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.

How to read this tier list
Elite Pokemon
Base Stat Total of 600+i
Legendary
Story-central, catchable in-gamei
Mythical
Rare, event-exclusivei
BST
Base Stat Total (sum of all 6 stats)i
Fast with strong offensei
Bulky with good offensei
Very high offense, slowi
Extremely bulky, low offensei
High offense but fragilei
Bulky support, low offensei
Fast utility, momentum controli
A
Strong Picks 4 Pokemon
Strong Pokemon you can build a team around. Reliable in most matchups.
C
Situational 71 Pokemon
Specialist Pokemon for specific matchups. Don't expect them to carry every game.
525
Venusaur
Venusaur#0003
GRASSPOISON
530
Blastoise
Blastoise#0009
WATER
395
Butterfree
Butterfree#0012
BUGFLYING
395
Beedrill
Beedrill#0015
BUGPOISON
479
PIVOT
Pidgeot
Pidgeot#0018
NORMALFLYING
413
Raticate
Raticate#0020
NORMAL
442
PIVOT
Fearow
Fearow#0022
NORMALFLYING
448
Arbok
Arbok#0024
POISON
320
Pikachu
Pikachu#0025
ELEC
485
PIVOT
Raichu
Raichu#0026
ELEC
300
Sandshrew
Sandshrew#0027
GROUND
450
Sandslash
Sandslash#0028
GROUND
505
Nidoqueen
Nidoqueen#0031
POISONGROUND
505
Nidoking
Nidoking#0034
POISONGROUND
483
Clefable
Clefable#0036
FAIRY
505
PIVOT
Ninetales
Ninetales#0038
FIRE
270
Jigglypuff
Jigglypuff#0039
NORMALFAIRY
435
Wigglytuff
Wigglytuff#0040
NORMALFAIRY
455
Golbat
Golbat#0042
POISONFLYING
490
Vileplume
Vileplume#0045
GRASSPOISON
405
Parasect
Parasect#0047
BUGGRASS
450
Venomoth
Venomoth#0049
BUGPOISON
265
Diglett
Diglett#0050
GROUND
425
SWEEP
Dugtrio
Dugtrio#0051
GROUND
500
Golduck
Golduck#0055
WATER
455
Primeape
Primeape#0057
FIGHT
555
Arcanine
Arcanine#0059
FIRE
300
Poliwag
Poliwag#0060
WATER
385
Poliwhirl
Poliwhirl#0061
WATER
510
Poliwrath
Poliwrath#0062
WATERFIGHT
310
Abra
Abra#0063
PSYCHIC
400
SWEEP
Kadabra
Kadabra#0064
PSYCHIC
405
Machoke
Machoke#0067
FIGHT
505
BREAK
Machamp
Machamp#0068
FIGHT
390
Weepinbell
Weepinbell#0070
GRASSPOISON
490
Victreebel
Victreebel#0071
GRASSPOISON
515
PIVOT
Tentacruel
Tentacruel#0073
WATERPOISON
300
Geodude
Geodude#0074
ROCKGROUND
390
Graveler
Graveler#0075
ROCKGROUND
410
Ponyta
Ponyta#0077
FIRE
500
SWEEP
Rapidash
Rapidash#0078
FIRE
465
GLASS
Magneton
Magneton#0082
ELECSTEEL
470
SWEEP
Dodrio
Dodrio#0085
NORMALFLYING
475
Dewgong
Dewgong#0087
WATERICE
500
TANK
Muk
Muk#0089
POISON
310
Gastly
Gastly#0092
GHOSTPOISON
405
GLASS
Haunter
Haunter#0093
GHOSTPOISON
385
Onix
Onix#0095
ROCKGROUND
483
SUPPORT
Hypno
Hypno#0097
PSYCHIC
325
Krabby
Krabby#0098
WATER
425
Marowak
Marowak#0105
GROUND
455
GLASS
Hitmonlee
Hitmonlee#0106
FIGHT
455
Hitmonchan
Hitmonchan#0107
FIGHT
385
Lickitung
Lickitung#0108
NORMAL
340
Koffing
Koffing#0109
POISON
490
Weezing
Weezing#0110
POISON
345
Rhyhorn
Rhyhorn#0111
GROUNDROCK
435
Tangela
Tangela#0114
GRASS
490
Kangaskhan
Kangaskhan#0115
NORMAL
440
Seadra
Seadra#0117
WATER
450
Seaking
Seaking#0119
WATER
460
Mr. Mime
Mr. Mime#0122
PSYCHICFAIRY
500
SWEEP
Scyther
Scyther#0123
BUGFLYING
490
PIVOT
Electabuzz
Electabuzz#0125
ELEC
495
Magmar
Magmar#0126
FIRE
525
TANK
Vaporeon
Vaporeon#0134
WATER
525
BREAK
Flareon
Flareon#0136
FIRE
395
Porygon
Porygon#0137
NORMAL
495
BREAK
Omastar
Omastar#0139
ROCKWATER
495
BREAK
Kabutops
Kabutops#0141
ROCKWATER
515
SWEEP
Aerodactyl
Aerodactyl#0142
ROCKFLYING
  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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