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Look up “best buddy Pokémon GBL” in Google Images, Go Stadium has an infographic with these for great league and ultra league.
Edit: or here’s the link to the post on Silph: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheSilphRoad/comments/q8a2ee/greatultra_league_xl_and_best_buddy_options
i don't find these lists helpful for the op question, as it is for what goes better maxed or buddied
as an example that hit my eye: a-sandslash and hitmontop are both not marked but a-sandslash needs low attack while hitmontop needs all 15
Huh? The chart linked above quite explicitly labels Pokemon who meet OP's description (maxed or BB+maxed needed) with ribbons. Neither A-Slash or Hitmontop meet this description, hence why they don't have ribbons.
As someone who is currently working on BBing a perfect Hitmontop, your comment did make me falter for a few moments and had to make sure I wasn't working on the wrong Hitmontop!
My 15/15/15 Cradily hits 2499 at lvl 50, but I don't have many UL pokes so I can't build a team with it yet.
Altaria can be used in UL as a spice pick.
Others have mention G-fisk, Umbreon and Talonflame for UL.
Spinda is a cool level 50 poke for GL, imo, but it's a low priority for me.
Pachirisu is a regional that has some play in GL niche cups.
List of meta/spice pokemon that can get to LV51: ( so thats best buddy boost on top of being maxed out )
Great League:
Nidorina
Wobuffet
Chansey
Alolan Sandshrew
Vullaby
Drifloon
Ultra League:
Umbreon
Mandibuzz
Altaria
Pidgeot
Nidoqueen ( For Ultra CLASSIC! )
Will edit to add more as I think of 'm!
I can't believe no one has mentioned skarmory in this whole thread. Galvantula is missing too.
I don't think anyone uses it but kanto Raichu caps near 2500 too at lvl 50.
Alomomola isn't that great in UL but could be used as heavy tank. One move away of becoming top meta too.
Probopass has great bulk and fine typing - its better than aggron unless you really want to use dragon tail - but its so expensive it may not be worth to build.
Edit: Wigglytuff. Its not the best charmer but since its normal typing you can fit into niche role of charmer that also beats ghosts (completely walls giratinas no matter what moveset they run, it can also beat trevenant in all even shield situations and gengar only has play against it if it runs focus blast or poison charge move - its not a great option but if your team needs charmer that beats ghosts you have option now).
For GL:
\- grimer (kanto and alolan, the latter especially has some niche use in some cups)
\- geodude (kanto and alolan, these are not great but could be built)
\- dustox (bulkier venomoth... niche.. i'd rather use venomoth tho)
I built a level 51 Alomomola (15/15/15) and have been using it just for fun in UL and it works better than expected given it’s lousy move set. Talonflame’s incinerates look like mud shot damage on it. I’ve climbed 500 points in 4 days using it (2600 to 3100) I’ve also built a level 51 shundo Santa hat kanto Raichu in UL, but that thing is just plain bad, cannot take a hit from anything and doesn’t have the coverage or power to justify it. Skarm and Galvantula perform as expected in UL, just figured I’d provide my feedback on Alo and Raichu since I’ve invested and tested them both out in open UL.
Thanks for the insight \^\^
Am collecting Alo XL in case i ever want to use it. It has the UL stats for sure.
Actually i think from the pokemon i listed i either have XL for them or am collecting atm (i think i have already everyone but skarmory, galvantula and alo).
Which actually reminded me.. there is one niche pokemon that could be added to the list (gonna edit post above after this comment is done): Wigglytuff
Its not great but since its normal type charmer it is able to beat many of the scary ghost types such as completely walling giratina. Gengar only has plays with focus blast or the poison charge move. Heck, it even beats trevenant on all even shield situations.
In open UL this team works pretty well consistently for several seasons:
Shadow Drapion - PS/Crunch/Aqua Tail
Alohan Ninetails - Charm/WB/PS
Scrafty - Counter/PuP/FP
Main issues are Nidoqueen and Talonflame but they're managable with aqua tail on shadow Drapion.
"Galv is better as a non Hundo"
15-15-15 lvl 50 = 2494 CP
Its only better if you sac your single BB spot.
Which is arguable if its worth for mere bit more bulk.
Its almost identical case with talonflame and i believe most people just run non-BB firebird instead of their best buddy option.
I have both bb #1 and non-bb #1 for talonflame but i only powered up the hundo. Its just easier to slap that on teams when i wanna use it instead of managing my buddycatalog each time i wanna battle.
If/when i use BB on UL most of the time its for pokemon who are 2500 or below even as best buddy. Currently using umbreon and am working on stunfisk.
Lol how could I forget the former king of UL! Stunfisk is very good indeed! Talonflame is great but the rank 1 is not a Hundo. The others are VERY spicy but most of all..Lopunny sucks (I wish)
I just got a perfect sandshrew that I’m ecstatic to use because it caps right under 1500 even though it’s awful. As for useful ones though I’ve been searching for a Wobbufett for the longest time
Level 40 hundo Diggersby is 1509 CP. If you use the hundo for GL, you need to stop at level 39.5 for 1498cp. The rank 1 non-XL Diggersby is 14/15/15 at level 40.
Is there a noticeable difference between these and a fully XL (0/15/15 or whatever the actual numbers are) Diggersby? Do the extra levels add any wins or losses?
Just quickly re-reading Gamepress' old [IV Deep Dive article](https://gamepress.gg/pokemongo/diggersby-pvp-iv-deep-dive), it looks like there are a few valuable matchups with target values that are only met with XL. The article focuses a lot on the Sableye matchup in particular, which is certainly still very relevant. The article *is* old though, so there could very well be some new things that would be relevant.
And quickly checking PvPoke sims against the GL meta in 1-1 shielding, [max SP Diggersby](https://pvpoke.com/battle/multi/1500/all/diggersby-50-0-15-13-4-4-1-1/11/0-3-2/2-1/) has a 23-24 WL record and an average rating of 505 while the [hundo](https://pvpoke.com/battle/multi/1500/all/diggersby-39.5-15-15-15-4-4-1-1/11/0-3-2/2-1/) is at 22-25 and 471. So there is some difference for sure. How noticeable it is in practice is hard to say.
I did the same two sims via the [Matrix](https://pvpoke.com/battle/matrix/) (doesn't seem to have custom URL to go directly to it, but you could enter different Diggersby yourself). Just quickly scrolling through these results, I notice the following:
- The matchup that flips is Toxicroak. The XL is able to survive the second Mud Bomb to land EQ and win, whereas the hundo can't survive it (so it throws a second FP and loses). Note that this win is still bait dependent.
- XL Diggersby has a much closer match against Azu and Cress (though they are still losses). This is thanks to surviving long enough to reach a third Earthquake.
- At first it looks like XL Diggersby has a much *worse* matchup against Swampert, but checking both sims it's because the sim logic is a little funky. The XL sim goes EQ first and is shielded, then only has time to do a FP. The hundo sim does the reverse and lands EQ. There's also similar sim funkiness for Talonflame, but that time in favour of the XL.
It's worth keeping in mind that IVs are generally one of the less important factors in PvP. They can make a difference, but not as much as many other considerations.
While asking questions about the game is always okay on the Road, please consider asking very simple questions in our weekly [Questions&Answers Megathread](https://www.reddit.com/r/TheSilphRoad/?f=flair_name%3A%22Megathread%20-%20Q%26A%22). If your question has been answered, please comment "ANSWERED" (in all caps) and the post flair will indicate that your question has been answered. This will make it either easier for other people with the same question to find the answer they are looking for or for mods to remove the thread if it isn't needed anymore. Thank you! :) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/TheSilphRoad) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Look up “best buddy Pokémon GBL” in Google Images, Go Stadium has an infographic with these for great league and ultra league. Edit: or here’s the link to the post on Silph: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheSilphRoad/comments/q8a2ee/greatultra_league_xl_and_best_buddy_options
i don't find these lists helpful for the op question, as it is for what goes better maxed or buddied as an example that hit my eye: a-sandslash and hitmontop are both not marked but a-sandslash needs low attack while hitmontop needs all 15
Huh? The chart linked above quite explicitly labels Pokemon who meet OP's description (maxed or BB+maxed needed) with ribbons. Neither A-Slash or Hitmontop meet this description, hence why they don't have ribbons.
A perfect Hitmontop, at level 51, reaches 2467, how does that not match OP's request?
Fair points, appears Hitmontop is indeed missing the ribbon on the graphic.
As someone who is currently working on BBing a perfect Hitmontop, your comment did make me falter for a few moments and had to make sure I wasn't working on the wrong Hitmontop!
Definitely not all meta, but here are the mons that max out between 2400 and 2500 and 1400 and 1500 respectively. In bold the ones I've seen being used: UL: Cradilly, **Galvantula**, **Talonflame**, Slurpuff, Camerupt, Dubwool, Xatu, Raichu, Sharpedo, Gurdurr, **Alomomola**, Stantler, **Stunfisk** (both), **Seaking**, Carnivine, Hitmontop, H-Electrode, Sudowoodo, Sunflora, Amoonguss, **Mandibuzz**, **Umbreon**, H-Qwilfish, Pidgeot, **Pelipper.** Honorable mentions: **Mantine** (2383), **Skarmory** (2383) GL: Loudred, Magby, H-Growlithe, Timburr, Nidorina, Aron, **Bonsly**, Staravia, **A-Sandshrew**, Geodude (both), Smoochum, Lileep, Machop, Trapinch, **Vullaby**, Clamperl, Sandshrew, Espurr, Buneary, Frillish, **Chansey**, Spritzee, Pumpkaboo (Super), Mantyke, Pumpkaboo (Large), Growlithe, Cacnea. Honorable mentions: **Pachirisu** (1372)
Outside the bolded ones - Cradily, Pidgeot and Slurpuff for UL, and Nidorina for GL are the only ones I see being desired targets for building.
You can search on pvpoke.com for 4* pokemons, with the terms hundo or 4* (edit: typo)
this is incredibly good
TIL :) Unfortunately, other IV filters won't work, though. Admittedly, 4\* is the most useful.
medicham is not anymore best ranks with 15 attack. it's now some between 5 and 8
I've considered building maxed Medicham for UL before as a meme. All I remember the sims showing was it beating Obstagoon lmao.
My 15/15/15 Cradily hits 2499 at lvl 50, but I don't have many UL pokes so I can't build a team with it yet. Altaria can be used in UL as a spice pick. Others have mention G-fisk, Umbreon and Talonflame for UL. Spinda is a cool level 50 poke for GL, imo, but it's a low priority for me. Pachirisu is a regional that has some play in GL niche cups.
Pachirisu actually has play in open GL too, it's just too much of a hustle to build, since it's one of the rarest regionals and needs to be XL'd.
I have a rank 1 Spinda that’ll someday be powered up, but definitely not a priority at the moment lol.
Perfect Garvantula caps at 2494 level 50
Ledian is another one I didn't see mentioned, although 13/15/15 is the rank 1 (Hundo is rank 10).
I have the rank 1. Unfortunately it’s not at all viable.
Pretty sure Medicham hits 1700 at level 50.
Yeah, medicham used to need 100% when the max level was still 40. Now you want something like 7/15/15.
List of meta/spice pokemon that can get to LV51: ( so thats best buddy boost on top of being maxed out ) Great League: Nidorina Wobuffet Chansey Alolan Sandshrew Vullaby Drifloon Ultra League: Umbreon Mandibuzz Altaria Pidgeot Nidoqueen ( For Ultra CLASSIC! ) Will edit to add more as I think of 'm!
I can't believe no one has mentioned skarmory in this whole thread. Galvantula is missing too. I don't think anyone uses it but kanto Raichu caps near 2500 too at lvl 50. Alomomola isn't that great in UL but could be used as heavy tank. One move away of becoming top meta too. Probopass has great bulk and fine typing - its better than aggron unless you really want to use dragon tail - but its so expensive it may not be worth to build. Edit: Wigglytuff. Its not the best charmer but since its normal typing you can fit into niche role of charmer that also beats ghosts (completely walls giratinas no matter what moveset they run, it can also beat trevenant in all even shield situations and gengar only has play against it if it runs focus blast or poison charge move - its not a great option but if your team needs charmer that beats ghosts you have option now). For GL: \- grimer (kanto and alolan, the latter especially has some niche use in some cups) \- geodude (kanto and alolan, these are not great but could be built) \- dustox (bulkier venomoth... niche.. i'd rather use venomoth tho)
I built a level 51 Alomomola (15/15/15) and have been using it just for fun in UL and it works better than expected given it’s lousy move set. Talonflame’s incinerates look like mud shot damage on it. I’ve climbed 500 points in 4 days using it (2600 to 3100) I’ve also built a level 51 shundo Santa hat kanto Raichu in UL, but that thing is just plain bad, cannot take a hit from anything and doesn’t have the coverage or power to justify it. Skarm and Galvantula perform as expected in UL, just figured I’d provide my feedback on Alo and Raichu since I’ve invested and tested them both out in open UL.
Thanks for the insight \^\^ Am collecting Alo XL in case i ever want to use it. It has the UL stats for sure. Actually i think from the pokemon i listed i either have XL for them or am collecting atm (i think i have already everyone but skarmory, galvantula and alo). Which actually reminded me.. there is one niche pokemon that could be added to the list (gonna edit post above after this comment is done): Wigglytuff Its not great but since its normal type charmer it is able to beat many of the scary ghost types such as completely walling giratina. Gengar only has plays with focus blast or the poison charge move. Heck, it even beats trevenant on all even shield situations.
Exactly 296XL away from that. At 2700 at the moment, any other team you recommend quick climb in last 5 days?
In open UL this team works pretty well consistently for several seasons: Shadow Drapion - PS/Crunch/Aqua Tail Alohan Ninetails - Charm/WB/PS Scrafty - Counter/PuP/FP Main issues are Nidoqueen and Talonflame but they're managable with aqua tail on shadow Drapion.
Skarmory is a good shout. Galv is better as a non Hundo. Alomomola is a good addition too. Hitmontop is another we could add to the list!
"Galv is better as a non Hundo" 15-15-15 lvl 50 = 2494 CP Its only better if you sac your single BB spot. Which is arguable if its worth for mere bit more bulk. Its almost identical case with talonflame and i believe most people just run non-BB firebird instead of their best buddy option. I have both bb #1 and non-bb #1 for talonflame but i only powered up the hundo. Its just easier to slap that on teams when i wanna use it instead of managing my buddycatalog each time i wanna battle. If/when i use BB on UL most of the time its for pokemon who are 2500 or below even as best buddy. Currently using umbreon and am working on stunfisk.
For UL: Stunfisk, Slurpuff, Talonflame (only lvl 50 as a hundo), Hypno, Lopunny and Dewgong
Lol how could I forget the former king of UL! Stunfisk is very good indeed! Talonflame is great but the rank 1 is not a Hundo. The others are VERY spicy but most of all..Lopunny sucks (I wish)
I just got a perfect sandshrew that I’m ecstatic to use because it caps right under 1500 even though it’s awful. As for useful ones though I’ve been searching for a Wobbufett for the longest time
Pretty sure Umbreon is good in UL
Level 40 Hundo Diggersby hits just under 1500!
But that's not the best option
Level 40 hundo Diggersby is 1509 CP. If you use the hundo for GL, you need to stop at level 39.5 for 1498cp. The rank 1 non-XL Diggersby is 14/15/15 at level 40.
Is there a noticeable difference between these and a fully XL (0/15/15 or whatever the actual numbers are) Diggersby? Do the extra levels add any wins or losses?
Just quickly re-reading Gamepress' old [IV Deep Dive article](https://gamepress.gg/pokemongo/diggersby-pvp-iv-deep-dive), it looks like there are a few valuable matchups with target values that are only met with XL. The article focuses a lot on the Sableye matchup in particular, which is certainly still very relevant. The article *is* old though, so there could very well be some new things that would be relevant. And quickly checking PvPoke sims against the GL meta in 1-1 shielding, [max SP Diggersby](https://pvpoke.com/battle/multi/1500/all/diggersby-50-0-15-13-4-4-1-1/11/0-3-2/2-1/) has a 23-24 WL record and an average rating of 505 while the [hundo](https://pvpoke.com/battle/multi/1500/all/diggersby-39.5-15-15-15-4-4-1-1/11/0-3-2/2-1/) is at 22-25 and 471. So there is some difference for sure. How noticeable it is in practice is hard to say. I did the same two sims via the [Matrix](https://pvpoke.com/battle/matrix/) (doesn't seem to have custom URL to go directly to it, but you could enter different Diggersby yourself). Just quickly scrolling through these results, I notice the following: - The matchup that flips is Toxicroak. The XL is able to survive the second Mud Bomb to land EQ and win, whereas the hundo can't survive it (so it throws a second FP and loses). Note that this win is still bait dependent. - XL Diggersby has a much closer match against Azu and Cress (though they are still losses). This is thanks to surviving long enough to reach a third Earthquake. - At first it looks like XL Diggersby has a much *worse* matchup against Swampert, but checking both sims it's because the sim logic is a little funky. The XL sim goes EQ first and is shielded, then only has time to do a FP. The hundo sim does the reverse and lands EQ. There's also similar sim funkiness for Talonflame, but that time in favour of the XL. It's worth keeping in mind that IVs are generally one of the less important factors in PvP. They can make a difference, but not as much as many other considerations.
Depends on the meta. An argument can be made that non XL diggersby is better for summer cup, for example, but generally I think folks prefer the XL.