To win matches and sweep opposing teams with Snorlax in Pokémon GO Battle League, run Lick as the Fast Attack alongside Body Slam and Superpower as the Charged Attacks. This moveset capitalizes on Snorlax's massive Stamina, grants rapid shield-bait potential, and provides essential coverage against Steel- and Rock-type Pokémon.
Snorlax functions primarily as a safe swap or late-game closer. Its Normal typing grants a double resistance to Ghost-type attacks and leaves it vulnerable only to Fighting-type moves.
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Optimal Snorlax PvP Moveset
The combination of Lick, Body Slam, and Superpower provides the most consistent shield pressure and neutral damage profile across Ultra League and Master League Premier formats.
| Move Slot | Move | Energy / Turn Cost | Primary Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Attack | Lick | 1 Turn / 3 EPT | Generates steady energy and deals Ghost-type chip damage. |
| Charged Attack 1 | Body Slam | 35 Energy | Low-cost STAB attack used for baiting shields and steady damage. |
| Charged Attack 2 | Superpower | 40 Energy | High-damage Fighting coverage against Steel- and Rock-types (-1 Atk, -1 Def debuff). |
| Alternative Move | Earthquake | 65 Energy | Heavy Ground nuke targeting Steel, Rock, Electric, and Poison types without debuffs. |
Fast Attack: Lick
Lick is a 1-turn Fast Attack that generates 3 Energy Per Turn (EPT). Because 1-turn attacks carry minimal animation lag, Snorlax allows for precise switch timing and rarely leaks energy. This cadence lets Snorlax reach its first Body Slam in roughly six seconds of continuous attacks.
Charged Attacks: Body Slam and Coverage
- Body Slam: Non-negotiable for competitive play. At 35 energy, it benefits from Same Type Attack Bonus (STAB) and serves as Snorlax's primary shield-baiting and damage-dealing tool.
- Superpower: The preferred secondary move. At 40 energy, it directly threatens meta staples such as Melmetal, Dialga, and Excadrill. However, each use lowers Snorlax's Attack and Defense by one stage.
- Earthquake: Requires 65 energy. While it lacks the self-debuff penalty of Superpower and hits Electric- and Poison-types hard, its high energy cost makes Snorlax significantly slower to threaten shields.
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Safe Swapping and Ghost-Type Matchups
Deploy Snorlax as a safe switch when your lead Pokémon encounters an unfavorable matchup.
- Ghost Resistance: Snorlax double-resists Ghost-type damage, making it a direct counter to meta threats like Giratina, Gengar, and Trevenant. Their primary attacks (such as Shadow Claw and Shadow Ball) deal negligible damage, while Snorlax's Lick hits back for super-effective damage.
- Neutral Bulk: If the opponent does not have a dedicated Fighting-type counter, Snorlax’s sheer bulk allows it to win neutral battles or force shield expenditure before fainting.
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Energy Management and 1v3 Sweeps
Executing a multi-Pokémon sweep with Snorlax requires accumulating an energy advantage and managing opponent shields.
- Farm Weak Opponents with Lick: When an opposing Pokémon is low on health, avoid throwing a Charged Attack. Absorb incoming neutral hits and farm down the opponent exclusively with Lick to bank close to the 100-energy cap.
- Bank Before Throwing: Store enough energy for two Charged Attacks (approximately 75–80 energy) before firing.
- Bait Shields with Body Slam: Opponents tracking your energy will often shield in anticipation of a high-cost coverage move. Fire Body Slam first to draw the shield at minimal energy cost.
- Close with Superpower: Once shields are depleted, fire Superpower to eliminate Rock- or Steel-type opponents.
- Mitigate Debuffs: Because Superpower debuffs Defense and Attack, use it either as a finishing blow to end the match or immediately swap Snorlax out if another teammate is available to reset stat drops.
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Handling Fighting-Type Hard Counters
Fighting-types represent Snorlax’s sole type vulnerability and hard wall.
- Fast-Move Pressure: Pokémon carrying the Fast Attack Counter—such as Machamp, Annihilape, Conkeldurr, and Scrafty—deal severe super-effective damage that bypasses Snorlax's defensive stats.
- Strategy When Trapped: If locked against a Fighting-type without switch options, do not shield Snorlax unless a knockout is guaranteed. Instead, fire Body Slam immediately to inflict as much chip damage as possible before fainting.
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Recommended Team Synergies
To protect Snorlax from Fighting-types and set up late-game sweeps, pair it with teammates that cover its single weakness:
- Fairy-Types (Togekiss, Sylveon, Primarina): Double-resist Fighting-type moves and draw out opposing Steel-types early, clearing the field for Snorlax later.
- Flying-Types (Dragonite, Gliscor, Charizard): Resist Fighting and Ground attacks while applying heavy fast-move damage to soften the opposing roster.
- Psychic-Types (Cresselia, Mewtwo): Deal super-effective damage to Fighting-types and force opponents to expend shields before Snorlax enters the battle.
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Sarah Williams
Sarah specializes in RPG and collection games, explaining team building, character growth, and beginner-friendly ways to avoid expensive early mistakes.
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Player Comments
148 players commented on this guide.
This saved me time in the early game.
Good guide for Pokémon GO players. The strategy part was useful.
Nice guide. I am checking the other Pokémon GO articles next.
The explanation is clear, especially for beginners.