Every generation of Pokémon GO has its winners and losers. For every top tier Pokémon like Palkia and Mewtwo, there’s a Magikarp and Venomoth at the other end of the spectrum. The Pokémon on the list are not worth the time and effort the player needs to invest to get them to their best.
These Pokémon should only be leveled-up for the sake of completion, and only after a player has fully leveled their primary Pokémon. This list will focus mainly on the final evolutionary stage of a Pokémon family; except in cases where the more evolved version appeared before Gen 3. The stats given for the Pokémon below are the maximum possible.
10 Sharpedo
Sharpedo is a Water/Dark-type Pokémon that is not entirely bad (it's alright for low-level raids), but it has one major negative that secured it the #10 spot on this list. It has a CP of 2181, an attack of 243, a defense of 83, and a stamina of 172. Its attack is exceptional and its stamina isn’t too bad, but a defense of 83 is just not practical for combat. Sharpedo’s available fast moves are Bite and Waterfall; its choices of charge moves are Hydro Punch, Crunch, and Poison Fang. The combination of Bite and Hydro Pump is its best move-set, providing a respectable DPS (damage per second) of 15.6.
9 Linoone
Linoone is a Normal-type Pokémon that doesn’t have much going for it aside from a slightly above average stamina rating. It has a CP of 1662, an attack of 142, a defense of 128, and a stamina of 186. Tackle and Shadow Claw are Linoone’s available fast moves. Grass Knot, Dig, and Thunder are its available charge moves. Tackle and Grass Knot is the best move-set in terms of DPS, but the combination of Shadow Claw and Grass Knot is also strong. Neither of these move-sets have a DPS over 10.
8 Castform
Castform is a small, cheerful-looking Normal-type Pokémon with horrible stats and a lackluster list of available moves. To make things worse for Castform it doesn’t evolve into anything stronger in Pokémon GO. It is what it is – unsuitable for combat. Castform has a CP of 1632, an attack of 139, a defense of 139, and a stamina of 172. The two fast moves available to Castform are Hex and Tackle; its available charge moves are Energy Ball and Hurricane. Tackle and Hurricane is its best move-set, with a DPS of only 7.3.
7 Delcatty
Delcatty is a cat-like Normal-type Pokémon that is woefully inadequate in top tier matches. It has a CP of 1496, an attack of 132, a defense of 127, and a stamina of 172. Even the Pokédex entry remarks that if confronted Delcatty won’t defend its home; it will just move to another location. Its available fast moves are Feint Attack, Charm, and Zen Headbutt, and its choice for a charge move is between Disarming Voice, Play Rough, and Wild Charge. These moves give Delcatty great possible move-sets, but its low attack rating prevents these move-sets from being effective.
6 Medicham
Medicham is a Fighting/Psychic-type Pokémon that in general isn’t very good, but it does have one use that kept it out of the top five on this list. It has a CP of 1431, an attack of 121, a defense 152, and a stamina of 155.
Psycho Cut and Counter are Mericham's available fast moves; Ice Punch, Power Up Punch, Dynamic Punch, and Psychic are its available charge moves. In PVE (player vs environment) Medicham is weak, but against other players this Pokémon isn’t too bad; Medicham is actually fairly useful in the Great League.
5 Spinda
Spinda is a cute, cuddly-looking Normal-type Pokémon that should never be used in battle. It has a CP of 1220, an attack of 116, a defense of 116, and a stamina of 155. Spinda is similar to Castform in that they are both very weak Pokémon who don’t evolve into a stronger form. Psych Cut and Sucker Punch are Spinda’s available fast moves. Icy Wind, Rock Tomb, and Dig are its available charge moves. It best move-sets in terms of DPS is Sucker Punch and Dig; however, this move-set's DPS is only 5.6.
4 Dustox
Dustox is a moth-like Bug/Poison-type Pokémon that has almost no redeeming qualities. It has a CP of 1224, an awful attack rating of 98, a defense of 162, and a stamina of 155. Dustox is also weak against several popular and strong move types – most notably Fire, Flying, and Psychic.
Its choice for a fast move is between Confusion and Struggle Bug, both of which are great fast moves (being wasted on Dustox). Its available charge moves are Bug Buzz, Silver Wind, and Sludge Bomb. Struggle Bug and Sludge Bomb is its best move-set with a DPS of 6.8.
3 Luvdisc
Luvdisc is a heart-shaped Water-type Pokémon that is completely useless in a fight. Luvdisc received the ability to evolve into Alomomola in Gen 5, but Alomomola is also so weak it might have made this list. Luvdisc has a CP of 848, a horrible attack of 81, a defense of 128, and a stamina of 125. Splash and Water Gun are the choices for a fast move; while Water Pulse, Draining Kiss, and Aqua Jet are its available charge moves. Water Jet and Water Pulse is its best move-set, with a DPS of only 4.9.
2 Wynaut
Wynaut is a tiny blue Psychic-type Pokémon that always seems to be laughing and dancing. This Pokémon’s evolved form, Wobbuffet, was actually released first, in Gen 2. Wobbuffet is also extremely weak and not worth the effort of training to max level. Wynaut has a CP of 534, an attack of 41, a defense of 86, and a stamina of 216. The frustrating aspect of Wynaut is the above-average stamina being negated by its pitiful attack and defense ratings. Its available fast moves are Splash and Counter; it only has one choice for a charge move – Mirror Coat. Counter is the better of the two fast moves.
1 Shedinja
Shedinja is a Bug/Ghost-type Pokémon that was easily the most useless Pokémon in Gen3. In the main series Shedninja evolved from a Nincada, but in Pokémon GO Shedinja is found in the environment. Also, in the main series Shedinja got Wonder Guard, making the fact it had only one hit point irrelevant; it doesn’t have Wonder Guard in Pokémon GO. Shedinja has a CP of 393, an attack of 153, a defense of 73, and a stamina of 1. Bug Bite and Shadow Claw are its available fast moves. Dig, Aerial Ace, and Shadow Sneak are its available charge moves. Not that it matters, but Shadow Claw and Shadow Sneak is Shedinja’s best move-set.