Niantic's Pokemon GO mobile game has come a long way since its initial release back in 2016. Out of the plethora of features introduced into Pokemon GO over the years, one of the rarest and most sought-after is that of the Lucky Pokemon. To make a Pokemon lucky requires quite a time commitment, raising friendship levels with other players in order to increase the chances of traded Pokemon becoming lucky, with the only guaranteed method being to trade with a Lucky Friend, and gaining such a friend is a completely random occurrence.

Related

Pokemon GO Tier List: Best Pokemon to Use

A detailed Pokemon GO guide on the best PvE/PvP attackers and gym defenders.

For the casual player, having a Lucky Pokemon is predominantly for bragging rights but, for the more competitive players, a Lucky Pokemon has many benefits. Lucky Pokemon, among other aesthetic changes, cost a considerable amount less in Stardust to power up and are guaranteed high IVs. In Gym battles and Raids, this is great, but it is in competitive PvP that this really comes in handy. Of course, any Pokemon can be lucky, but there are a certain few that are more sought-after than the rest.

10 Machamp

The classic Fighting-type evolution line of Machop, Machoke, and Machamp will be familiar to Pokemon fans, having been introduced in the very first games of the franchise. The final evolution Machamp has always been a powerful addition to trainers' teams, and very little has changed in the years after its introduction.

In context to Pokemon GO, Machamp is a powerful and reliable attacker, being able to counter various challenging Raid bosses, especially those of the tanky Steel or Rock types. In PvP, Machamp remains a great addition to teams despite not being the most powerful Fighting-type attacker, able to employ fast and powerful moves as well as learn valuable coverage moves for its weaknesses.

9 Lugia

The Generation 2 cover legendary Lugia is a safe bet for any Pokemon GO player worried about what Pokemon to make lucky. Despite its lack of optimization for attacking Raid bosses, Lugia excels across the board in the GO Battle League, especially in the no-CP limit Master League.

Lugia's Psychic/Flying-typing mixed with its varied move pool makes short work of many meta-relevant Pokemon that stalk the top rungs of the Master League like Garchomp and Groudon. Indeed, Lugia's legacy charge move Aeroblast is a ferocious Flying-type move that can do serious damage even to Steel and Electric types, which resist Flying-type moves.

8 Lucario

With movies made based around it and its inclusion in the roster of Super Smash Bros, it is safe to say that the Pokemon franchise rates Lucario highly. In Pokemon GO, if one discounts Shadow and Mega Pokemon, Lucario sits at the top of the Fighting-type pile in PvE content like Raid battles, mainly due to the devastating charge move Aura Sphere.

Related

Pokemon GO: The Best Shadow Pokemon For Raids

Raids in Pokemon GO are easier to beat with a great team of Shadow Pokemon, especially if the player has these Pokemon on their team.

In regard to PvP, Lucario is admittedly a niche pick, excelling in Ultra League due to its access to the move Shadow Ball, which can counter the Ghost and Dark types that fill the meta at this level. Lucario is an excellent addition to trainers' teams and, if used correctly, can act as an unexpected counter to an opposing trainer's ace Pokemon.

7 Kyogre

Generation 3 legendary Kyogre sat on the non-Shadow Water-type Pokemon throne even before its Primal Reversion was added to Pokemon GO. After this, there is no doubt that Primal Kyogre outmatches other Water-type attackers through raw power alone, decimating Raid bosses weak to Water.

In PvP, the Master League is where Kyogre clearly flexes its power. Equipped with fast-move Waterfall and charge-move Surf, this legendary can relentlessly smack its opponents, with most types not resistant to Water unable to hold up against the onslaught.

6 Garchomp

A Generation 4 favorite, Garchomp is an intimidating Dragon/Ground-type that sets itself apart from the generally powerful Dragon-type pool of Pokemon with its key resistances due to its mixed typing. Powerful as it is as a Dragon-type attacker, Garchomp is one of the best Ground-type attackers in Pokemon Go, especially when given its legacy charge move Earth Power.

The Master League is where Garchomp is most feared in the GO Battle League, being able to reliably defeat many top-tier Pokemon in the meta. Being strong against a multitude of types and only being threatened by Fairy and Ice, Garchomp is a prime candidate to make lucky so trainers do not have to bankrupt themselves getting their CP maxed out.

5 Giratina (Altered & Origin Forme)

As for the Ghost/Dragon legendary, one powerful form clearly was not enough for Giratina. Its first form (Altered) was introduced in Pokemon Diamond & Pearl and its second (Origin) in Pokemon Platinum. In Pokemon GO, both of Giratina's forms can compete at the highest levels, whether against Raid bosses or in PvP.

The Ultra and Master Leagues are where these two Giratina variations shine. Altered forme tends to get the leg up in Ultra League and Origin forme is better suited for the Master League with the added bonus of being excellent in Raid boss battles. Whilst having either on one's team, especially as a Lucky Pokemon, is not to be sniffed at, Origin forme Giratina is a must-have in any high-performing PvP Master League team.

4 Togekiss

After four generations, Togepi and Togetic finally received the final part of their evolution tree in the form of Togekiss. A strong attacker with a dragon type makes Togekiss a prime target for making lucky in Pokemon GO as it is a feared matchup for many trainer's teams, especially against the meta-relevant Dragon-type.

Related

The 18 Best Fairy Types In Pokemon GO

There aren't all that many Fairy-types in Pokemon GO, but some of those that are included can dish out some serious damage in the right circumstances.

Useful across PvE and PvP content, Togekiss is a reliable investment for any trainer's resources. Able to counter some of the most powerful Pokemon lurking in every format of the Pokemon Battle League, this Fairy/Flying-type is the bane of any Dragon, Dark, or Fighting-type that has the misfortune of matching with it. Only meta-relevant Steel-types such as Metagross can threaten Togekiss, making it a powerful addition to any Great, Ultra, or Master League team.

3 Rayquaza

Pokemon Emerald's legendary Pokemon Rayquaza was the top Dragon attacker upon its release in Pokemon GO. Whilst it has been power crept over the years, Rayquaza is by no means irrelevant. Indeed, Rayquaza now has access to the Flying-type move Dragon Ascent which is the undisputed most powerful charge move in the game.

Not only does this spell terror for any Raid boss faced with Rayquaza, but it makes it the best Flying-type attacker in the game as well as a viable neutral damage attacker. In PvP, Rayquaza is best utilized in Master League where the lack of a CP limit allows it to truly flex its power. Additionally, when Mega Rayquaza, this Pokemon is ridiculously powerful and can pump out damage previously unheard of in Pokemon GO.

2 Metagross

The pseudo-legendary Generation 3 Pokemon Metagross has been a fan favorite since its introduction in the Hoenn region. The resistances provided by its relatively rare type combination of Steel/Psychic along with its high stat total make Metagross a force to be reckoned with both offensively and defensively. Against Raid bosses with a Steel weakness, Metagross is a must-have team member.

In relation to the GO Battle League, Metagross is no pushover, being a monster in the Master League format. This Pokemon spells doom for Master League staples such as Zacian, Togekiss, and Dialga. Fitting Metagross with the second charge move Earthquake also provides it with deadly coverage against potential walls or counters.

1 Mewtwo

A Pokemon that truly needs no introduction, Mewtwo was once the most sought-after creature in the entirety of Pokemon GO, allowing a trainer who possessed it to essentially decimate any content the game had to offer. Even with the years changing the meta and pushing this legendary Psychic up and down the relevance tree, Mewtwo is still a valuable team member worth grinding for.

With its access to a wide variety of coverage charge attacks, along with its high neutral damage capacity, Mewtwo is still royalty in the PvE sphere, destroying any Raid bosses weak to Psychic. Mewtwo is also a terror in Master League format for similar reasons. Mewtwo has consistently been a Pokemon to have in Pokemon GO and this is unlikely to change anytime soon.

Pokemon GO is available on iOS and Android.

MORE: Pokemon GO: The Hardest Medals To Earn, Ranked