In the PvP battle league of Pokémon GO, the Kanto Cup starts on Monday, featuring well-known monsters. Which Pokémon are worth using in battle?
When does the Kanto Cup start? The Kanto Cup begins on Monday, May 24, 2021, at 10:00 PM and runs for exactly one week, ending on May 31 at the same time.
What kind of cup is this? As the name suggests, the Kanto Cup features monsters from the first generation and does not affect your PvP ranking. Only monsters with a Pokédex number between #001 and #151 from the Kanto region are allowed. Exceptions include special forms of first-generation monsters – for example, Alolan Marowak.
This means the selection of monsters is quite limited. The following list shows which Pokémon are worth using in the league.
The Pokémon for the Kanto Cup at a glance
How is the list generated? The following list was created using the site PvPoke (via PvPoke.com). Here, rankings for the PvP league can be created based on simulations. The usual tier list for the PvP league cannot be applied simply as it contains many Pokémon that are not allowed in the Kanto Cup.
Accordingly, a PvP ranking was created for the following list, including only monsters with the appropriate Pokédex number while also considering the 1,500 CP limit. Looking at the potential participants of the league, several strong monsters can be found.
Here you will find the list of the best monsters in the Kanto Cup, divided by Pokémon and movesets:
| Pokémon | Moveset |
| Slurpuff | Body Slam, Leaf Tornado |
| Alolan Ninetales | Powder Snow, Weather Ball (Ice), Psyshock |
| Hypno | Confusion, Shadow Ball, Thunder Punch |
| Dragonair | Fire Blast, Aqua Tail, Dragon Pulse |
| Alolan Sandshrew | Powder Snow, Icy Wind, Blizzard |
| Galarian Ponyta | Psycho Cut, Body Slam, Psychic |
| Shadow Zapdos | Thunder Shock, Drill Peck, Thunderbolt |
| Snorlax | Body Slam, Hyper Beam, Superpower |
| Alolan Marowak | Hex, Bone Club, Shadow Bone |
| Chansey | Charm, Psychic, Hyper Beam |
Why are these Pokémon worth using in the Kanto Cup?
Here you can take a closer look at the Pokémon from the list and in what situations they are best suited.
Slurpuff
A strong Slurpuff is one of the best monsters you can use in the Kanto Cup, especially if it has already been fed with XL candies. It has good defense and can withstand many attacks. A combination of Body Slam, Leaf Tornado, and Shadow Ball is recommended. However, Body Slam is an event move that was once available during the Raid Day with Slurpuff. A Charged TM would be needed if you don’t have an appropriate Slurpuff. However, it can be better used for other Pokémon.
Alolan Ninetales
Alolan Ninetales is an Ice/Fairy Pokémon that is a real nightmare for Dragon-type Pokémon like Dragapult or Dragonair. A combination of Powder Snow, Weather Ball (Ice), and Psyshock is recommended.
Hypno
Hypno has been one of the top monsters in the Kanto Cup in the past, excelling especially due to the significant damage it can deal with its fast moves. As a moveset, Confusion, Shadow Ball, and Thunder Punch are recommended.
Dragonair
With Dragonair, you have a good, fast Dragon attacker that can secure victories against Slurpuff and Hypno. The moveset includes Fire Blast, Aqua Tail, and Dragon Pulse.
Alolan Sandshrew
Alolan Sandshrew is an Ice-type monster that directly counters Dragonair, quickly breaking your opponent’s shields thanks to its moveset. It is particularly worthwhile to focus on Ice attacks such as Powder Snow, Icy Wind, and Blizzard.
Galarian Ponyta
Psychic Pokémon were once considered particularly strong in the first generation, though Ponyta was not among them. The Alolan variant brings this type along and can deal a lot of damage with Psycho Cut, Body Slam, and Psychic. The downside is that it doesn’t take much damage.
Shadow Zapdos
If you secured a Shadow Zapdos from the battle against Giovanni, you can use it effectively in the Kanto Cup. The event move Thunder Shock in combination with Drill Peck and Thunderbolt offers a rapid damage output. However, it is also true for Zapdos that it can be quickly defeated when facing monsters like Dragonair, Alolan Ponyta, or Slurpuff.
Snorlax
Snorlax is very resilient and has no issues with monsters like Slurpuff or Sandshrew. With a moveset of Body Slam, Hyper Beam, and Superpower, you can put pressure on your opponent, although the latter move lowers your stats. Caution is advised here.
Alolan Marowak
Alolan Marowak has long been popular in “normal” PvP outside of cups. It can take a lot of hits and quickly unleash attack after attack on the opponent. The combination of Hex, Bone Club, and Shadow Bone is advisable. However, the latter is again an event move from the Raid Day.
Chansey
Chansey is not only a popular gym defender in Pokémon GO, but it can also help you advance in the Kanto Cup. However, it’s especially useful if you managed to equip it with XL candies. Its greatest strength is its ability to withstand many attacks, though this comes at the cost of low speed. The moveset functions with a combination of Charm, Psychic, and Hyper Beam.
If you’re looking for a monster for gym battles, don’t miss the next Community Day. It will feature Kaumalat, which evolves into Knakrack. You can find out how the Community Day in June will unfold here.
