With the recent addition of PVP Trainer battles and the changes to how Type effectiveness works in Pokémon GO battles, I thought it was time to see which are the best counters by type that you can have for each Pokémon League. In order to do this and not break the brain-bank, I will be doing an analysis like this for each individual League, starting with the Master League.

Top Master League Pokémon Index
Segment	Featuring
Introduction	The rules and requirements of the analysis
The Master League Analysis	A thorough explanation of each Pokémon Typing
Final Notes	My closing ideas and remarks

If you are a bit too fast-paced to look through this article, take a look at this graphic on the go so you can find your TOP Master League Pokémon, made by yours truly.

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Introduction

Before delving into the deep end, I should first explain this tactic/technique and the purpose behind it. The basic goal here is to find which Pokémon of each type will cause the highest amounts of damage to a counter they are super effective against. Although I can show you which are the “best” PVP Pokémon in Master League, please note that this is only one way for you to prepare for PVP, and there very well may be better or more advanced tactics than what is shown here.

That being said, if you are like me and are at a loss as to what Pokémon you should be trying to obtain for PVP battles, this is for you, use this as a basis for future additions/changes you want to make later on.

The requirements are the following for this Master League analysis:

• Move Types – The Pokémon must have access to both a fast and charged move of the typing they represent
• Primary and Secondary Typings – As long as a Pokémon can comply with the previous rule, the Pokémon can represent either of their dual typings
• MAX CP – Since Master league has no CP limit, the Pokémon included are determined based on their MAX CP amount
• Damage Output – The Pokémon will be determined based on the amount of damage they can output before they faint

Besides this, I will also be presenting what I believe to be the best Secondary Charged Move you can add to each of these PVP Pokémon, please note that the primary basis for what Charged Moves I selected are based on smaller energy cost. Considering PVP is a fast-paced game, fast-paced moves make for better use.

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The Master League Analysis

The Master League is highest league available to participate in; in Pokémon GO. There are no CP limits as to what you can use, and is easily one of the more predictable leagues you can participate in considering that most Trainers tend to use the same counters, however, let’s see if that changes here.

Bug Type PVP Pokémon

• Scizor – Use X-Scissor for low energy cost, pair with Night Slash if X-Scissor is not very effective against your opponent
• Venomoth – Use Bug Buzz for high damage output, pair with Silver Wind for low energy cost
• Pinsir – Use X-Scissor for low energy cost, pair with Vice Grip if X-Scissor is not very effective against your opponent

Dark Type PVP Pokémon

• Tyranitar – Use Crunch for low energy cost, pair with Fire Blast for high damage output and for a hard attack for your opponent to counter
• Absol – Use Dark Pulse for low energy cost, pair with Thunder for high damage output and for a hard attack for your opponent to counter
• Honchkrow –  Use Dark Pulse for low energy cost, pair with Brave Bird for high damage output

Dragon Type PVP Pokémon

• Rayquaza – Use Outrage for high damage output, pair with Ancient Power for low energy cost and a hard attack for your opponent to counter
• Dragonite – Use Outrage for low energy cost, pair with Draco Meteor for high damage output (If Draco Meteor is unavailable, pair with Hyper Beam if Outrage is not very effective against your opponent)
• Salamence – Use Draco Meteor for high damage output, pair with Fire Blast if Draco Meteor is not very effective against your opponent and for a hard attack for your opponent to counter

Electric Type PVP Pokémon

• Electivire – Use Wild Charge for average performance, pair with Thunder Punch for low energy cost
• Raikou – Use Wild Charge for average performance, pair with Thunder for high damage output
• Luxray – Use Wild Charge for average performance, pair with Crunch for low energy cost and for a hard attack for your opponent to counter

Fairy Type PVP Pokémon

• Togekiss – Use Dazzling Gleam for high damage output, pair with Ancient Power for low energy cost and a hard attack for your opponent to counter
• Gardevoir – Use Dazzling Gleam for high damage output, pair with Shadow Ball if Dazzling Gleam is not very effective against your opponent and for a hard attack for your opponent to counter
• Granbull – Use Play Rough for high damage output, pair with Crunch for low energy cost and a hard attack for your opponent to counter

Note – Since there are a lack of Fairy type Fast moves in Pokémon GO, I had to break the rules a bit, taking into consideration the Fairy type Charged move and using each Pokémon’s best Fast move

Fighting Type PVP Pokémon

• Machamp – Use Dynamic Punch for high damage output, pair with Heavy Slam if Dynamic Punch is not very effective against your opponent and for a hard attack for your opponent to counter
• Heracross – Use Close Combat for high damage output, pair with Earthquake for high damage output and for a hard attack for your opponent to counter
• Hariyama – Use Dynamic Punch for high damage output, pair with Heavy Slam if Dynamic Punch is not very effective against your opponent and for a hard attack for your opponent to counter

Fire Type PVP Pokémon

• Moltres – Use Overheat for high damage output, pair with Sky Attack for low energy cost (If Sky Attack is unavailable, do not pair with any other move as they are inferior)
• Entei – Use Overheat for high damage output, pair with Flamethrower for low energy cost
• Heatran – Use Fire Blast for high damage output, pair with Iron Head for low energy cost

Flying Type PVP Pokémon

• Rayquaza – Use Aerial Ace if Ancient Power is not very effective against your opponent
• Togekiss – Use Aerial Ace if Ancient Power is not very effective against your opponent
• Staraptor – Use Brave Bird for high damage output, pair with Close Combat if Brave Bird is not very effective against your opponent

Ghost Type PVP Pokémon

• Gengar – Use Shadow Ball for high damage output, pair with Sludge Bomb if Shadow Ball is not very effective against your opponent (If Lick is unavailable, use Shadow Claw or Hex)
• Banette – Use Shadow Ball for high damage output, pair with Dazzling Gleam if Shadow Ball is not very effective against your opponent and for a hard attack for your opponent to counter
• Mismagius – Use Shadow Ball for high damage output, pair with Dazzling Gleam if Shadow Ball is not very effective against your opponent and for a hard attack for your opponent to counter

Grass Type PVP Pokémon

• Venusaur – Use Frenzy Plant for high damage output, pair with Sludge Bomb if Frenzy Plant is not very effective against your opponent (If Frenzy Plant is unavailable, pair with Solar Beam)
• Exeggutor (Alola) – Use Solar Beam for high damage output, pair with Seed Bomb for low energy cost
• Exeggutor – Use Solar Beam for high damage output, pair with Seed Bomb for low energy cost

Ground Type PVP Pokémon

• Groudon – Use Earthquake for average performance, pair with Solar Beam for high damage output and for a hard attack for your opponent to counter
• Rhyperior – Use Earthquake for high damage output, pair with Surf for low energy cost and a hard attack for your opponent to counter
• Golem – Use Earthquake for high damage output, pair with Rock Blast for low energy cost

Ice Type PVP Pokémon

• Weavile – Use Avalanche for high damage output, pair with Foul Play if Avalanche is not very effective against your opponent
• Cloyster – Use Avalanche for average performance, pair with Hydro Pump for high damage output
• Jynx – Use Avalanche for high damage output, pair with Psyshock for low energy cost

Normal Type PVP Pokémon

• Tauros – Use Horn Attack for low energy cost, pair with Earthquake for high damage output and for a hard attack for your opponent to counter
• Snorlax – Use Hyper Beam for high damage output, pair with Body Slam for low energy cost (If Body Slam is unavailable, use Heavy Slam)
• Lopunny – Use Hyper Beam for high damage output, pair with Fire Punch for low energy cost and a hard attack for your opponent to counter

Note – With the already lacking variety in normal types, I made an exception when it came to Snorlax and took into account its Ghost type fast move, which ended up giving it second place in comparison to other normal types

Poison Type PVP Pokémon

• Roserade – Use Sludge Bomb for low energy cost, pair with Dazzling Gleam for high damage output
• Skuntank – Use Sludge Bomb for high damage output, pair with Crunch for low energy cost
• Victreebel – Use Sludge Bomb for average performance, pair with Leaf Blade for low energy cost

Psychic Type PVP Pokémon

• Mewtwo – Use Psychic for high damage output, pair with Shadow Ball for low energy cost and a hard attack for your opponent to counter (If Shadow Ball is unavailable, pair with Hyper Beam or Ice Beam) 
• Deoxys (Attack Forme) – Use Psycho Boost for high damage output, pair with Dark Pulse if Psycho Boost is not very effective against your opponent and for a hard attack for your opponent to counter
• Alakazam – Use Future Sight for high damage output, pair with Shadow Ball for low energy cost and a hard attack for your opponent to counter

Rock Type PVP Pokémon

• Tyranitar – Use Stone Edge for high damage output, pair with Crunch for low energy cost (If Smack Down is unavailable, use Bite)
• Rhyperior – Use Stone Edge for high damage output, pair with Surf for low energy cost and a hard attack for your opponent to counter
• Golem – Use Stone Edge for high damage output, pair with Rock Blast for low energy cost

Steel Type PVP Pokémon

• Metagross – Use Meteor Mash for low energy cost, pair with Psychic for high damage output (If Meteor Mash is unavailable, use Flash Cannon)
• Lucario – Use Flash Cannon for high damage output, pair with Shadow Ball for low energy cost and a hard attack for your opponent to counter
• Scizor – Use Iron Head for average performance, pair with X-Scissor for low energy cost

Water Type PVP Pokémon

• Kyogre – Use Hydro Pump for high damage output, pair with Blizzard if Hydro Pump is not very effective against your opponent
• Gyarados – Use Hydro Pump for high damage output, pair with Crunch for low energy cost and a hard attack for your opponent to counter
• Vaporeon – Use Hydro Pump for high damage output, pair with Aqua Tail for low energy cost

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Final Notes

With interest decaying in PVP and Trainers pretty much only playing for Sinnoh Stones and the occasional bragging rights, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Niantic making changes to it in the future. However, if type effectiveness stays the same, the list above will only grow in usefulness. Keep your eyes out for future articles where we cover more advanced PVP techniques, but in the mean-time this is more than plenty as a starter pack to get you on the top of PVP matches.

Have fun, and stay safe, Trainers!