The Master League Classic is a popular PvP event in Pokémon Go for players. It’s a competition similar to the standard Master League competition, but players are prohibited from using any Pokémon that has received XL candy. If you want to avoid fighting against players who have an abundance of XL Pokémon and would rather have a more traditional Master League series of fights, we recommend jumping into this one.
These battles will take place from September 27 to October 11. We also have the best Pokémon team list for the Master League Classic. This guide details the Master League Classic tier list for the best Lead, Switch, and Closer Pokémon.
The Master League Classic tier list
Lead tier list
The Lead Pokémon in your roster will be the first choice you use against the opponent. It needs to have a suitable amount of defense to take a bit of punishment, but it also needs to be ready to deal out plenty of damage to hopefully take out your opponent’s first, or Switch, choice. These are some of the best Lead Pokémon choices for the Master League Classic.
| Tier | Pokémon |
| S | Dragonite, Groudon, Ho-Oh, Landorus (Therian), Lugia, Mamoswine, Melmetal, and Snorlax (Shadow) |
| A | Articuno, Garchomp, Gardevoir (Shadow), Meloetta (Aria), Palkia, Rhyperior, Zacian (Hero), and Zamazenta (Hero) |
| B | Excadrill, Giratina (Altered), Gyarados, Kyogre, Landorus (Incarnate), Magnezone, Mew, and Togekiss |
| C | Heracross, Latios, Metagross, Milotic, Pangoro, Reshiram, Swampert, and Sylveon |
| D | Darmanitan, Entei, Genesect, Gengar, Glaceon, Sirfetch’d, Tyranitar (Shadow), and Virizion |
The Lead Pokémon will likely want to use at least one of your two shields, but you might be better off swapping with your Switch Pokémon over immediately using a shield during a battle.
Switch tier list
The Switch Pokémon in your team will be the Pokémon you swap out with your first Pokémon to protect them against any choices your opponent uses that counters them. The switch will likely have more attack power than defenses, and they’re normally considered a glass cannon capable of using their charged moves fairly often. These are some of the best Switch Pokémon choices for the Master League Classic.
| Tier | Pokémon |
| S | Ho-Oh, Mamoswine, Meloetta (Aria), Mewtwo, Palkia, Snorlax (Shadow), Zacian (Hero), and Zapdos (Shadow) |
| A | Dialga, Gardevoir (Shadow), Gengar, Gyarados, Landorus (Therian), Metagross, Mew, and Regice |
| B | Excadrill, Garchomp, Raikou (Shadow), Regirock, Swampert, Sylveon, Sylveon, Togekiss, and Yveltal |
| C | Articuno (Shadow), Gardevoir, Genesect, Kyogre, Lapras, Rhyperior, Scizor (Shadow), and Zamazenta (Hero) |
| D | Drapion (Shadow), Electivire, Gallade (Shadow), Hippowdon, Magnezone, Suicune (Shadow), Tangrowth, and Tyranitar (Shadow) |
The Switch Pokémon will likely require one or both of your two shields during the battle. It’s going to be a glass-cannon choice, so it’s not going to be able to take too many hits, but it can hammer into multiple Pokémon if you play your cards correctly, and use your shields well.
Closer tier list
The Closer Pokémon on your team is the final Pokémon you’re going to use. You want to hold off on using them until you have no other option, and these ones are normally the toughest with the most defense of stamina of the Pokémon choices. You also want to consider this Pokémon’s resistances, and its overall moveset compared to your other Pokémon choices. These are some of the best Closer Pokémon choices for the Master League Classic.
| Tier | Pokémon |
| S | Garchomp, Giratina (Origin), Landorus (Incarnate), Mamoswine (Shadow), Melmetal, Reshiram, Zamzenta (Hero), and Zekrom |
| A | Dragonite (Shadow), Groudon, Lugia, Meloetta (Aria), Metagross, Raikou, Regice, and Swampert (Shadow) |
| B | Excadrill, Goodra, Heracross, Latios, Magnezone (Shadow), Mewtwo (Shadow), Snorlax (Shadow), and Sylveon |
| C | Darkrai, Escavalier, Gallade (Shadow), Giratina (Altered), Hariyama, Registeel, Ursaring, and Xerneas |
| D | Electivire, Galarian Darmanitan, Gigalith, Glaceon, Golem (Alolan), Latias, Sirfetch’d, and Weavile (Shadow) |
The Closer Pokémon will likely not need a shield, so make sure to reserve your two shields for your Lead and Switch Pokémon.
