Pokémon GO - GO Battle League: Move Selection - A Review

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Introduction

Pokémon GO’s GO Battle League (GBL) has become one of the most engaging aspects of the game, offering players a competitive PvP (Player vs. Player) experience. One of the most critical factors in GBL success is move selection—choosing the right fast and charged moves for your Pokémon can make or break battles.

This article will review the importance of move selection in GBL, covering:

• Fast Moves vs. Charged Moves
• Energy Generation and Damage Output
• Meta-Relevant Moves
• Baiting and Shield Pressure Strategies
• Underrated Moves Worth Considering

Let’s dive in!

1. Fast Moves vs. Charged Moves: The Basics

In Pokémon GO PvP, fast moves generate energy while dealing damage, whereas charged moves consume energy to deal significant damage or apply secondary effects.

Key Fast Move Attributes:

• Damage Per Turn (DPT) – How much damage the move deals per turn.
• Energy Per Turn (EPT) – How much energy the move generates per turn.
• Turn Duration – How long the move takes to execute (e.g., 1-turn, 2-turn, or 3-turn moves).

Example:

• Dragon Breath (Dragon-type) – High DPT (4.0) and decent EPT (3.0), making it a top-tier fast move.
• Lock-On (Normal-type) – Extremely high EPT (5.0) but very low DPT (1.0), used for fast energy charging.

Key Charged Move Attributes:

• Base Power – Raw damage output.
• Energy Cost – How much energy is needed to use the move.
• Secondary Effects – Buffs, debuffs, or stat changes (e.g., Ice Beam lowers Attack, Bubble Beam lowers opponent’s Attack).

Example:

• Hydro Cannon (Water-type) – High damage (80) for low energy (40), making it one of the best charged moves.
• Earthquake (Ground-type) – High damage (120) but slow (65 energy cost).

2. Energy Generation and Damage Output

A well-balanced move set ensures a Pokémon can pressure opponents while maintaining energy efficiency.

Optimal Move Combinations:

• High EPT Fast Move + Low-Energy Charged Move (e.g., Swampert with Mud Shot + Hydro Cannon)
• High DPT Fast Move + High-Damage Charged Move (e.g., Dragonite with Dragon Breath + Dragon Claw)

Energy Management Tips:

• Fast Chargers (e.g., Registeel with Lock-On + Focus Blast) can fire off multiple charged moves quickly.
• Bulkier Pokémon (e.g., Azumarill) benefit from energy-efficient moves to outlast opponents.

3. Meta-Relevant Moves in GBL

Certain moves dominate the GBL meta due to their damage output, energy efficiency, or coverage.

Top Fast Moves in GBL:

1. Counter (Fighting) – High DPT (4.0) and EPT (3.5).
2. Shadow Claw (Ghost) – Great DPT (3.0) and EPT (4.0).
3. Wing Attack (Flying) – Recently buffed, now a top-tier move.

Top Charged Moves in GBL:

1. Hydro Cannon (Water) – Low energy cost, high damage.
2. Bait Moves (e.g., Bubble Beam, Weather Ball) – Used to force shields.
3. Nuke Moves (e.g., Earthquake, Brave Bird) – High risk, high reward.

4. Baiting and Shield Pressure Strategies

A key tactic in GBL is shield baiting—using a low-energy move to force the opponent to waste shields before landing a high-damage nuke.

Effective Baiting Combos:

• Swampert: Hydro Cannon (bait) → Earthquake (nuke)
• Medicham: Ice Punch (bait) → Psychic (nuke)

Shield Pressure Tactics:

• Spammy Pokémon (e.g., Pelipper with Weather Ball) force opponents to burn shields early.
• Sacrificial Swaps – Switch in a Pokémon with a low-energy charged move to drain shields.

5. Underrated Moves Worth Considering

While meta moves dominate, some underrated moves can catch opponents off-guard.

Hidden Gem Moves:

• Icy Wind (Ice) – Low damage but lowers opponent’s Attack.
• Psycho Cut (Psychic) – High EPT for fast charging.
• Poison Fang (Poison) – Low energy cost with a guaranteed Attack debuff.

Example Pokémon:

• Alolan Ninetales with Charm + Weather Ball + Icy Wind (disruptive playstyle).
• Scrafty with Counter + Power-Up Punch + Foul Play (bait + stat boost).

Conclusion

Move selection in GO Battle League is a strategic balancing act between damage, energy efficiency, and baiting tactics. Understanding the best moves for your Pokémon can significantly improve your win rate.

Key Takeaways:
✅ Prioritize high EPT/DPT fast moves for consistency.
✅ Use bait moves to manipulate shield usage.
✅ Experiment with underrated moves for surprise wins.

What’s your favorite move combo in GBL? Let us know in the comments!

Tags: #PokemonGO #GOBattleLeague #PVP #MoveSelection #PokemonGOTips #GBLMeta #GamingStrategy