Best team for the Master League ML Premier Classic in Pokemon Go

The Pokemon Go Battle League’s traditional Master League format gets a shakeup with the ML Premier Classic, requiring Trainers to rethink their usual best team picks as Legendaries are banned.

While the Great League, Ultra League, and Master League are the pillars of the Go Battle League, Niantic regularly introduces variations to keep things interesting, such as the Great League Remix or the unique Psychic Cup.

Just like the regular Master League, there’s no CP limit here, but the Premier ruleset means Legendary and Mythical Pokemon are banned, while the Classic ruleset means Pokemon powered up with XL Candy aren’t allowed either.

As a result, many of the best Master League competitors are excluded from play, which could leave Trainers struggling to find a new best team. Below, we’ve listed our recommendations to take you straight to victory.

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Contents

• Best team for the Master League Premier Classic
• Best Pokemon for the Master League Premier Classic
• Master League Premier Classic date & time

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Best team for Master League Premier Classic in Pokemon Go

One of the best teams for Pokemon Go’s Master League Premier Classic is Metagross, Florges, and Garchomp, as these are three of the strongest fighters in the meta and provide a good range of coverage against common enemies.

Of course, it’s impossible to say what a true ‘best’ team looks like in any Go Battle League competition, as it really depends on the Pokemon your opponent sends out – and you won’t know that until you’re already in a battle. That’s all part of the fun!

Having said that, there are some standouts who should perform well in almost any situation, which we’ve listed below. The good news is that Premier Classic rules mean none of our recommendations require XL Candy to reach their peak.

Best Pokemon for the Master League Classic

Florges

• Fast Move: Fairy Wind
• Charged Moves: Disarming Voice and Moonblast
• Resistances: Bug, Dark, Dragon, and Fighting
• Weaknesses: Poison and Steel

We didn’t expect much from Florges when it made its debut last year, but it’s quickly become the top ranking Pokemon in the Master League Premier Classic. It can take on loads of big names like Dragonite, Garchomp, and Gyarados, while a lack of Poison-types in the meta means there isn’t much to threaten it.

Now that Florges has access to Fairy Wind, you’ll want this as its Fast Move. Then, pair the low-cost Disarming Voice with the high-power Moonblast for a brilliant Fairy-type moveset with huge STAB damage that can take on the majority of opponents you’ll come across.

Metagross

• Fast Move: Bullet Punch
• Charged Moves: Meteor Mash and Earthquake
• Resistances: Dragon, Fairy, Flying, Grass, Ice, Normal, Poison, Psychic, Rock, and Steel
• Weaknesses: Dark, Fire, Ghost, and Ground

With Florges rising to the top of the Master League Premier Classic, it’s even more important to have a strong Steel-type that can counter it. Metagross has an incredible amount of type resistances and a huge Attack stat that makes it one of the best choices for your team.

Bullet Punch is the best Fast Move choice for energy generation, while also dealing decent damage. Follow that up with the Charged Moves Meteor Mash and Earthquake, and you’ve got a build that combines massive damage with solid coverage.

Gyarados (Shadow)

• Fast Move: Dragon Breath
• Charged Moves: Aqua Tail and Crunch
• Resistances: Bug, Fighting, Fire, Ground, Steel, and Water
• Weaknesses: Electric and Rock

Shadow Gyarados is definitely one to watch out for in this Pokemon Go league. It has an impressive Attack stat, and its unique typing gives it added resistance against some of the most popular choices in the Master League Premier Classic, including Metagross and Garchomp.

It won’t benefit from STAB, but Dragon Breath is the best Fast Move here with high damage and solid energy generation. Aqua Tail is a great Charged Move for removing your opponent’s shields, while Crunch adds coverage and impressive damage output.

Dragonite

• Fast Move: Dragon Breath
• Charged Moves: Dragon Claw and Superpower
• Resistances: Bug, Fighting, Fire, Grass, Ground, and Water
• Weaknesses: Dragon, Fairy, Ice, and Rock

With Legendaries banned from the Master League Premier Classic meta, it makes sense that pseudo-Legendaries are next in line for consideration. Dragonite is one of the best you can choose, with a huge Attack stat, a solid set of resistances, and a great moveset for taking down opponents.

Dragon Breath is Dragonite’s best Fast Move, so make sure you have it. The low-cost Dragon Claw should be your go-to Charged Move as it can be spammed for both shield baiting and decent STAB damage. Go with the Fighting-type Superpower as a secondary attack for extra coverage.

Garchomp

• Fast Move: Mud Shot
• Charged Moves: Sand Tomb and Outrage
• Resistances: Electric, Fire, Poison, and Rock
• Weaknesses: Dragon, Fairy, and Ice

PvP favorite Garchomp is one of the few non-Legendaries that can hold its own in the regular Master League, so it’s not surprising to see it near the top in the Premier Classic variant as well.

Go with Mud Shot as your Fast Move, as it has great energy generation. This will give you better access to two brilliant Charged Moves, the low-cost Sand Tomb and the powerful Outrage. These are a potent pair, especially against Metagross and Snorlax.

Togekiss

• Fast Move: Charm
• Charged Moves: Ancient Power and Flamethrower
• Resistances: Bug, Dark, Dragon, Fighting, Grass, and Ground
• Weaknesses: Electric, Ice, Poison, Rock, and Steel

Togekiss may have been knocked down the rankings by Florges, but it’s still the best Charmer in Pokemon Go’s Master League Premier Classic, especially because its secondary Flying typing allows it to completely dominate Ground-types like Garchomp.

Charm is the go-to Fast Move for Togekiss, as it deals some great STAB damage. Choose Ancient Power as your Charged Move, with Flamethrower as a second option to help tackle Steel and Ice-types, which Togekiss is weak against.

Snorlax (Shadow)

• Fast Move: Lick
• Charged Moves: Body Slam and Superpower
• Resistances: Ghost
• Weaknesses: Fighting

Shadow Snorlax was a standout in the Ultra League Premier Classic, and it manages to hold onto its place in the Master League’s version too. It’s got key wins against Metagross, Togekiss, and Magnezone, although regular Snorlax is a great choice too.

The only Fast Move worth considering here is Lick, so make sure you have it. Body Slam is a great Charged Move for taking out your opponent’s shields, while Superpower is a solid backup option that increases Snorlax’s coverage thanks to its Fighting typing.

Excadrill

• Fast Move: Mud Shot
• Charged Moves: Drill Run and Rock Slide
• Resistances: Bug, Dragon, Electric, Fairy, Flying, Normal, Poison, Psychic, Rock, and Steel
• Weaknesses: Fighting, Fire, Ground, and Water

With an incredible amount of type resistances, a huge Attack stat, and the ability to take down the likes of Florges, Metagross, and Togekiss, the Ground/Steel-type Excadrill remains a solid choice for the Master League Premier Classic.

Mud Shot has the best energy generation, so go with that as Excadrill’s Fast Move. When it comes to Charged Moves, pair Drill Run with Rock Slide to give yourself two brilliant low-cost attacks that offer some impressive coverage.

Pokemon Go Master League Premier Classic date & time

The Master League Premier Classic kicks off in the Battle League on Thursday, January 5, 2023, at 1PM PT / 4PM ET / 9PM GMT and runs until Thursday, January 12, 2023, at 1PM PT.

It will run alongside the traditional Master League, which is returning to the Go Battle League once again.

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You can see the full Pokemon Go Battle League Season 13 schedule and rewards here.