Pokémon GO PvP Damage Math — How It Differs From the Main Games

Pokémon GO's Battle League (PvP) uses different formulas from the main series. The same 'weakness' has a different multiplier, and STAB, CP and the move system all work the GO way. This article lays out the exact values GBL Note's simulator (the open-source PvPoke engine) actually uses.

1. Type effectiveness — GO uses ×1.6 / ×0.625

This is the biggest difference. The main games use ×2 for a weakness, ×0.5 for a resist and ×0 for an immunity — but Pokémon GO is different: super-effective ×1.6, doubly super-effective (both types weak) ×2.56, resisted ×0.625, double-resisted ×0.390625. Even 'immunity' relationships aren't 0 in GO — they deal ×0.390625, so there is no true immunity. The familiar '2× weak, 0.5× resist, 4× weak' figures are main-series values, not GO's.

2. STAB — GO uses ×1.2

The same-type attack bonus (STAB) for using a move matching the Pokémon's type is ×1.2 in GO (×1.5 in the main games). STAB moves are strong, but not as overwhelming as in the core series.

3. CP, level and IVs

GO's CP comes from Attack/Defense/HP base stats, IVs (0–15) and level (CPM). Within a league's CP cap (Great 1500, Ultra 2500), the IV spread that yields the best stats differs by league — so 'max IVs are always best' isn't true like in the main games. In lower leagues, a spread favoring Defense/HP is often better.

4. Moves — energy, turns, counts, and CMP

Fast moves gain a set amount of energy per turn, and a charged move fires once you have enough energy (hence the 'how many fast moves to charge' = move count). If two Pokémon reach a charged move on the same turn, the one with the higher Attack stat fires first — this is Charged Move Priority (CMP). That's why in the Master League an Attack IV can decide the mirror match.

5. Shadow and buffs/debuffs

Shadow Pokémon hit harder (Attack ×1.2) but also take more damage (Defense ×0.833). Some moves also raise or lower Attack/Defense stat stages (buffs/debuffs), so raw stat comparisons alone don't tell you the real outcome.

GBL Note calculates with these values

GBL Note's tier lists, type analysis, compromise-IV research and battle simulator all use the GO multipliers above. That's why numbers may look different from a main-series wiki (×2, ×0.5) — these are what actually happens in GBL.