One of the main features in battle. These gyms are placed in specific locations on the map and players can interact with them at any time by either putting a Pokémon to defend their territory or try to take down an opposing group's team. The latter is especially important because players will never be able to keep gyms if they don't know how to bring them down first.
As you build your own team in Pokémon GO for tackling gyms, consider the 10 best Pokémon in the game for demolishing them. They can be hard to find but are worth the effort.
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MACHAMP
Many of the best defensive Pokémon in Pokémon GO are normal types, such as Snorlax and Blissey. That's just one reason why it's always a good idea to have a Machamp at your side. This is hands down the best fighting-type Pokémon in the game for attacking, having both the stats and the powerful move set to demolish some of the most famous defensive creatures in the game.
It's also strong enough to take on certain raid bosses by itself, a feat that not many Pokémon can claim for themselves. While this Pokemon can be hard to come by, it doesn't have to be caught via a Raid Battle.
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MEWTWO
Mewtwo has versatility and power. While Confusion is a great starter move, it's charged attack can change if you have the right TMs. This means that Mewtwo is prepared for almost every matchup in the game. Not only is its type coverage quite good, but Mewtwo's attack is also through the roof. Mewtwo can also be taught to counter Ghost-types, which provide the only serious threat against it. Being one of the best Pokémon in the game, Mewtwo can difficult to capture. It only appears during Raid Battles, which take a few people at least to bring it down.
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RAYQUAZA
Rayquaza made quite the impact back in Ruby and Sapphire, and it makes a big impact in Pokémon GO as well. Arguably the best Dragon-type attacker in the game, Rayquaza has no trouble blasting through most teams that guard gyms. Rayquaza can be loaded with either Dragon or Flying-type moves, giving it good coverage across the board. It won't get a lot of "super effective" attacks against the popular defenders in the game, but its attack stat is so high that neutral damage is more than enough to get the job done. Sadly, like other legendary Pokémon, Rayquaza can be very difficult to capture.
GENGAR
Back when Pokémon GO was new, Gengar was a strong character, but it was often taken out too easily. With certain buffs giving it a little extra health as well as access to another move, Gengar has skyrocketed through the tier lists to become one of the best attackers in the game. What's nice about Gengar is that it's not that difficult to capture. All you have to do is wait for the Halloween events and catch as many Gastly as possible. In no time, you'll have all the candy you need. Gengar is also one of the fastest attackers in the game.
MOLTRES
Despite not making a big impact in the core series, Moltres is quite strong in Pokémon GO. With no other fire types coming close to its attack, Moltres is the best option when dealing with Grass or Bug-types. It can dish out high damage and is extremely resistant to those attacks. Moltres can also learn Sky Attack, which covers those annoying fighting-type defenders like Hariyama. That said, Moltres is a bit more situational than most Pokémon on this list. If a powerful Water or Electric-type is thrown out, it's best to use a different Pokémon and avoid the trouble.
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TYRANITAR
While there are some Pokémon that have a bit higher attack than Tyranitar and share one of its types, Tyranitar has excellent bulk that makes it an overall better option. It was one of the best Pokémon back in Gold and Silver and it's one of the best attackers in Pokémon GO. It has overall good coverage and is four times resistant to psychic attacks (which makes it a great defender from Pokémon like Deoxys or Mewtwo). Tyranitar is a bit more rare, though, as Larvitar don't come around often. It'll take a lot of candy saving or at least a well-timed Community Day.
METAGROSS
When Metagross was first put in Pokémon GO, some of the more detail-oriented players were disappointed to find that it wasn't as good as it was in the core games. However, the addition of the Meteor Mash attack would later make up the difference, turning Metagross into a threatening attacker that has good resistance and type coverage. If you find yourself facing a Fairy-type, then Metagross is probably the best choice. It has strong attacks, great stats, and can take a lot of hits before going down. Unfortunately, Metagross can be tricky to obtain. Only those who are seriously committed will likely have one.
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KYOGRE
If you need a Water-type Pokémon to clear out some Ground, Rock, or Fire-types, then Kyogre is the way to go. It was a better Pokémon than Groudon when both were introduced to the series and the same is true in Pokémon GO. Kyogre is loaded with some powerful water attacks. While its lack of differing moves does make it a bit lacking when it comes to type coverage, it's extremely useful when the situation calls for it. Kyogre is also quite difficult to take down, having nice bulk and health to keep it fighting for quite some time.
RAMPARDOS
Despite its appearance, Rampardos doesn't have a whole lot of bulk. Instead, this skull basher (and the best attacker from Gen IV) is focused on dealing a lot of damage and dealing it quickly. Its attack stats are higher than the mighty Tyranitar and it has the move pool to back it up too. If you're facing a deadly flying type in a gym, then Rampardos is arguably your best option. However, it's important to keep in mind how much damage it takes in a fight. If you're not careful, it'll get knocked out before you can make any big difference in the battle.
DRAGONITE
While most Dragon-types are difficult to capture in Pokémon GO, Dragonite comes by a bit easier for most. Dratini are more common, so it's easier to save up all that candy. Furthermore, Dragonite is easier to use than Rayquaza, as getting more candy isn't a matter of Raid Battles or happening upon Rare Candies. Rayquaza is still a better attacker, but Dragonite is far from a slouch. It has decent coverage and boasts some nice Dragon-type attacks, which give it a nice time dealing neutral damage. Dragonite is also a bit more durable than some of the other strong attackers.
