Our Pokémon Go Fossil Cup recommendations from Swampert to Kartana

As in all leagues or cups in the Go Battle Leaguethere is no “best” team for the Fossil Cup, because you will never know which Pokémon are on your opponent’s team.

The restriction, however, means that there are a limited number of Pokémon to choose from, which helps you choose your team.

Before making your selection, it’s a good idea to review the Fossil Cup restriction, so you know exactly which Pokémon are available to you.

You also need to make sure you have a selection of Pokémon types and have a Pokémon whose charged attack can be built up quickly, so that you force your opponent to use one of their shields early on.

Our Pokémon Go Fossil Cup recommendations in National Pokédex order:

Swamp of Shadows

Type: Water / Ground
Perfect IVs: 00/14/14
Recommended: Mud Shot (fast), Hydro Cannon (community day exclusive), and Earthquake (charged)
Weaknesses: Grass

Swampert is one of the most powerful starter evolutions in Pokémon Go, both in raids as Mega Swampert and in Go Battle League through Great, Ultra And master league teams. This list starts with the cardinal rule of limited metas: if it’s powerful in the open league, it’s probably at least good in the limited meta.

Shadow Swampert and Swampert, as it happens, are pretty good in Fossil Cup (although the Shadow version performs slightly better).

Thanks to its dual Water- and Ground-type Pokemon, this not only decreases the amount of Pokemon Swampert is weak, but it also increases the amount of Pokemon it can have an advantage over. You can expect wins against Registeel, Escavalier, Lanturn, Ferrothorn, and Lucario. However, not everything is positive: you will lose against Golisopod, Pelipper, Araquanid, Poliwrath and Jellicent.

Peel

Type: Water / Flying
Perfect IVs: 0/12/15
Recommended: Wing Attack (Fast), Weather Ball (Water) (Loaded), Hurricane (Loaded)
Weaknesses: Electric, Rock

Pelipper is well known for his billing in the Big League. As with Open League, this is a very attractive choice for those who want something spammy and flexible that also applies a lot of shield pressure.

If that sounds like your cup of tea, you can expect wins against Swampert, Escavalier, Araquanid, and Jellicent.

However, Pelipper’s strength in Great League comes from the fact that Rock-types are underrepresented, which isn’t necessarily the case here, so if you’re used to this bird crushing the competition, know that you might have a little more fighting on your hands (wings?) here. You should expect losses from Lanturn, Registeel, Alolan Sandslash, Quagsire, and Ferrothorn.

Register

Kind: Steel
Perfect IVs: 02/13/14
Recommended Moves: Lock-On (Fast), Focus Blast (Charged), Zap Cannon (Legacy Charge)
Weaknesses: combat, fire ground

Legendaries are harder to catch than most – and unlocking a second charge move for them is very expensive – but between the many opportunities players have had to get a Registeel, and Steel being highly recommended in the Great League thanks to a few meta weaknesses and staying in fights longer, it’s worth the investment.

Thanks to its extreme bulk and agility, it is widely considered one of the best Pokémon in the Great League and Fossil Cup.

In terms of matchups, you should expect wins against Ferrothorn, Jellicent, Pelipper, Araquanid, and Lanturn. Swampert, however, is a pesky ground type, so expect losses there, with Escavalier, Galarian Stunfisk, and Mawile offering similar defeats.

Lucaire

Type: Combat / Steel
Perfect IVs: 01/15/15
Recommended Moves: Counter (Fast), Power-Up Punch (Charged), Shadow Ball (Legacy Charge)
Weaknesses: Combat, Fire, Ground

Lucario has long been a fan favorite – not only for being one of the first Mega-Evolutions introduced in the main series, but also because it’s just a really cool Pokemon. It doesn’t hurt that it’s quite powerful, of course.

In Pokémon Go, Lucario’s moveset offers something spammy and dynamic, applying both quick moves and shield pressure, gaining momentum in the process with Power-Up Punch. The only downside is that with its stats, it’s a bit of a glass cannon.

So how does it fare in terms of matches? You are favored against Ferrothorn, Registeel, Alolan Sandslash, and Araquanid. However, you should trade or expect losses against Jellicent, Swampert, Escavalier or Lanturn.

Escalator

Type: Combat / Steel
Perfect IVs: 01/15/15
Recommended moves: Counter (Fast), Drill Run (Charged), Megahorn (Charged)
Weaknesses: Fire (2x)

Escavalier is a reasonable Pokemon in Go Battle League, performing decently in Great and Ultra League.

Counter is easily the best fighting-type fast move and one of the best fast moves in the game. Drill Run offers cover, with Megahorn being a slightly more expensive nuke, but one that offers STAB.

His only weakness (fire) being irrelevant in this cut, you can expect wins against Ferrothorn, Registeel Alolan Sandslash, Lucario, and Lanturn. Losses will come from Jellicent, Pelipper, Swampert and Araquanid.

ferrothorn

Type: Grass / Steel
Perfect IVs: 00/13/13
Recommended moves: Bullet Seed (fast), Power Whip (charged), Thunder (charged)
Weaknesses: Fire (2x), Combat

In a water-type dominated meta, having access to a strong grass type is extremely useful – and if you don’t have access to Kartana, it’s the best bet.

Bullet Seed is a great fast-charging move, and Power Whip is just an all-rounder. If you come across something that isn’t weak to Grass (like Pelipper), Thunder is there as cover.

So how does it go in terms of matches? Beat most water types, including Lanturn, Quagsire, Jellicent, Swampert, and Pelipper. You should expect losses from Escavalier, Registeel, Shadow Swampert, Alolan Sandslash, and Araquanid.

kartana

Type: Combat / Steel
Perfect IVs: 00/13/13
Recommended moves: Bullet Seed (fast), Power Whip (charged), Thunder (charged)
Weaknesses: Fire (2x), Combat

Kartana is usually reserved for Raids, thanks to its high attack and low defense, but as long as you don’t mind a glass cannon, Kartana can make quick work of most Water-type Pokemon in this meta.

Razor Leaf deals heavy damage, while Leaf Blade is a great spam move thanks to its low cost. Night Slash is there as cover if you need it, but it’s so cheap it’s just as spammy.

Expect victories against Swamperts, Quagsire, Lanturn and Jellicent. Registeel, meanwhile, will make short work of Kartana, as will Araquanid, Ferrothorn, Pelipper, and Golisopod.

THE Hidden Gem Season has arrived, bringing with it a new Go Battle League season. Elsewhere, be sure to compete in Shadow Raidsto use Daily Adventure Incense to have the chance to meet Galarian Articuno, Galarian Zapdos and Galarian Moltres. This incense can also give you encounters with other rare pokemon in Pokemon Go.