25 Best Pokemon Go Gym Defenders

Starting off our Best Pokemon Go Gym Defenders list, Golduck is a fairly powerful combatant. This of course depends on your special move set. Here's the breakdown for Golduck when he's assigned to defend a Pokemon Go gym.

Water Gun / Hydro Pump - 46.1 %
Confusion / Ice Beam - 47.3%
Confusion / Hydro Pump - 50.8%

As you'll notice throughout this Best Pokemon Go Gym Defenders guide is that Confusion is an excellent move set for gym defense.

One of the many evolutions of Eevee, Flareon can also serve as an excellent gym defender. For the best chance at defending your recently taken over Pokemon Go gym, these are the popular Flareon move sets.

Ember / Heat Wave - 46.1 %
Ember / Flamethrower - 50.4%
Ember / Fire Blast - 51.5%

One of the most powerful Pokemon in the game, Gyarados is also one of the rarest as well. The effectiveness of Gyarados ultimately boils down to his moveset. Like other gym defenders this Pokemon has more powerful moves than others.

Bite / Dragon Pulse - 51.7%
Dragon Breath / Hydro Pump - 52.9%
Bite / Hydro Pump - 52.9%

The additional speed results in a faster DPS, which is why the Bite/Hydro Pump combination is better than the Dragon Breath move set.

The evolved state of Drowzee, Hypno packs a powerful punch as a gym defender. Psychic type Pokemon typically make good gym defenders because of Confusion. Not sure what Pokemon types are and what types are effective against which? Check out our guide here;

Understanding Pokemon Types

Confusion / Psyshock - 50.3%
Zen Headbutt / Psychic - 51.3%
Confusion / Psychic - 54.3%

As the third and final evolution of Charmander, this fire type is an excellent gym defender. One of the best Pokemon Go Gym Defenders in the game, he's got a few different move sets that can make all the difference in holding down your gym.

Ember / Flamethrower - 54.5%
Wing Attack / Fire Blast - 55.1%
Ember / Fire Blast - 55.7%

This rock type Pokemon is known for his high Stamina and Defense Pokemon stats. He evolves from Geodude and will require 100 candy. Once you take over the opposing team gym, assign Golem there to hold down the fort.

Mud Shot / Stone Edge - 47.1%
Rock Throw / Earthquake - 54.6%
Rock Throw / Stone Edge - 56.4%

This cute and unassuming Pokemon combines water and ice to defend any gym. Assign Dewgong to defend your gym, and you won't regret it.

Ice Shard / Aqua Jet - 42.4%
Frost Breath / Blizzard - 48.8%
Ice Shard / Blizzard - 56.8%

Cute, cuddly but ready to smash your face in should you poke it into his gym, Clefable is one of the best Pokemon Go Gym Defenders on our list. Try him out in the next gym you takeover, and you may be pleasantly surprised at the results.

Zen Headbutt / Psychic - 47.5%
Zen Headbutt / Moonblast - 50.1%
Pound / Dazzling Gleam - 56.3%
Zen Headbutt / Dazzling Gleam - 57.3%

The evolved state of Nidoran, this huge king of beasts loves to defend gyms and can do it with the best of them. He combines several different ground and poison attack sets to defeat his foes.

Fury Cutter / Earthquake - 45.6%
Poison Jab / Megahorn - 48%
Poison Jab / Sludge Wage - 49.5%
Poison Jab / Earthquake - 57.3%

Grimer evolves into this sludgy Pokemon, and he's quite useful when it comes to defending gyms. As one of the best Pokemon Go Gym Defenders in the entire game, Muk is a lot like Nidoking in move sets and poison advantages.

Poison Jab / Dark Pulse - 55.2%
Acid / Sludge Wave - 55.6%
Poison Jab / Gunk Shot - 59.5%
Poison Jab / Sludge Wave - 60.5%

The queen gets the nod over Nidoking, mainly through superior Stamina and Defense. More importantly than that, with the right move set, you have the best chance at holding down your gym. Not only that but with the right IV research, you can build the strongest Pokemon possible.

Bite / Earthquake - 50.5%
Poison Jab / Sludge Wave - 53.4%
Poison Jab / Stone Edge - 56.8%
Poison Jab / Earthquake - 61.6%

One of the most interesting looking Pokemon in the game, Vileplume also happens to be one of the best Pokemon Go Gym Defenders. Using a unique combination of attack moves, he can ward off attackers and keep your gym safe.

Acid / Petal Blizzard - 56.1%
Acid / Solar Beam - 56.7%
Razor Leaf / Petal Blizzard - 60.9%
Razor Leaf / Solar Beam - 62.7%

One of the strongest leaf type Pokemon Victreebel also happens to be one of the best Pokemon Go Gym Defenders. Best with the Razor Leaf / Solar Beam attack set, this Pokemon is an extremely capable defender.

Acid / Solar Beam 57.8%
Razor Leaf / Sludge Bomb 57.9%
Razor Leaf / Leaf Blade 60.3%
Razor Leaf / Solar Beam 63%

Commonly found and easily evolved from Rhyhorn, this Pokemon is an excellent defender. One of the best Pokemon Go Gym Defenders in the entire game, Rhydon is best with the Mud Slap / Stone Edge attack set.

Rock Smash / EarthQuake - 56.2%
Rock Smash / Stone Edge - 57.9%
Mud Slap / Earthquake - 62%
Mud Slap / Stone Edge - 64.1%

Depending on where you live, you may need a Pokemon finder to find Venasaur. Whatever means you use to find him however, he's an excellent gym defender, known for his Stamina and Defense.

One of the funniest Pokemon in the game, Slowbro is more than capable of taking on all attackers. Combining Confusion with Psychic is the best possible attack set for Slowbro.

Confusion / Water Pulse - 56.9%
Water Gun / Psychic - 57.7%
Confusion / Ice Beam - 61.8%
Confusion / Psychic - 67.9%

Evolved from Growlithe, this Pokemon does well in attacking or defending a gym. One of the more common Pokemon Go Gym defenders, he's also incredibly effective. Assign him to defend your gym and strengthen your Pokemon Go team in your area.

Bite / Fire Blast - 60.8%
Bite / Flamethrower - 61.3%
Fire Fang / Flamethrower - 68.1%
Fire Fang / Fire Blast - 69.6%

One of the most powerful Pokemon in the game, Vaporeon is celebrated for his high DPS and overall combat power. Unknown to most trainers, Vaporeon is also one of the best gym defenders in the game. This of course has to do with the attack set that you end up with.

Water Gun / Water Pulse - 66.7%
Water Gun / Aqua Tail - 67.1%
Water Gun / Hydro Pump - 70.1%

Everyone favorite pink ball of fun, Wigglytuff shouldn't be taken lightly when you see him defending a gym. He uses a combination of physical attacks to do away with his enemies. One of the best Pokemon Go gym defenders, he's also very useful when it comes to attacking gyms as well.

Feint Attack / Dazzling Gleam - 60.2%
Feint Attack / Hyper Beam - 63.3%
Pound / Play Rough - 64.2%
Pound / Hyper Beam - 70.8%

Before we head into our top 5 Pokemon Go Gym Defenders, we'd like to share some of our most popular guides and articles at Pokemon Go Den.

Pokemon Go Beginners Guide

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Parents Guide to Pokemon Go

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Easily one of the most unique fighting type Pokemon, Poliwrath can hold down any gym with ease. He combines the best moves in Bubble and Hydro Pump to dish out the damage. Poliwrath is the 5th best of the Pokemon Go Gym defenders on our list.

Known for his wacky looks and strangely part of the Dragon Pokemon, Exeggutor combines Confusion and Solar Beam to destroy incoming attackers. He's been named in our other best gym defender list, but he deserves it!

Confusion / Seed Bomb - 71.1%
Confusion / Psychic - 74.5%
Zen Headbutt / Solar Beam - 77.7%
Confusion / Solar Beam - 82.9%

One of the more rare Pokemon in the game, Dragonite checks in on our list of best gym defenders. Although it's possible to catch Dragonite in the wild, he's more commonly evolved from Dratini. With lots of Hit Points, Stamina and plenty of Defense, the properly built Dragonite can lay waste to your foes.

Steel Wing / Dragon Claw - 75.1%
Dragon Breath / Dragon Pulse - 79.6%
Steel Wing / Hyper Beam - 81.6%
Steel Wing / Dragon Pulse - 87.8%

Checking in at number two on our Best Pokemon Go Gym Defenders countdown, Lapras is an incredibly powerful defender. Both rare and powerful, Lapras can hold down the fort while you collect your Pokecoins.

Finding a wild Snorlax is rare enough, but getting the best move set is even rarer. Zen Headbutt and Hyper Beam are the best possible combination of moves in Pokemon Go. As the best gym defender, Snorlax is capable of protecting any gym that your team has claimed.

Zen Headbutt / Earthquake - 81.8%
Zen Headbutt / Body Slam - 83.3%
Lick / Hyper Beam - 90.7%
Zen Headbutt / Hyper Beam - 100%