Are you struggling to decide which Pokemon deserve your precious Rare Candy in Pokemon Go? You’re not alone. Rare Candy is one of the most valuable resources in the game, allowing you to instantly power up any Pokemon without needing to catch or hatch them. But with hundreds of Pokemon available, how do you know which ones are truly worth your investment?
Our comprehensive Rare Candy Tier List for 2026 will help you make the right decisions. We’ve analyzed the top-performing Pokemon across all battle formats, considered their long-term viability, and ranked them based on their overall value to your Pokemon Go journey. Whether you’re a casual player or a hardcore competitor, this guide will ensure your Rare Candy goes to the Pokemon that will give you the biggest competitive edge.
Before diving into the tier list, it’s important to understand the criteria we used to rank these Pokemon:
| Name | Type | Best Moveset | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mewtwo | Psychic | Confusion/Psystrike | Raids, PvP |
| Rayquaza | Dragon/Flying | Dragon Tail/Outrage | Raids, Gyms |
| Dialga | Steel/Dragon | Dragon Breath/Dragon Claw | Raids, PvP |
| Palkia | Water/Dragon | Dragon Tail/Hydro Pump | Raids, Gyms |
| Giratina (Origin) | Ghost/Dragon | Shadow Claw/Shadow Ball | Raids, PvP |
| Zacian | Steel/Fairy | Metal Claw/Play Rough | Raids, PvP |
| Zamazenta | Steel/Fighting | Metal Claw/Close Combat | Raids, PvP |
| Kyurem (Black) | Dragon/Ice | Dragon Breath/Blizzard | Raids, Gyms |
| Kyurem (White) | Dragon/Electric | Dragon Breath/Fusion Bolt | Raids, Gyms |
| Ho-Oh | Fire/Flying | Extrasensory/Solar Beam | Raids, Gyms |
| Name | Type | Best Moveset | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groudon | Ground | Mud Shot/Earthquake | Raids, Gyms |
| Kyogre | Water | Waterfall/Hydro Pump | Raids, Gyms |
| Garchomp | Dragon/Ground | Dragon Tail/Outrage | Raids, PvP |
| Dragonite | Dragon/Flying | Dragon Tail/Outrage | Raids, Gyms |
| Metagross | Steel/Psychic | Bullet Punch/Meteor Mash | Raids, PvP |
| Tyranitar | Rock/Dark | Bite/Stone Edge | Raids, Gyms |
| Salamence | Dragon/Flying | Dragon Tail/Outrage | Raids, Gyms |
| Lucario | Fighting/Steel | Counter/Aura Sphere | Raids, PvP |
| Darkrai | Dark | Snarl/Dark Pulse | Raids, PvP |
| Landorus (Therian) | Ground/Flying | Mud Shot/Earth Power | Raids, Gyms |
| Name | Type | Best Moveset | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latios | Dragon/Psychic | Dragon Breath/Solar Beam | Raids, Gyms |
| Latias | Dragon/Psychic | Dragon Breath/Psychic | Raids, Gyms |
| Heatran | Fire/Steel | Fire Spin/Flamethrower | Raids, Gyms |
| Cresselia | Psychic | Psycho Cut/Future Sight | Raids, Gyms |
| Regigigas | Normal | Hidden Power/Giga Impact | Raids, Gyms |
| Zekrom | Dragon/Electric | Dragon Breath/Bolt Strike | Raids, Gyms |
| Reshiram | Dragon/Fire | Dragon Breath/Blue Flare | Raids, Gyms |
| Xerneas | Fairy | Tackle/Moonblast | Raids, Gyms |
| Yveltal | Dark/Flying | Snarl/Dark Pulse | Raids, Gyms |
| Lugia | Psychic/Flying | Extrasensory/Sky Attack | Raids, Gyms |
| Name | Type | Best Moveset | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Articuno | Ice/Flying | Frost Breath/Blizzard | Raids, Gyms |
| Zapdos | Electric/Flying | Thunder Shock/Thunderbolt | Raids, Gyms |
| Moltres | Fire/Flying | Fire Spin/Overheat | Raids, Gyms |
| Entei | Fire | Fire Blast/Overheat | Raids, Gyms |
| Raikou | Electric | Thunder Shock/Thunderbolt | Raids, Gyms |
| Suicune | Water | Water Gun/Hydro Pump | Raids, Gyms |
| Celebi | Grass/Psychic | Confusion/Leaf Storm | Raids, Gyms |
| Jirachi | Steel/Psychic | Confusion/Doom Desire | Raids, Gyms |
| Deoxys (Attack) | Psychic | Zen Headbutt/Zen Headbutt | Raids, Gyms |
| Deoxys (Defense) | Psychic | Counter/Zen Headbutt | Raids, Gyms |
Mewtwo remains the undisputed king of Pokemon Go, with its incredible Psychic typing and devastating attack stats. Its best moveset of Confusion and Psystrike makes it a top performer in both raids and PvP battles. Mewtwo’s versatility is unmatched, as it can also learn Shadow Ball, making it effective against a wide range of opponents. With its high CP ceiling and excellent stats, Mewtwo is a worthy investment of your Rare Candy, especially if you participate in legendary raids frequently.
As a Dragon/Flying type, Rayquaza boasts one of the highest attack stats in the game, making it a formidable opponent in raids and gym battles. Its Dragon Tail and Outrage moveset provides excellent coverage against many popular Pokemon, and its ability to learn Breaking Swipe adds versatility for PvP battles. Rayquaza’s Mega Evolution further enhances its power, making it a long-term investment that will continue to pay dividends as new content is released to the game.
Dialga’s unique Steel/Dragon typing gives it an impressive array of resistances, making it incredibly durable in battle. With Dragon Breath and Dragon Claw as its optimal moveset, Dialga excels in both raids and PvP, particularly in the Master League. Its resistance to many common types means it can stay in the fight longer than other legendary Pokemon, making it a strategic choice for players who value sustainability alongside raw power.
Palkia’s Water/Dragon typing gives it an advantage over many popular raid bosses, especially those with Fire, Ground, or Rock types. Its Dragon Tail and Hydro Pump moveset provides excellent coverage and high damage output, making it a top choice for raid battles. While it may not be as versatile as some other S-tier Pokemon in PvP, its raid performance alone justifies its high ranking and makes it worthy of your Rare Candy investment.
Origin Forme Giratina is a powerhouse in both raids and PvP, thanks to its Ghost/Dragon typing and impressive stats. With Shadow Claw and Shadow Ball as its optimal moveset, it can deal massive damage to a wide range of opponents. In PvP, particularly the Master League, Giratina Origin Forme’s bulk and typing make it a difficult opponent to counter. Its ability to learn Dragon Claw also gives it flexibility in battles where a Ghost-type move isn’t optimal.
Zacian’s Steel/Fairy typing gives it a unique advantage against many popular Pokemon, especially Dragon types. With Metal Claw and Play Rough as its best moveset, Zacian excels in both raids and PvP battles. Its incredible attack stat and good bulk make it a top performer in the Master League, where it can threaten many of the most commonly used Pokemon. As a newer legendary, Zacian is likely to remain relevant for years to come.
Zamazenta’s Steel/Fighting typing gives it excellent coverage against many popular types, including Normal, Ice, Rock, Dark, and Steel. With Metal Claw and Close Combat as its optimal moveset, Zamazenta can deal massive damage while also being incredibly bulky. In PvP, particularly the Master League, Zamazenta’s typing and moveset make it a formidable opponent that can counter many of the most used Pokemon.
Black Kyurem’s Dragon/Ice typing gives it a unique advantage against many Dragon types, which are prevalent in high-level play. With Dragon Breath and Blizzard as its best moveset, it can deal massive damage to a wide range of opponents. Its incredible attack stat makes it one of the highest damage dealers in the game, especially against Dragon-type raid bosses. While its Ice typing leaves it vulnerable to many common types, its offensive potential is unmatched.
White Kyurem’s Dragon/Electric typing gives it excellent coverage against Water and Flying types, which are common in raids and gyms. With Dragon Breath and Fusion Bolt as its optimal moveset, it can deal consistent damage while also having the potential for powerful charged moves. Like its counterpart, White Kyurem boasts an impressive attack stat that makes it a top performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing.
Ho-Oh’s Fire/Flying typing gives it excellent coverage against Grass, Bug, and Steel types, which are common in raids and gyms. With Extrasensory and Solar Beam as its best moveset, Ho-Oh can deal massive damage to a wide range of opponents, particularly Water types. Its impressive bulk and access to recovery moves make it a durable option for both raids and gym battles, ensuring it can stay in the fight longer than many other legendary Pokemon.
Groudon’s Ground typing gives it a significant advantage against Fire, Electric, Poison, Rock, and Steel types, which are common in raids and gyms. With Mud Shot and Earthquake as its optimal moveset, Groudon can deal massive damage to a wide range of opponents. Its incredible attack stat and good bulk make it a top performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to Ground-type moves. While it may not be as versatile as some S-tier Pokemon, its raw power justifies its A-tier ranking.
Kyogre’s Water typing gives it excellent coverage against Fire, Ground, and Rock types, which are common in raids and gyms. With Waterfall and Hydro Pump as its best moveset, Kyogre can deal massive damage to a wide range of opponents. Its incredible attack stat and good bulk make it a top performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to Water-type moves. Like Groudon, while it may not be as versatile as some S-tier Pokemon, its raw power justifies its A-tier ranking.
Garchomp’s Dragon/Ground typing gives it excellent coverage against many popular types, including Dragon, Fire, Electric, and Rock. With Dragon Tail and Outrage as its optimal moveset, Garchomp can deal massive damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive stats and good bulk make it a top performer in both raids and PvP, particularly in the Master League. While it may not have the same raw power as some legendary Pokemon, its accessibility and versatility make it a worthy investment of your Rare Candy.
Dragonite’s Dragon/Flying typing gives it excellent coverage against many popular types, including Dragon, Fighting, Bug, and Grass. With Dragon Tail and Outrage as its optimal moveset, Dragonite can deal massive damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive stats and good bulk make it a top performer in both raids and gym battles. While it may not be as powerful as some legendary Pokemon, its accessibility and versatility make it a worthy investment of your Rare Candy.
Metagross’s Steel/Psychic typing gives it excellent coverage against many popular types, including Ice, Rock, Fairy, and Fighting. With Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash as its optimal moveset, Metagross can deal massive damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive stats and good bulk make it a top performer in both raids and PvP, particularly in the Master League. While it may not have the same raw power as some legendary Pokemon, its accessibility and versatility make it a worthy investment of your Rare Candy.
Tyranitar’s Rock/Dark typing gives it excellent coverage against many popular types, including Fire, Ice, Flying, Bug, and Ghost. With Bite and Stone Edge as its optimal moveset, Tyranitar can deal massive damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive stats and good bulk make it a top performer in both raids and gym battles. While it may not be as powerful as some legendary Pokemon, its accessibility and versatility make it a worthy investment of your Rare Candy.
Salamence’s Dragon/Flying typing gives it excellent coverage against many popular types, including Dragon, Fighting, Bug, and Grass. With Dragon Tail and Outrage as its optimal moveset, Salamence can deal massive damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive stats and good bulk make it a top performer in both raids and gym battles. While it may not be as powerful as some legendary Pokemon, its accessibility and versatility make it a worthy investment of your Rare Candy.
Lucario’s Fighting/Steel typing gives it excellent coverage against many popular types, including Normal, Ice, Rock, Dark, and Steel. With Counter and Aura Sphere as its optimal moveset, Lucario can deal massive damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive stats and good bulk make it a top performer in both raids and PvP, particularly in the Master League. While it may not have the same raw power as some legendary Pokemon, its accessibility and versatility make it a worthy investment of your Rare Candy.
Darkrai’s Dark typing gives it excellent coverage against many popular types, including Psychic and Ghost. With Snarl and Dark Pulse as its optimal moveset, Darkrai can deal massive damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive attack stat and good bulk make it a top performer in both raids and PvP, particularly in the Master League. While it may not have the same versatility as some S-tier Pokemon, its raw power against specific types justifies its A-tier ranking.
Landorus Therian Forme’s Ground/Flying typing gives it excellent coverage against many popular types, including Fire, Electric, Poison, Rock, and Steel. With Mud Shot and Earth Power as its optimal moveset, Landorus can deal massive damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive attack stat and good bulk make it a top performer in both raids and gym battles. While it may not be as powerful as some legendary Pokemon, its accessibility and versatility make it a worthy investment of your Rare Candy.
Latios’s Dragon/Psychic typing gives it good coverage against many popular types, including Dragon, Fighting, and Poison. With Dragon Breath and Solar Beam as its optimal moveset, Latios can deal decent damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive attack stat makes it a decent performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing. While it may not have the same raw power as some A-tier Pokemon, its versatility makes it a decent investment of your Rare Candy if you already have the top-tier options.
Latias’s Dragon/Psychic typing gives it good coverage against many popular types, including Dragon, Fighting, and Poison. With Dragon Breath and Psychic as its optimal moveset, Latias can deal decent damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive bulk makes it a decent performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing. While it may not have the same raw power as some A-tier Pokemon, its versatility makes it a decent investment of your Rare Candy if you already have the top-tier options.
Heatran’s Fire/Steel typing gives it excellent coverage against many popular types, including Ice, Rock, Fairy, and Steel. With Fire Spin and Flamethrower as its optimal moveset, Heatran can deal decent damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive bulk makes it a decent performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing. While it may not have the same raw power as some A-tier Pokemon, its versatility makes it a decent investment of your Rare Candy if you already have the top-tier options.
Cresselia’s Psychic typing gives it decent coverage against many popular types, including Fighting and Poison. With Psycho Cut and Future Sight as its optimal moveset, Cresselia can deal decent damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive bulk makes it a decent performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing. While it may not have the same raw power as some A-tier Pokemon, its versatility makes it a decent investment of your Rare Candy if you already have the top-tier options.
Regigigas’s Normal typing gives it decent coverage against many popular types, but it’s not particularly super effective against anything. With Hidden Power and Giga Impact as its optimal moveset, Regigigas can deal decent damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive bulk makes it a decent performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing. While it may not have the same raw power as some A-tier Pokemon, its versatility makes it a decent investment of your Rare Candy if you already have the top-tier options.
Zekrom’s Dragon/Electric typing gives it good coverage against many popular types, including Dragon, Water, and Flying. With Dragon Breath and Bolt Strike as its optimal moveset, Zekrom can deal decent damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive attack stat makes it a decent performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing. While it may not have the same raw power as some A-tier Pokemon, its versatility makes it a decent investment of your Rare Candy if you already have the top-tier options.
Reshiram’s Dragon/Fire typing gives it good coverage against many popular types, including Dragon, Grass, Ice, Bug, and Steel. With Dragon Breath and Blue Flare as its optimal moveset, Reshiram can deal decent damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive attack stat makes it a decent performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing. While it may not have the same raw power as some A-tier Pokemon, its versatility makes it a decent investment of your Rare Candy if you already have the top-tier options.
Xerneas’s Fairy typing gives it excellent coverage against many popular types, including Dragon, Fighting, and Dark. With Tackle and Moonblast as its optimal moveset, Xerneas can deal decent damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive attack stat makes it a decent performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing. While it may not have the same raw power as some A-tier Pokemon, its versatility makes it a decent investment of your Rare Candy if you already have the top-tier options.
Yveltal’s Dark/Flying typing gives it good coverage against many popular types, including Psychic, Ghost, Grass, and Fighting. With Snarl and Dark Pulse as its optimal moveset, Yveltal can deal decent damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive attack stat makes it a decent performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing. While it may not have the same raw power as some A-tier Pokemon, its versatility makes it a decent investment of your Rare Candy if you already have the top-tier options.
Lugia’s Psychic/Flying typing gives it decent coverage against many popular types, including Fighting, Bug, and Grass. With Extrasensory and Sky Attack as its optimal moveset, Lugia can deal decent damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive bulk makes it a decent performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing. While it may not have the same raw power as some A-tier Pokemon, its versatility makes it a decent investment of your Rare Candy if you already have the top-tier options.
Articuno’s Ice/Flying typing gives it good coverage against many popular types, including Dragon, Grass, and Ground. With Frost Breath and Blizzard as its optimal moveset, Articuno can deal decent damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive bulk makes it a decent performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing. While it may not have the same raw power as some B-tier Pokemon, its versatility makes it a decent investment of your Rare Candy if you already have the top-tier options.
Zapdos’s Electric/Flying typing gives it good coverage against many popular types, including Water and Flying. With Thunder Shock and Thunderbolt as its optimal moveset, Zapdos can deal decent damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive attack stat makes it a decent performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing. While it may not have the same raw power as some B-tier Pokemon, its versatility makes it a decent investment of your Rare Candy if you already have the top-tier options.
Moltres’s Fire/Flying typing gives it good coverage against many popular types, including Grass, Ice, Bug, and Steel. With Fire Spin and Overheat as its optimal moveset, Moltres can deal decent damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive attack stat makes it a decent performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing. While it may not have the same raw power as some B-tier Pokemon, its versatility makes it a decent investment of your Rare Candy if you already have the top-tier options.
Entei’s Fire typing gives it good coverage against many popular types, including Grass, Ice, Bug, and Steel. With Fire Blast and Overheat as its optimal moveset, Entei can deal decent damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive attack stat makes it a decent performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing. While it may not have the same raw power as some B-tier Pokemon, its versatility makes it a decent investment of your Rare Candy if you already have the top-tier options.
Raikou’s Electric typing gives it good coverage against many popular types, including Water and Flying. With Thunder Shock and Thunderbolt as its optimal moveset, Raikou can deal decent damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive attack stat makes it a decent performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing. While it may not have the same raw power as some B-tier Pokemon, its versatility makes it a decent investment of your Rare Candy if you already have the top-tier options.
Suicune’s Water typing gives it good coverage against many popular types, including Fire, Ground, and Rock. With Water Gun and Hydro Pump as its optimal moveset, Suicune can deal decent damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive bulk makes it a decent performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing. While it may not have the same raw power as some B-tier Pokemon, its versatility makes it a decent investment of your Rare Candy if you already have the top-tier options.
Celebi’s Grass/Psychic typing gives it decent coverage against many popular types, including Water, Ground, Rock, Fighting, and Poison. With Confusion and Leaf Storm as its optimal moveset, Celebi can deal decent damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive bulk makes it a decent performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing. While it may not have the same raw power as some B-tier Pokemon, its versatility makes it a decent investment of your Rare Candy if you already have the top-tier options.
Jirachi’s Steel/Psychic typing gives it decent coverage against many popular types, including Ice, Rock, Fairy, and Fighting. With Confusion and Doom Desire as its optimal moveset, Jirachi can deal decent damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive bulk makes it a decent performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing. While it may not have the same raw power as some B-tier Pokemon, its versatility makes it a decent investment of your Rare Candy if you already have the top-tier options.
Deoxys Attack Forme’s Psychic typing gives it decent coverage against many popular types, including Fighting and Poison. With Zen Headbutt as both its fast and charged move, Deoxys can deal decent damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive attack stat makes it a decent performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing. While it may not have the same raw power as some B-tier Pokemon, its versatility makes it a decent investment of your Rare Candy if you already have the top-tier options.
Deoxys Defense Forme’s Psychic typing gives it decent coverage against many popular types, including Fighting and Poison. With Counter and Zen Headbutt as its optimal moveset, Deoxys can deal decent damage to a wide range of opponents. Its impressive bulk makes it a decent performer in raids, especially against bosses weak to its typing. While it may not have the same raw power as some B-tier Pokemon, its versatility makes it a decent investment of your Rare Candy if you already have the top-tier options.
Rare Candy can be obtained through several methods in Pokemon Go:
While legendary Pokemon generally offer the best return on investment for Rare Candy, there are some non-legendary Pokemon that can be worth it, especially if they’re difficult to obtain through normal means or have a Community Day with an exclusive move. Pokemon like Garchomp, Dragonite, Metagross, and Tyranitar can be good investments if you don’t have access to their candy through normal gameplay.
The best Pokemon to use Rare Candy on are those that:
Our tier list above ranks Pokemon based on these criteria, helping you make the most informed decision for your Rare Candy investment.
Yes, you can convert Rare Candy into candy for any Pokemon you’ve caught before. Simply select the Rare Candy in your inventory, choose the Pokemon you want candy for, and confirm the conversion. Each Rare Candy converts into one candy for the selected Pokemon.
While it’s tempting to save Rare Candy for future Pokemon releases, it’s generally better to use them on Pokemon that are currently meta-relevant. Pokemon Go regularly introduces new legendary Pokemon, but it’s impossible to predict which ones will be meta-defining. By investing in currently strong Pokemon, you’ll be able to participate in more content and earn more rewards, including future Rare Candy.
The amount of Rare Candy needed to fully power up a Pokemon depends on its evolution stage and current level. On average, it takes about 230 candy to fully power up a Pokemon from level 1 to level 40, and about 300 candy to reach level 50. This is equivalent to 230-300 Rare Candy if you’re using them exclusively.
It’s generally better to use Rare Candy on Pokemon you already have, especially if they’re already powered up to some degree. This way, you’re building on an existing investment rather than starting from scratch. However, if you don’t have any of the top-tier Pokemon from our list, it’s worth using Rare Candy to obtain one of them, as they’ll provide more value in the long run.
Yes, you can use Rare Candy on Shadow Pokemon, but it’s generally not recommended unless the Shadow Pokemon is significantly better than its purified version. Shadow Pokemon require additional candy to purify, and their moveset may change after purification, potentially making them less effective in battle.
While shiny Pokemon are certainly desirable, they don’t offer any gameplay advantages over their regular counterparts. Unless the shiny Pokemon is also meta-relevant, it’s generally better to use Rare Candy on Pokemon that will improve your performance in raids, gyms, or PvP battles.
This tier list is updated regularly to reflect changes in the Pokemon Go meta, including new Pokemon releases, moveset changes, and balance updates. We recommend checking back every few months to ensure you’re making the most informed decisions about your Rare Candy investments.
For more Pokemon Go guides and tier lists, visit Boundbyflame.com where we cover everything from the best raid counters to PvP strategies.
