How to Choose the Best PvP Moveset — Fast, Charged & Baiting

In Pokémon GO Battle League the same Pokémon performs completely differently depending on its moveset. A moveset is usually one fast move + two charged moves, and there are clear criteria for each. Knowing them explains why each Pokémon detail page recommends the moves it does.

Fast move — DPT, EPT, turns

Judge a fast move by two numbers: DPT (damage per turn) is damage, EPT (energy per turn) is how fast it fills your charged moves. Most PvP favors high-EPT moves — you want to throw charged moves often to apply pressure. Fast moves are also 1–4 turns long (e.g. Mud Shot 1 turn, Counter 2 turns); shorter is better for input, CMP and timing.

Charged move — energy, damage, effect

Judge charged moves by energy cost, damage, and side effects (lower foe defense, raise own attack, etc.). Usually you mix one cheap move (≤35 energy — thrown often to bait/pressure) with one expensive move (main damage, a big hit). Higher DPE (damage per energy) is more efficient.

STAB & coverage

Moves matching the Pokémon's type get the STAB bonus ×1.2 and are the default priority. But giving your two charged moves different types secures 'coverage', letting you hit opponents that resist your STAB with a different type. STAB main + coverage secondary is the standard.

Baiting (drawing shields)

Baiting means throwing a cheap charged move first to draw the opponent's shield, then landing your expensive move for big damage once the shield is gone. So a cheap charged move is valuable not just for damage but as a shield-removal tool. Which move to throw first changes with the opponent's shield count (0/1/2).

In practice — see the recommended moveset

Applying these criteria to each Pokémon gives the 'recommended moveset' on every Pokémon detail page. It's computed from public simulation (PvPoke), and switching the fast move recomputes the charged-move counts. It differs by league, so check it alongside the per-shield sim results.