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It’s Speculation Time: Gen 6 (Kalos) PvP Potential

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It’s Speculation Time: Gen 6 (Kalos) PvP Potential

With the inevitable release of generation 6 (Kalos) in Pokémon GO keeping us on our toes, it’s a good time to take a look at what’s to come. In this article, we will specifically be looking at the best Kalos Pokémon with ideal stats and movesets that could make an impact on PvP and Go Battle League, in order of their Pokédex numbers.

Note: All of the Pokémon stats and movesets mentioned in this article are pure speculation. The stats you will see are directly translated from the main series games, but can change upon release. All movesets mentioned are based on the moves that each Pokémon can learn in the main series games, but none are confirmed.

Chesnaught

Chesnaught FightingGrass
Max CP 2954
ATK 201 DEF 204 HP 204
Weak to Strong Against
Flying Psychic Poison Ice Fairy Fire Water Dark Rock Ground Steel Ice

Great League: Vine Whip or Mud Shot + Grass Knot & Superpower

With this moveset, Chesnaught would be the best Pokémon that can break the ultimate core in Great League: Azumarill + Galarian Stunfisk. Meganium currently does a really good job of breaking that core, but what would make Chesnaught much better is it’s one of the very few Pokémon that resists both Rock and Ground, which means it would be able to counter Galarian Stunfisk much easier.

This key Rock resistance would also give it much better matchups than Meganium against Deoxys-Defense without Psycho Boost, Melmetal and Bastiodon. Chesnaught’s sub-Fighting typing also gives it a key Dark type resistance, which means it would be a textbook counter to very strong threats such as Shiftry, Umbreon and Scrafty.

Mud Shot is an alternative to Vine Whip that would trade the ability to farm Water types and Ground types easier for better Steel type matchups and the fastest Grass Knot in the game.

Ultra League Premier: Shadow Claw + Grass Knot & Rock Slide

Shadow Claw covers much more Pokémon in Ultra League than Vine Whip. Some notable ones that are weak to it are Drifblim, Gallade and Gengar. It also hits some very key threats neutrally, such as Venusaur, Charizard, Escavalier, Magnezone, Abomasnow and Dragonite. Rock Slide would be significantly more useful than Superpower here, since there are a large amount of threats weak to Rock in this meta, namely Drifblim, Charizard, Dragonite, Gyarados, Typhlosion and Abomasnow.

There are also very few viable Steel types in the format. The only ones that are somewhat common are Escavalier and Magnezone, which are so frail that they really wouldn’t be able to tank multiple charge moves anyway. Rock Slide would hit Escavlier neutrally and Grass Knot would still hit Magnezone hard.


Diggersby

Diggersby NormalGround
Max CP 1509
ATK 112 DEF 155 HP 198
Weak to Strong Against
Water Fighting Ice Grass Steel Rock Electric Fire Poison

Great League: Mud Shot + Earth Power & Body Slam

Although Normal/Ground isn’t a very good defensive typing, Diggersby has the potential to be one of the new strongest Pokémon in Great League if it gets a moveset like this. It has insanely high bulk not too far off of Azumarill and has the moves to compliment that bulk very well. Mud Shot + Body Slam in itself is very deadly since it would only take 4 Mud Shots to reach each Body Slam.

On top of that, Diggersby would have STAB on both of those moves. Most Rock, Ghost or Steel types brave enough to try to absorb Body Slams would be met with powerful STAB Earth Power. The only relevant Pokémon in Great League that resist both Earth Power and Body Slam are Drifblim and Skarmory.


Floette

Floette Fairy
Max CP 1532
ATK 136 DEF 151 HP 144
Weak to Strong Against
Poison Steel Dark Fighting Dragon

Great League: Vine Whip + Moonblast & Psychic

Floette would be a very welcome addition to the Great League, since it would finally add another viable bulky Fairy type to the mix. Vine Whip lacks STAB, but is the best fast move it can learn since it generates energy very quickly.

Combined with powerful STAB Moonblast and a good coverage move in Psychic to hit Poison types, Floette would definitely shake things up.


Pangoro

Pangoro FightingDark
Max CP 2902
ATK 226 DEF 146 HP 216
Weak to Strong Against
Fairy Fighting Flying Steel Dark Psychic Rock Ice Ghost

Ultra League & Ultra Premier: Shadow Claw + Night Slash & Close Combat

This is the same moveset that Zangoose currently has, but the big difference is Pangoro would have STAB on Night Slash & Close Combat. This would give it much more consistency against huge Ultra League threats such as Giratina, Lapras, Charizard, Gyarados, Snorlax, Swampert, Articuno and Registeel. Its resistance to Psychic and double resistance to Dark would also give it much better matchups than Zangoose against Armored Mewtwo and Alolan Muk.

However, its typing would also give it a double weakness to Charm and Cresselia’s Moonblast. In Ultra League Premier, Pangoro would heavily threaten Gallade, Drifblim, Gengar, Magnezone, Abomasnow, Lapras, Snorlax and Empoleon.


Aegislash

Aegislash (Shield) SteelGhost
Max CP 1595
ATK 97 DEF 291 HP 155
Weak to Strong Against
Ghost Fire Dark Fairy Ghost Ice Rock Psychic

Great League: Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball & Sacred Sword

Aegislash-Shield form would undoubtedly become the new strongest Pokémon in Great League with this moveset. Shadow Ball & Sacred Sword have completely unresisted coverage together and cover each other very well. Shadow Ball is only resisted by Normal types and Dark types, which Sacred Sword hits fast and super effectively. In fact, Sacred Sword is a Fighting type Body Slam clone, which in itself is very powerful. Shadow Claw is one of the best fast moves in the game, has STAB and would reach Shadow Ball in 7 turns and Sacred Sword in 5 turns.

On top of all of this, Aegislash-Shield has bulk on the level of Bastiodon and a unique defensive typing that would make it the only Steel type in existence that resists Fighting. We will have to wait and see how Aegislash’s forms are implemented in Pokémon GO, since the mechanics in the main series games are different than any other Pokémon in GO so far.


Hawlucha

Hawlucha FightingFlying
Max CP 2410
ATK 195 DEF 134 HP 186
Weak to Strong Against
Fairy Psychic Flying Ice Electric Grass Ice Rock Steel Dark Fighting Bug

Great League & Ultra League: Wing Attack + Flying Press & Sky Attack

Although Hawlucha has poor defensive stats, it has a unique typing that would make it a menace in Great League and Ultra League (including Premier) with this moveset. Flying Press is the strongest Fighting type move in PvP, packing 90 damage for only 40 energy. This is the equivalent to Hydro Cannon with 10 more power. STAB Sky Attack is powerful and has fantastic coverage with Flying Press, hitting most Pokémon that resist Fighting at least neutrally.

These moves combined would make Hawlucha a Flying type that can counter most Steel types. Unfortunately, it doesn’t learn Counter, but Wing Attack would be good enough to make Hawlucha a beast in PvP.


Carbink

Carbink RockFairy
Max CP 1467
ATK 95 DEF 285 HP 137
Weak to Strong Against
Grass Steel Ground Water Flying Fighting Dark Dragon Fire Ice Bug

Great League: Charm + Rock Slide & Earth Power

Carbink would become the bulkiest Charm user in Great League if it gets it. It has bulk comparable to Bastiodon but isn’t double weak to Ground and Fighting.

In fact, Carbink would take neutral damage from Fighting type attacks and would be able to counter Fighting types with STAB Charm. It still would be able to counter Flying types and Fire types effectively with STAB Rock Slide, while Earth Power would give it the best shot at beating Steel types.


Goodra

Goodra Dragon
Max CP 3505
ATK 220 DEF 242 HP 207
Weak to Strong Against
Fairy Ice Dragon Dragon

Ultra & Master Premier: Dragon Breath + Body Slam & Weather Ball (Fire) 

STAB Dragon Breath is very powerful and Weather Ball (Fire) would provide fantastic coverage. In Ultra Premier, it would hit Venusaur, Escavalier, Magnezone, Abomasnow and Tangrowth super effectively. Metagross, Magnezone and Mamoswine would take super effective damage from it in Master Premier. Body Slam would hit most other threats neutrally.

Unfortunately, Goodra can’t learn Dragon Claw and its stats are a bit too low to be able to make an impact in open Master League.


Trevenant

Trevenant GhostGrass
Max CP 2559
ATK 201 DEF 154 HP 198
Weak to Strong Against
Ghost Fire Flying Dark Ice Water Ghost Psychic Rock Ground

Great League & Ultra League: Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball & Grass Knot

Trevenant has a fantastic offensive typing for Great League and Ultra League. The only relevant Pokémon in Great League that resist both Grass and Ghost are Zweilous, Mandibuzz and Shiftry, which aren’t too common. In Ultra League, Alolan Muk is the only common threat that resists both.

With this moveset, Trevenant would have good matchups in Great League against Azumarill, Toxicroak, Galarian Stunfisk, Meganium, Venusaur, Hypno, Machamp, Deoxys-Defense, Swampert, Whiscash, Sirfetch’d, Cresselia, Lanturn, Medicham, Ferrothorn, Vigoroth, the list goes on.

In Ultra League, Trevenant would be able to handle Swampert, Cresselia, Armored Mewtwo, Escavalier, Machamp, Magnezone, Venusaur, Gallade, Toxicroak, Sirfetch’d and Empoleon, as well as go toe-to-toe with Giratina, Registeel, Lucario and Lapras.


Avalugg

Avalugg Ice
Max CP 3198
ATK 196 DEF 240 HP 216
Weak to Strong Against
Steel Fighting Rock Fire Grass Dragon Flying Ground

All Leagues: Powder Snow + Earthquake & Icy Wind or Avalanche

Avalugg would become the first bulky Ice type to be viable in every league if it gets this moveset. Icy Wind or Avalanche would be reached fairly quickly thanks to Powder Snow. Both have the same energy cost, but have different play styles. Icy Wind is 50% weaker than Avalanche, but always lowers the opponent’s Attack by 1 stage.

This would better suit Avalugg’s bulky nature overall, but Avalanche’s raw power would still make Avalugg a beast. Earthquake is a little slow, but would have the best possible coverage with Icy Wind. It would hit every current Pokémon that resists Ice for at least neutral damage. Since many Pokémon in Master League are weak to Ice and Ground, Avalugg would even have viability there too.


Noivern

Noivern FlyingDragon
Max CP 2764
ATK 205 DEF 175 HP 198
Weak to Strong Against
Fairy Ice Dragon Rock Grass Fighting Bug Dragon

Ultra League & Ultra Premier: Shadow Claw + Dragon Claw & Flamethrower

Shadow Claw has really good coverage in Ultra League, since there aren’t many Pokémon that resist it. Some notable threats that it’s super effective against are Giratina, Cresselia, Drifblim, Gallade, Armored Mewtwo and Gengar. Dragon Claw is Noivern’s fastest STAB move and would have decent neutral coverage in both Ultra League formats.

Flamethrower would be the best coverage move since it would hit most Steel types super effectively, which resist Dragon Claw. It also would provide extra coverage for Grass types and Ice types.


Yveltal

Yveltal DarkFlying
Max CP 3781
ATK 250 DEF 185 HP 246
Weak to Strong Against
Electric Ice Fairy Rock Fighting Ghost Psychic Grass Bug

Master League: Snarl + Sky Attack & Foul Play or Focus Blast

Yveltal would be an absolute beast in Master League if it gets this moveset. Sky Attack and Foul Play have almost perfect coverage together, only missing out on Tyranitar which isn’t common. Snarl would allow Yveltal to reach both moves in only 4 turns the first time and 3 turns the second time.

Furthermore, its sub-Flying typing would make it a Dark type that takes neutral damage from Fighting type attacks, meaning it would be able to counter Mewtwo very effectively. All of this combined would make Yveltal the strongest Dark type in Master League. Focus Blast could be a viable option instead of Foul Play, since it would provide extra coverage for the very problematic Steel types Melmetal and Dialga.


Zygarde

Zygarde (Complete) DragonGround
Max CP 3722
ATK 184 DEF 207 HP 389
Weak to Strong Against
Ice Fairy Dragon Steel Rock Electric Fire Poison

Ultra League & Master League: Dragon Breath + Earth Power & Crunch

Zygarde-Complete form’s insanely high bulk would allow it to be viable in both Ultra League and Master League if it gets this moveset. In Ultra League, it would be one of the very few Dragon Breath users that can threaten both Registeel and Melmetal, due to STAB Earth Power. Crunch would provide coverage for Giratina, Cresselia, Gengar and Armored Mewtwo.

In Master League, Zygarde-Complete would be able to threaten even more Pokémon, notably Melmetal, Giratina, Mewtwo, Zekrom, Reshiram, Ho-Oh, Garchomp, Metagross, Rhyperior and Heatran. Earth Power would keep Dialga on its toes and Crunch would ensure that Lugia doesn’t have a field day with Zygarde-Complete.


Credits

Huge shoutout to r/kdrshv on Reddit (KD#0001 on Discord) for sharing a spreadsheet with the stats of these Pokémon. If you are interested in seeing this spreadsheet yourself, here is the link.