Best Pokemon Tier List and Movesets for Competitive Battle

This is our tier list for the strongest Pokemon for competitive battle and what movesets to use for them in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP). Learn what Pokemon are currently at the top of the meta and how to build the strongest moveset for each Pokemon.

Best Pokemon Tier List for Competitive Battle

Tier 1
Breloom		Gliscor
Tier 2
Scizor	Gengar	Suicune	Latios
Tier 3
Azumarill	Cloyster	Garchomp	Mamoswine
Gyarados	Hippowdon	Wash Rotom	Latias
Tier 4
Metagross	Salamence	Dragonite	Togekiss
Tyranitar	Blaziken	Cresselia	Heatran

Best Pokemon - Tier 1

Breloom

Pokemon	Strong Points
Breloom	・Can shut down slower walls and switch-ins with Spore ・Bullet Seed and Mach Punch are boosted by Technician ・Can also use Poison Heal for a Substitute + Focus Punch set ▶︎ Technician Moveset ▶︎ Poison Heal Sub-Punch Moveset

Gliscor

Pokemon	Strong Points
Gliscor	・High Defense and Poison Heal Ability make it a great Physical Wall ・Can stall with a combination of Substitute and Protect ・Reliable recovery in Roost ▶︎ Guillotine Substitute Moveset ▶︎ Poison Heal Toxic Orb Moveset

Best Pokemon - Tier 2

Scizor

Pokemon	Strong Points
Scizor	・Technician-boosted Bullet Punch is strong and has priority ・Can run either a Swords Dance boosting set or Choice Band ・Can pivot with U-Turn ・Reliable recovery in Roost ▶︎ Choice Band Moveset ▶︎ Lum Berry Moveset

Gengar

Pokemon	Strong Points
Gengar	・High Special Attack and Speed ・Great support moves such as Will-O-Wisp, Hex, and Hypnosis ・Poison-typing gives it resistances to Fairy-type moves ▶︎ Special Attacker Moveset

Suicune

Pokemon	Strong Points
Suicune	・Can run a bulky Substitute + Calm Mind set ・Great support moves such as Tailwind, Scald, and Snarl ▶︎ Chesto-Rest Moveset

Latios

Pokemon	Strong Points
Latios	・High Special Attack and Speed ・Large Special Movepool with great coverage moves ・Difficult to switch into when holding Choice Specs ・Can boost its Special Attack and Special Defense with Calm Mind ▶︎ Life Orb Moveset ▶︎ Choice Specs Moveset

Best Pokemon - Tier 3

Azumarill

Pokemon	Strong Points
Azumarill	・Huge Power Ability gives it deceptively high Attack ・Can run a Belly Drum + Aqua Jet set ・Fairy-typing gives it immunity to Dragon-type moves ▶︎ Belly-Jet Moveset ▶︎ Choice Band Moveset

Cloyster

Pokemon	Strong Points
Cloyster	・Skill Link makes Icicle Spear hit 5 times ・Great boosting move with Shell Smash ・Great against Pokemon weak against Ice-type moves ▶︎ Shell Smash Sweeper ▶︎ Skill Link Flinch

Garchomp

Pokemon	Strong Points
Garchomp	・Great natural bulk lets it easily set up with Swords Dance ・High attack and great Speed ・Can also run a support build with Stealth Rock ▶︎ Swords Dance Moveset ▶︎ Choice Band Moveset

Mamoswine

Pokemon	Strong Points
Mamoswine	・Great dual Ice and Ground-type STAB ・Can deter faster attackers with Ice Shard ・Can run both Choice Band and Choice Scarf ▶︎ Lead Moveset ▶︎ Revenge Killer Moveset

Gyarados

Pokemon	Strong Points
Gyarados	・Can easily switch in thanks to its Intimidate Ability ・Can set up Dragon Dance multiple times thanks to its great natural bulk ▶︎ Dragon Dance Moveset

Hippowdon

Pokemon	Strong Points
Hippowdon	・Great Defense and reliable recovery in Slack Off ・Instantly sets up Sandstorm with its Sand Stream Ability ▶︎ Mixed Wall Moveset ▶︎ Physical Wall Moveset

Wash Rotom

Pokemon	Strong Points
Wash Rotom	・Great defensive typing ・Wide support movepool with moves such as Will-O-Wisp and Thunder Wave ・Can pivot with Volt Switch ▶︎ Bulky Pivot Moveset ▶︎ Choice Scarf Moveset

Latias

Pokemon	Strong Points
Latias	・Great Special Defense that it can further boost with Calm Mind ・Has great support moves such as Helping Hand, Defog, and Roost ▶︎ Support Moveset ▶︎ Choice Specs Moveset

Best Pokemon - Tier 4

Metagross

Pokemon	Strong Points
Metagross	・High Attack and Steel-typing make it a great check or counter for Fairy-type Pokemon ・Wide Physical movepool that includes Bullet Punch, Meteor Mash, and Zen Headbutt ▶︎ Physically Defensive Moveset ▶︎ Choice Band Moveset

Salamence

Pokemon	Strong Points
Salamence	・High Attack and Speed that it can boost with Dragon Dance ・Can also run a special attacking or mixed attacking set ▶︎ Dragon Dance Sweeper ▶︎ Choice Specs Attacker

Dragonite

Pokemon	Strong Points
Dragonite	・Multiscale halves damage when at full health ・Can set up with Dragon Dance ・Can run a bulkier defensive set with Roost ▶︎ Dragon Dance Sweeper ▶︎ Choice Band Attacker

Togekiss

Pokemon	Strong Points
Togekiss	・Great dual-typing gives it 4x Resistance to Fighting-type moves and immunity to Dragon-type moves ・Air Slash has increased flinch rate thanks to its Serene Grace Ability ・Great support moves such as Follow Me and Yawn ▶︎ Specially Offensive Moveset ▶︎ Para-Flinch Moveset

Tyranitar

Pokemon	Strong Points
Tyranitar	・Instantly sets up Sandstorm with its Sand Stream Ability ・Easily walls Latios thanks to its Dark-typing and boosted Special Defense in Sandstorm. ▶︎ Choice Band Moveset ▶︎ Dragon Dance Moveset ▶︎ Choice Scarf Moveset

Blaziken

Pokemon	Strong Points
Blaziken	・Its Hidden Ability Speed Boost lets it outrun many Pokemon ・Wide physical movepool that includes powerful moves such as Close Combat, Blaze Kick, and Brave Bird ▶︎ Speed Boost Lead

Cresselia

Pokemon	Strong Points
Cresselia	・Great mixed defenses and reliable healing make it one of the best defensive Pokemon ・Can switch in to Ground-type moves thanks to its Levitate Ability ・Can sacrifice its health to revive a KO'd Pokemon with Lunar Dance ▶︎ Calm Mind Moveset

Heatran

Pokemon	Strong Points
Heatran	・Great dual-typing makes it an effective check against Fairy, Grass, Steel, and Fire-type Pokemon ・Can spread burns with Lava Plume or trap opposing Pokemon with Magma Storm ▶︎ Choice Specs Build ▶︎ Bulky Trapper

All Movesets and Best Builds

List of Pokemon
Breloom	・ Technician Moveset ・ Poison Heal Sub-Punch Moveset
Gyarados	・Dragon Dance Moveset
Gliscor	・Guillotine Substitute Moveset ・Poison Heal Toxic Orb Moveset
Scizor	・Choice Band Moveset ・Lum Berry Moveset
Suicune	・Chesto-Rest Moveset
Latios	・Life Orb Moveset ・Choice Specs Moveset
Garchomp	・Swords Dance Moveset ・Choice Band Moveset
Gengar	・Special Attacker Moveset
Azumarill	・Belly-Jet Moveset ・Choice Band Moveset
Hippowdon	・Mixed Wall Moveset ・Physical Wall Moveset
Mamoswine	・ Lead Moveset ・ Revenge Killer Moveset
Latias	・ Support Moveset ・ Choice Specs Moveset
Heatran	・ Choice Specs Build ・ Bulky Trapper
Blaziken	・Speed Boost Lead
Wash Rotom	・Bulky Pivot Moveset ・Choice Scarf Moveset
Metagross	・Physically Defensive Moveset ・Choice Band Moveset
Tyranitar	・Choice Band Moveset ・Dragon Dance Moveset ・Choice Scarf Moveset
Dragonite	・Dragon Dance Sweeper ・Choice Band Attacker
Togekiss	・Specially Offensive Moveset ・Para-Flinch Moveset
Cloyster	・Shell Smash Sweeper ・Skill Link Flinch
Salamence	・Dragon Dance Sweeper ・Choice Specs Attacker
Cresselia	・Calm Mind Moveset

Tier List Criteria and Ranking

Competitive Pokemon Tier List Criteria
1	Party Composition
2	Offensive Presence
3	Pokemon Versatility

Party Composition is Key

Battles are not won by individual Pokemon. Rather, the team as a whole must fit together - with each Pokemon covering each other's weaknesses or providing great offensive synergy.

Battle Tower

Although competitive play is restricted to Union Room battles, the Battle Tower poses a great challenge and requires a well-constructed team with Pokemon that can fill multiple roles!
Battle Tower Guide

Offensive Presence

Breloom

Pokemon that boast great offensive presence are highly valued due to the fast-paced nature of competitive battles.

Breloom is a good example of a Pokemon with great offensive presence that all teams should take into account. Not only can it deal high damage with its Technician-boosted moves, it shut down potential switch-ins and non-Grass defensive Pokemon with Spore.

Pokemon Versatility

Tyranitar

Conversely, Pokemon that can fill multiple roles thanks to their versatility. Essentially, these Pokemon aren't restricted to just trained as a one role for the team,

Tyranitar is the best example of a Pokemon with great versatility in how you can train it. It can go on the offensive with Choice Band, can function as a lead, or even as a defensive Pokemon thanks to its great support movepool.

Pokemon BDSP Related Guides

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Wiki

Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Guides
Pokedex	Story Walkthrough
Maps and Locations	Grand Underground
Moves	Items
Abilities	Beginner's Tips & Guides
Training and Breeding	Battle Tower
Tier List & Movesets	Message Boards
News and Game Info	Characters