There are a million and one ways to examine a Pokemon move and its usefulness in battle, but the most straightforward way to look at them is what their types are and how much damage they do. There are a bunch of moves that have great base power, and reign supreme in that category for their type. The problem is, some of them have low accuracy or negative effects that make them unviable for use in competitive battling.

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The strongest Pokemon moves are not always the best Pokemon moves, in other words. There's a big difference between the straight-up strongest moves according to base power, and moves that have a nice balance of power, viability, and accessibility. This list will be looking at both perspectives for each type.

Updated on December 10, 2022 by Kyle Laurel: We've given this list a bit of a refresh, adding in tables to offer the important info about these moves at a glance. We've also made sure it's all up to date, adding new moves from Pokemon Legends: Arceus, and Scarlet and Violet!

This list will not include Z-Moves or Max Moves.

The Strongest Normal-Type Move

Noibat Boomburst Pokemon Anime Explosion Normal Type

Move

Power

Accuracy

Strongest

Explosion

250

100

Best

Boomburst

140

100

You might've expected Hyper Beam or Giga Impact to win this category, but Explosion's 250 base power is the runaway winner. Of course, that comes with the caveat of making the user faint, so it isn't always the most useful.

If you're looking for a more reliable attack, Boomburst is a great option at 140 base power. Not a lot of Normal-types are special attackers, but the ones that are have Boomburst as their best STAB option, should they have access to it. For physical moves, Mega Kick, Thrash, and Double-Edge are all widely accessible moves without the caveat of eliminating the user, though they do have caveats of their own (inaccuracy, move-locking, and recoil, respectively).

The Strongest Fighting-Type Move

Swampert Focus Punch Hawlucha High Jump Kick Fighting Type Move

Move

Power

Accuracy

Strongest

Focus Punch


Meteor Assault

150

100

Best

High Jump Kick

130

90

This one's a tie, with Focus Punch and Meteor Assault both reaching 150 base power. Of course, Focus Punch banks on the user not getting hit at all, and Meteor Assault functions like Hyper Beam, which is a no-go.

High Jump Kick is much more reliable, and even the newer Axe Kick follows a similar formula, dealing ten less base power but adding a chance to confuse. That said, the ten percent chance to miss for both moves also comes with harming the user significantly, so if that's too risky for you, Close Combat is a close second.

The Strongest Flying-Type Move

Flying Type Attack Braviary Brave Bird Unfezant Sky Attack

Move

Power

Accuracy

Strongest

Sky Attack

140

90

Best

Brave Bird

120

100

Sky Attack sits at a very strong 140, but its only real competitive use is on a Hawlucha with Unburden holding a Power Herb. Otherwise, it takes two turns. That isn't much compared to Brave Bird, which has recoil damage, but can at least be used more often while taking less free hits.

The next best options, while being competitive staples, have significant drawbacks for our purposes, with Hurricane being inaccurate and Dual Wingbeat having a big drop-off in base power.

The Strongest Psychic-Type Move

Prismatic Laser Necrozma Sudowoodo Future Sight Psychic Type Move

Move

Power

Accuracy

Strongest

Prismatic Laser

160

100

Best

Future Sight

120

100

The outright strongest moves of most of the types will be their variations of Hyper Beam, and the Psychic-type falls under that category. But even if you wanted to use it, it's Necrozma's signature move, so it's not widely distributed.

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Deoxys's Psycho Boost (140) is a much better move with a much less detrimental caveat, but it's also a signature. Future Sight, on the other hand, isn't far behind at 120, with the interesting but not necessarily detrimental caveat of dealing its damage after two turns.

The Strongest Dark-Type Move

Mr. Mime Target Foul Play Pokemon Let's Go

Move

Power

Accuracy

Strongest

Hyperspace Fury

100

--

Best

Foul Play

95

100

At 110 and 100 base power, respectively, Aura Wheel and Hyperspace Fury are the strongest Dark-type moves, but they're both signature moves (to Morpeko and Hoopa Unbound respectively), and Aura Wheel isn't Dark type all the time. The strongest Dark-type move that isn't a signature is Foul Play.

The Dark-type isn't exactly loaded with strong attacking moves, with Foul Play only being a 95 base power move, and having the interesting effect of calculating damage with the target's Attack stat rather than the users. If you're looking for more of a straightforward attack, Dark Pulse and Crunch work just fine.

The Strongest Ghost-Type Move

Shadow Rider Calyrex Giratina Shadow Force Astral Barrage Pokemon Ghost Type

Move

Power

Accuracy

Strongest

Astral Barrage


Shadow Force

120

100

Best

Poltergeist

110

90

The two strongest Ghost-type moves are both Legendary Pokemon signature moves, with Astral Barrage and Shadow Force sharing 120 base power. They're both great moves, but you need to be using either Shadow Rider Calyrex or Giratina to have access to them.

A more accessible and nearly as strong move is the 110 base power Poltergeist. It doesn't work when the target has no held item, but that's unlikely in competitive battles.

The Strongest Poison-Type Move

Poison Type Gunk Shot Belch Garbodor Belch Skuntank

Move

Power

Accuracy

Strongest

Gunk Shot

120

80

Best

Belch

120

90

Belch and Gunk Shot share the title for the strongest Poison-type move at 120 base power. Gunk Shot is very good, though the inaccuracy might turn some Trainers off. Of course, that's a far cry from Belch, which can only be used once per battle and requires the consumption of a berry.

For less powerful but more reliable moves, Sludge Bomb and Sludge Wave are great.

The Strongest Bug-Type Move

Bug Type Move Megahorn Ash's Heracross Horn Attack Pokemon Anime

Move

Power

Accuracy

Strongest and Best

Megahorn

120

85

Megahorn is the only really strong Bug-type move at 120 base power, with four moves tied for second place at 90; Attack Order, Bug Buzz, First Impression, and Pollen Puff.

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If you're looking for unadulterated, physical Bug-type offense, Megahorn is your best bet, but be wary of its 85 percent accuracy. Otherwise, First Impression and Bug Buzz deal a solid 90 base power with more reliability.

The Strongest Rock-Type Move

Rock Type Move Rock Wrecker Crustle Dusk Form Lycanroc Stone Edge

Move

Power

Accuracy

Strongest

Rock Wrecker


Head Smash

150

90


80

Best

Stone Edge

110

80

Rock Wrecker is another Hyper Beam clone, which means it's incredibly powerful but takes a turn to recharge. Head Smash has just as much base power, but it deals more recoil than even basic recoil moves like Brave Bird or Flare Blitz.

Stone Edge, while inaccurate at 80 percent accuracy, can give you reasonable offensive strength at 110 base power if needed. Other than that, the Rock-type movepool is pretty slim, so take what you can get.

The Strongest Steel-Type Move

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Best Steel-Types: Tinkaton holding her hammer.

Move

Power

Accuracy

Strongest

Gigaton Hammer

160

100

Best

Iron Tail

100

75

The previous holders of this title in Doom Desire and Steel Beam (140) have recently been overtaken by Generation Nine's Tinkaton and its signature Gigaton Hammer, which wields a massive 160 base power. It's only real caveat is that it can't be used consecutively, but it's so broken that you would probably OHKO most opponents the first time.

If you need instant power and don't have access to any signature moves, your best bet is the 100 base power Iron Tail. Even then, that 75 percent accuracy is a crucial miss just waiting to happen.

The Strongest Ground-Type Move

Groudon Gengar Precipice Blades Earthquake Ground Type Move

Move

Power

Accuracy

Strongest

Precipice Blades


Headlong Rush

120

85


100

Best

Earthquake

100

100

There's a reason why every Ground-type Pokemon and their grandma uses Earthquake: it's widely accessible, reliable and powerful Ground-type damage. Of course, if you're a special attacker, Earth Power will work better for you.

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Regardless, neither are the strongest outright; Groudon's signature move's Precipice Blades and the rarely accessible but excellent Headlong Rush take the cake at 120 base power.

The Strongest Grass-Type Move

Venusaur Torterra Frenzy Plant Pokemon Anime Leaf Storm Grass Type MOve

Move

Power

Accuracy

Strongest

Frenzy Plant

150

90

Best

Leaf Storm

130

90

The starter types - Grass, Fire, and Water - get one Hyper Beam clone each, and the Grass type's is Frenzy Plant, which takes the cake for the strongest Grass-type move at 150 base power.

However, Leaf Storm is much more competitively viable. Sure, it drops the user's Special Attack, but that's better than staying idle for a turn.

The Strongest Fire-Type Move

Victini Chandelure Pokemon Game V-create Overheat Fire Type Move

Move

Power

Accuracy

Strongest

V-create

180

95

Best

Overheat

130

90

Even though there are four Fire-type attacks with 150 base power (Blast Burn, Eruption, Mind Blown, Shell Trap) none come close to the massive 180 base power of V-create. You should definitely use it if you can, but you only have access to it if you're using Victini or Rayquaza.

Overheat, at 130 base power, works as a great consolation, save for the Special Attack drop it gives the user. The physical Flare Blitz comes pretty close at 120 base power.

The Strongest Water-Type Move

Empoleon Piplup Prinplup Hydro Cannon Hydro Pump Water Type Move

Move

Power

Accuracy

Strongest

Hydro Cannon


Water Spout

150

90


100

Best

Hydro Pump

110

80

Hydro Cannon and Water Spout both have 150 base power, but neither is particularly viable for different reasons. Hydro Cannon takes a turn to recharge, and Water Spout is very weak if you don't have a lot of HP.

Hydro Pump is a bit more reliable as a full-power Water-type attack. If its 80 percent accuracy worries you, Surf, Scald, and Waterfall are less potent but more reliable options.

The Strongest Electric-Type Move

Pikachu Bolt Strike Thunder Zekrom Electric Type Move

Move

Power

Accuracy

Strongest

Bolt Strike

130

85

Best

Thunder

110

70

Similarly to the Fire-type V-create, Bolt Strike is a move you should definitely use if you have access to it, but only Victini and Zekrom can actually use it. In terms of pure base power, the dastardly inaccurate Zap Cannon and Pawmot's signature Double Shock tie for second at 120.

The best alternative for a super strong Electric-type attack is Thunder. While its accuracy is also a bit alarming, it does bypass that accuracy if you use it in the rain.

The Strongest Ice-Type Move

Black Kyurem Freeze Shock Articuno Blizzard Pokemon Ice Type Move

Move

Power

Accuracy

Strongest

Freeze Shock


Ice Burn

140

90

Best

Blizzard

110

70

The two highest base power Ice-type moves are Kyurem's signature moves in either of its enhanced forms: Freeze Shock for Kyurem-Black, and Ice Burn for Kyurem-White. Ice Rider Calyrex's signature Glacial Lance is a close number two at 130.

Both moves are obviously incredible, but if you're looking for a move to give a regular Pokemon, Blizzard is the strongest you can go. Unless you're running a hail team, be careful of its 70 percent accuracy.

The Strongest Dragon-Type Move

Eternamax Eternatus Draco Meteor Greninja Pokemon Dragon Type Move

Move

Power

Accuracy

Strongest

Eternabeam

160

90

Best

Draco Meteor

130

90

Eternabeam is an incredibly potent 160 base power move, but as the name implies, only Eternatus has access to it. If you're looking for an accessible, Dragon-type attack, Draco Meteor is a great option at 130 base power, besides the Special Attack drop of course.

The best physical Dragon-type move, Outrage, is a close second in terms of widely distributed moves at 120. Other signature moves that deserve honorable mentions include Regidrago's Dragon Energy (150) and Baxcalibur's Glaive Rush (120).

The Strongest Fairy-Type Move

Magearna Original Moonblast Fleur Cannon Lunala Fairy Type Move

Move

Power

Accuracy

Strongest

Light of Ruin


Fleur Cannon

140


130

90

Best

Moonblast

95

100

Light of Ruin is actually inaccessible by legitimate means, being the signature move of Eternal Flower Floette, which was never released. Regardless, it sits as the strongest Fairy-type move at 140 base power, with Magearna's signature Fleur Cannon being the strongest among legitimately accessible moves at 130.

If you're looking for a strong Fairy-type move to give a regular Pokemon though, your only truly viable option is the 95 base power Moonblast.

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