2019 and Fairy Wind was first discovered almost exactly a year ago in June of 2021. Neither have stats in the Game Master as of the writing of this article, so bear that in mind.

I will be including a very brief PvE analysis on the final evolutions of all the families who got moveset updates. Rest assured that a full meta-analysis will be forthcoming for any meta-relevant Pokémon for both PvE and PvP.

Buzzwole

Buzzwole BugFighting
  • Fast moves: Counter, Poison Jab
  • Charge moves: Power Up Punch, Fell Stinger, Lunge, Super Power
  • Buddy Distance: 20.0km

Does this make it useful? No*
Counter good, Superpower… not so much. Counter/Dynamic Punch would put Buzzwole ahead of Machamp. Counter/Superpower puts it behind Bewear…

*NOTE: If we are ever able to TM Dynamic Punch onto Buzzwole it will be very good, so don’t not get a good one.

Pheromosa

Pheromosa BugFighting
  • Fast moves: Bug Bite, Low Kick
  • Charge moves: Focus Blast, Bug Buzz, Lunge, Close Combat
  • Buddy Distance: 20.0km

Does this make it useful? Fighting: Yes | Bug: YES!
Low kick/Focus Blast is good and Pheromosa is only outclassed by Mega Lopunny, Shadow Machamp, and Lucario.
Bug bite/Bug buzz is excellent and puts Pheromosa as the #1 Non-Mega bug attacker in the game. Only Mega Beedrill out DPS’ Pheromosa.

Xurkitree

Xurkitree Electric
  • Fast moves: Thunder Shock, Spark
  • Charge moves: Discharge, Thunder, Power Whip, Dazzling Gleam
  • Buddy Distance: 20.0km

Does this make it useful? Yes
Thunder Shock/Discharge put Xurkitree as the top non-Mega Electric attacker in the game in terms of DPS. It’s a bit of a glass cannon, so it won’t hang around long but while it is alive it deals solid damage.

Grubbin

Grubbin Bug
  • Fast moves: Bug Bite, Spark
  • Charge moves: X Scissor, Vice Grip, Crunch
  • Buddy Distance: 1.0km

Charjabug

Charjabug BugElectric
  • Fast moves: Bug Bite, Spark
  • Charge moves: X Scissor, Discharge, Crunch
  • Buddy Distance: 1.0km

Vikavolt

Vikavolt BugElectric
  • Fast moves: Bug Bite, Spark, Mud Slap
  • Charge moves: X Scissor, Discharge, Crunch
  • Buddy Distance: 1.0km

Does this make it useful? Electric: No | Bug: Kinda

Spark/Discharge is not fantastic as a moveset, so it’s far down the list of electric-type attackers. Bug Bite/X-Scissor is also not a tremendous bug moveset. However, it’s still near the top of the list of bug-type attackers.

Crabrawler

Crabrawler Fighting
  • Fast moves: Rock Smash, Payback
  • Charge moves: Power Up Punch, Crabhammer, Payback
  • Buddy Distance: 3.0km

Crabominable

Crabominable FightingIce
  • Fast moves: Rock Smash, Payback*
  • Charge moves: Power Up Punch, Crabhammer, Payback, Ice Punch
  • Buddy Distance: 3.0km

Does this make it useful? Fighting: No | Ice: Also No
Fingers crossed Crabominable has some play in PvP? Machoke is a better option as a fighting type and don’t even get me started on its usefulness as an Ice-type. (

*NOTE: Payback is listed as both a fast move and a charge move (it’s a charge move), so that will likely be corrected.

Cutiefly

Cutiefly BugFairy
  • Fast moves: Fairy Wind*, Struggle Bug
  • Charge moves: Dazzling Gleam, Bug Buzz
  • Buddy Distance: 1.0km

Ribombee

Ribombee BugFairy
  • Fast moves: Fairy Wind*, Struggle Bug
  • Charge moves: Dazzling Gleam, Bug Buzz
  • Buddy Distance: 1.0km

Does this make it useful? Fairy: ?? | Bug: No

*NOTE: Fairy Wind’s stats have not been confirmed yet, so we don’t know how good the move will be until then.

Lycanroc Dusk

Lycanroc (Dusk) Rock
  • Fast moves: Crush Claw, Rock Throw
  • Charge moves: Stone Edge, Iron Head, Crunch
  • Buddy Distance: 5.0km

Does this make it useful? No.
Unfortunately, Lycanrock is simply outclassed by several Rock-type attackers. It still looks super cool though.

Wishiwashi Solo

Wishiwashi Water
  • Fast moves: Water Gun, Waterfall, Iron Tail
  • Charge moves: Brine, Surf, Aqua Tail
  • Buddy Distance: 1.0km

Wishiwashi School

Wishiwashi (School) Water
  • Fast moves: Water Gun, Waterfall, Iron Tail
  • Charge moves: Brine, Surf, Aqua Tail
  • Buddy Distance: 1.0km

Does this make it useful? No.
Wishiwashi needs more gym time and less class time. 

Mareanie

Mareanie PoisonWater
  • Fast moves: Poison Sting, Bite
  • Charge moves: Muddy Water, Gunk Shot, Sludge Wave
  • Buddy Distance: 3.0km

Toxapex

Mareanie PoisonWater
  • Fast moves: Poison Jab, Bite
  • Charge moves: Muddy Water, Gunk Shot, Sludge Wave
  • Buddy Distance: 3.0km

Does this make it useful? No.
Much low attack. Its stats lend it well to PvP though?

Mudbray

Mudbray Ground
  • Fast moves: Mud Slap, Rock Smash
  • Charge moves: Bulldoze, Body Slam, Earthquake
  • Buddy Distance: 3.0km

Mudsdale

Mudbray Ground
  • Fast moves: Mud Slap, Rock Smash
  • Charge moves: Bulldoze, Body Slam, Earthquake, Heavy Slam
  • Buddy Distance: 3.0km

Does this make it useful? Meh
It’s not terrible, but it’s not top tier either.

Morelull

Morelull GrassFairy
  • Fast moves: Astonish
  • Charge moves: Giga Drain, Dazzling Gleam, Seed Bomb
  • Buddy Distance: 3.0km

Shiinotic

Shiinotic GrassFairy
  • Fast moves: Astonish
  • Charge moves: Giga Drain, Moonblast, Seed Bomb, Sludge Bomb
  • Buddy Distance: 3.0km

Does this make it useful? No. 

Bounsweet

Bounsweet Grass
  • Fast moves: Razor Leaf, Charm
  • Charge moves: Energy Ball, Draining Kiss
  • Buddy Distance: 3.0km

Steenee

Steenee Grass
  • Fast moves: Razor Leaf, Charm
  • Charge moves: Energy Ball, Draining Kiss, Grass Knot
  • Buddy Distance: 3.0km

Tsareena

Tsareena Grass
  • Fast moves: Razor Leaf, Charm, Magical Leaf
  • Charge moves: Energy Ball, Draining Kiss, Grass Knot, Stomp
  • Buddy Distance: 3.0km

Does this make it useful? No. 

Passimian

Passimian Fighting
  • Fast moves: Counter, Rock Smash, Take Down
  • Charge moves: Brick Break, Close Combat, Super Power
  • Buddy Distance: 3.0km

Does this make it useful? No.
With too many really powerful fighting types, Passimian gets lost in the mix.

Wimpod

Wimpod BugWater
  • Fast moves: Struggle Bug
  • Charge moves: Bug Buzz
  • Buddy Distance: 1.0km

Golisopod

Golisopod BugWater
  • Fast moves: Fury Cutter, Metal Claw, Waterfall
  • Charge moves: X Scissor, Aqua Jet, Aerial Ace
  • Buddy Distance: 1.0km

Does this make it useful? Water: No | Bug: Kinda
Golisopod is beefy so its total damage output is high but its DPS is low which isn’t a good sign. When all is said and done, there are better bug options.

Sandygast

Sandygast GhostGround
  • Fast moves: Astonish, Mud Shot
  • Charge moves: Sand Tomb, Shadow Ball, Earth Power
  • Buddy Distance: 3.0km

Palossand

Palossand GhostGround
  • Fast moves: Astonish, Mud Shot
  • Charge moves: Sand Tomb, Shadow Ball, Earth Power
  • Buddy Distance: 3.0km

Does this make it useful? No

Pyukumuku

Pyukumuku Water
  • Fast moves: Counter
  • Charge moves: Mirror Coat
  • Buddy Distance: 3.0km

Does this make it useful? No

Type: Null

Type: Null Normal
  • Fast moves: Tackle, Take Down
  • Charge moves: Tri Attack, Iron Head, Aerial Ace
  • Buddy Distance: 20.0km

Silvally

Silvally Normal
  • Fast moves: Tackle, Take Down, Bite
  • Charge moves: Tri Attack, Iron Head, Aerial Ace, X Scissor
  • Buddy Distance: 20.0km

Does this make it useful? No

NOTE: All of Silvally’s “types” got the same moveset above.

Minior

Minior RockFlying
  • Fast moves: Rollout, Take Down
  • Charge moves: Power Gem, Ancient Power, Acrobatics
  • Buddy Distance: 3.0km

Does this make it useful? No

NOTE: All of the colour forms of Minior got the same moveset.

Komala

Komala Normal
  • Fast moves: Rollout, Yawn
  • Charge moves: Play Rough, Bulldoze, Payback
  • Buddy Distance: 3.0km

Does this make it useful? No

Turtonator

Turtonator FireDragon
  • Fast moves: Ember, Fire Spin
  • Charge moves: Overheat, Flamethrower, Dragon Pulse
  • Buddy Distance: 5.0km

Does this make it useful? No, sadly.

Togedemaru

Togedemaru ElectricSteel
  • Fast moves: Thunder Shock, Spark
  • Charge moves: Fell Stinger, Wild Charge, Gyro Ball
  • Buddy Distance: 3.0km

Does this make it useful? Toge is cute, but not all that useful. So no.

Mimikyu

Mimikyu GhostFairy
  • Fast moves: Shadow Claw, Charm
  • Charge moves: Shadow Sneak, Play Rough, Shadow Ball
  • Buddy Distance: 5.0km

Does this make it useful? No

Bruxish

Bruxish WaterPsychic
  • Fast moves: Water Gun, Confusion, Bite
  • Charge moves: Psychic Fangs, Aqua Tail, Crunch
  • Buddy Distance: 3.0km

Does this make it useful? No

Drampa

Tsareena NormalDragon
  • Fast moves: Dragon Breath, Extrasensory
  • Charge moves: Outrage, Dragon Pulse, Fly
  • Buddy Distance: 5.0km

Does this make it useful? No

Dhelmise

Dhelmise GhostGrass
  • Fast moves: Astonish, Shadow Claw
  • Charge moves: Power Whip, Shadow Ball, Heavy Slam
  • Buddy Distance: 5.0km

Does this make it useful? Yes!
Dhelmise with Shadow Claw/Shadow Ball is up there in terms of DPS with Chandelure and Gengar and has higher TDO than both. 

Other Stuff

  • Tyrant and Amaura families’ gender ratios were fixed
  • The catch rate for Shadow Kangaskhan was increased from 5 to 20%
  • Arceus, Both forms of Tornadus & Thundurus, and both forms of Kyruem (Black & White) had their Buddy Group Numbers changed so they are further from the ground.
  • All of the remaining Ultra Beasts had their classes updated to Ultra Beast from Legendary

That’s all for now trainers! Are you excited about the new moves? Let us know in the comments which Pokémon you think made out the best, and which Pokémon got the old Niantic slap in the face! Poor Buzzwole…

Stay safe out there!

Author & tags

Glawhantojar
Glawhantojar
I've been playing Pokemon Go since the game launched way back in 2016, I am a loyal Valor player and also a content creator on YouTube going by the name Professor Glaw.
Posted in

Related 🔍

Hot 🔥

Recent ✨

Support us

Buy GO Hub merch

Get your very own GO Hub t-shirt, mug, or tote.