Movesets – An In-Depth Explanation

In Pokémon GO, the term “Movesets” refers to the available moves each monster can learn. These movesets directly impact how useful that Pokémon will be in the meta game. The goal of a moveset is to optimize a Pokémon’s Damage per Second (DPS) for its dedicated purpose, be it attacking rival gyms, defending gyms for the glory of your respective team, battling your friends in Train Battles, or defeating the fierce raid bosses! That being said, movesets break down into two parts: Fast moves and Charged moves.

Fast Moves

The most common move a Pokémon will use is its Fast move. The purpose of this skill is to deal consistent damage to a defender while generating energy quickly to deliver devastating blows with its Charged moves. A Pokémon’s Fast move can be changed by using a Fast TM item. These moves can be found in game on a Pokémon’s info page as the first move from the top.

There are a couple things to keep in mind when selecting a Fast move for a Pokémon:

Damage Per Second (DPS)

The formula for calculating this in Pokémon Go is Floor(1/2 * Power *Atk/Def * Effective) +1 (see more at Damage Mechanics in Pokemon GO)

Energy Gain Per Second (EPS)

The formula for calculating this in Pokémon Go is Energy Gain = Energy of move/ Time (in seconds)

These calculations allow Trainers to determine which Fast moves do the most damage and generate the most energy the quickest.

Artwork of Sceptile from Pokémon GO Sceptile Damage Cast Time DPS Energy EPS
Bullet Seed Grass 8 1.10s 8.7 14 12.7
Fury Cutter Bug 3 0.40s 7.5 6 15

We can see in the above example that Sceptile has two viable Fast move options with Bullet Seed and Fury Cutter, and though they are very close in overall DPS, Fury Cutter generates more EPS which usually makes it the better option for this Pokémon.

Consideration should also be given to the fact that utilising Type Advantage will almost always result in more damage than any other factor, i.e. if you’re planning to mainly use your Sceptile against Water, Rock, or Ground type Pokémon, then the 1.6x damage multiplier could far outweigh a move’s lack of energy generation, particularly if the Charged move is also going to be Super Effective.

Charged Moves

Charged moves are much more powerful and are available once a Pokémon has generated enough energy from its Fast moves. Although, these moves are used less often than your Fast moves, they play a huge factor in how successful your Pokémon will be in battle. A Pokémon’s Charged move can be changed by using a Charged TM item. These moves can be found in game on a Pokémon’s info page below the Fast moves; these will have charge meters underneath them as well.

Since the introduction of Trainer Battles (PvP) you can also now unlock a second Charged move. This allows Pokémon to be much more diverse in their type coverage. One of the best examples of this is a Blastoise which is weak to Grass type moves, but can now deal super effective damage back to a grass type, by having it’s second charged move set to, the normally overlooked, Ice Beam.

There are a few calculations that assist Trainers to determine the optimal Charged move(s) for a Pokémon:

Damage Per Second (DPS)

The formula for calculating this in Pokémon Go is Floor(1/2 * Power *Atk/Def * Effective) +1 (see more at Damage Mechanics in Pokemon GO)

Damage Per Energy (DPE)

The formula for calculating this in Pokémon Go is Damage * Number of Charge uses / 100

Casting Time

The formula for calculating this in Pokémon Go is Animation Time (in seconds) * Number of Charge Uses

Taking these calculations into account, we can now look at our example of Sceptile once again:

Artwork of Sceptile from Pokémon GO Sceptile Damage Cast Time DPS Energy DPE
Leaf Blade Grass 70 2.40s 35 -33 2.1
Earthquake Ground 120 3.60s 33 -100 1.2
Aerial Ace Flying 55 2.40s 22.9 -33 1.65

Sceptile has access to three very different Charged moves that can be used for different purposes, however, the highest DPS option is Leaf Blade. Although the use of all three of the Leaf Blade Charged moves takes a total 7.20 seconds, a single strike does comparable damage to Earthquake while benefitting from Same Type Attack Bonus (STAB), and uses substantially less energy.

Defending Movesets/Type Coverage:

Some Pokémon have found their place in the meta game as dedicated Gym Defenders. These Pokémon typically have dedicated movesets using the DPS formula with a focus on taking down the specific types to which they are weak. Blissey Normal, for example, is currently the best gym defender in the game. It has amazing stats and access to both a Fast and Charged move that are Super Effective against its only weakness, Fighting.

By becoming familiar with your Gym Defenders and their weaknesses you can optimize their movesets based on their available moves.

Related reading: Type Effectiveness

Versatility

In some cases, selecting a moveset is based specifically on the moves available and the potential use of that Pokémon. A great example is Kyorge with access to Thunder Electric, it is a decent option for battling against other Water type Pokémon.

By balancing a Pokémon’s typing with its move options, you can create interesting combinations that mean you take reduced damage from your opponent, while dealing Super Effective damage at the same time.


Legacy Moves in Pokémon GO

With meta changes, some Pokémon lost the ability to learn a particular move. These are called legacy moves. For many Pokémon, these were the best moves available for them to date. If you are lucky enough to have a Pokémon with one of these moves, you may want to think twice before changing it with a TM.

Pokémon Fast move Charged move
Artwork of Alakazam from Pokémon GO Alakazam Dazzling Gleam
Psychic
Artwork of Arcanine from Pokémon GO Arcanine Bite Bulldoze
Flamethrower
Artwork of Beedrill from Pokémon GO Beedrill Bug Bite
Artwork of Blaziken from Pokémon GO Blaziken Stone Edge
Artwork of Butterfree from Pokémon GO Butterfree Bug Bite
Artwork of Chansey from Pokémon GO Chansey Psybeam
Artwork of Charizard from Pokémon GO Charizard Ember
Wing Attack
Flamethrower
Artwork of Charmeleon from Pokémon GO Charmeleon Scratch
Artwork of Clefable from Pokémon GO Clefable Pound
Artwork of Cleffa from Pokémon GO Cleffa Psychic
Body Slam
Artwork of Cloyster from Pokémon GO Cloyster Blizzard
Icy Wind
Artwork of Dewgong from Pokémon GO Dewgong Ice Shard
Artwork of Diglett from Pokémon GO Diglett Mud Shot
Artwork of Dodrio from Pokémon GO Dodrio Air Cutter
Artwork of Doduo from Pokémon GO Doduo Swift
Artwork of Dragonite from Pokémon GO Dragonite Dragon Breath Dragon Claw
Dragon Pulse
Artwork of Dugtrio from Pokémon GO Dugtrio Mud Shot
Artwork of Eevee from Pokémon GO Eevee Body Slam
Artwork of Ekans from Pokémon GO Ekans Gunk Shot
Artwork of Electrode from Pokémon GO Electrode Tackle
Artwork of Elekid from Pokémon GO Elekid Thunderbolt
Artwork of Exeggutor from Pokémon GO Exeggutor Confusion

Zen Headbutt

Artwork of Farfetch’d from Pokémon GO Farfetch’d Cut
Artwork of Fearow from Pokémon GO Fearow Twister
Artwork of Feraligatr from Pokémon GO Feraligatr Water Gun
Artwork of Flareon from Pokémon GO Flareon Heat Wave
Artwork of Gastly from Pokémon GO Gastly Sucker Punch Ominous Wind
Artwork of Gengar from Pokémon GO Gengar Shadow Claw Sludge Wave
Dark Pulse
Artwork of Golbat from Pokémon GO Golbat Ominous Wind
Artwork of Golem from Pokémon GO Golem Mud Shot Ancient Power
Artwork of Graveler from Pokémon GO Graveler Mud Shot
Artwork of Grimer from Pokémon GO Grimer Acid
Artwork of Gyarados from Pokémon GO Gyarados Dragon Breath
Dragon Tail
Dragon Pulse
Twister
Artwork of Haunter from Pokémon GO Haunter Lick Shadow Ball
Artwork of Hitmonchan from Pokémon GO Hitmonchan Rock Smash Brick Break
Artwork of Hitmonlee from Pokémon GO Hitmonlee Stomp
Brick Break
Artwork of Hypno from Pokémon GO Hypno Psyshock
Shadow Ball
Artwork of Igglybuff from Pokémon GO Igglybuff Body Slam
Artwork of Jigglypuff from Pokémon GO Jigglypuff Play Rough
Body Slam
Artwork of Jynx from Pokémon GO Jynx Pound Ice Punch
Artwork of Kabutops from Pokémon GO Kabutops Fury Cutter
Artwork of Kangaskhan from Pokémon GO Kangaskhan Brick Break
Stomp
Artwork of Kingdra from Pokémon GO Kingdra Water Gun
Artwork of Kingler from Pokémon GO Kingler Mud Shot
Artwork of Koffing from Pokémon GO Koffing Acid
Artwork of Kyogre from Pokémon GO Kyogre Dragon Tail
Artwork of Lapras from Pokémon GO Lapras Ice Shard Dragon Pulse
Ice Beam
Artwork of Loudred from Pokémon GO Loudred Crunch
Artwork of Machamp from Pokémon GO Machamp Karate Chop Cross Chop
Stone Edge
Submission
Artwork of Machoke from Pokémon GO Machoke Cross Chop
Artwork of Machop from Pokémon GO Machop Low Kick
Artwork of Magby from Pokémon GO Magby Flamethrower
Artwork of Magneton from Pokémon GO Magneton Thunder Shock Discharge
Artwork of Meowth from Pokémon GO Meowth Body Slam
Artwork of Mew from Pokémon GO Mew Hurricane
Dragon Pulse
Artwork of Milotic from Pokémon GO Milotic Water Gun
Artwork of Moltres from Pokémon GO Moltres Ember
Artwork of Omanyte from Pokémon GO Omanyte Rock Tomb
Brine
Artwork of Omastar from Pokémon GO Omastar Rock Throw Rock Slide
Artwork of Onix from Pokémon GO Onix Iron Head
Rock Slide
Artwork of Parasect from Pokémon GO Parasect Bug Bite
Artwork of Persian from Pokémon GO Persian Night Slash
Artwork of Pichu from Pokémon GO Pichu Quick Attack
Artwork of Pidgeot from Pokémon GO Pidgeot Wing Attack Air Cutter
Artwork of Pikachu from Pokémon GO Pikachu Thunder
Artwork of Pinsir from Pokémon GO Pinsir Fury Cutter Submission
Artwork of Politoed from Pokémon GO Politoed Earthquake
Artwork of Poliwhirl from Pokémon GO Poliwhirl Scald
Artwork of Poliwrath from Pokémon GO Poliwrath Mud Shot Submission
Artwork of Ponyta from Pokémon GO Ponyta Fire Blast
Artwork of Porygon from Pokémon GO Porygon Quick Attack
Tackle
Zen Headbutt
Discharge
Psybeam
Signal Beam
Artwork of Primeape from Pokémon GO Primeape Karate Chop Cross Chop
Artwork of Raichu from Pokémon GO Raichu Thunder Shock Thunder
Artwork of Rapidash from Pokémon GO Rapidash Ember
Artwork of Rhydon from Pokémon GO Rhydon Megahorn
Artwork of Sandshrew from Pokémon GO Sandshrew Rock Tomb
Artwork of Scyther from Pokémon GO Scyther Steel Wing Bug Buzz
Artwork of Seadra from Pokémon GO Seadra Blizzard
Artwork of Seaking from Pokémon GO Seaking Poison Jab Ice Wind
Drill Run
Artwork of Seel from Pokémon GO Seel Water Gun Aqua Jet
Artwork of Smoochum from Pokémon GO Smoochum Frost Breath
Artwork of Snorlax from Pokémon GO Snorlax Body Slam
Artwork of Spearow from Pokémon GO Spearow Twister
Artwork of Starmie from Pokémon GO Starmie Quick Attack
Tackle
Psybeam
Artwork of Staryu from Pokémon GO Staryu Quick Attack
Artwork of Suicune from Pokémon GO Suicune Hidden Power
Artwork of Tangela from Pokémon GO Tangela Power Whip
Artwork of Togepi from Pokémon GO Togepi Zen Headbutt
Artwork of Togetic from Pokémon GO Togetic Steel Wing
Zen Headbutt
Artwork of Venomoth from Pokémon GO Venomoth Bug Bite Poison Fang
Artwork of Voltorb from Pokémon GO Voltorb Signal Beam
Artwork of Weepinbell from Pokémon GO Weepinbell Razor Leaf
Artwork of Weezing from Pokémon GO Weezing Acid
Artwork of Zapdos from Pokémon GO Zapdos Thunder Shock Discharge
Artwork of Zubat from Pokémon GO Zubat Sludge Bomb

Author & tags

Wolfie
Wolfie
Age 32, from Los Angeles, Ca, USA. You can usually find me in the SFV or Ventura County. Team Valor - Level 40. Avid Pokémon Go community member and AR+ Photographer! @Pogoshowcase #pogoshowcase

Trending 🔥

Related

Support us

Buy GO Hub merch

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