GamingPokemon

Best team for the Retro Cup in Pokemon Go (December 2023)

Daniel Megarry
Lickitung in the Pokemon Go Summer CupNiantic / The Pokemon Company

The Retro Cup is returning to the Pokemon Go Battle League! With a unique set of rules and restrictions, our best team recommendations will help you secure the win.

Alongside the traditional Great League, Ultra League, and Master League, the Pokemon Go Battle League regularly features themed cups with unusual rules and restrictions to give trainers a fresh challenge.

The latest to arrive in Season 11 of the Go Battle League is the Retro Cup, which only allows types from the first-generation games. This means no Dark, Steel, or Fairy-type Pokemon are allowed to enter.

If you’re struggling to figure out the best team to take into battle, we’ve featured seven of the best Pokemon for the Retro Cup below, as well as their optimal movesets.

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Pokemon Go Battle League

Best team for the Retro Cup in Pokemon Go

One of the best teams you can use for the Retro Cup in Pokemon Go is Lickitung, Mantine, and Aurorus, as these are three of the strongest eligible competitors that cover a wide range of types.

Of course, it’s hard to say what the ‘ultimate’ team looks like as it really depends on your opponents. For example, Lickitung will beat most Pokemon in the Retro Cup, but it will almost always lose to Machamp.

Having said that, there are several Pokemon who rise to the top of the ranks with the ability to perform well in most scenarios, which you can see below. Even better, most of them don’t need XL Candy.

Best Pokemon for the Retro Cup in Pokemon Go

Lickitung (XL)

  • Fast Move: Lick
  • Charged Move: Body Slam and Power Whip
  • Type: Normal

Lickitung is the one to beat in the Retro Cup. You’ll need XL Candy and a Legacy Move (or an Elite Charged TM) to make it viable, but it’s definitely worth it, with key wins against most of the big players here.

As we mentioned, you’ll need access to the Charged Move Body Slam to make Lickitung work. Pair that with Lick as the optimal Fast Move and Power Whip as a secondary Charged Move for extra coverage.

Aurorus

  • Fast Move: Powder Snow
  • Charged Moves: Weather Ball (Ice) and Ice Beam
  • Type: Rock/Ice

Since Flying, Dragon, and Ice-types are the top tier options in Pokemon Go, it makes sense to bring Aurorus to the Retro Cup.

An Ice-heavy arsenal of moves can shut down any players running a Dragon and Flying-type Pokemon, which makes this an ideal move.

Mantine

  • Fast Move: Wing Attack
  • Charged Moves: Aerial Ace and Ice Beam
  • Type: Water/Flying

Mantine is arguably the top dog in the Pokemon Go Retro Cup field. The Generation II Pokemon ranked in the top spot in PvPoke‘s Retro Cup rankings.

Mantine’s moveset provides blanket protection against Fighting-types, good for anyone also running Likitung. Couple two Flying-type moves with Ice Beam, and it’s not hard see to why Mantine works so well in this event.

Arctibax

  • Fast move: Dragon Breath
  • Charged moves: Avalance and Dragon Claw
  • Type: Dragon/Ice

Arctibax is a nightmare for those in the mirror match against fellow Ice and Dragon-type Pokemon. That’s because it has Ice/Dragon-type, has access to both types of moves, and is not weak to Ice-types.

Dragon Breath is a brilliant Fast Move. Arctibax can also be equipped with Avalance (Ice) and Dragon Claw (Dragon) to pound against Flying-types or fellow Dragon-type Pokemon.

Cresselia

  • Fast move: Psycho Cut
  • Charged moves: Grass Knot and Moonblasdt
  • Type: Psychic

One of the few Legendaries that can realistically compete in the Retro Cup is the Psychic-type Cresselia, which has the ability to take down almost all Fighting-types as well as Walrein, Mew, and Deoxys.

Psycho Cut is the best Fast Move at Cresselia’s disposal, giving quicker access to its Charged Moves – the cheap Legacy Move Grass Knot for spamming and Moonblast for dealing huge STAB damage.

Jellicent

  • Fast Move: Hex
  • Charged Move: Surf and Shadow Ball
  • Type: Water/Ghost

One of the benefits to running Jellicent in the Retro Cup is that it will be resistant to Lickitung’s Body Slam, a Normal-type move. But more importantly, Jellicent’s Surf is also a strong counter to Aurorus.

Overall, Jellicent’s access to both Water and Ghost-type moves makes it a uniquely powerful Pokemon that can also counter other Ghost-types, as well.

Regirock

  • Fast Move: Lock On
  • Charged Move: Stone Edge and Focus Blast
  • Strengths: Fire, Flying, Normal, and Poison
  • Weaknesses: Fighting, Grass, Ground, Steel, and Water

The second Legendary on this list is the Hoenn titan Regirock. With Registeel banned in the Retro Cup, Regirock fulfills a similar role of being able to take out the likes of Froslass, Abomasnow, and Altaria.

Lock On is an excellent Fast Move, so make sure it’s in your moveset. Then, for Charged Moves, go with Stone Edge for huge power and low cost, with Focus Blast as a devastating secondary attack.

Pokemon Go Retro Cup rules & restrictions explained

The main rule of the Retro Cup is that only the old-school types are allowed to compete, which means Dark, Fairy, and Steel-type Pokemon aren’t allowed to enter.

That’s not the only restriction, either, as any Pokemon you want on your team must be below the max 1,500 CP limit.

Pokemon Go Retro Cup start & end date

The Retro Cup will kick off in the Pokemon Go Battle League runs from December 1 through December 8.

It will appear alongside the Great League, and we’ve got a best team guide for that right here.

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