Having the best Master League teams is a must if you wish to see success in this format of Pokemon GO Battle League. The latest season of Timeless Travels began on December 1, 2023, and will last until February 2024. There are only two iterations of this left, with one beginning on February 9, 2024, and the other on February 23.
Only a few people have the necessary resources to participate in the Master League, and even if they do, they might not always have the most optimized teams. If you wish to see sustained success in Pokemon GO’s Master League, you will need a fantastic team of maxed-out, perfect IV legendaries. However, this is easier said than done, and you might need to spend real money on building these critters.
Here are some of the best team suggestions for the format, including one that you can build easily for free.
Note: This article is subjective and reflects the writer’s opinions. Attacks marked with a * are Legacy Moves and require an Elite TM.
Top Master League teams in Pokemon GO Battle League Season 17
1) Zygarde (Complete Forme), Ho-Oh, and Lugia
Zygarde’s Complete Forme in Pokemon GO might be difficult to get your hands on, but once you max out this critter, there is no looking back. It has super impressive stats, especially its bulk, that make it a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. Unless you get hard-countered with a team with multiple Ice-type Pocket Monsters, this lead will give you success more often than not.
To support Zygarde, you have the two box legendaries from Generation II of Pokemon. Ho-Oh covers Zygarde’s weaknesses really well. It is yet another hard-hitting Pocket Monster that counters Ice and Fairy-type Pocket Monsters that Zygarde is weak to.
As the closer for this team, there is Lugia, which is one of the bulkiest critters in the game. Even if you must expend shields on other team members in the mid-game, Lugia can take down dangerous threats with its powerful Aeroblast attack.
2) Dragonite, Mamoswine, and Melmetal
Pokemon GO’s Master League can be quite inaccessible for players not wishing to spend money since the meta is dominated by teams consisting of powerful Legendary Pocket Monsters.
However, this team consisting of Dragonite and Dratini can be accessed by players with much more ease. That said building up Melmetal up to level 50 (the recommended level for ML battles) can still be quite the ordeal.
Dragonite has good synergy Mamoswine and Melmetal as they cover for its weaknesses really well. Overall, this team can perform quite well and is easy to build without having to spend money on multiple Raid Passes.
3) Groudon, Kyurem, and Zacian (Hero)
Groudon, being a pure Ground-type creature, has a really strong matchup against most of the popular leads in Pokemon GO’s Master League since there are only a few Water or Ground-types. It can deal a fair amount of damage with Precipice Blades or bait-out shields to give you an advantage early on in a game.
If you are met with an Ice Beam Mewtwo or a Mamoswine with Groudon, you can switch to Kyurem, which only takes neutral damage from Ice-type attacks. In return, it can threaten the opponents with consistent chip damage and debuffs.
Zacian is one of the best closers in the format, thanks to its Fairy-typing. It double resists all Dragon-type attacks, which are abundant in the format. With Snarl, it reaches Close Combats very quickly, thereby cleaning up the endgame in no time.
4) Dragonite, Shadow Mewtwo, and Shadow Ho-Oh
Dragonite is one of the few non-legendary picks that can shine in Pokemon GO’s open Master League. Thanks to its Superpower coverage, it can perform well against Dialga, a creature you will often run into.
Shadow Mewtwo and Shadow Ho-Oh are reliable hard-hitters with solid matchups into a majority of the meta. This team has a lot of neutral matches in the format, which is good because of the lowered defenses.
5) Giratina (Altered), Meloetta (Aria), and Xerneas
Giratina (Altered) is one of the bulkiest Pocket Monsters in Pokemon GO Battle League. It is able to tank super effective Fast Attacks like Dragon Breath and Shadow Claw for days and hit back consistently with Dragon Claws.
In case you run into another Giratina in the lead, you can quickly switch into Meloetta to turn the matchup heavily to your advantage, as Ancient Power damage doesn’t threaten you nearly as much as you can dish out Dazzling Gleam.
Xerneas has risen to immense popularity since it got its signature attack, Geomancy. This Fast Attack is one of the best in the game to farm energy. Fairy is an overall good type, with Close Combat coverage to clutch against Steel-types.
6) Shadow Mewtwo, Reshiram, and Groudon
As mentioned, Shadow Mewtwo is a good response to the current Master League Meta in Pokemon GO. Even if you run into Yveltal or Giratina, you can build up to one Ice Beam and get an early shield or health advantage before pivoting out.
Reshiram and Groudon pair up very well for the mid-game and late-game matchup since they cancel out each other’s weaknesses. The low presence of Water-type attacks in the Master League makes these critters shine.
7) Xerneas, Ursaluna, and Dialga
Xerneas can double up as a lead, given its high shield pressure. With Geomancy, it can reach Close Combat in four turns and Moonblast in five.
Nearly no opponent wants to take a STAB Moonblast from Xerneas, so you are assured an early shield advantage if you overfarm for a turn and fully send the Fairy-type attack.
Fairies are only weak to Poison and Steel-type Pokemon, both of which are walled by the pa Ursaluna. It is highly recommended that you Elite TM this creature if you don’t have one from the Community Day to use it best.
Dialga is usually a choice for the lead in Pokemon GO Battle League, but it can work wonders in the late game as well, thanks to its fantastic Dragon and Steel-dual typing. It is one of the best bulky attackers in the game that can perform well in the absence of shields.
Pokemon GO Timeless Travels update: Master League dates
The Master League will be available on the following dates during the remaining parts of the season of Timeless Travels in Pokemon GO:
- February 9-16, 2024
- February 23-March 1, 2024
Check out our other Pokemon GO guides:
Ditto disguises || Current Raid bosses || February 2024 infographic || GO Shiny Hisuian Starter guides || Buddy evolution Adventure Together guide || Best Fast Attacks || Sierra counters || Cliff counters || Arlo counters
Maria Malik is your guide to the immersive world of Virtual Reality (VR). With a passion for VR technology, she explores the latest VR headsets, applications, and experiences, providing readers with in-depth reviews, industry insights, and a glimpse into the future of virtual experiences.
