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Generation 6: Best Potential Movesets

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Article by Brian Tein

We officially have our very first teaser for Generation 6/Kalos! This Generation/region is the fan-favorite home of Mega Evolution and several very, very popular Pokemon. While we can calculate our their stats using existing formulas...

...we can only speculate as to movesets, as they haven't yet been added to the Game Master. As such, the goal of this article is to look at the Pokemon of this generation and work out the best possible movesets given what we already have to work with. Please note that this list follows a few rules:

  • Only final-form Pokemon are listed here
  • This list is not comprehensive. We are only looking at "good" attacks. Moves that are considered non-viable will not be considered. Also note that we may miss a few "situationally good" moves, as we'll primarily be looking at how a given move stands on its own merit. In the event of a Pokemon not having any or very few "good moves" in a given category, runner-up moves will be added instead.
  • We will only be looking at moves available as of the current generation. We may re-visit this list and look at main-series legacy moves as well.
  • Movesets listed are a mix of PvE and PvP viable
  • Some Pokemon listed here have counterparts that technically weren't available until Generation 7, but we'll cover them regardless as their root formes are in Generation 6
  • We will also list Signature Attacks, as these open more opportunities for many Pokemon. Note that some of these signature moves may not be truly signature in the main series at this point, but they at least started as such.

Note that this is not the absolute final-authority list for the generation, as we're likely to see moves added/changed before these Pokemon drop, but it will at least give us a good idea as to what ball-park most of these Pokemon are likely to fall into. We'll also talk a bit about the potential of each Pokemon, but keep in mind that we will not be going into full ratings, and that we'll have more in-depth articles in the near future.

Kalos: Generation 6

Fast Moves: Vine Whip, Bite, Mud Shot, Smack Down, Shadow Claw, Poison Jab, 

Charged Moves:  Frenzy Plant, Body Slam,  Dragon Claw, Solar Beam, Sludge Bomb, Energy Bomb, Stone Edge, Rock Slide,  Earthquake, Grass Knot, Power-Up Punch, Iron Head, Superpower, Thunder Punch

Signature Moves: Spiky Shield

Review

Our Grass Type starter, Chesnaught has a few nice toys at its disposal, in particular sporting some very good coverage options and Frenzy Plant is always the crown-jewel of a Grass Starter! Its Signature Move, Spiky Shield, doesn't translate well to Pokemon Go, so it likely won't make an appearance. 

Fast Moves: Ember, Fire Spin, Zen Headbutt

Charged Moves:  Blast Burn, Future Sight, Shadow Ball, Psyshock, Flamethrower, Psychic, Fire Blast, Solar Beam, Overheat, Grass Knot, Dazzling Gleam, Heat Wave, Shockwave, Thunder Punch, 

Signature Moves: Mystical Fire

Review

Blast Burn is the main selling point, as it is for any Pokemon that can get it. Beyond that.... its lack of strong Fast Moves will likely limit it, especially in PvP. Its main hope would be if Mystical Fire could be turned into a powerful Fast Move.

Fast Moves: Bubble, Waterfall, Lick, Feint Attack, Extrasensory, Smack Down, 

Charged Moves: Hydro Cannon, Night Slash, Hydro Pump, Ice Beam, Blizzard, Rock Slide, Grass Knot, Surf, Dark Pulse, Power-Up Punch, Gunk Shot, Ice Punch, Icy Wind, 

Signature Moves: Water Shuriken, Mat Block

Review

Hydro Cannon is king, but wow; Greninja has a ton of potential here. Its moveset potential is extremely diverse and very powerful! If it gets its alternate forme, Ash Greninja (originated in Generation 7), then we may have an issue, as giving something that obscenely powerful Hydro Pump is a recipe for a meta-disaster! 

Fast Moves: Mud-Slap, Mud Shot, Quick Attack

Charged Moves:  Earthquake, Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Rock Slide, Sand Tomb, Body Slam, Surf, Sludge Bomb, Superpower, Earth Power, Gunk Shot, Iron Head, Stone Edge, Grass Knot, Foul Play, Wild Charge

Review

The Generation 6 Raticate, ladies and gentlemen!

Fast Moves: Quick Attack, Ember,  Fire Spin,

Charged Moves:  Fly,  Solar Beam, Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Overheat, Hurricane

Review

The Generation 6 Pidgeot, ladies and gentlemen!

Fast Moves: Struggle Bug, Infestation , Bug Bite, 

Charged Moves:  Bug Buzz, Hurricane, Solar Beam, Psychic, Aerial Ace, Energy Ball, 

Review

The Generation 6 Butterfree, ladies and gentlemen! $10 says Niantic scatters its various patterns across the globe like in the main series!

Fast Moves: Ember, Fire Fang, Snarl, Fire Spin

Charged Moves:  Flamethrower, Crunch, Overheat, Solar Beam, Fire Blast, Wild Charge, Dark Pulse, 

Signature Moves: Noble Roar

Review

A potentially interesting Pokemon due to its decent attack options, but ultimately unlikely to make many dents.

Fast Moves: Vine Whip, Razor Leaf

Charged Moves:  Grass Knot, Moonblast, Solar Beam, Psychic, Energy Ball, Grass Knot, Dazzling Gleam, 

Review

That lack of good fast moves is seriously going to hurt poor Florges. And keep in mind that it's pure Fairy, not Fairy/Grass.

Fast Moves: Vine Whip, Razor Leaf.

Charged Moves:  Earthquake, Leaf Blade, Solar Beam, Energy Ball, Rock Slide, Grass Knot, Wild Charge, Surf, Superpower, 

Review

Much like Florges, Gogoat lacks a set of good fast moves to leverage. However, Vine Whip is great in PvP, and combined with a few of those amazing Charged Moves it may see niche usage.

Fast Moves: Bullet Punch, Shadow Claw, Snarl, Poison Jab

Charged Moves:  Night Slash, Crunch,  Body Slam, Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Rock Slide, Surf, Earthquake, Sludge Bomb, Outrage, Superpower, Dragon Claw, Close Combat, Dark Pulse, X-Scissor, Focus Blast, Gunk Shot, Iron Head, Stone Edge, Grass Knot, Foul Play,

Signature Moves: Parting Shot

Review

.....that's a lot of really good moves. Shame it's destined to drop like a ton of bricks Vs. anything too Charming.

Fast Moves: Bite, Charm, Sucker Punch, Snarl

Charged Moves:  Grass Knot, Wild Charge, Surf, Dark Pulse

Review

Woof.

Fast Moves: Confusion, Sucker Punch, Charm

Charged Moves:  Psyshock, Psychic, Thunderbolt, Shadow Ball, Dark Pulse, Energy Ball, Play Rough

Review

Meow.

Fast Moves:  Confusion, Sucker Punch, Charm

Charged Moves:  Psyshock, Shadow Ball, Psychic, Future Sight, Thunderbolt, Dark Pulse, Energy Ball, Play Rough,

Review

Meow Meow.

Fast Moves:  Fury Cutter, Shadow Claw, Psycho Cut

Charged Moves: Night Slash, Iron Head, Sacred Sword, Rock Slide, Shadow Ball, Close Combat, Flash Cannon

Signature Moves: King's Shield

Review

While its moveset potential is definitely a bit shallow, it does have a few extremely good options. Niantic would have to go out of their way to ruin Aegislash's moveset.

Fast Moves: Charm

Charged Moves:  Psychic, Moonblast, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Psyshock, Energy Ball, Flash Cannon, Dazzling Gleam

Signature Moves: Aromatic Mist

Review

As of right now, Charm is the only fast move that Aromatisse can learn.

Fast Moves:  Charm

Charged Moves:  Energy Ball, Play Rough, Flamethrower, Surf, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Psychic, Dazzling Gleam,

Review

Once again, not a lot going on here. It can at least learn Tackle, but that's not even worth using in any format.

Fast Moves:  Psycho Cut

Charged Moves:  Night Slash, Foul Play, Superpower, Rock Slide, Flamethrower, Thunderbolt, Psychic, Psyshock, Future Sight, Dark Pulse, 

Review

I wonder if we'll need to hold out phones upside-down to evolve Inkay into Malamar...?

Fast Moves:  Mud-Slap, Water Gun, Fury Cutter, Mud Shot, Shadow Claw, Poison Jab

Charged Moves: Cross Chop, Stone Edge, Rock Slide, Icy Wind, Surf, Ice Beam, Blizzard, Earthquake, Sludge Bomb, Superpower, Dragon Claw, X-Scissor, Focus Blast, Earth Power, Grass Know, Sludge Wave, Night Slash

Review

This is a move pool that many Pokemon are outright jealous of!

Fast Moves:  Water Gun, Waterfall, Dragon Tail

Charged Moves: Aqua Tail, Sludge Bomb, Hydro Pump, Outrage, Icy Wind, Hydro Pump, Surf, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Shadow Ball, Focus Blast, Gunk Shot, Sludge Wave, PLay Rough, Draco Meteor

Review

Like many dragons, Dragalgae's potential movepool has quite a bit of coverage, but it sadly lacks many good Fast Moves. Still, the ones that it has are good.

Fast Moves:  Water Gun, Smack Down, Waterfall

Charged Moves:  Dark Pulse, Aura Sphere, Crabhammer, Rock Slide, Icy Wind, Surf, Ice Beam, Sludge Bomb, Shadow Ball, Focus Blast, Flash Cannon, Sludge Wave, Aqua Tail

Review

Without access to its main-series ability that boosts specific moves, this good moveset likely won't do this Pistol Shrimp much good.

Fast Moves:  Quick Attack, Volt Switch, Mud-Slap, Thundershock, Dragon Tail

Charged Moves:  Discharge, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Solar Beam, Rock Slide, Weather Ball, Surf, Dark Pulse, Focus Blast, Grass Knot, Wild Charge

Signature Moves: Electrify

Review

Most of those fast moves are great at energy-generation in PvP. While frail, it's likely going to be fast.

Fast Moves:  Bite, Charm, Dragon Tail, Fire Fang, Ice Fang, Thunder Fang

Charged Moves:  Rock Slide, Dragon Claw, Crunch, Earthquake, Dark Pulse, Draco Meteor, Earth Power, Iron Head, Outrage, Superpower

Review

Fairly well-rounded set here with an emphasis on higher power attacks generally speaking.

Fast Moves:  Powder Snow, Rock Throw, Frost Breath, Dragon Tail

Charged Moves:  Icy Wind, Avalanche, Ice Beam, Blizzard, Thunderbolt, Thunder,  Earthquake, Psychic, Stone Edge, Rock Slide, Dark Pulse, Flash Cannon, Discharge, Earth Power, Iron Head, Outrage, Dark Pulse

Review

A number of really great and powerful options, but that Rock/Ice typing is painful defensively.

Fast Moves:  Charm, Mud-Slap

Charged Moves: Last Resort Moonblast, Weather Ball, Body Slam, Psyshock, Shadow Ball, Play Rough, Dazzling Gleam

Review

It's basically a given that an Eevee will need a Best Buddies Ribbon to evolve into a Sylveon, but remember to hold onto any good ones until it inevitably gains access to Last Resort!

Fast Moves:  Wing Attack

Charged Moves:  Flying Press, Sky Attack, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Fly, Rock Slide, Superpower, Close Combat, Poison Jab, X-Scissor, Focus Blast, Iron Head, Stone Edge, Grass Knot, Cross Chop

Review

Extremely sparse Fast Move pool, but the one that it gets is good. On top of that, it can learn Fly, Sky Attack, Flying Press, and Cross Chop. This thing could be a glass-cannon in PvP!

Fast Moves:  Thunder Shock, Charm, Volt Switch, 

Charged Moves:  Discharge, Play Rough, Thunder, Thunder Punch, Thunderbolt, Grass Knot, Wild Charge, Dazzling Gleam

Review

The Generation 6 Pikachu, ladies and gentlemen!

Fast Moves:  Rock Throw, Smack Down, 

Charged Moves:  Stone Edge, Moonblast, Psychic, Rock Slide, Dazzling Gleam, Earth POwer, 

Review

It may not have much, but it's got great odds of getting a good PvP moveset out of what it does have!

Fast Moves:  Water Gun, Dragon Breath, Mud Shot, Counter

Charged Moves:  Aqua Tail, Acid Spray, Body Slam, Power Whip, FIre Punch, Thunder Punch, Rock Slide, Weather Ball, Flamethrower, Hydro Pump, Surf, Ice Beam, Blizzard, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Earthquake, Fire Blast, Sludge Bomb, Superpower, Focus Blast, Sludge Wave, Draco Meteor

Review

...wow, that is a nice move pool. Niantic would have to work to ruin Goodra.

Fast Moves:  Astonish, Tackle 

Charged Moves:  Flash Cannon, Play Rough, Foul Play, Last Resort, Psychic, Psyshock, Dazzling Gleam

Signature Moves: Fairy Lock, Crafty Shield

Review

It literally cannot learn any good fast moves in the current generation. Jingle-jangle.

Fast Moves:  Shadow Claw, Poison Jab, Sucker Punch

Charged Moves:  Solar Beam, Rock Slide, Earthquake, Psychic, Shadow Ball, Dark Pulse, X-Scissor, Focus Blast, Energy Ball, Grass Knot, Foul Play

Signature Moves: Forest's Curse

Review

Decent movepool to draw from.

Fast Moves:  Razor Leaf, Bullet Seed, 

Charged Moves:  Moonblast, Shadow Ball, Solar Beam, Rock Slide, Flamethrwer, Psychic, Fire Blast, Sludge Bomb, Dark Pulse, Focus Blast, Energy Ball, Power Whip, Grass Knot, Foul PLay

Signature Moves: Trick-or-Treat

Review

Each of the four sizes have slightly different stat spreads. That aside, its Fast Move pool is pretty sparse, though Bullet Seed's a decent catch-all option for PvP if you're going to use a Grass move.

Fast Moves:  Powder Snow, Ice Fang,

Charged Moves:  Body Slam, Icy Wind, Blizzard, Skull Bash, Rock Slide, Avalanche, Hydro Pump, Surf, Ice Beam, Earthquake, Superpower, Iron Head, Stone Edge, Heavy Slam,

Review

Pretty solid options here. In particular, Powder Snow+Icy Wind could be fun for PvP. Too bad Ice is so bad defensively...

Fast Moves:  Wing Attack, Bite, Air Slash, Shadow Claw

Charged Moves:  Hurricane, Fly, Solar Beam, Flamethrower, Psychic, Outrage, Shadow Ball, Dragon Claw, Dark Pulse, X-Scissor, Focus Blast, Wild Charge, Draco Meteor

Review

Decent movepool to draw from.

Fast Moves:  Zen Headbutt, Hidden Power,

Charged Moves:  Moonblast, Megahorn, Night Slash, Outrage, Close Combat, Psyshock, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Psychic, Focus Blast, Rock Slide, Grass Knot,  Flash Cannon, Dazzling Gleam

Signature Moves: Geomancy

Review

....that is literally the whole of Xerneas' Fast Movepool in the current generation. We may have another Ho-oh on our hands....

Fast Moves:  Snarl, Air Slash, Sucker Punch, Shadow Claw, 

Charged Moves:  Dark Pulse, Foul Play, Psychic, Focus Blast, Sky Attack, Dragon Claw, Shadow Ball, Fly, Rock Slide, 

Signature Moves: Oblivion Wing

Review

Very nice movepool! Yveltal has some very real potential here!

Fast Moves:  Dragon Breath, Bite, Dragon Tail

Charged Moves:  Crunch, Earthquake, Outrage, Sludge Wave, Focus Blast, Stone Edge, Rock Slide, Grass Knot, Draco Meteor, Earth Power, Shock Wave, Superpower

Signature Moves: Land's Wrath, Thousand Waves, Thousand Arrows, Core Enforcer

Review

Yes, it has four different signature attacks. Zygarde in its various formes has the potential to be extremely interesting, but note that only 50% Zygarde was available in Generation 6, with 10% and Complete released in Generation 7.

Fast Moves:  Rock Throw, Smack Down,

Charged Moves:  Stone Edge, Moonblast, Psychic, Rock Slide, Dazzling Gleam, Earth Power, Last Resort, 

Signature Moves: Diamond Storm

Review

Small but effective movepool. Keep in mind that the real prize here will be Mega Diancie.

Fast Moves:  Confusion

Charged Moves:  Shadow Ball, Psychic, Dark Pulse, Thunderbolt, Energy Ball, Grass Knot, Fire Punch, Foul Play, Gunk Shot, Ice Punch, Shock Wave, Thunder Punch, 

Signature Moves: Hyperspace Hole (Confined), Hyperspace Fury (Unbound)

Review

Hoopa: Confined is okay. Hoopa: Unbound is frightening. 

Fast Moves:  Smack Down

Charged Moves: Weather Ball, Body Slam, Overheat, Solar Beam, Earthquake, Sludge Wave, Flamethrower, Sludge Bomb, Fire Blast, Focus Blast, Rock Slide, Flash Cannon, Earth Power, 

Signature Moves: Steam Eruption

Review

It's going to be hard for Volcanion to do much of anything with that stark Fast Movepool....

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About the Author(s)

Gamepress Pokemon Go site lead with a focus on theorycrafting and gameplay optimization and a background in business management and freelance writing.  A bit of a hermit, but also an outdoors enthusiast who loves cycling and hiking. Long-time Gamepress fan who is very proud to be a part of the team.

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