This article is over 6 years old and may contain outdated information

There are over 400 Pokemon in Pokemon Sword and Shield, which can be a bit overwhelming if one decides to catch the best Pokemon out there. But no worries, as this tier list of the best Pokemon will help you find and catch only the top-tier monsters.

Recommended Videos

All of the Pokemon listed below are good for different purposes. Some are good at attacking, while others are great at defenses. Either way keep on reading for more information on the best Pokemon in Sword and Shield.

S-Tier Pokemon

Dreepy/Drakloak/Dragapult

Why it’s the best:

  • One of the fastest Pokemon in the game
  • Best physical Dragon in the game
  • Huge pool of moves

Where to find Dreepy:

  • Lake of Outrage

Best movesets for Dragapult:

  • Dragon Dance
  • Dragon Darts
  • Phantom Force
  • Disable/Substitute/Will-O-Wisp

Toxel/Toxtricity

Why it’s the best:

  • Immune to Toxic damage
  • Super resistant to common types
  • Unpredictable moves

Where to find Toxel:

  • Motostoke Riverbank
  • Bridge Field
  • Route 7

Best movesetsfor Toxtricity:

  • Overdrive
  • Boomburst
  • Fire Punch
  • Toxic/Sludge Bomb/Shift Gear/Taunt

Rookidee/Corvisquire/Corviknight

Why it’s the best:

  • Excellent defense abilities
  • One of the only few Pokemon that can effectively beat ghost types

Where to find Rookidee:

  • Route 2
  • Motostoke Riverbank
  • Slumbering Weald

Best movesetsfor Corviknight:

  • Brave Bird/Body Press
  • Roost
  • Taunt
  • Defog/U-turn

Impidimp/Morgrem/Grimmsnarl

Why it’s the best:

  • Wide range of physical moves
  • Fits a vast number of teams
  • Very splashable

Where to find Impidimp:

  • Motostoke Outskirts
  • Stony Wilderness

Best movesetsfor Grimmsnarl:

  • Taunt/Swagger
  • Darkest Lariat/Foul Play
  • Thunder Punch/Spirit Break/Fire Punch
  • Thunder Wave

Darumaka/Darmanitan

Why it’s the best:

  • Extremely high attack stat
  • One of the best offensive Pokemon in the game

Where to find Darumaka:

  • Route 8
  • Route 10

Best movesetsfor Darmanitan:

  • Icicle Crash
  • U-turn
  • Earthquake
  • Flare Blitz

A-Tier Pokemon

Scorbunny/Raboot/Cinderace

Why it’s great:

  • Solid attack and speed stats
  • Gains STAB on every move

Where to find Scorbunny:

  • Fire starter Pokemon

Best movesetsfor Cinderace:

  • Pyro Ball/Flare Blitz
  • High Jump Kick/Low Kick
  • U-turn
  • Zen Headbutt/Gunk Shot/Fire Punch

Dracovish

Why it’s great:

  • Strongest water Pokemon in the game
  • Provides many opportunities for wallbreaking

Where to find Dracovish:

  • Fossil Lady at Route 6 (Fossilized Fish + Fossilized Drake)

Best movesetsfor Dracovish:

  • Fishious Rend
  • Crunch
  • Psychic Fangs
  • Low Kick

Corsola

Why it’s great:

  • Capable of wallbreaking every single physical threat

Where to find Corsola:

  • Giant’s Mirror

Best movesetsfor Corsola:

  • Stealth Rock
  • Will-O-Wisp
  • Strength Sap
  • Night Shade

Cufant/Copperajah

Why it’s great:

  • Huge base attack
  • Highly versatile pool of moves

Where to find Cufant:

  • Bridge Field

Best movesetsfor Copperajah:

  • Iron Head
  • Rock Slide
  • Earthquake
  • Stealth Rock

Applin/Flapple/Appletun

Why it’s great:

  • Lots of ways of restoring HP
  • Doubles the effects of berries

Where to find Applin:

  • Route 5
  • Stony Wilderness
  • Dusty Bowl
  • Giant’s Mirror

Best movesetsfor Appletun:

  • Recycle
  • Apple Acid
  • Leech Seed
  • Body Press/Draco Meteor

B-Tier Pokemon

Sobble/Drizzile/Inteleon

Why it’s good:

  • Impressive stats for special attacker

Where to find Sobble:

  • Water starter Pokemon

Best movesetsfor Inteleon:

  • Snipe Shot/Hydro Pump
  • Ice Beam
  • Dark Pulse/Air Slash
  • U-turn

Grookey/Thwackey/Rillaboom

Why it’s good:

  • Bulky design makes it a good team Pokemon

Where to find Grookey:

  • Grass starter Pokemon

Best movesetsfor Rillaboom:

  • Wood Hammer
  • Superpower
  • Knock Off
  • U-turn

Hatenna/Hattrem/Hatterene

Why it’s good:

  • Great apecial attack stat
  • Huge pool of utility moves

Where to find Hatenna:

  • Motostoke Outskirts
  • Stony Wilderness
  • Hammerlocke Hills

Best movesetsfor Hatterenne:

  • Rest
  • Psychic
  • Dazzling Gleam/Sleep Talk
  • Mystical Fire

Sizzlipede/Centiskorch

Why it’s good:

  • Has plenty of useful resistances for Grass, Fairy, Fighting, Ice, Bug, and Steel.

Where to find Sizzlipede:

  • Route 3

Best movesets for Centiskorch:

  • Fire Lash
  • Leech Life
  • Will-O-Wisp / Mystical Fire
  • Knock Off / Power Whip

Duraludon

Why it’s good:

  • Gains bulk and extra fire power

Where to find Duraludon:

  • Route 10
  • Lake of Outrage

Best movesets for Duraludon:

  • Dragon Pulse/Draco Meteor
  • Flash Cannon
  • Thunderbolt
  • Stealth Rock

That is all for the best Pokemon tier list, and for more Sword and Shield guides, check out the list below:

  • Curry Guide
  • Special Evolution Methods
  • Fossil Guide
  • TM List: All TM Locations 
  • Best Starters
  • Champion Cup Tips Guide
  • Wild Area Tips Guide
Post Tag: pokemon sword and shield guides GameSkinny is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy Join The Conversation