What is the strongest Pokemon?

By raw base stat total, legendaries like Arceus (720 BST) and Rayquaza (680 BST) sit at the top of S Tier. Pseudo-legendaries like Tyranitar , Salamence , and Metagross all hit 600 BST. "Strongest" changes depending on format though. Some S Tier picks are banned in competitive rulesets, which is why A Tier Pokemon often matter more in practice.

Why do Dragon-type Pokemon rank so high?

Dragons have some of the highest average BST in the game. Most pseudo-legendaries are Dragon-type, and their offensive stats tend to be loaded toward Attack or Special Attack. Before Fairy was added in Gen 6, Dragon was only weak to Ice and itself. Even with the Fairy weakness now, their raw power keeps them in the upper tiers.

What are the best Pokemon for a playthrough?

A and B Tier Pokemon are your best bet. S Tier legendaries are strong but you usually can't catch them until late in the game. Pokemon in the A and B range are available earlier and still hit hard enough to carry a run. Blaziken and Swampert are good examples of starters that stay useful the whole way through.

Is this tier list for competitive or casual play?

It's a general-purpose ranking based on the full national dex. Not tied to any single competitive format like VGC or Smogon OU. The tiers reflect overall strength across games, so you can use it whether you're teambuilding for ranked battles or just picking strong Pokemon for a playthrough.

Are starter Pokemon good competitively?

Most starters land in B or C Tier. They're solid for in-game but don't have the stats to compete with legendaries and pseudo-legendaries at the top. A few break that trend though. Blaziken with Speed Boost and Swampert with only one weakness (Grass) punch into A Tier territory in the right format.

Where can I see a Pokemon's full stats?

Click any Pokemon on this list to open its individual page with the full stat spread, evolution chain, move list, and game availability. You can also browse all Pokemon in the Pokedex and sort by any stat.

How often is this tier list updated?

It updates when new Pokemon enter the database, whether from a new generation or DLC. Rankings across the full national dex.

Sword & Shield Pokemon Tier List

The best Pokemon in this Pokemon tier list aren't just raw BST. A Pokemon's typing, stat distribution, and role all factor in. Slaking has 670 BST — one of the highest in the game — but sits in B Tier because its ability forces it to skip every other turn. Meanwhile, some lower-BST Pokemon with great type coverage or speed punch well above their weight class.