Sun and Moon replaced gyms with Island Trials, and that changes how the tier list works. Instead of gym leaders, you face Totem Pokemon — buffed wild Pokemon with stat boosts and ally calls. Mimikyu's Disguise ability gives it a free hit in every fight. Toxapex walls almost everything with Regenerator. Alolan forms like Alolan Ninetales (Ice/Fairy) turn familiar Pokemon into completely different threats. Mega Stones aren't available until postgame, so Z-Moves are your primary power spike.
- 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
Mimikyu. Ghost/Fairy is one of the best defensive typings in the game, and Disguise gives it a free turn in every fight. Toxapex with Regenerator walls almost everything in Alola. Mudsdale from Mudbray on Route 4 with Stamina gets bulkier every time it's hit. For late-game raw power, Garchomp is available from Gible in Haina Desert.
Litten. Incineroar's Fire/Dark typing hits a wide range of Trials super effectively, and 115 Attack makes it the hardest-hitting starter. Popplio into Primarina (Water/Fairy) is a close second with great Sp. Atk and Fairy STAB that checks Dragon. Rowlet into Decidueye (Grass/Ghost) has the coolest typing but the slowest stats.
Alolan forms are regional variants of Gen 1 Pokemon with different types, stats, and abilities. Alolan Ninetales (Ice/Fairy) gets Snow Warning and is one of the best Fairy-types available. Alolan Marowak (Fire/Ghost) with Lightning Rod counters Electric-types cleanly. Alolan Muk (Poison/Dark) with Poison Touch hits hard and only has one weakness (Ground).
Z-Moves let any Pokemon use one massively powerful move per battle. You need a Z-Crystal that matches the move's type. This means any Pokemon with good stats can nuke one threat per fight, leveling the playing field somewhat. Z-Moves boost slower, bulkier Pokemon since they can absorb a hit and then fire off a Z-Move to remove the biggest threat. Infernium Z on Incineroar can one-shot most Totem Pokemon.
Incineroar (starter), Mudsdale from Mudbray on Route 4, Toxapex from Mareanie via SOS chain on Route 9, Mimikyu from the Thrifty Megamart trial, Magnezone from Magnemite at the Trainers' School, and Alolan Ninetales from Vulpix near Tapu Village. Handles every Trial Captain and Kahuna without needing to swap mid-game.
Sun gets Solgaleo (Psychic/Steel) and Moon gets Lunala (Psychic/Ghost). Lunala is the better pick for in-game since Ghost STAB hits a wider range of targets and it has higher Sp. Atk. For regular exclusives, Sun has Lycanroc Midday (faster) while Moon has Lycanroc Midnight (bulkier). Both versions also get different Ultra Beasts postgame.
No. Sun and Moon replaced gyms with Island Trials. Each Trial Captain sets up a challenge ending with a Totem Pokemon fight. Totem Pokemon have boosted stats and can call for ally Pokemon mid-battle, making some fights harder than traditional gym leaders. The final challenge on each island is a Grand Trial against the Island Kahuna, which plays more like a standard battle.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB

Red & Blue - Gen IIGS

Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS

Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG

FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS

HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP

Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW

Black & White - Gen VB2W2

Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY

X & Y - Gen VIORAS

Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM

Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM

Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE

Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh

Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV

Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen XWW

Winds & Waves