12 Best Gym Defenders in Pokemon Go

In Pokemon GO, holding gyms is one of the best ways to earn PokeCoins and support your local team, but not every Pokemon is built for defending. The best gym defenders are the ones that can waste attackers’ time, drain their resources, and stay standing long enough to force multiple battles. Things like high bulk, annoying movesets, fast motivation decay recovery, and strong type coverage all play a big role in how effective a defender really is. In this article, we’re breaking down the 12 best gym defenders in Pokemon GO, explaining why they work so well and how to use them to keep gyms locked down longer and earn more coins consistently.

#12: Metagross

Metagross is a solid gym defender thanks to its great overall bulk and naturally high stats, which make it annoying to take down without proper counters. Even though it leans more toward attack than pure defense, that extra damage output actually works in its favor by slowly wearing attackers down while still soaking up hits. When left in a gym, Metagross can force multiple battles instead of going down in one clean sweep, which is exactly what you want from a defender. The best moveset for gym defense is Zen Headbutt as the fast move paired with Psychic as the charged move, giving it steady damage and good pressure over time. Its Steel and Psychic typing also helps a lot, since it resists many common attack types in Pokemon GO, meaning attackers often need very specific counters to deal with it efficiently.

#11: Tyranitar

Tyranitar has always been one of those gym defenders that looks scary the moment you see it sitting in a slot. Its Rock and Dark typing means Fighting-type attacks hit it hard, but outside of that, many attackers struggle to take it down quickly. What really makes Tyranitar shine is its huge attack stat combined with solid stamina and defense, allowing it to burn through multiple attacking Pokémon before finally dropping. For gym defense, the strongest setup is Smack Down as the fast move paired with Stone Edge as the charged move, which takes full advantage of same-type damage bonuses and hits incredibly hard. Even if attackers bring proper counters, Tyranitar often forces them to use extra revives and potions, making it a frustrating and effective defender in Pokemon GO.

#10: Dragonite

Dragonite is one of those gym defenders that can catch attackers off guard if they’re not prepared. While its defense stat isn’t anything special on paper, its massive attack makes up for it by dealing heavy damage fast, often knocking out opposing Pokémon before they can fully capitalize on its weaknesses. Ice-type counters are still a big threat, but outside of that matchup, Dragonite can be a real pain to deal with in gyms. The best defensive moveset is Dragon Tail as the fast move, since it hits extremely hard for a fast attack, paired with Outrage as the charged move. Outrage charges quickly and applies constant pressure, forcing attackers to burn shields, revives, or switch Pokémon sooner than they’d like. This combination makes Dragonite a strong and reliable gym defender in Pokemon GO, especially when placed behind bulkier Pokémon.

#9: Rhyperior

Rhyperior is a classic wall defender that forces attackers to work for every knockout. Its massive defense lets it soak up tons of damage, and while its Rock/Ground typing does give it several weaknesses, it barely flinches when hit by moves that aren’t super effective. On top of that bulk, Rhyperior also hits surprisingly hard, which helps it drain attacker resources much faster than people expect. For gym defense, Mud-Slap is the go-to fast move because it chunks health quickly and pressures shields. When it comes to charged moves, both Earthquake and Rock Wrecker are strong options. Earthquake offers reliable, heavy damage, while Rock Wrecker adds extra coverage and punishes attackers who aren’t ready for it. In Pokemon GO, Rhyperior works best as a mid-to-late gym defender, where its bulk and damage can really slow down a full gym clear.

#8: Togekiss

Togekiss is one of the most annoying gym defenders to deal with in Pokemon GO, and that’s exactly why it works so well. Its Fairy/Flying typing shuts down Dragon-type attackers completely, which is huge since so many high-level players rely on Dragon damage to clear gyms fast. There’s no double super-effective counter against Togekiss, so attackers are almost always forced into slower, less comfortable matchups. Defensively, it’s deceptively bulky and sticks around longer than people expect. Charm is the best fast move for defense because it hits hard without needing energy, constantly punishing attackers, while Dazzling Gleam adds strong Fairy-type burst damage that pressures switches. A well-placed Togekiss often forces players to swap teams mid-fight, breaking momentum and making gym clears take much longer, which is exactly what you want from a top-tier defender.

#7: Gyarados

Gyarados is one of the most reliable all-around gym defenders in Pokemon GO because it doesn’t have any obvious weaknesses that attackers can abuse easily. It hits hard, has solid bulk, and forces players to stay focused instead of mindlessly tapping through the gym. While its attack isn’t top-tier compared to pure glass cannons, it’s more than enough to punish sloppy attackers and burn through multiple Pokémon before going down. Waterfall is the best fast move on defense thanks to its strong base damage and constant pressure, while Outrage shines as a charged move since it fires quickly and deals heavy damage without much warning. Even players who bring proper counters often lose time and health dealing with Gyarados, which makes it perfect for slowing gym clears and protecting your spot longer.

#6: Drifblim

Drifblim is one of those gym defenders that can feel incredibly annoying to fight, mainly because of how unpredictable it is. Its Ghost and Flying typing creates very uneven matchups, where some attackers hit it hard while others barely scratch it at all. That kind of inconsistency actually works in Drifblim’s favor on defense, since attackers don’t always come prepared with the right counters. What really makes it shine, though, is its massive stamina pool, which lets it soak up damage and waste a lot of time during gym battles. Hex is the best fast move for constant pressure, while Shadow Ball gives it a strong charged attack that can catch attackers off guard. Even though Drifblim isn’t a pure damage monster, it hits just hard enough to be frustrating, forcing players to either switch Pokémon or slowly grind it down, which is exactly what you want from a strong gym defender in Pokemon GO.

#5: Snorlax

Snorlax has always been one of the most reliable gym defenders in Pokemon GO, and that hasn’t changed. Its biggest strength is pure bulk. With extremely high stamina and solid overall stats, Snorlax takes a long time to bring down, even when attackers come prepared. It doesn’t melt quickly, which forces players to either commit strong counters or spend extra time and potions clearing the gym. On defense, Lick is the best fast move since it applies constant pressure and chips away reliably, while Body Slam is the go-to charged attack thanks to its fast charge time and steady damage output. Snorlax may not hit as hard as some other defenders, but its ability to soak damage, slow down attackers, and drain resources makes it one of the most annoying Pokémon to face when guarding a gym.

#4: Milotic

Milotic is one of the most frustrating gym defenders to deal with in Pokemon GO thanks to its incredible bulk and annoying move pressure. It has very high stamina and solid defense, which lets it survive far longer than most attackers expect. What really makes Milotic shine is its Water typing combined with strong defensive moves. Waterfall is the best fast move for defense since it hits hard and applies constant damage, while Surf is ideal as a charged attack because it charges quickly and forces attackers to dodge or take heavy hits. Milotic also benefits from having relatively few common weaknesses, meaning attackers often need dedicated counters to deal with it efficiently. When placed in a gym, Milotic can easily drain time, potions, and revives, making it a strong choice for holding gyms longer and protecting your PokeCoins.

#3: Wobbuffet

Wobbuffet is one of the most annoying gym defenders in Pokemon GO, not because it deals huge damage, but because it refuses to go down. Its stamina is insanely high, which means attackers are forced to spend a long time chipping it away, even with strong counters. While its attack stat is low, that actually works in its favor on defense, since gym battles are often about wasting time and draining resources rather than knocking out attackers quickly. Wobbuffet performs best with Counter as its fast move, applying steady pressure, and Mirror Coat as its charged move, which can catch attackers off guard if they’re not paying attention. Psychic typing also limits some common attackers, forcing players to swap teams mid-battle. When placed in a gym, Wobbuffet acts as a massive time sink, making it perfect for slowing down gym takeovers and protecting your position for longer periods.

#2: Slaking

Slaking is one of the strongest gym defenders in Pokemon GO thanks to its absurd CP and raw stats. Even though its fast moves are slow and predictable, Slaking’s massive stamina and attack force attackers to commit strong counters and multiple battles just to take it down. This makes it especially effective at draining time, potions, and revives, which is exactly what you want from a gym defender. Slaking works best with Yawn as its fast move and Play Rough or Body Slam as its charged move, since these options maximize pressure while keeping its role simple and annoying. Normal typing also limits super-effective damage options, meaning attackers usually rely on Fighting types, which not everyone has built properly. When placed deep into a gym lineup, Slaking acts as a huge wall that discourages quick clears and helps your gym stay standing much longer.

#1: Blissey

Blissey is widely considered the best gym defender in Pokemon GO, and it’s not even close. What makes Blissey so oppressive is its insane stamina combined with solid bulk, which turns every gym fight into a long, draining grind for attackers. Even strong counters take a while to break through, forcing players to burn tons of time, potions, and revives just to move past it. Blissey performs best with Zen Headbutt as its fast move and Dazzling Gleam or Hyper Beam as its charged move, both of which punish attackers who aren’t paying attention. Its Normal typing also limits weaknesses, meaning Fighting-type counters are basically mandatory, and not everyone has those fully powered. When Blissey is placed early in a gym lineup, it slows everything down and discourages quick takeovers, making it the ultimate wall for holding gyms and farming PokeCoins consistently.

Conclusion

Choosing the right gym defenders in Pokemon GO can make a huge difference in how long your gym holds and how often you hit the daily PokeCoin limit. Bulky Pokemon like Blissey, Slaking, and Snorlax slow attackers down, while others like Togekiss, Milotic, and Metagross force smart counters and punish careless play. The best defense usually comes from mixing high stamina, annoying move sets, and varied typings so attackers can’t sweep the gym with a single team. By placing strong defenders in the right order and paying attention to gym location and traffic, you can protect gyms longer, waste attackers resources, and earn coins more consistently.