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- Pokemon Go Willpower Cup Restrictions
- Best Willpower Cup Leads
- Best Willpower Cup Switches
- Best Willpower Cup Closers
- Willpower Cup Recommended Team Compositions
There are countless competitions in the PvP portion of Pokemon Go, known as the Go Battle League. Each of these cups differs in its requirements and restrictions, forcing you to strategize and develop specific teams for each of these unique competitions.
The Willpower Cup is no different, placing strict requirements on the type of Pokemon that you choose to bring to the battlefield. We've put together everything you need to know about this limited-time competition, ranging from its requirements to our recommended Pokemon and team compositions.
Pokemon Go Willpower Cup Restrictions
This cup has three main restrictions when it comes to the Pokemon on your team. First, all Pokemon used must be 1,500 CP or less. This CP limit restricts the use of powerhouse Pokemon, allowing more players to comfortably participate in this competition.
The second restriction has to do with the type of the Pokemon that are on your team. All Pokemon used must either be Dark, Fighting, or Psychic types. The use of dual-type Pokemon is permitted, as long as one of their types is either Dark, Fighting, or Psychic.
The final restriction comes in the form of a Pokemon ban. For this competition, the use of Gardevoir is prohibited, possessing typing and moves that would presumably dominate in this competition.
Best Willpower Cup Leads
This cup has a Rock, Paper, Scissors styled nature with the three types that are in play; Dark beating Psychic, Psychic beating Fighting, and Fighting beating Dark. Because of this, there will be a lot of luck involved when deciding on which Pokemon to lead with, attempting to avoid a tough matchup early on in the match.
To help negate this randomness, it is recommended that your lead is a dual-type Pokemon, ideally possessing multiple type resistances. This will reduce the need for you to switch out or use attack shields early on in the match, often putting you in a hole that is difficult to come out of.
Fast Moves are in normal text, Charged Moves in italics.
Resistant means that the Pokemon takes less damage from moves of that type.
Weak means that the Pokemon takes more damage from moves of that type.
| Pokemon | Best Moves | Resistant | Weak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandibuzz (Dark/Flying) | Air Slash Aerial Ace Foul Play | Psychic Ground Grass Ghost Dark | Electric Fairy Ice Rock |
| Medicham (Fighting/Psychic) | Counter Ice Punch Dynamic Punch | Rock Fighting | Fairy Flying Ghost |
| Alolan Raichu (Electric/Psychic) | Volt Switch Wild Charge Thunder Punch | Steel Psychic Flying Fighting Electric | Bug Dark Ghost Ground |
| Pawniard (Dark/Steel) | Fury Cutter Night Slash Iron Head | Psychic Poison Steel Rock Normal Ice Grass Ghost Flying Dragon Dark | Fighting Fire Ground |
Best Willpower Cup Switches
For your switch Pokemon, you will want one that can make up for the weaknesses of your lead. For this reason, you'll want to choose a Pokemon that can be quickly switched in if your lead is matched up with a tough opponent.
Additionally, you'll want this Pokemon to have multiple resistances to give them a lot of coverage. This will ensure that you have an answer to any tricky Pokemon that your opponent may lead with. It is helpful if this Pokemon is relatively bulky, just in case they need to endure multiple attacks from the enemy before being switched out.
| Pokemon | Best Moves | Resistant | Weak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galarian Rapidash (Psychic/Fairy) | Fairy Wind Body Slam Play Rough | Fighting Dragon Psychic | Ghost Poison Steel |
| Hisuian Qwilfish (Dark/Poison) | Poison Jab Aqua Tail Ice Beam | Psychic Poison Grass Ghost Dark | Ground |
| Overquil (Dark/Poison) | Poison Jab Aqua Tail Ice Beam | Psychic Poison Grass Ghost Dark | Ground |
| Skuntank (Poison/Dark) | Poison Jab Crunch Flamethrower | Psychic Poison Grass Ghost Dark | Ground |
Best Willpower Cup Closers
For your closer, you will ideally want a Pokemon with powerful Charged Attacks. This is because, at this point in the match, there is a high likelihood that your opponent has used at least one, if not both, of their attack shields. This will allow you to deal massive damage and finish off any remaining Pokemon of your opponent.
Additionally, it is helpful if this Pokemon is bulky as well. Toward the end of a battle, you will also typically be lacking in attack shields, so it is useful to have a closer that can tank multiple Charged Attacks without getting knocked out and defeated.
| Pokemon | Best Moves | Resistant | Weak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cresselia (Psychic) | Psycho Cut Moonblast Grass Knot* | Psychic Fighting | Bug Dark Ghost |
| Umbreon (Dark) | Snarl Foul Play Last Resort* | Psychic Ghost Dark | Bug Fairy Fighting |
| Sableye (Dark/Ghost) | Shadow Claw Foul Play Return* | Psychic Normal Poison Fighting | Fairy |
| Wobbuffet (Psychic) | Charm Mirror Coat Return* | Psychic Fighting | Bug Dark Ghost |
*Both Cresselia's Grass Knot move and Umbreon's Last Resort move can only be obtained through the use of an Elite Charged TM.
Additionally, Sableye and Wobbuffet's move Return is unattainable through the use of a Charged TM or Elite Charged TM.
Willpower Cup Recommended Team Compositions
Now it's time to put together our recommended teams for the Willpower Cup. Although it is important to have a good lead, switch, and closer, for this cup specifically, it is more important to make sure that you have all your bases covered when it comes to strengths and weaknesses.
For this reason, some of our recommended teams will use multiple Pokemon that fall into the same category, making sure that you won't be easily defeated due to a weak point in your type match-ups.
Mandibuzz – Medicham – Umbreon
This team is all about bulk and coverage, following a more patient play style compared to other teams. With the ability to withstand multiple attacks with the strength and resistances of this team, these picks thrive on their ability to outlast their opponents.
Start with Mandibuzz, a Pokemon that is exceptionally hard to take down in this particular cup. Medicham proves to be an excellent safe switch, having the dual-typing and move set to withstand and take out both Fighting and Dark-type opponents. Use Umbreon to close out the fight, with powerful attacks and decent tankiness.
Alolan Raichu – Overqwil – Cresselia
This team centers around Alolan Raichu, a Pokemon that performs extremely well in the Willpower Cup. Although this Pokemon packs a serious punch when it comes to its attacks, Alolan Raichu lacks in bulk, easily knocked out when matched up against a tough opponent.
Start your battle with Alolan Raichu, keeping it in if it is matched up against an inferior opponent. If they start with or switch to a Pokemon that counters Alolan Raichu, switch it out quickly, keeping this key portion of your team in the match.
The bulk and coverage of both Overqwil and Cresselia should make up for this, used to bait out your opponent's Charged Attacks and attack shields. This will allow Alolan Raichu to dominate in this competition, ideally leaving your opponents defenseless when it's switched back in.
Pawniard – Galarian Rapidash – Sableye
This proves to be an offensive-minded team with a lot of coverage when it comes to their resistances. That being said, this team particularly lacks in their bulk, easily being knocked out if they are kept in the battle with a tough match-up.
Start with Pawniard, a strong Pokemon that possesses several type resistances. This will allow you to keep this Pokemon in the battle and save your attack shields for later on in the match. If your opponent either leads with or switches to a good counter, make sure that you are switching out Pawniard, as it will be defeated quickly otherwise.
Depending on the type of the Pokemon that you are battling, both Galarian Rapidash and Sableye have the ability to deal significant damage, either defeating your opponent's Pokemon or, at the very least, forcing them to use their attack shields.
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