Pokemon GO Gym Attacker Tier List August 2021

We've put together a list of the best and worst attackers in Pokemon GO for all your Gym and Raid-related needs.

Gym conquesting was been the cornerstone of Pokemon GO since its release five years ago. Veteran players can recall placing their Pokemon in a gym and reigning as Gym Leader—for at least five minutes until someone else comes by to either take that gym over or places a stronger Pokemon in there. Ah, memories.

Niantic Labs then expanded the use of gyms with Raids, giving trainers yet another avenue to pursue everyone's favorite Pokemon experiment: which one of these creatures will burn my opponent down the fastest?

Well, we have the answer.

Pokemon GO Gym Attacker Tier List August 2021

S-Tier

• (Shadow) Machamp
• (Shadow) Mewtwo
• (Shadow) Salamence
• (Shadow) Metagross

Unsurprisingly, Shadow Pokemon dominate the S-Tier. Machamp and Mewtwo are already known as the cream of the crop in their respective types. They are commonly included in offensive teams meant for Raids, and Gym conquests due to their incredible offensive power. With the additional edge that comes with Shadow, any of these Pokemon could easily rival a super effective opponent.

A-Tier

• (Shadow) Dragonite
• (Shadow) Raikou
• Mega Gengar
• Rampardos
• Lucario
• Rhyperior

As much as we love Dragonite, in the offensive department, it has rapidly become outclassed by Hoenn's trademark dragon, Salamence. The same goes for Lucario—though it has been rising rapidly and can outdo Machamp under the right conditions.

Rhyperior and Rampardos are two sides of the same coin with Rhyperior being the tankier sibling. They still hit pretty hard, regardless, making them situational choices depending on the gym or raid composition in front of you.

Meanwhile, Mega Gengar's ghost-typing makes it the ideal choice when you want to be useful but have no idea who to pick.

B-Tier

• (Shadow) Tyranitar
• (Shadow) Swampert
• (Shadow) Weavile
• (Shadow) Hariyama
• (Shadow) Moltres
• Mega Charizard Y
• Mega Manectric
• Zekrom

B-Tier Pokemon are just doing their best. Unlike A and S-Tiers, these guys are very much susceptible to super-effective match-ups. Trainers should take a lot of caution when browsing through the B-Tiers during a battle. Manectric, though a powerhouse in and of itself, will fall quickly to a Swampert with a ground-type kit.

Tyranitar is the next best choice when Rhyperior isn't available. In that same vein, Hariyama is the next step down in the fighting-type ladder from Lucario. Weavile is one of the best choices against dragon-types, however, which would make trainers assume it should be higher. Somebody should tell them that—maybe then they'll stop ignoring their type weaknesses so easily.

When seeing these choices in the Raid circle, you're likely at least halfway through a tough battle. Hold fast and keep going.

C-Tier

• Mega Abomasnow
• Mega Venusaur
• Mega Blastoise
• Kyogre
• Reshiram
• Giratina
• Rayquaza
• Darkrai
• Chandelure
• Conkeldurr

C-Tier Pokemon are probably the last set you'll pick during a Raid. These are the choices the game suggests to you when you've been in a Raid for way too long—but somehow it isn't over. These guys will get you through the remaining 40 seconds without simultaneously giving away that you're scraping the bottom of the barrel. Good luck!