Skydiver2021's PokemonGo Defender List

A weighted gym defender list!

Reddit user Skydiver2021 has formulated my favourite gym defender list for PokemonGo

This page updates daily against Skydiver2021's top defender Google spreadsheet

Gym defense rankings can be a complex topic
Scroll to the bottom of the list to read more about Skydiver2021's methodology.

Scroll to bottom

Defender List

#1 Blissey
Score: 100
Weak to fighting

#2 Togekiss
Score: 68.4
Resists fighting

#3 Metagross
Score: 66.2

#4 Melmetal
Score: 65.6
Weak to fighting

#5 Snorlax
Score: 62.5
Weak to fighting

#6 Milotic
Score: 62.1

#7 Gardevoir
Score: 60.5
Resists fighting

#8 Steelix
Score: 59.7
Weak to fighting

#9 Slowbro
Score: 58.8
Resists fighting

#10 Dragonite
Score: 56.8
Resists fighting

#11 Chansey
Score: 55.1
Weak to fighting

#12 Umbreon
Score: 54.4
Weak to fighting

#13 Muk
Score: 53.9
Resists fighting

#14 Clefable
Score: 53.8
Resists fighting

#15 Slowking
Score: 53.8
Resists fighting

#16 Crobat
Score: 53.4
Resists fighting

#17 Lapras
Score: 53.2
Weak to fighting

#18 Alolan Muk
Score: 51.3

#19 Poliwrath
Score: 51.2

#20 Donphan
Score: 50.6

#21 Gliscor
Score: 50.3
Resists fighting

#22 Slaking
Score: 50.1
Weak to fighting

#23 Venusaur
Score: 49.9
Resists fighting

#24 Ampharos
Score: 49.7

#25 Hypno
Score: 49.6
Resists fighting

#26 Vaporeon
Score: 48.7

#27 Tentacruel
Score: 48.7
Resists fighting

#28 Lanturn
Score: 48.5

#29 Drifblim
Score: 48.2
Resists fighting

#30 Rhyperior
Score: 48.1
Weak to fighting

#31 Azumarill
Score: 48
Resists fighting

#32 Exeggutor
Score: 47.8
Resists fighting

#33 Dusknoir
Score: 47.4
Resists fighting

#34 Feraligatr
Score: 47

#35 Gyarados
Score: 46.8
Resists fighting

#36 Alolan Exeggutor
Score: 46.7

#37 Empoleon
Score: 46.4
Weak to fighting

#38 Wobbuffet
Score: 46.2
Resists fighting

#39 Skarmory
Score: 46.3

#40 Walrein
Score: 46
Weak to fighting

#41 Torterra
Score: 45.8

#42 Swampert
Score: 45.8

#43 Alolan Marowak
Score: 45.4
Resists fighting

#44 Heracross
Score: 45.2
Resists fighting

#45 Meganium
Score: 44.3

#46 Electivire
Score: 44.1

#47 Kingdra
Score: 43.9

#48 Nidoqueen
Score: 43.8
Resists fighting

#49 Grumpig
Score: 43.8
Resists fighting

#50 Salamence
Score: 43.1
Resists fighting

#51 Forretress
Score: 43

#52 Luxray
Score: 43

#53 Arcanine
Score: 42.8

#54 Skuntank
Score: 42.7

#55 Altaria
Score: 42.7
Resists fighting

#56 Roserade
Score: 42.6
Resists fighting

#57 Granbull
Score: 42.6
Resists fighting

#58 Relicanth
Score: 42.5
Weak to fighting

#59 Mr Mime
Score: 42.1
Resists fighting

#60 Politoed
Score: 42

#61 Espeon
Score: 42
Resists fighting

#62 Jolteon
Score: 42

#63 Charizard
Score: 41.8
Resists fighting

#64 Flygon
Score: 41.6

#65 Hariyama
Score: 41.3

#66 Scizor
Score: 39.8

#67 Rhydon
Score: 39.5
Weak to fighting

#68 Claydol
Score: 39.4
Resists fighting

#69 Tyranitar
Score: 39.3

#70 Swalot
Score: 39.2
Resists fighting

#71 Alolan Sandslash
Score: 39.1

#72 Infernape
Score: 39.1

#73 Machamp
Score: 39

#74 NoctOwl
Score: 38.4

#75 Aggron
Score: 37.8

#76 Kangaskhan
Score: 37.7
Weak to fighting

#77 Togetic
Score: 37.5
Resists fighting

#78 Miltank
Score: 36.8
Weak to fighting

#79 Blastoise
Score: 36.8

#80 Cradily
Score: 36.5
Weak to fighting

#81 Gengar
Score: 36.1
Resists fighting

#82 Mantine
Score: 36.1
Resists fighting

#83 Cloyster
Score: 35.4
Weak to fighting

#84 Wigglytuff
Score: 35.3

#85 Alakazam
Score: 34.9
Resists fighting

#86 Piloswine
Score: 34.2
Weak to fighting

#87 Ludicolo
Score: 34.1

#88 Pinsir
Score: 33.6
Resists fighting

#89 Typhlosion
Score: 33.1

#90 Armaldo
Score: 33.1

#91 Torkoal
Score: 33.1

#93 Golem
Score: 33
Weak to fighting

#94 Golduck
Score: 32.9

#95 Flareon
Score: 31.1

#96 Ursaring
Score: 30.7
Weak to fighting

#97 Whiscash
Score: 30.4

#98 Wailord
Score: 30.1

#99 Aerodactyl
Score: 30

#100 Omastar
Score: 27.6
Weak to fighting

Defender List Methodology

Currently the following factors are weighted when the list is calculated:

- Double weaknesses are penalized.
- "Time to beat" and "Damage dealt" calculated against popular attackers
- More weight is given when a defender verses Machamp
- Defenders with a low CP (Eg Umbreon, Hypno and Azulmarill) are given a small boost as they lose CP more slowly

The best defenders are Golden Razz Berries.

Have you ever been battling a gym, and a defender is instantly full motivation again?
An opposing team member is likely feeding a golden razz berry to the defenders in the gym to waste your time when attacking. This is currently the best deterrant towards people attacking a gym - not always the Pokemon you leave behind. Feeding golden razz berries is frustrating but one of the best tactics you can use to ensure you defend a gym long term, you can do this by being close to the gym, or by remote berry feeding if you have a Pokemon defending that gym

Knocking out defenders is so easy!

Some people say "Gym defense is useless / pointless, just use pidgey and move on" as most serious opponents will knock down any gym regardless of what you put inside. One thing to consider is that defending gyms is the only way to earn free coins in game, so putting in the best defenders can be important for some players.

There are many ways to rank defenders

Skydiver2021 and myself do not claim that this is the only way to rank defenders or that this lsit is better than any other ranking methods. Each list is purely a personal preference, Skydiver2021 decided to share this list after a few players expressed interest in the ranking technique. With Skydiver2021's approval, I have converted the list into a dynamic website that changes if updated!

Whats still to come?

I plan to add the following to this list:
- Top counters for each defender
- View all weaknesses
- Best Moveset