Let's Go plays nothing like traditional Pokemon. There are no wild battles, no abilities, and no held items. Your partner Pikachu or Eevee can't evolve but gets exclusive moves covering multiple types and boosted base stats that outclass everything else. Mega Alakazam and Mega Gengar are available and just as dominant. The tier list covers the original 151 plus Alolan forms and Meltan. Candy-boosted AVs can push any Pokemon's stats higher.

How to read this tier list
Elite Pokemon
Base Stat Total of 600+
Legendary
Story-central, catchable in-game
Mythical
Rare, event-exclusive
BST
Base Stat Total (sum of all 6 stats)
Fast with strong offense
Bulky with good offense
Very high offense, slow
Extremely bulky, low offense
High offense but fragile
Bulky support, low offense
Fast utility, momentum control
S
Meta-Defining 1 Pokemon
No abilities or held items, but partner exclusives and Mega forms still run Kanto. These are the picks that matter.
680
SWEEP
Mewtwo
Mewtwo#0150
PSYCHIC
A
Strong Picks 2 Pokemon
Good stats and type coverage across all 8 gym leaders. Your supporting cast behind the partner.
580
SWEEP
Zapdos
Zapdos#0145
ELECFLYING
600
BREAK
Melmetal
Melmetal#0809
STEEL

  • Your partner Pokemon. Partner Eevee is arguably the strongest with exclusive moves covering 8 types — Bouncy Bubble (Water), Buzzy Buzz (Electric), Sizzly Slide (Fire), and more. It can't evolve but its boosted stats and multi-type coverage make it a one-Pokemon army. Partner Pikachu is slightly weaker but still top-tier with exclusive Electric and Surf-like moves.

  • Wild Pokemon aren't battled — you throw Poke Balls at them using motion controls or button timing, like Pokemon GO. There are no abilities, no held items, and no breeding. The roster is just the original 151 plus Alolan forms and Meltan/Melmetal. Mega Evolution is available for select Pokemon. It's a much more casual experience designed for newcomers and Pokemon GO players.

  • No. Your starter can't evolve, similar to Yellow's Pikachu. But unlike Yellow, partner Pikachu and Eevee get massively boosted base stats and exclusive moves covering multiple types. Partner Eevee learns Water, Fire, Electric, Psychic, Dark, Ice, Fairy, and Grass moves. You CAN catch wild Pikachu or Eevee and evolve those normally — just not your starter.

  • Partner Pikachu or Eevee (your ace), Mega Alakazam from Abra on Route 5, Gyarados from Magikarp, Arcanine from Growlithe on Routes 5-8, Snorlax from one of the two road blocks, and Nidoking from an early Nidoran with a Moon Stone. Your partner carries most fights, so the rest fills coverage gaps.

  • They add useful options to the Kanto-only roster. Alolan Ninetales (Ice/Fairy) is one of the best additions since Fairy checks Dragon without abilities complicating the matchup. Alolan Muk (Poison/Dark) only has one weakness (Ground). You get Alolan forms through in-game trades or by transferring from Pokemon GO. They fill type slots that regular Kanto Pokemon don't cover well.

  • Yes. Mega Stones for Venusaur, Charizard (X and Y), Blastoise, Alakazam, Gengar, Kangaskhan, Pinsir, Gyarados, Aerodactyl, and Mewtwo (X and Y) are available. Since there are no abilities or held items normally, Mega Evolution is the main power spike beyond candy AVs. Mega Mewtwo is postgame but one of the strongest Pokemon in any game.

  • No. Let's Go uses a different stat system (AVs from candy instead of EVs), has no abilities, and limits you to 153 Pokemon. It's designed as a casual Kanto experience, not a competitive platform. For competitive, stick with the main series games. Let's Go is great for a relaxed Kanto nostalgia run and catching Pokemon for transfer to other games via Pokemon HOME.