Attacking Gyms
What is This?
This page is full of information specifically for attacking gyms in #PokemonGO. Unlike Raiding, gym battles are about repeated fights against Pokémon placed by other players. Meaning using Top Tier Attackers for raw damage, planning a good Team Composition with the correct movesets, and being mindful of Berry Hoarders are critical to quickly and successfully taking down gyms.
Top Tier Attackers
The best gym attackers share a few key traits:
- High Attack stat - essential for maximizing damage per second (DPS).
- High Max CP potential - lets them stay relevant as gyms get stocked with tough defenders.
- Effective movesets - fast and charged moves that hit super-effectively.
- Versatile typing - able to counter common gym defenders.
While there isn't a list of tier attackers specifically for gyms, you can use DialgaDex or PokemoonGO Hub rankings for raids as a guideline. Additionally, you can see this section about how much IVs matter for PvE in #PokemonGO.
If you're still early on in your #PokemonGo journey it may not be possible to max out all the top tier legendary pokemon. That being said here are some good budget options:
- Machamp - High CP, Strong Attack Stat, & STAB Fighting moves
- Tyranitar - High CP, Strong Attack Stat, & STAB Rock/Dark moves
- Dragonite - High CP, Strong Attack Stat, & STAB Dragon moves
Keep in mind Shadow Forms of the above will give them an additional 20% damage boost causing them to be even more effective at taking down gyms quickly.
Team Composition
A strong gym-attacking team should focus on type coverage and move quality. Bring attackers that counter common defender typings, such as Fighting types for Normal/Rock defenders and Water types for Fire types. Making sure you've used TMs to learn secure super-effective fast and charged movesets usually matter more than raw CP alone.
Beware of Berry Hoarders
Golden Razz Berries slow down gym takedowns by restoring a defender’s motivation back to full. If someone is actively feeding berries:
- Berry Timers - A player can feed up to 10 berries (to the same of different pokemon) in a 30 minute window, so timing you attacks properly is critical.
- Don’t overcommit your time - If a player is refreshing defenders faster than you can knock them out, it’s often more efficient to fight later when they will be AFK or coordinate with teammates to take it down faster than berries can be fed.
- Work in numbers - Multiple trainers attacking together can easily overtake a gym faster than berries can be used to restore the Gym Defenders.
- Pick your targets - If a gym is stacked with very high CP/motivation pokemon, consider attacking nearby gyms first and returning later.
More Pokemon Content
This page is full of information specifically for #PokemonGO, you can also see the Pokemon Resources page or other pages tagged with #Pokemon for additional information.