Alakazam
Fast
Charge
PvE Analysis
Over the generations of GO, Alakazam has transformed from an ace glass cannon to simply “not Mewtwo”. It's now to the point where Alakazam is just not a recommended investment short of desperation or preperation for Mega Alakazam, as it's just so outclassed. Its strongest move takes an Elite TM, and it's just not worth spending one on this Pokemon! Sadly, it will take quite a bit to make Alakazam worthwhile, and even then it will likely still have a long way to go to be competitive with Mewtwo, much less the Shadow Pokemon that are becoming ever more dominant as time goes on...
Best PvE Offensive Moveset
Confusion or Psycho Cut + Psychic* | Best |
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Confusion or Psycho Cut + Future Sight | Great |
Counter* + Focus Blast | Good |
Confusion’s higher DPS makes it objectively better than Psycho Cut. However, due to its shorter cooldown, many players prefer Psycho Cut.
Focus Blast pairs with Counter and gives Alakazam some great type coverage over meta relevant Pokemon such as Blissey, Snorlax, and Lapras, though it's weaker in this role than actual fighting types if not Shadow.
Psychic* is a no-brainer here, sporting the best power that Alakazam can muster while being a 2 bar move. Future Sight just falls short.
Shadow Ball is useful against Psychic and Ghost-type raid bosses.
- Dazzling Gleam has a use vs. Machamp raids, but even then, Alakazam has a better option.
Fire Punch is of no value on an attacking Alakazam
Best PvE Defensive Moveset
Confusion + Shadow ball, Dazzling Gleam*, Fire Punch, or Psychic* | Best |
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Confusion’s high base damage makes it a clear choice on defense.
Counter's solid stats and coverage make it a potentially decent choice
Dazzling Gleam* is preferred on defense due to its wide coverage and low energy cost.
Shadow Ball is an outstanding move on defense, but it leaves Alakazam little more than a bump in the road against Tyranitar and other threatening dark-types.
Focus Blast can lay the hurt on Dark-types, but it is easy to dodge and Alakazam may not even get a chance to use it.
Fire Punch is a 3-bar move with decent counter-coverage. But, again, this leaves Alakazam easily crunched by Tyranitar.
- Both Future Sight and Psychic* are poor on defense, offering no coverage.
PvP Analysis
Counter or Psycho Cut + Fire Punch and Psychic* or Shadow Ball |
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Counter is generally preferred for its superior damage output and wide relevant coverage, despite STAB and superior energy generation with Psycho Cut.
Fire Punch costs the least amount of energy, and can be used frequently. Psychic is a move that hits hard with STAB, but is limited by availability. Shadow Ball provides coverage against Alakazam's weakness to Ghost-types, in addition to relatively neutral coverage overall, but lacks STAB. The rest of Alakazam's charge moves cost too much energy to be viable; Alakazam will very likely faint by then.
Great League | |
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Alakazam prior to its Community Day has seen zero use in PvP due to its extreme fragility, but the addition of Counter from CD and Fire Punch from the December 2019 rebalance gave it the tools it needed to compete in the meta. Access to Counter and Fire Punch enables valuable coverage against a large portion of the meta, in particular most Steel-types and a variety of Grass-types. Unfortunately Alakazam's very poor bulk causes it to perform quite badly in most matchups where it can't hit for Super Effective damage, which makes it more of a niche. | |
Ultra League | |
Poor bulk doesn't help Alakazam in Ultra League, where the ubiquitous Giratina becomes a major threat. Access to Shadow Ball is often inadequate due to Alakazam fainting before it can reach it with a prior shield bait. Wins against common Steel-types and certain other meta Pokemon gives Alakazam some play against the meta, but the reliance on very situational and specific matchups can result in difficulties to win consistently. | |
Master League | |
Alakazam has stats that are somewhat inferior when compared to the meta, especially its DEF and STA stats. While it can win certain matchups against popular Pokemon, other Pokemon can fulfill its role with more consistent results. |