15 Best Legendaries in Pokémon GO (2024)

Image: Nintendo via HGG

Human Made

Penned by Tommy Defonteny

Tommy is our expert Clash of Clans writer.

Reviewed by Benjamin Barr

Pokémon GO took the world by storm back in 2016, giving players a brand new way to interact with the world and fellow Pokémon fans. As the years have gone by, more and more Pokémon have been added to the game, including a number of powerful legendaries. If you’re keen on bolstering your team with some real power, we’ve got you covered. Continue reading for our ranking of the best legendary Pokémon in Pokémon GO!

Popular Destinations..

Pokémon GO Waystone | Navigation Page

ALL Pokémon Games in Order of Release Date

15 Best Legendary Pokémon in Pokémon GO, Ranked Good to Best

When trying to build to ultimate Pokémon GO squad to fight your battles, it’s not just about power. The best Pokémon will have a solid list of type resistances, and will synergize well with the rest of your team. This ranking of the 15 best legendary Pokémon will break down each of our picks to help you decide which legendaries are right for you.

Terrakion

• Max CP: 4,181
• Type: Fighting/Rock

Terrakion falls at the bottom of our list for a single reason. Despite having decent attacks, its Rock typing gives it a large window of vulnerability. However, properly taking advantage of Terrakion’s Sacred Sword and Double Kick move combo exploit its Fighting type. You can also combine Smack Down and Rock Slide to take advantage of its Rock typing to make Terrakion a relatively versatile choice, but overall not the most powerful.

Heatran

• Max CP: 4,244
• Type: Fire/Steel

Although Heatran isn’t the most common or popular legendary, properly taking advantage of its strengths makes it a tank of a Fire type, despite its attacks not carrying the most powerful punch. Heatran’s tank-like abilities come from its wide array of resistances. This allows Heatran to simultaneously inflict higher damage and defend itself twofold against Grass, Bug, Fairy, Ice, and Steel types. The combination of Fire Spin and Flamethrower allows Heatran to exploit two Fire attacks all the while benefiting from STAB bonuses.

Kartana

• Max CP: 4,156
• Type: Grass/Steel

Although fairly low on our ranking, Kartana is considerably the strongest Grass attacker in Pokémon GO. Unfortunately, it’s that very Grass typing that keeps Kartana lower on the list. Despite being a volatile attacker, in intense battles, Grass typing isn’t always able to keep up with other types like Dragon and Psychic.

Kartana’s move combination of Razor Leaf and Leaf Blade enables it to bring a DPS in the ranks of some of the most powerful Pokémon in the game. However, in the big picture, Kartana’s CP limit is relatively limited compared to other legendries available.

Kyurem

• Max CP: 4,041
• Type: Dragon/Ice

Although Kyurem has its moments where it’s a powerful attacker, one of the main reasons it falls lower on this list is the fact that most of its use comes as a spam attacker. Kyurem’s Dragon Breath and Glaciate move combination is going to be its most powerful option. In PVE, this provides Kyurem with its highest DPS. In PVP, this combination sets it apart from other Dragon types, as its Ice typing is what ultimately giving Kyurem some versatility.

Latias

• Max CP: 3,968
• Type: Dragon/Psychic

All of Latias’s abilities place her somewhere within the middle of the pack. Although no one move set stands out as the consistent best for Latias, Dragon Breath and Outrage allow her to be a consistent fighter. The combination of Psychic and Zen Headbutt exploits her Psychic typing, enabling her to be quite the Psychic tank build.

Latios

• Max CP: 4,310
• Type: Dragon/Psychic

Coming right ahead of Latias, Latios overtakes his sister for two main reasons. First, he simply has a higher CP potential. Secondly, the combination of Dragon Claw and Dragon Breath exploits Latios’s Dragon typing, enables STAB bonuses, and makes him a consistent and reliable Dragon Attacker. Besides those two things, there isn’t much else that set Latios and Latias apart.

Reshiram

• Max CP: 4,565
• Type: Dragon/Fire

Fire Fang and Fusion Flare put Reshiram in a situation to perform as a very powerful Fire attacker. Another reliable option for Reshiram is a Dragon Breath and Draco Meteor combination, which sets him up to be a solid Dragon attacker. Both of these move sets provide Reshiram with additional STAB benefits.

Zekrom

• Max CP: 4,565
• Type: Dragon/Electric

Although Charge Beam isn’t the most dominant option for Zekrom, combining it with Fusion Bolt makes Zekrom one of the top Electric attackers in the game, excluding Shadow/Electric types. For another reliable variation, Dragon Breath and Outrage makes Zekrom a consistent Dragon attacker.

Dialga

• Max CP: 4,565
• Type: Dragon/Steel

As we get higher on the list, one single definitive move set isn’t always considered the absolute best. For instance, Dragon Breath is ultimately Dialga’s strongest move, but what you choose to pair it with is mostly up to what role Dialga plays in your attack. A move like Draco Meteor allows Dialga to be the ultimate finisher, providing immense damage at the expense of extremely poor efficiency. On the other hand, Thunder can provide better versatility against Flying types, but lacks in overall damage.

Darkrai

• Max CP: 4,227
• Type: Dark

One definitive move to be included in Darkrai’s attack is Shadow Ball, as this move ranks among the best moves in the entirety of Pokémon GO. Snarl is a solid fast move due to its efficiency. Focus Blast allows for increased versatility, but is also another very inefficient move. When using Darkrai, make sure to include Shadow Ball, but your choice of combo move may vary.

Groudon

• Max CP: 4,652
• Type: Ground

Groudon’s top move combination will be Mud Shot and Precipice Blades. Mud Shot provides Groudon with a strong attack with STAB and potential weather bonuses, as well as efficient energy regeneration. Precipice Blades is consistently Groudon’s most powerful attack and should be incorporated into its attack for best results.

Kyogre

• Max CP: 4,652
• Type: Water

Kyogre has several powerful attacks, so knowing how to properly exploit them will allow you to consistently dominate. In PVE, Origin Pulse will serve as your most powerful Charged Attack. Waterfall is Kyogre’s only Fast Move and will allow for STAB bonuses. In PVP, Surf is an absolute must-have for its power and low energy use. Waterfall again has decent strength along with STAB bonuses, and combining the three attacks will make Kyogre a consistently dominant Water attacker.

Giratina

• Max CP: 4,164
• Type: Ghost/Dragon

Kicking off our top three legendary Pokémon in Pokémon GO, we have Giratina. Giratina’s move Shadow Ball should be used as your main Charged Attack. It’s a powerful move that benefits from additional STAB bonuses. Dragon Tail has its uses, but there’s a chance that Steel and Fairy Pokémon could easily deflect the move. Shadow Tail is a considerably more reliable Fast Move with solid damage, energy replenishing, and STAB bonuses.

Rayquaza

• Max CP: 4,336
• Type: Dragon/Flying

Dragon Tail should be Rayquaza’s go-to Charged Move because of its versatility, providing the ability to cut down Dragon types and apply significant damage to an array of other Pokémon like Ice types. The other choices, like other Pokémon on this list, will depend on the role you want Rayquaza to play. Outrage is solid but will open up weaknesses against Fairy Pokémon. Breaking Swipe is similar to Outrage, but doesn’t expose Rayquaza to the same vulnerabilities. Air Slash provides versatility against Flying Pokémon.

Mewtwo

• Max CP: 4,724
• Type: Psychic

Finally, our number one legendary in Pokémon Go is Mewtwo! Mewtwo’s attack combination of Confusion and Psystrike is what puts him at the top of this list. That said, his other attacks will depend on how you want to use him. It’s always a good idea to keep Psycho Cut around because of its efficient energy generation and its ability to let Mewtwo dodge attacks quicker.

Join the High Ground

Now that we have looked at the top 15 legendary Pokémon in Pokémon GO, you can now take what you know and build a team that plays on each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Remember, just putting these Pokémon on your team won’t guarantee that you will dominate, but trying new tactics out based on what you just learned and practicing with what works will have you on your way to dominating gyms all around.

Go catch those Pokémon!