The Strongest Elite Four Pokemon

The Elite Four represent the four strongest trainers in various regions of the Pokemon universe, and Pokemon games almost always culminate in a trip to the Pokemon League, where players attempt to beat the gauntlet of the top four trainers from the featured region, with no breaks in between for visiting Pokemon Centers or traversing anywhere beyond the Pokemon League itself.

Of course, as with any trainers in the Pokemon games, some Elite Four members are stronger than others, and the Pokemon they use can vary in strength as well. Let’s take a look at the best Pokemon used by members of the Elite Four, ranging from Kanto to Paldea.

The Champion is considered a higher-ranked trainer than Elite Four members; thus, no Pokemon used by a region’s Champion is included herein.

10

Karen’s Houndoom – Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver

This Dark And Fire-Type Can Plot Nastily

While Karen’s first appearance in the Johto Elite Four was in the original Pokemon Gold & Silver games, her Dark- and Fire-type Houndoom was not quite to the level of her Houndoom from the Gold & Silver remakes in Generation Four, which featured a wide range of strong attacking options, as well as a strong setup move in Nasty Plot.

Karen was the first Elite Four member to specialize in Dark-type Pokemon, as they made their debut in Generation Two, in which she was the final hurdle in the Elite Four before facing off against that region’s champion: the Dragon-type specialist Lance.

9

Lance’s Dragonite – Pokemon Yellow

Better Than His Red & Blue “Ace” Pokemon

Speaking of Lance, he happens to boast several incredibly strong Dragonite across his multiple appearances in the Pokemon games, but for this list, it’s his Pokemon Yellow Dragonite that has to be regarded as the strongest.

Since there were hardly any Dragon-type moves available in Generation One Pokemon games, Lance loads up his Pokemon Yellow Dragonite with all of the elemental moves he can summon, including the infinitely valuable Ice- and Electric-type coverage, plus Flamethrower and rounding it out with the strongest Normal-type move in the game at that point: Hyper Beam. A truly staggeringly powerful ‘mon from the Kanto Elite Four.

8

Larry’s Staraptor – Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

You Know Larry The Legend Had To Be Featured Here

One of two Elite Four members from Pokemon Scarlet & Violet featured here, Larry is a deadpan fan favorite that pulls double duty as a Normal-type gym leader in Medali, a town in Paldea, as well as an Elite Four member that specializes in Flying types.

One of his best Pokemon is Staraptor, a beloved Normal- and Flying-type ‘mon introduced in Generation Four which is the final evolution of Starly. Unlike many other regional birds, Staraptor picks up the eminently useful Fighting-type move Close Combat, in addition to knowing the hugely powerful Flying-type move Brave Bird.

7

Glacia’s Walrein – Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire

Bulky Defenses And Massively Powerful Attacks

An underrated Elite Four member from Hoenn’s Pokemon League is Glacia, and, in particular, her Walrein can be quite the thorn in the side of prospective league champions who don’t have a supremely strong attacker to deal with the final evolution of Spheal.

While the Ruby & Sapphire and Pokemon Emerald versions of Glacia’s Walrein are strong, the Emerald version trades out the sheer power of Blizzard in favor of the consistency of Ice Beam, to the ‘mon’s detriment. Combining a one-hit KO move like Sheer Cold with Blizzard can sometimes decimate a team out of nowhere, whereas Ice Beam just didn’t carry the same strength.

6

Agatha’s Gengar – Pokemon Red & Blue

Sometimes, You Just Lose The Agatha Lottery Right Away

While there was only one Ghost-type evolution line in Pokemon Red & Blue (Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar) the Ghost-type Elite Four member from Generation One makes full use of it, with two Gengar and one Haunter counted among the five ‘mons she uses.

While her highest-level Ghost-type is a level-60 Gengar, it’s the level-56 one that’s more of a threat, since the higher-level one trades out the innate synergy between Hypnosis and Dream Eater (which can only be used if a defending ‘mon is asleep) for Toxic and Dream Eater instead – which is a frankly terrible trade-off.

5

Wikstrom’s Aegislash – Pokemon X & Y

Inherent Synergy Between Ability And Signature Move

Aegislash is a massively powerful Steel- and Ghost-type Pokemon introduced in Generation Six (X & Y) that dominated the competitive metagame upon its debut and was put into the same category as legendary Pokemon such as Dialga, Palkia, Mewtwo, Reshiram, and more.

Wikstrom, the Steel-type Elite Four member in Kalos’s Pokemon League, makes terrific use of the natural synergy between Aegislash’s signature move King’s Shield (which is an upgraded Protect), and its signature ability Stance Change, which transforms Aegislash from an ultra-bulky, defensive ‘mon into a premier offensive threat immediately.

4

Drake’s Salamence – Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire

Fly > Rock Slide

Any Elite Four member that boasts a pseudo legendary Pokemon (aka a Powerhouse Pokemon) is certainly likely to qualify for this list, and Hoenn’s Elite Four member Drake – a Dragon-type specialist – and his Salamence are ripe for inclusion.

Much like Glacia, Drake’s Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire Salamence is stronger than his Emerald one, as the Emerald one trades a STAB (same-type attack bonus) Flying-type move in Fly for the coverage of Rock Slide – to this massively powerful Dragon type’s detriment.

3

Flint’s Infernape – Pokemon Diamond & Pearl

A Glass Cannon That Can Sweep Teams With Ease

Similar to pseudo legendary ‘mon, final evolutions of starter Pokemon should also be celebrated when used by Elite Four members, as they are eminently rare. The Sinnoh Pokemon League’s only entrant on this list is the Fire-type specialist Flint’s Infernape.

Infernape was a dominant competitive Pokemon during its reign upon the release of Generation Four games, as the Fire- and Fighting-type combination saw its zenith with Infernape’s tremendous speed and attack, which contrast with its low defenses. But if Infernape is knocking out everything in front of it before it can even retaliate, there’s no need to bother with its worrisome defensive capabilities!

2

Siebold’s Gyarados – Pokemon X & Y

Tacking On Dragon Dance To An Already Powerful Pokemon

Gyarados is a dominant Pokemon and is both a fan favorite and a viable competitive option. Siebold, from Kalos’s Pokemon League, might feature the strongest Gyarados across the entire Pokemon franchise – other than player-characters versions, of course.

The combination of a tremendously useful ability, Intimidate, with one of the best setup moves in the game, Dragon Dance, alongside three viable attacks (Waterfall, Ice Fang, and Earthquake) means that this Gyarados is not to be trifled with. Players will be lucky to not lose the majority of their team if Siebold can get off a Dragon Dance before attacking with this major threat.

1

Drayton’s Archaludon – Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, The Indigo Disk

Steel- And Dragon-Type With Huge, Yet Balanced, Base Stats

The strongest Pokemon by far among Elite Four members – piloted by perhaps the strongest trainer ever seen in any Pokemon game’s Elite Four – is Drayton’s Archaludon in Paldea’s Pokemon League from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

Boasting four powerhouse attacks, a potentially overpowered item (Assault Vest), and the highest level of any baseline Elite Four member’s Pokemon (level 80), this Archaludon features tremendous stats (600 base stat total) and the coverage necessary to dominate many a team, especially when it Terastallizes solely into a Dragon type (losing its Steel typing).