Pokémon GO Tier List – Best Defenders (November 2024)

Pokémon GO has a lot of Pokémon, and I mean a lot. In fact, if you play Pokémon GO for long enough you’re sure to come across hundreds of different creatures lurking around. As a result, choosing the best Pokémon to dual within Pokémon GO is no easy task.

In this guide, we’ve put together a comprehensive tier list of some of the best defending Pokémon based on their optimal stamina and defensive stats. As well as their overall effectiveness in battle.

Pokémon GO Tier List – Best Defenders (November 2024)

Bear in mind that all of the Pokémon on our list have higher defensive statistics than the majority of those featured in Pokémon GO. For that reason, we’ve only chosen to rank those that you would actually use for defensive purposes in the game.

Here’s our official Pokémon GO tier list of the best defensive Pokémon in the game:

Tier S Pokémon

• Blissey
  • Stamina: 496
  • Defense: 169
• Chansey
  • Stamina: 487
  • Defense: 128
• Snorlax
  • Stamina: 330
  • Defense: 169

Tier A Pokémon

• Celebi
  • Stamina: 225
  • Defense: 210
• Entei
  • Stamina: 251
  • Defense: 171
• Kangaskhan
  • Stamina: 233
  • Defense: 165
• Lapras
  • Stamina: 277
  • Defense: 174
• Lugia
  • Stamina: 235
  • Defense: 310
• Mew
  • Stamina: 225
  • Defense: 210
• Rhydon
  • Stamina: 233
  • Defense: 171
• Suicune
  • Stamina: 225
  • Defense: 235
• Tyranitar
  • Stamina: 225
  • Defense: 207
• Vaporeon
  • Stamina: 277
  • Defense: 161

Tier B Pokémon

• Articuno
  • Stamina: 207
  • Defense: 236
• Celebi
  • Stamina: 225
  • Defense: 210
• Dragonite
  • Stamina: 209
  • Defense: 198
• Hu-Oh
  • Stamina: 214
  • Defense: 244
• Mew
  • Stamina: 225
  • Defense: 210
• Muk
  • Stamina: 233
  • Defense: 172
• Umbreon
  • Stamina: 216
  • Defense: 240

Related: The Best Pokémon in Pokémon GO for 1500 CP Limit

Tier C Pokémon

• Donphan
  • Stamina: 207
  • Defense: 185
• Feraligatr
  • Stamina: 198
  • Defense: 188
• Gyarados
  • Stamina: 216
  • Defense: 186
• Hypno
  • Stamina: 198
  • Defense: 193
• Mewtwo
  • Stamina: 214
  • Defense: 182
• Moltres
  • Stamina: 207
  • Defense: 181
• Militank
  • Stamina: 216
  • Defense: 193
• Poliwrath
  • Stamina: 207
  • Defense: 184
• Raikou
  • Stamina: 207
  • Defense: 195
• Slowking
  • Stamina: 216
  • Defense: 180
• Steelix
  • Stamina: 181
  • Defense: 272
• Zapdos
  • Stamina: 207
  • Defense: 185

Tier D Pokémon

• Bellossom
  • Stamina: 181
  • Defense: 186
• Blastoise
  • Stamina: 188
  • Defense: 207
• Forretress
  • Stamina: 181
  • Defense: 205
• Golem
  • Stamina: 190
  • Defense: 198
• Kingdra
  • Stamina: 181
  • Defense: 194
• Meganium
  • Stamina: 190
  • Defense: 202
• Ninetales
  • Stamina: 177
  • Defense: 190
• Tentacruel
  • Stamina: 190
  • Defense: 209
• Venusaur
  • Stamina: 190
  • Defense: 189

Tier E Pokémon

• Cloyster
  • Stamina: 137
  • Defense: 256
• Hitmantop
  • Stamina: 137
  • Defense: 207
• Mantine
  • Stamina: 163
  • Defense: 226
• Omaster
  • Stamina: 172
  • Defense: 201
• Skarmory
  • Stamina: 163
  • Defense: 226
• Weezing
  • Stamina: 163
  • Defense: 197

Tier F Pokémon

• Hitmonchan
  • Stamina: 137
  • Defense: 197
• Magcargo
  • Stamina: 137
  • Defense: 191
• Mr. Mime
  • Stamina: 120
  • Defense: 205
• Onix
  • Stamina: 111
  • Defense: 232

That concludes our tier list of the best defensive Pokémon in Pokémon GO. Before you leave, don’t forget to check out some of our other Pokémon GO content here at Gamer Journalist. Like how to check the server status in Pokémon GO or how to get the elusive Galatian Stunfist in Pokémon GO.