Pokémon is one of the few video game franchises that remains just as popular, if not more so than it was when it debuted over 20 years ago. The release of a new Pokémon video game is always a huge event, with promises of new Pokémon, new stories, and new Pokémon forms and mechanics to keep the gameplay fresh.
One of the most compelling aspects of Pokémon games is its battling system, which continues to be an addictive and fun addition to the games. However, it’s important to remember that, when building Pokémon teams, one is careful to pick the Pokémon that suits their needs. One of the most common things people look for when building their Pokémon teams is a high attack stat.
Updated October 27th, 2020 by Christopher Fain: With the release of the Crown Tundra DLC for Pokémon Sword and Shield, players find themselves once again shuffling their party. One of the first things many trainers look for when seeking out new Pokémon is base attack stat. It's often difficult determining the best base attack option for the team when the in-game Pokédex alone.
The inclusion of both mega and ultra evolutions forever changed the game on who had the best base attack. Several legendary types with mega forms catapulted to the top of the list, such as Mega Rayquaza. Such changes made the capture and collection of these Pokémon even more valuable.
Slaking - 160
Introduced all the way back in Generation III, Slaking is a powerful addition to the roster, especially since he has no mega form. It's the final stage in the evolution line including Slakoth and Vigoroth and comes in with a whopping base attack power of 160.
Although it's referred to as the Lazy Pokémon, when threatened, Slaking packs a punch. It's a Normal-Type with high stats all around, excluding Special Attack and Special Defense, with a rating of 95 and 65, respectively. Slaking has a lot of HP, especially with a Beneficial Nature.
Mega Tyranitar - 164
Channeling a very dark Pupitar-inspired chest design, Mega Tyranitar makes for an intimidating foe. The rightly-named Armor Pokémon, this powerhouse has a base attack of 164, maxxing out at nearly 500 with a Beneficial Nature.
This Dark and Rock-Type Pokémon, native to the Johto region, was already considered a pseudo-legendary, but the mega evolution makes it even more of a menace. It has the Sand Stream ability, which causes a sandstorm for 5 turns once the Pokémon enters battle. While it may be a power-hungry monster, Mega Tyranitar is also quite slow with only a 71 speed rating.
Mega Gallade - 165
Gallade is a unique Pokémon in that its final evolution changes based on its gender. Male Kirlias evolve into Gallade, and if given Galladite, becomes Mega Gallade, a caped crusader. The aptly named Blade Pokémon sports sharp, red blades for arms making good use of abilities like Slash and Leaf Blade.
Mega Gallade is a Psychic and Fighting-Type, prepared to maim enemies both physically and mentally. It has a base attack rating of 165 but severely lacks in Special Attack and HP, with measly ratings of 65 and 68, respectively.
Mega Banette - 165
Ghost-Type trainers look no further than the painful Mega Banette for their team. The so-called Marionette Pokémon makes for a creepy addition to any team, and with abilities like Cursed Body, it withstands many powerful assaults.
Hailing from Generation III, this Ghost-Type Pokémon, when mega evolved, becomes one of the strongest of its type with a base attack of 165. It struggles in every other area, barely reaching 100 in HP, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed. Mega Banette needs a solid team to make up for where it lacks.
Rampardos: 165
Rampardos is a hard-hitting fan-favorite fossil and a staple of Generation IV. The Head Butt Pokémon, most likely inspired by the real-life fossil known as Pachycephalosaurus, is a tenacious Rock-Type known for the hard dome on its head.
Found in the Sinnoh region, Rampardos has a base attack of 165, but lacks in all other areas, the worst of which is Special Defense, coming in at a lowly 50. This heavy hitter needs a well-rounded team to complement it for it to perform well, especially when battling other players.
Ultra Necrozma: 167
A relatively new addition to Pokémon lore, Ultra Necrozma reared its head in Pokémon: Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, with the Pokémon being a combination of Necrozma and either Solgaleo or Lunala after using an Ultra Burst in battle.
Ultra Necrozma packs a high base speed and very high attack and special attack stats. This means that coupled with its powerful move set, this Pokémon is very capable of sweeping through teams.
Mega Garchomp: 170
Garchomp is one of the most common Pokémon in the competitive battling scene. The dragon/ground type Pokémon backs a decent base speed and a very high attack stat, making it very dangerous to deal with in battle.
While Garchomp’s mega evolution gains an increase in attack, its speed stat lowers. This lack of speed means that it isn’t as common in battle as its regular form.
Black Kyurem: 170
The main legendary Pokémon from the Pokémon: Black and White series, Kyurem is capable of fusing with both Zekrom and Reshiram, with Black Kyurem being a fusion with the former, giving it a very high base attack stat.
While this Pokémon has a very high base attack stat, its speed makes it not suitable as a sweeper. As such, it isn’t particularly common in the battle scene.
Zacian Crowned Sword: 170
The newest Pokémon on this list and the box art legendary of Pokémon: Sword, Zacian (Crowned Sword) is an incredibly powerful Pokémon with a base speed stat that is almost as worrying as its base attack.
That base attack stat, coupled with its 148 base speed state, makes this Pokémon a very capable physical sweeper that can tear through defenses if used correctly with the right move sets.
Primal Groudon: 180
Groudon has been around since Gen 3, however, in the release of Omega Ruby and Alpha Saphire, both Groudon and Kyogre received Primal forms that boosted their stats, giving them powerful weather-related abilities in the process.
While Primal Groudon doesn’t have a high base speed, it’s high health, attack, and defense stats make it a very tough nut to crack that packs a very high punch in return. Primal Groudon is often used to check Primal Kyogre and set up environmental hazards such as Stealth Rock.
Mega Rayquaza: 180
In a similar vein to Groudon, Rayquaza was a Gen 3 legendary that received a new form upon the release of Omega Ruby and Alpha Saphire. While some mega evolutions require a stone to mega evolve, preventing a Pokémon from holding an item while being in their mega form, mega Rayquaza doesn’t need an item to mega evolve, allowing to hold objects such as choice scarf, choice band, or life orb.
In addition to being able to hold an item, mega Rayquaza also has the move Dragon Dance (which boosts its attack and speed by one stage), as well Dragon Ascent (120 base power), and Extreme Speed (a move with +2 priority and 80 base power).
Deoxys Attack Forme: 180
Another legendary from the Gen 3 era, Deoxys has four different forms: regular Deoxys, Defense, Speed, and Attack. The attack form rearranges its base stats in favor of physical attack, meaning that it packs a real punch in battles.
Additionally, the Deoxys Attack Forme also has 150 base speed, which means it can pretty much outspeed anything in front of it and potentially faint it in one hit.
Kartana: 181
Another relatively new Pokémon in this list, Kartana debuted in Pokémon: Sun and Moon. Kartana is an Ultra Beast from a different dimension and possesses incredibly high base attack, as well as a decent typing of steel and grass.
However, what makes this Pokémon very viable is its ability. The signature ability of Ultra Beasts means they gain +1 in their highest stat after fainting another Pokémon. This means that, after Kartana defeats a Pokémon, its attacks get even stronger.
Mega Heracross: 185
This may be one of the most underrated mega evolutions in the Pokémon series. While it doesn’t have a particularly high base speed, its incredibly high attack stat, coupled with its interesting ability makes it a very difficult opponent.
It’s ability, Skill Link, means that any move that hits 2-5 times will always hit 5 times. While these moves typically only cause 25 damage on average, being hit by this 25 base power move five times in a row with mega Heracross’ 185 base attack is going to leave a bruise.
Mega Mewtwo X: 190
Mewtwo is one of the most popular Pokémon of all time, with the legendary not only featuring heavily in the video games but also in several movies, some even named after him. In Gen 6, Mewtwo took part in the mega evolution trend, receiving two mega evolutions in the process - X and Y.
The X form gives Mewtwo an incredibly high physical attack stat, a reflection of the Y form’s incredibly high base special attack stat. While the Y form is more popular because of its base speed, mega Mewtwo X still packs huge damage.