Pokemon GO changed a lot of the core game mechanics from the main series; most notably the flow of battle. Player vs. Player (PvP) battles still work (somewhat) similarly to those in the main series - with an energy system added. During PvE (Player vs. Environment) battles, the game works on a system of cooldown times, energy farming via the use of fast attacks, and spending energy to power charge moves.
In both PvP and PvE battles the key to victory is often selecting the right moves for a Pokemon; specifically, charge moves with a good balance of damage output vs. energy spent ratio. Choosing the best fast (or quick) move is important as well, in fact, the wrong fast move can drastically lower the efficiency of a powerful charge move.
Updated July 14, 2022, by Jeff Drake: One of the many great aspects of playing Pokemon GO is how new content is constantly being added to the game. New Pokemon continue to be introduced to the game's Pokedex, and new fast and charge moves often accompany these additions. Thanks to the phenomenon in gaming known as power creep, these newly introduced charge moves are better than most of the previously available moves. This list has been updated to include four more of the best charge moves in Pokemon GO, as well as one charge move that will hopefully be unlocked very soon.
20 Aeroblast
Aeroblast is a Flying-type move with three variations. The versions of this move are differentiated by "+" and "++" symbols after the name. The Aeroblast+ and Aeroblast++ versions are more powerful than the base version; with the Aeroblast++ version being the most powerful of the three. This move rates very high in overall power with a 180 rating (170 in PvP) and damage-per-energy (DPE) used (2.27).
This move is so powerful that it is limited to a single Pokemon and its Shadow Form: Lugia. Aeroblast can be learned by both. The Aeroblast+ variant can be learned by Shadow Lugia, while Aeroblast++ can only be learned by Lugia.
19 Blast Burn
This is an incredible Fire-type charge move. Blast Burn boasts a high power rating of 110, and one of the best damage-per-energy ratings in Pokemon GO at 2.20. This charge move has two bars, making it a little more flexible in battle. The one drawback of Blast Burn is its longer than average cooldown time.
The absolute best Pokemon that uses Blast Burn is Mega Blaziken, which is closely followed by Mega Charizard Y. Other notable Pokemon that can use this move are Typhlosion and Emboar though neither is quite as effective as the aforementioned 'mons.
18 Giga Impact
Giga Impact is a well-known move in the main Pokemon series. It forces the user to skip its next turn but does so much damage that there might not be a next turn for the opponent. In Pokemon GO, this attack has a base power of 200 (150 in PvP), a DPE of 2.0, and a cooldown time of 4.7 seconds. It may not be the fastest charge move in Pokemon GO, but it is inarguably one of the most damaging.
The Pokemon that can make the most of Giga Impact is Regigigas, followed closely by Xerneas. These are currently the only two Pokemon that can learn this powerful attack.
17 Draco Meteor
Dragon-type moves are typically among the strongest in any Pokemon game, and, among the wide selection of Dragon-type moves in the series, Draco Meteor stands out as being one of the best. This move has a power rating of 150, placing it in the top ten highest power ratings and making Draco Meteor one of the best charge moves in Pokemon GO.
The best Pokemon to pair with Draco Meteor is Mega Salamence. Some other great Pokemon that can learn Draco Meteor are Palkia, Reshiram, and Dialga.
16 Origin Pulse
This might be the best charge move in Pokemon GO at the time of writing. Origin Pulse, a Water-type move, is considered by many players to be more than a bit overpowered with a base power of 130, a DPE of 1.30, and a cooldown time of 1.7 seconds.
Origin Pulse is Kyogre's signature move, so it's obviously the best. There's one big problem with Origin Pulse though: it's not officially in the game yet. Origin Pulse exists in the game's code, but cannot be accessed at the time of writing. Many players are hoping that this powerful charge move will be unlocked soon.
15 Hydro Cannon
Water Pokemon, or at least Pokemon with Water moves, are often smart to keep in the main party – it’s just so handy when dealing with those pesky Rock, Ground, and Fire-types. Hydro Cannon is extremely powerful, with a power rating of 90. The cooldown time for Hydro Cannon is a speedy 1.8 seconds.
This attack has two bars that take 50 energy to fill (100 for both). Hydro Cannon’s power and energy requirement were both lowered by 10 in PvP. Unfortunately, only four Pokemon can learn Hydro Cannon: Empoleon, Blastoise, Swampert, and Feraligatr. It is a legacy move for all four.
14 Aura Sphere
Aura Sphere is a Fighting-type move that is similar to Hydro Cannon. It deals a lot of damage, is fairly efficient in terms of damage per energy, and has a fast cooldown time of 1.8 seconds. Its power rating is 90, and it takes 50 energy to fill each of its two bars.
This move lets a Pokemon deliver a lot of damage in a short amount of time for a relatively small energy cost. In PvP, Aura Sphere’s power is increased to 100, but its energy requirement was only increased to 55. Currently, only Lucario can learn Aura Sphere.
13 Future Sight
There probably aren't many players who don't know about the Psychic-type move called simply Psychic. However, a lesser-known Psychic-type move, but one that is slightly better, is Future Sight.
Future Sight doesn't have many disadvantages if chosen as a charge move. It has a very high DPS of 44 and a reasonably low cooldown time of 2.7 seconds. The best aspect of Future sight is its efficiency though, as it has one of the better damage-per-energy ratios in the game. Arceus and Lugia are the strongest Pokemon that can learn Future Sight in Pokemon GO.
12 Meteor Mash
Meteor Mash is a Steel-type move that is one of the most damaging in the game, yet has a fairly fast cooldown time of 2.6 seconds. Its power rating is 100, and each of its two bars takes 50 energy to fill. This gives Meteor Mash a 2-to-1 damage per energy ratio. Any move with a 2-to-1 damage/energy ratio is worth having a Pokemon learn.
Only two Pokemon can learn Meteor Mash: Metagross and Clefable. It is much better when used by Metagross due to the additional STAB damage, but it’s also a legacy move for Metagross – unlike Clefable.
11 Leaf Blade
Leaf Blade is a Grass-type move, and part of the move-sets of some of the best-performing Pokemon in the Ultra League. Though Frenzy Plant is a better all-around move, it’s also a legacy move for only a handful of Pokemon, whereas Leaf Blade is more easily available.
Leaf Blade has a power rating of 70 in both PvP and PvE; however, in PvP, its energy cost raises from 33 to 35. Its cooldown time is 2.4 seconds, which is fairly fast considering its power and energy cost. Virizion is the best Pokemon that can learn Leaf Blade, but Sceptile and Leafeon can also put it to efficient use.
10 Gunk Shot
Gunk Shot is one of those charge moves that, on paper, doesn't seem that appealing. Viewing this move in such a way is a mistake though, as this is a great charge move for catching an opponent by surprise in PvP battles. The reason for this is that Gunk Shot charges so fast that an opponent might not put up a shield, thinking there's no way the player's charge move is ready — only for Gunk Shot to suddenly surprise them and cause their Pokemon to faint.
Gunk Shot has a good DPS of 41, but a cooldown time of 3.1 seconds. However, energy requirements are often more of a hindrance than cooldown time. Octillery and the Alolan form of Muk are both strong Pokemon that can learn Gunk Shot.
9 Outrage
Outrage is a Dragon-type move that can be taught to a long list of Pokemon, most of which are very powerful. It is not always a particular Pokemon’s best charge move due to the available fast moves, but it’s almost always at least the second best.
Outrage has an incredible power rating of 110, and in PvE cost 50 energy (60 for PvP). Its cooldown time is 3.9 seconds – which is great when one takes into account that only one move has a higher power. Dragonite, Rayquaza, Kyurem (Black Form), Salamence, Garchomp, and Snorlax can all learn Outrage.
8 Magnet Bomb
Magnet Bomb is a Steel-type move that is only known to a few Pokemon, and it is the best charge move for all of them. It has a power of 70 in both PvE and PvP; its energy cost in PvE is 33 and 45 in PvP. This makes Magnet Bomb slightly less efficient in PvP battles.
Its cooldown time is 2.8 seconds, which is fast for a move with a power of 70 or higher. Genesect is the best Pokemon that can learn Magnet Bomb, and it is Genesect’s best charge move. Magneton and Probopass also learn this attack.
7 Stone Edge
Stone Edge is a devastatingly powerful Rock-type charge move that can be learned by a large selection of powerful Pokemon. Everything about this move is favorable. It has a great DPS of 43.5 and a cooldown time of 2.3 seconds. It also has above-average efficiency in terms of damage-per-energy spent.
Stone Edge is like Gunk Shot in that it can surprise opponents. As stated, there are numerous Pokemon that can learn Stone Edge. Among the best of these are Regigigas, Heatran, Tyranitar, and Mew.
6 Shadow Ball
Shadow Ball is a Ghost-type move that is the best charge move for many of top-tier Pokemon, and it’s refreshingly not a legacy move for many of them. It has a power rating of 100 in both PvP and PvE battles, and its energy cost raises from 50 to 55 for PvP battles. Shadow Ball's cooldown time is three seconds – which is about average.
Giratina (Origin Form) is deadly when using Shadow Ball; as are Gengar, Chanderlure, and Darkrai. It is a legacy move for Mewtwo but is also its second best charge move after Psystrike.
5 Rock Wrecker
Rock Wrecker is such a powerful move that only one Pokemon can learn it (Rhyperior), and it is a legacy move for that Pokemon. As the name suggests, Rock Wrecker is a Rock-type move with some of the best all-around stats in the game.
This attack has a power rating of 110, and an energy cost of 50 in both PvP and PvE battles. Its cooldown time is 3.6 seconds. Rock Wrecker is worth having members of the Rhyperior’s evolutionary line in storage, just in case this move is offered during an event.
4 Wild Charge
There are two basic types of charge moves in Pokemon GO: those that charge quickly and do less damage, and those that take longer to charge but deliver a more powerful blow. Wild Charge is one of the rare third type of charge move, as it sits somewhere between the other two types.
This attack does more damage than the faster charge moves, but it doesn't have as long of a cooldown time as the more powerful moves. It has a 2.6-second cooldown time and a DPS of 34.6. Wild Charge is one of the most damage-per-energy efficient charge moves in Pokemon GO. The best Pokemon that can learn Wild Charge include Electivire, Magnezone, Raikou, and Zekrom.
3 Doom Desire
Doom Desire is a powerful (some would say overpowered) Steel-type move. It can only be taught to one Pokemon, Jirachi, and it's surprisingly not a legacy move.
Doom Desire is Jirachi’s best charge move regardless of which fast move it is paired with. It has a power rating of 70 in PvE and a power rating of 75 in PvP. Its energy cost is 33 in PvE and 400 in PvP. Doom Desire’s cooldown time is 1.7 seconds. This move has one of the best damage per energy ratios in Pokemon GO, and is almost single-handedly the reason Jirachi is ranked well in the Ultra League.
2 Sky Attack
When it comes to Flying-type charge moves, the two best choices are Brave Bird and Sky Attack. Both moves have similar DPS, though Sky Attack's DPS of 40 is five less than Brave Bird's. Both moves have a cooldown time of 2 seconds. However, Sky Attack charges much faster, giving it a better damage-per-energy efficiency.
Originally, Moltres was the best Pokemon that could learn Sky Attack, but it is now unfortunately a Legacy Move for it. Lugia is currently the best Pokemon that can use Sky Attack, followed by Skarmory, Honchkrow, and Altaria.
1 Flying Press
Keep in mind that Flying Press is only known by one Pokemon – and a Pokemon that is not the easiest to catch. Only Pikachu Libre knows Flying Press, and it is won after Great League matches (if a player is lucky).
Flying Press has a power rating of 110 in PvE and 90 in PvP; its energy cost is 50 in PvE and 40 in PvP. Its cooldown time is 2.3, which is fantastic for such a high-power attack. This attack also has an incredible damage-per-energy ratio of 2.20. This puts it in a tie with three other moves for having the best damage per energy ratio, and of the four it has by far the fastest cooldown time.