All 79 League partners ranked for overall progression, with a reason and a trade-off for every pick. Find a reliable starter, a stronger clear or your next build.
Articuno starts with broad stat bonuses and repeated nearby chill attempts. Freeze-Dry and its wider Ice kit align with a blizzard Ultimate that also starts hail, giving it a strong control-first progression plan.
Trade-off: Chill and freeze still depend on status rules; bosses are not permanently locked down.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Frigid Pressure
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Freeze-Dry
Lv. 2 Mist
Lv. 4 Bleakwind Storm
Lv. 7 Glaciate
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Synthesis combines regeneration, stronger healing and recovery from eligible Grass hits. Sleep Powder adds control, while the evolved Ultimate supplies another heal: an unusually forgiving package from the opening run onward.
Trade-off: Healing shares a leech budget; it cannot make standing inside a horde safe.
Lunar Blessing accelerates Ultimate charge and heals on activation, alongside regeneration and extra luck. Its Ultimate adds another heal and crowd control, making Clefairy excellent at recovering a run before mistakes snowball.
Trade-off: It is a consistency pick; the kit is less direct than a dedicated damage carry.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Clefairy (Lv. 1) → Clefable (Lv. 42)
Passive
Lunar Blessing
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Draining Kiss
Lv. 2 Stored Power
Lv. 4 Gravity
Lv. 7 Moonblast
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Gastly combines extra evasion with 20% reduced damage taken before developing a focused Ghost kit. Curse and control in its evolving Ultimate add offensive setup to an already resilient baseline.
Trade-off: Evasion is probabilistic; the defensive package still needs active movement.
Lapras combines regeneration and permanent damage reduction with Water Pulse, Ice Beam, Surf and Blizzard. The sleep-and-ice Ultimate adds another defensive layer to a kit that already covers packs naturally.
Trade-off: It is a broad, safe recommendation rather than a promise of the fastest single-target kill.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Water Absorb
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Water Pulse
Lv. 2 Ice Beam
Lv. 4 Surf
Lv. 7 Blizzard
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Mewtwo is our best overall pick: general damage, area and movement bonuses support a focused Psychic kit. A recurring shield, critical-hit stuns and a large immobilizing Ultimate combine offense with useful breathing room.
Trade-off: Critical stuns need critical hits, and the late recruitment requirement makes it a goal rather than a first-save recommendation.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Genome
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Psycho Cut
Lv. 2 Psystrike
Lv. 4 Prismatic Laser
Lv. 7 Psycho Boost
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Moltres pairs broad stat bonuses with a nearby burning ring. Its Ultimate requests a 30% max-HP heal before adding fireballs, fissures and later summons, combining recovery with serious area pressure.
Trade-off: The passive ring works close to the player, and fire coverage does not remove positioning risks.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Fiery Pressure
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Incinerate
Lv. 2 Fly
Lv. 4 Searing Shot
Lv. 7 Overheat
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Skill Link starts with armor and an extra projectile, then adds more of both as Cloyster. The Ice kit and shielded volley Ultimate give Shellder a strong mix of scaling, control and protection.
Trade-off: Extra projectiles only help compatible move paths; they do not duplicate every attack.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Shellder (Lv. 1) → Cloyster (Lv. 36)
Passive
Skill Link
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Clamp
Lv. 2 Icicle Spear
Lv. 4 Ice Spinner
Lv. 7 Icicle Crash
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Zapdos combines general stat bonuses with passive ranged lightning on several targets. A focused Electric kit, large thunderclaps and a rain-starting Ultimate give it strong pressure without a fragile opening condition.
Trade-off: Random target selection and limited passive target counts can leave gaps in a dense pack.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Electric Pressure
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Bolt Beak
Lv. 2 Wildbolt Storm
Lv. 4 Thunderclap
Lv. 7 Electro Shot
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Abra's extra Special damage supports an unusually focused Psychic kit. Magic Guard rejects hazard-flagged damage, and the evolved Ultimate offers large-area immobilization followed by burst.
Trade-off: Hazard protection does not cover every attack; it still needs careful positioning.
Extra speed, another jump and increased airborne damage give Aerodactyl a distinctive mobile offense. Flying-type gliding helps it use that condition, while the dive Ultimate adds a strong area finish.
Trade-off: The damage bonus asks you to stay airborne; grounded or awkward terrain reduces the advantage.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Prehistoric Wings
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Thunder Fang
Lv. 2 Dual Wingbeat
Lv. 4 Iron Head
Lv. 7 Dragon Ascent
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Large HP and healing multipliers give Chansey one of the clearest recovery identities. Collectible eggs and an Ultimate with a shield plus repeated healing make it a forgiving progression option.
Trade-off: Egg collection and an initially utility-heavy kit can slow the run's damage tempo.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Lucky Egg
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Sweet Kiss
Lv. 2 Echoed Voice
Lv. 4 Egg Bomb
Lv. 7 Boomburst
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
The curated Fire kit builds toward broad coverage, and the evolved Ultimate layers rings, fissures and impacts. The permanent Fire bonus works immediately, making Charmander a straightforward offensive starter.
Trade-off: Its 40% low-HP damage bonus is a comeback tool, not dependable protection.
Cubone's curated bone attacks all benefit from its implemented bone-move multiplier. Armor helps it reach the returning/projectile kit and Marowak's wider cursed impacts.
Trade-off: The extra low-HP damage is conditional, and return paths do not guarantee extra hits.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Cubone (Lv. 1) → Marowak (Lv. 39)
Passive
Guardian Bone
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Bone Club
Lv. 2 Bonemerang
Lv. 4 Bone Rush
Lv. 7 Shadow Bone
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Multiscale gives Dratini a strong first-hit defense near full HP, while the Dragon kit has a clear late-run payoff. Dragonite's cyclones, meteors and summons make the evolved Ultimate a major attraction.
Trade-off: Chip damage switches off Multiscale, and the line needs time before its biggest payoff.
Drowzee automatically puts nearby targets to sleep and heals around sleepers. Nightmare and Dream Eater fit that loop, while Hypno's Ultimate adds a substantial conditional recovery opportunity.
Trade-off: Boss resistance and damage waking sleepers reduce the loop's consistency against isolated targets.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Drowzee (Lv. 1) → Hypno (Lv. 38)
Passive
Pendulum
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Psywave
Lv. 2 Nightmare
Lv. 4 Dream Eater
Lv. 7 Focus Blast
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Electabuzz turns repeated paralysis applications into a temporary damage stack. Thunder Cage and its chaining punch/storm Ultimate support maintaining that pressure, with a clear offensive payoff.
Trade-off: The stack timer expires after four seconds without refresh, so interrupted fights reduce its value.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Motor Drive
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Thunder Punch
Lv. 2 Wild Charge
Lv. 4 Thunder Cage
Lv. 7 Bolt Strike
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
A permanent 15% damage-taken reduction is valuable throughout a run. Grimer's rooted poison zones and Muk's pulling-puddle Ultimate add space control without relying solely on a perfect damage roll.
Trade-off: Poison-zone value depends on enemies staying in useful positions around the trail.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Grimer (Lv. 1) → Muk (Lv. 45)
Passive
Muddy Body
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Poison Gas
Lv. 2 Sludge
Lv. 4 Shadow Sneak
Lv. 7 Belch
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Lovely Kiss and the charm-to-chill interaction give Jynx a strong control identity. Its targeted kiss/blizzard Ultimate extends that plan across a larger pack.
Trade-off: Chill needs its normal status processing, and control-resistant enemies blunt the advantage.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Icy Kiss
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Lovely Kiss
Lv. 2 Frost Breath
Lv. 4 Heart Stamp
Lv. 7 Perish Song
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Kabuto combines armor with flat damage reduction that scales with player level. Kabutops then improves compatible strike/boomerang slots, giving the defensive opening a worthwhile offensive transition.
Trade-off: The reduction has a damage floor, and evolution is delayed until level 40.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Kabuto (Lv. 1) → Kabutops (Lv. 40)
Passive
Fossil Armor
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Aqua Jet
Lv. 2 Sacred Sword
Lv. 4 Stone Axe
Lv. 7 Razor Shell
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Parental Bond adds a delayed fixed echo when a target survives the first hit. That broad offensive benefit works across more builds than a single-type bonus, while the paired-punch Ultimate adds burst.
Trade-off: The echo is reduced damage with suppressed reactions, not a second full attack with every proc.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Parental Bond
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Dizzy Punch
Lv. 2 Mega Kick
Lv. 4 Reversal
Lv. 7 Mega Punch
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Magmar combines a Fire kit with stronger status damage and explosions from burning enemies that die. The eruption Ultimate gives it a direct area-clear plan with little ambiguity about what to build.
Trade-off: Death-triggered explosions are capped and contribute less when there are no adds to kill.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Flame Body
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Fire Punch
Lv. 2 Mystical Fire
Lv. 4 Lava Plume
Lv. 7 Eruption
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Mew has broad stat bonuses, cross-type move offers and a shielded copying Ultimate. Its flexibility can rescue unusual drafts, with more copied casts as maturity rises.
Trade-off: A wider offer pool and random copied Ultimates make a specific reliable build harder to force than on S-tier specialists.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Ancestral Gene
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Psychic
Lv. 2 Aura Sphere
Lv. 4 Ancient Power
Lv. 7 Moonblast
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Extra HP and armor support a Poison-spreading game plan. Each Ultimate form adds a substantial shield, letting Nidoran♀ combine defensive breathing room with mines, geysers and later fissures.
Trade-off: Poison spread needs poisoned enemies to die nearby; it is less valuable against one isolated boss.
A general damage bonus plus 25% elite damage gives Nidoran♂ a strong answer to tougher targets. The evolving horn and Earth Power kit keeps its offensive plan focused.
Trade-off: The horn execute excludes protected boss-class targets; do not rank it as a universal boss kill.
Mega Drain, regeneration and extra movement speed give Oddish a strong progression foundation. Its pollen and later petal Ultimate add control and area pressure; sunlight is a useful bonus rather than the whole plan.
Trade-off: The large sun bonuses require the correct weather and should not be assumed always active.
Stun Spore and Spore give Paras two deliberate ways to disable packs. Parasect then gains damage against statused enemies, and its mushroom Ultimate can turn that control into healing and pressure.
Trade-off: Control-resistant enemies and weak status uptime lower its payoff.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Paras (Lv. 1) → Parasect (Lv. 36)
Passive
Effect Spore
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Slash
Lv. 2 Stun Spore
Lv. 4 Spore
Lv. 7 Energy Ball
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Pikachu has a focused Electric kit with early Electro Ball access and later Thunderbolt/Thunder. Passive discharges add pressure, while the lightning Ultimate offers useful coverage without needing a special item combination.
Trade-off: Contact paralysis is a fallback; it does not make Pikachu a tank.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Pikachu (Lv. 1) → Raichu (Lv. 42)
Passive
Static
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Thunder Shock
Lv. 2 Electro Ball
Lv. 4 Thunderbolt
Lv. 7 Thunder
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Mold Breaker adds general damage and extra pressure against boss-class enemies. Faster shield depletion gives Pinsir a useful answer to defensive targets, supported by a focused throwing and grabbing kit.
Trade-off: Shield depletion is accelerated, not bypassed, and the line has limited passive recovery.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Mold Breaker
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Storm Throw
Lv. 2 Lunge
Lv. 4 Vital Throw
Lv. 7 Superpower
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Hypnosis gives Poliwag early control alongside a ranged opening move. The pulling, sleeping whirlpool Ultimate and later punches make this a flexible line for both packs and tougher targets.
Trade-off: Rain bonuses are conditional, and Poliwrath's extra Physical bonus arrives only in that form.
Attack speed and a general damage bonus make Scyther effective without a complicated passive setup. The focused cutting kit and delayed slash explosions reward aggressive but readable target selection.
Trade-off: It lacks built-in healing, so clean movement is still part of the build.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Technician
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Fury Cutter
Lv. 2 Aerial Ace
Lv. 4 Air Slash
Lv. 7 X-Scissor
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Extra HP and armor make Seel's chill-oriented kit forgiving. Ice shards, Icy Wind and the persistent ice-field Ultimate give it several ways to slow a crowded approach.
Trade-off: A chill application is not always an immediate freeze; targets and status rules still matter.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Seel (Lv. 1) → Dewgong (Lv. 42)
Passive
Polar Fat
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Icy Wind
Lv. 2 Dive
Lv. 4 Aurora Beam
Lv. 7 Sheer Cold
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Extra HP, regeneration and nearby sleep rolls give Slowpoke a strong defensive core. Scald and the Psychic kit supply pressure while the evolved Ultimate adds bombardment and bites.
Trade-off: The movement-speed penalty makes bad escape routes more costly.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Slowpoke (Lv. 1) → Slowbro (Lv. 44)
Passive
Oblivious
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Yawn
Lv. 2 Scald
Lv. 4 Psychic Noise
Lv. 7 Expanding Force
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Extra armor and a 20-point shield give Squirtle room for mistakes. Rapid Spin complements the ranged Water kit, and its evolving Ultimate adds displacement and wide Water coverage.
Trade-off: The shield regenerates after avoiding hits; continuous contact undermines that advantage.
Staryu's periodic heal complements a projectile-focused kit, and Starmie adds a Special damage bonus. The bouncing-star and rotating-beam Ultimate gives it a useful combination of coverage and recovery.
Trade-off: Projectile speed is not universal damage scaling; coverage still depends on attack paths.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Staryu (Lv. 1) → Starmie (Lv. 36)
Passive
Core
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Water Shuriken
Lv. 2 Confuse Ray
Lv. 4 Mirror Shot
Lv. 7 Photon Geyser
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Regeneration plus automatic hits and roots give Tangela a dependable control foundation. Giga Drain and the pulling, healing vine Ultimate reinforce a sustain-first plan without waiting for evolution.
Trade-off: Its best control works around the player, so do not confuse recovery with unlimited range.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Vines
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Bind
Lv. 2 Giga Drain
Lv. 4 Grass Knot
Lv. 7 Solar Blade
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Electroweb, area Electric attacks and faster movement make Voltorb a capable pack-clearing pick. Kill-triggered explosions become more frequent after evolving and reward keeping a clear rolling.
Trade-off: The explosion chain needs kills and has a shared proc limit, so it contributes less on a lone boss.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Voltorb (Lv. 1) → Electrode (Lv. 40)
Passive
Aftermath
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Spark
Lv. 2 Electroweb
Lv. 4 Rising Voltage
Lv. 7 Discharge
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Bellsprout rewards strike/spin attacks with damage and rooting chances, then heals when rooted enemies die. Vine fissures and acid zones support a deliberate crowd-control build.
Trade-off: Recovery depends on setting up roots and securing kills, rather than arriving automatically.
Bonus experience and an early shield help Caterpie reach its level-8 Metapod transition. Butterfree eventually brings webs and a status cloud, so the line has more control than its first attack suggests.
Trade-off: String Shot is a slow opening, and the second evolution waits until level 36.
Armor and periodic rooting pulses give Diglett more safety than its small frame suggests. Dugtrio's eruptions, fissures and quakes provide a useful crowd-clearing Ultimate.
Trade-off: The opening Scratch and lack of sustain make the first offers important.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Diglett (Lv. 1) → Dugtrio (Lv. 38)
Passive
Sand Trap
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Scratch
Lv. 2 Mud Shot
Lv. 4 Tri Attack
Lv. 7 Fissure
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Twin Heads can shorten a dispatched move timer dramatically, with a better proc after evolving. Together with movement speed and a peck-chain Ultimate, Doduo has a lively offensive rhythm.
Trade-off: The repeat effect is random and does not apply to every move architecture or fusion repeat.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Doduo (Lv. 1) → Dodrio (Lv. 41)
Passive
Twin Heads
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Pluck
Lv. 2 Double Hit
Lv. 4 Uproar
Lv. 7 Acrobatics
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Adaptability strengthens own-type attacks, and Eevee can choose between three level-36 branches with different Ultimate effects. That flexibility is useful when you plan the evolution around the run.
Trade-off: Evolution changes typing and STAB; the initial Normal-heavy kit does not gain equally from every branch.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Eevee (Lv. 1) → Vaporeon (Lv. 36) or Jolteon (Lv. 36) or Flareon (Lv. 36)
Passive
Adaptability
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Swift
Lv. 2 Quick Attack
Lv. 4 Bite
Lv. 7 Last Resort
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Regeneration and frontal paralysis give Ekans a practical defensive rhythm. Acid, Sludge Bomb and Gunk Shot build toward an area Poison plan, supported by a pulling, status-heavy Ultimate.
Trade-off: Much of its safety depends on facing and controlling the approaching pack.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Ekans (Lv. 1) → Arbok (Lv. 36)
Passive
Serpent Glare
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Wrap
Lv. 2 Acid
Lv. 4 Sludge Bomb
Lv. 7 Gunk Shot
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Harvest supplies healing pickups and strengthens healing, while the egg-and-seed kit gives Exeggcute several area options. Exeggutor's larger egg barrage adds stun and a heal.
Trade-off: You must collect the recovery, and the opening Barrage is less forgiving than an automatic sustain loop.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Exeggcute (Lv. 1) → Exeggutor (Lv. 36)
Passive
Harvest
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Barrage
Lv. 2 Leech Seed
Lv. 4 Seed Bomb
Lv. 7 Wood Hammer
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Sturdy gives Geodude one valuable rescue from lethal damage, backed by armor. The Rock kit and escalating roll/explosion Ultimate make it a solid, uncomplicated progression choice.
Trade-off: Sturdy is once per run, and surviving at 1 HP still requires an immediate escape.
Goldeen turns successful evasion into a capped shield and gains another evasion bonus as Seaking. Horn Leech and the diving/horn-charge Ultimate give the defensive plan an offensive outlet.
Trade-off: The shield depends on dodges occurring; it is not reliable protection before the first proc.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Goldeen (Lv. 1) → Seaking (Lv. 42)
Passive
Water Veil
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Aqua Cutter
Lv. 2 Smart Strike
Lv. 4 Horn Leech
Lv. 7 Fishious Rend
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Extra movement speed and nearby charm help Growlithe create openings for its Fire and charge attacks. Arcanine's chained-charge Ultimate adds broad pressure and a strong finishing ring.
Trade-off: The kit rewards moving through danger, and its passive does not supply recovery.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Growlithe (Lv. 1) → Arcanine (Lv. 36)
Passive
Loyal Guardian
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Fire Fang
Lv. 2 Flame Wheel
Lv. 4 Extreme Speed
Lv. 7 Flare Blitz
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Punch damage bonuses fit Hitmonchan's entire curated kit, including Ice Punch and Drain Punch. An automatic nearby punch adds pressure while the multi-element Ultimate gives it broader tools.
Trade-off: Its passive punch acts at close range, and recovery still depends on the chosen attacks landing.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Iron Fist
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Comet Punch
Lv. 2 Ice Punch
Lv. 4 Drain Punch
Lv. 7 Focus Punch
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Extra area, another jump and increased kick damage give Hitmonlee a clean, self-contained build. Its chained-kick Ultimate finishes with a large aerial slam.
Trade-off: The narrow kick focus offers less sustain and control than the strongest all-round choices.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Rubber Kicks
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Rolling Kick
Lv. 2 Blaze Kick
Lv. 4 Jump Kick
Lv. 7 High Jump Kick
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Extra critical chance and critical damage support Horsea's ranged Water kit. Critical hits also apply its ink-related charm, and Seadra's Ultimate adds whirlpools and a large water strike.
Trade-off: Control depends partly on critical hits, making its safety less predictable than direct shields.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Horsea (Lv. 1) → Seadra (Lv. 41)
Passive
Ink
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Snipe Shot
Lv. 2 Octazooka
Lv. 4 Scale Shot
Lv. 7 Hydro Cannon
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Sing and the sleep-then-hit Ultimate create a simple control-and-burst loop. Round and Hyper Voice give Jigglypuff a way to turn that breathing room into wider damage.
Trade-off: Sleep is interrupted by hits, so its crowd control is not permanent safety.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Jigglypuff (Lv. 1) → Wigglytuff (Lv. 42)
Passive
Cute Charm
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Pound
Lv. 2 Sing
Lv. 4 Round
Lv. 7 Hyper Voice
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Krabby's strike bonus and periodic stronger, stunning hit reward a focused melee plan. Kingler triggers that payoff more often, and the pincer Ultimate adds targeted pressure.
Trade-off: Reaching targets safely is the cost; armor alone does not solve close-range exposure.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Krabby (Lv. 1) → Kingler (Lv. 39)
Passive
Giant Pincer
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Vise Grip
Lv. 2 Liquidation
Lv. 4 Crabhammer
Lv. 7 Guillotine
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
A permanent 25% Physical bonus makes Machop's identity easy to build around. Karate Chop through Dynamic Punch supplies a direct melee progression with a large evolved Ultimate finish.
Trade-off: It brings less passive sustain or movement help than the safer A-tier lines.
Magnemite pulls enemies into range and attempts paralysis, which can set up Gyro Ball and later area attacks. The magnetic-field Ultimate reinforces that grouping role.
Trade-off: Thunder Wave is a setup-heavy opener, and pulling enemies toward yourself carries risk.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Magnemite (Lv. 1) → Magneton (Lv. 40)
Passive
Magnet
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Thunder Wave
Lv. 2 Gyro Ball
Lv. 4 Magnet Bomb
Lv. 7 Flash Cannon
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Pickup improves gold collection and turns earned run gold into extra critical chance. Pay Day and the coin Ultimate make Meowth appealing for productive progression runs.
Trade-off: Economy needs time to become combat power; it is not an immediate damage multiplier.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Meowth (Lv. 1) → Persian (Lv. 39)
Passive
Pickup
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Pay Day
Lv. 2 Fake Out
Lv. 4 Assurance
Lv. 7 Play Rough
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Armor and bonuses to Water/Rock hits give Omanyte a durable mixed-type plan. The shell-ring passive and pulling evolved Ultimate work well with its larger late-kit attacks.
Trade-off: Constrict is a modest opener, and the evolution payoff waits until level 40.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Omanyte (Lv. 1) → Omastar (Lv. 40)
Passive
Spiral Shell
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Constrict
Lv. 2 Spike Cannon
Lv. 4 Water Spout
Lv. 7 Meteor Beam
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Heavy armor, extra HP and automatic falling rocks make Onix sturdy from the start. Its sweeping Ultimate and Rock Snake fusion offer clear area payoffs.
Trade-off: Reduced movement speed and no built-in recovery make prolonged chip damage a concern.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Rock Head
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Rock Tomb
Lv. 2 Stealth Rock
Lv. 4 Iron Tail
Lv. 7 Head Smash
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Movement speed, projectile speed and an extra jump make Pidgey comfortable to reposition with. Tornado Ultimates gather enemies for Hurricane and other area attacks, giving it a useful control-and-mobility identity.
Trade-off: The passive offers little direct damage or healing, so offensive upgrades still matter.
Porygon gains Special damage and projectile speed, with limited critical charges from Download. Its Electric/data kit and immobilizing cube Ultimate provide a clear ranged-control plan.
Trade-off: Lock-On asks for setup, and the critical charges are consumed rather than becoming permanent critical chance.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Download
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Lock-On
Lv. 2 Parabolic Charge
Lv. 4 Fusion Bolt
Lv. 7 Techno Blast
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
A 25% Physical bonus and extra attack speed make Rattata's aggressive kit attractive from the start. The evolved biting Ultimate also finishes weakened ordinary enemies efficiently.
Trade-off: Reduced HP and an execute that excludes bosses make it less forgiving than its damage suggests.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Rattata (Lv. 1) → Raticate (Lv. 36)
Passive
Hustle
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Hyper Fang
Lv. 2 Pursuit
Lv. 4 Double-Edge
Lv. 7 Super Fang
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Armor and critical chance give Sandshrew a balanced baseline. Its fissure Ultimate creates space, and sand weather adds mobility once that interaction is available.
Trade-off: Weather benefits are conditional, and the kit lacks a reliable recovery loop.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Sandshrew (Lv. 1) → Sandslash (Lv. 36)
Passive
Sand Rush
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Fury Swipes
Lv. 2 Rollout
Lv. 4 Crush Claw
Lv. 7 Bulldoze
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
A healing multiplier and a sleep/slam Ultimate make Snorlax a comfortable recovery-oriented option once its kit develops. Later maturity adds a heal and more area impact.
Trade-off: The passive amplifies healing rather than generating it, so the Tackle opening still needs help.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Gluttony
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Tackle
Lv. 2 Body Slam
Lv. 4 Stomp
Lv. 7 Giga Impact
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Sniper adds both critical chance and critical damage, giving Spearow a clear burst identity. Its drill-based kit and piercing Ultimate are appealing when enemies line up along an approach.
Trade-off: Directional attacks and the lack of sustain make positioning more important than on broad-clear picks.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Spearow (Lv. 1) → Fearow (Lv. 36)
Passive
Sniper
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Peck
Lv. 2 Fury Attack
Lv. 4 Drill Run
Lv. 7 Drill Peck
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Tauros gains movement speed and deals repeated forward hits while maintaining pace. Its herd-charge Ultimate fits a momentum-driven style that keeps pressure on approaching packs.
Trade-off: The passive is movement-dependent and offers little help when you must hold a cramped position.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Stampede
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Payback
Lv. 2 Rock Climb
Lv. 4 Raging Bull
Lv. 7 Headlong Rush
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Armor and automatic nearby tentacle hits provide a useful baseline while Tentacool assembles its Water/Poison kit. The evolved Ultimate combines roots, a broad poison wave and rain.
Trade-off: Several advantages act near the player, so ranged safety is not its strongest feature.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Tentacool (Lv. 1) → Tentacruel (Lv. 40)
Passive
Tentacles
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Brine
Lv. 2 Acid Spray
Lv. 4 Venoshock
Lv. 7 Whirlpool
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Critical chance, improved status chance and bonus damage against confused enemies give Venonat a coherent support for Supersonic. Its beam and diving-moth Ultimates keep that status plan relevant later.
Trade-off: Confusion setup is less reliable than unconditional damage or direct healing.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Venonat (Lv. 1) → Venomoth (Lv. 41)
Passive
Compound Eyes
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Supersonic
Lv. 2 U-turn
Lv. 4 Silver Wind
Lv. 7 Signal Beam
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Will-O-Wisp and the Fire kit support status-based clearing, while the evolved wisp Ultimate adds curse and confusion. The implemented status-damage bonus fits that plan.
Trade-off: The tooltip's advertised Fire damage bonus has no matching implementation in this snapshot.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Vulpix (Lv. 1) → Ninetales (Lv. 36)
Passive
Flash Fire
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Will-O-Wisp
Lv. 2 Flame Burst
Lv. 4 Extrasensory
Lv. 7 Heat Wave
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Attack speed and extra damage against poisoned targets support a coherent Poison build. Toxic Spikes and the evolved stinger/summon Ultimate reward keeping enemies poisoned rather than chasing unrelated damage types.
Trade-off: Poison setup and the cocoon phase make its early progression less smooth than A-tier picks.
Zubat combines Leech Life with a healing bonus and a lifesteal proc, then gains a healing summon Ultimate on evolution. It suits players who want an aggressive recovery-oriented line.
Trade-off: The lifesteal stat is a small healing proc, not a percentage of damage, and shares the leech budget.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Zubat (Lv. 1) → Golbat (Lv. 36)
Passive
Vampire
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Leech Life
Lv. 2 Wing Attack
Lv. 4 Poison Fang
Lv. 7 Air Cutter
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Ditto has useful general stat bonuses and access to copying mechanics. Its random copied Ultimate can create spectacular outcomes, making it an appealing experimentation pick.
Trade-off: A copy-focused opening, changing copied types and random Ultimate outcomes make repeatable progression harder to plan.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Transformation
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Transform
Lv. 2 Mimic
Lv. 4 Copycat
Lv. 7 Sketch
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Extra critical chance and a separate chance for an eightfold hit give Farfetch’d exciting burst. Its leek Ultimate provides a more predictable area option as maturity increases.
Trade-off: The large damage spike is random, with little passive protection when it does not trigger.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Sharpened Leek
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Cut
Lv. 2 False Swipe
Lv. 4 Brave Bird
Lv. 7 Meteor Assault
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Koffing can glide and climb while its nearby poison cloud adds steady local pressure. Weezing's cloud-and-detonation Ultimate provides a much larger clear later.
Trade-off: A short-range Smog opening and cloud positioning ask more effort before that payoff arrives.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Koffing (Lv. 1) → Weezing (Lv. 43)
Passive
Toxic Cloud
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Smog
Lv. 2 Clear Smog
Lv. 4 Self-Destruct
Lv. 7 Explosion
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Extra HP, pickup range and a pulling paralysis hit give Lickitung a useful utility identity. The tongue-sweep Ultimate can make room around the player.
Trade-off: Pulling a target toward yourself and a slower offensive opening make it a specialist rather than a smooth default.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Long Tongue
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Wring Out
Lv. 2 Snore
Lv. 4 Strength
Lv. 7 Heavy Slam
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Perseverance's large experience bonus helps Magikarp work toward Gyarados at level 40. The later waterspouts and Hyper Beam Ultimate make the payoff real rather than purely a novelty.
Trade-off: Tackle and the long pre-evolution stretch are expensive costs in an overall progression ranking.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Magikarp (Lv. 1) → Gyarados (Lv. 40)
Passive
Perseverance
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Tackle
Lv. 2 Flail
Lv. 4 Waterfall
Lv. 7 Hyper Beam
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Anger stacks and the missing-HP Ultimate branch offer Mankey a powerful comeback identity. The evolved punch chain has meaningful burst potential when the run is already under pressure.
Trade-off: Its strongest incentives involve taking hits or losing HP, which works against consistent clears.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Mankey (Lv. 1) → Primeape (Lv. 39)
Passive
Anger Point
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Seismic Toss
Lv. 2 Rage Fist
Lv. 4 Stomping Tantrum
Lv. 7 Final Gambit
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Mr. Mime repeatedly raises a minimum shield and pushes nearby enemies away. Barrier, Light Screen and its immobilizing Ultimate offer a distinctive defensive toolbox.
Trade-off: The curated kit starts heavily on utility, so reliable early damage needs deliberate offers.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Passive
Invisible Wall
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Barrier
Lv. 2 Light Screen
Lv. 4 Trick Room
Lv. 7 Misty Explosion
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Extra HP and the headache pulse give Psyduck a workable control plan, and Golduck improves that loop with healing. The Water/Psychic kit offers useful mixed coverage once developed.
Trade-off: Soak is a demanding opener, and taking damage to charge headache is a poor default strategy.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Psyduck (Lv. 1) → Golduck (Lv. 42)
Passive
Headache
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Soak
Lv. 2 Zen Headbutt
Lv. 4 Aqua Tail
Lv. 7 Psyshock
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
Rhyhorn rewards sustained grounded movement with repeated forward hits, backed by armor. Rhydon's charge, drilling finish and falling rocks suit an assertive charging style.
Trade-off: Stopping or breaking the movement condition resets the charge, making cramped or evasive fights awkward.
Kit, Ultimate & fusion
Evolution line
Rhyhorn (Lv. 1) → Rhydon (Lv. 47)
Passive
Unstoppable Charge
Curated kit
Lv. 1 Smack Down
Lv. 2 Rock Blast
Lv. 4 High Horsepower
Lv. 7 Rock Wrecker
Later moves become eligible offers; they are not automatically equipped.
The baseline is general single-player League progression at comparable Lab investment. We compare partners after recruitment, cover their entire evolution line and do not assume a perfect set of items or every desired move offer. An S-tier legendary can be a strong goal without being available to a new save.
Consistency before theoretical peaks
We weigh the starting attack, early offers, wave coverage, tougher-target damage, sustain, control, mobility, evolution timing, Ultimate and signature-fusion payoff. These are editorial placements, not a calculated score or a win-rate table. Partners inside each tier are alphabetical, not ranked from first to last.
Game mechanics behind the judgment
The factual basis is the official v0.8.25 client snapshot: 79 passives and Ultimates, 310 unique curated moves and 79 signature fusions. Survivor stats use normalized stat ratios, so base-stat totals do not decide this list. Conditional effects, healing limits and tooltip/implementation differences matter. We have not claimed a controlled playtest of all 79 partners or measured DPS.
This edition was reviewed on October 23, 2026 for v0.8.25. A newer patch can change a placement; the version above identifies the mechanics used here. Other guides and tools retain their own reviewed snapshot labels.
Mewtwo is our overall pick for this v0.8.25 League list: it combines broad offensive bonuses, a recurring shield, critical-hit control and a large Ultimate. Bulbasaur, Shellder, Gastly, Lapras, Clefairy and the three legendary birds also make S tier for different kinds of consistency.
Which PokéBonk starter should I choose?
Bulbasaur is our S-tier starter recommendation for reliable recovery and control. Charmander and Squirtle are both A tier: choose Charmander for a direct Fire offense or Squirtle for armor and shield. All three have a complete curated kit and a signature fusion.
Where are Charizard, Gengar and Dragonite?
This list uses the 79 recruitable League partners as its entries. Charizard is included under Charmander, Gengar under Gastly and Dragonite under Dratini. Their evolution and Ultimate payoffs contribute to the same placement. Search either the starting partner or an evolved name.
Why are Magikarp and Ditto in C tier?
We value the path to a clear as well as the eventual ceiling. Magikarp pays for its Gyarados payoff with a Tackle opening and a level-40 evolution. Ditto's copying and random Ultimate are harder to plan around. Both can be enjoyable and successful; C describes the cost of consistent progression.
Does an S-tier partner guarantee a win?
No. Lab investment, move offers, items, movement, target resistance and your preferred playstyle all change a run. A well-built B-tier partner can outperform an unsuitable or poorly supported S-tier choice. Use the explanations to choose a plan, rather than the letter alone.
Do I need the signature fusion for this ranking?
No exact fusion is assumed to appear every run. We consider the signature as one possible payoff and weigh the opening kit and passive separately. Expand any partner's kit section to see its signature pair and open the fusion finder. A fusion's stored coefficient is not a measured damage total.
Turn a pick into a plan
Check recruitment requirements, compare the starter mechanics, or budget the permanent upgrades that fit your next run.
