This Pokemon Unite tier list is what I built after grinding Season 35 ranked since Typhlosion dropped two weeks ago. The new Johto starter rollout is shaking up the meta, Articuno is settling in as a real defender, and the Version 1.22.2.11 balance patch quietly bumped a few sleepers up the list.
Here’s what I’m covering:
- Every Pokemon ranked S through D, broken down by role
- A separate overall S-tier pulling the best picks from each role
- Where Typhlosion actually lands two weeks post-release
- Pokemon worth playing in Panic Parade specifically
- The picks I tell solo queuers to learn before climbing ranked
I learned the hard way that grinding solo queue with team-dependent picks is suffering. I one-tricked Hoopa to Master last season and then tried to climb on Mewtwo X this season — no, you can’t carry your own bad picks in solo queue without map-warping utility. Pick Pokemon that don’t need a coordinated team to function.
Table of Contents
How These Tiers Actually Work
Quick framework before the tables. Pokemon Unite has five roles — Attacker, Speedster, All-Rounder, Defender, Supporter — and a Pokemon’s “tier” depends entirely on what role you compare them against. Comparing Snorlax to Greninja makes no sense. They do completely different things.
So this list does two things:
- An overall S-tier that picks the strongest Pokemon from each role
- Role-specific tables that rank every Pokemon within their lane
Three filters drive placements inside each role:
- Solo queue carry potential — does this Pokemon win games without needing teammates to do specific things
- Objective control — Drednaw, Rayquaza, Regis, and the new boss rotations matter more than lane farming
- Win rate consistency across ranks — some Pokemon spike at Master and tank at Veteran
The Version 1.22.2.11 patch leaned into nerfing Speedsters slightly and buffing Defenders. Snorlax just got promoted to S-tier as a result. Alcremie also shot up to S-tier in the Supporter role. Both shifts matter for current ranked drafts.
Pokemon Unite S-Tier Right Now
These are the Pokemon defining solo queue and competitive 5-stack play in 2026. If you’re picking a main, pick one of these.
| Pokemon | Tier | Role | Why They’re Here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moltres | OP | Attacker | 64% win rate, Sky Attack carries games solo |
| Zapdos | SS | Attacker | Late-game Drednaw and Ray flip potential |
| Mewtwo X | S+ | All-Rounder | Mobility + sustain, top-tier duelist |
| Garchomp | S+ | All-Rounder | Earthquake and Dragon Rush still hit |
| Ceruledge | S | All-Rounder | Bitter Blade sustain + burst, 1v1 monster |
| Tinkaton | S | All-Rounder | Hammer denial, objective control queen |
| Snorlax | S | Defender | Just promoted, Heavy Slam + Block CC |
| Articuno | S | Defender | New legendary defender, freezes everything |
| Alcremie | S | Supporter | New top supporter, Sweet Kiss + Cotton Guard |
| Blissey | S | Supporter | Untouchable for years, Egg Bomb support |
| Zeraora | S | Speedster | Still the speedster benchmark |
Moltres being above SS in the OP tier is not a typo — it’s just genuinely overtuned right now. A 64% win rate at all ranks means it’s about to eat a nerf, but for the next two weeks it’s the cleanest first pick in any draft.
Zapdos is SS specifically because of late-game objective control. Drednaw and Rayquaza fights are where games are decided in Pokemon Unite, and Zapdos’s Thunder Shock + Volt Switch make it the cleanest objective steal in the game.
Mewtwo X and Garchomp are basically tied for top All-Rounder. Mewtwo X has higher mobility and easier rotations. Garchomp has more raw damage. Pick whichever fits your playstyle.
Best Attackers in Pokemon Unite (May 2026)
Attackers are the ranged damage dealers — squishy, high DPS, almost always lane carries. The current attacker meta is dominated by legendaries and the new Typhlosion is finding its slot.
| Attacker | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Moltres | S+ | Sky Attack execute, OP first pick |
| Zapdos | S+ | Volt Switch + Thunder Shock, late game god |
| Mewtwo Y | S | Future Sight + Psystrike burst |
| Cinderace | S | Pyro Ball execute, classic carry |
| Greninja | S | Surf + Water Shuriken, slept on |
| Glaceon | S | Freeze burst, mid-lane queen |
| Inteleon | A+ | Snipe Shot pick-off potential |
| Decidueye | A+ | Spirit Shackle + Razor Leaf, sustained DPS |
| Espeon | A | Future Sight burst |
| Typhlosion | A | New, hybrid Attacker/All-Rounder rage gauge |
| Cramorant | A | Surf nuker, niche |
| Chandelure | A | Imprison + Flamethrower, immobile but strong |
| Pikachu | A | Volt Tackle + Thunder, F2P-friendly |
| Sylveon | A | Hyper Voice queen |
| Delphox | B+ | Mystical Fire, mid-tier ranged option |
| Mr. Mime | B | Niche pick, weird kit |
| Alolan Ninetales | B | Avalanche + Aurora Veil, dropping off |
| Cramorant (alt build) | B | Outclassed by other Surf users |
| Duraludon | B | Dragon Tail, niche |
| Gardevoir | C+ | Power-crept hard, still works |
| Venusaur | C | Solar Beam, dated kit |
| Yanmega | C | Bug Buzz, low impact |
Typhlosion landing at A is the take that some people will push back on. Two weeks in, the win rate is hovering around 51% — solidly viable, not OP. The rage gauge mechanic is cool but the kit feels split between Attacker and All-Rounder identities, which means it doesn’t fully commit to either. I expect a small buff in the next patch, then it climbs to S.
Greninja being in S is the slept-on call here. Most casual lists put it lower, but Surf has been quietly insane after the last buff and Greninja is one of the best pick-off attackers in solo queue. If you can land Surf consistently, Greninja carries.
Best All-Rounders Worth Picking in 2026
All-Rounders are the bruisers — they fight, they tank some damage, they win 1v1s. Top jungle picks live here.
| All-Rounder | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mewtwo X | S+ | Top tier duelist, Recover sustain |
| Garchomp | S+ | Earthquake + Dragon Rush, jungle king |
| Ceruledge | S | Bitter Blade burst + sustain, scary 1v1 |
| Tinkaton | S | Hammer denial + objective steal |
| Tyranitar | S | Stone Edge carry, late-game monster |
| Charizard | S | Fire Blast nuker, classic pick |
| Lucario | A+ | Power-Up Punch + Bone Rush |
| Buzzwole | A+ | Lunge + Smack Down, tanky bruiser |
| Blaziken | A | Blaze Kick combo specialist |
| Dragonite | A | Outrage + Hurricane, late-game flex |
| Aegislash | A | Sacred Sword + King’s Shield |
| Scizor | A | Bullet Punch + Swords Dance |
| Azumarill | A | Belly Drum + Aqua Tail, sleeper |
| Urshifu (Rapid Strike) | A | Aqua Jet combo |
| Urshifu (Single Strike) | A | Wicked Blow burst |
| Zacian | B+ | Sacred Sword + Behemoth Blade |
| Zoroark | B+ | Foul Play + Night Slash, tricky |
| Tsareena | B | Triple Axel, decent solo queue pick |
| Machamp | B | Cross Chop + Submission, F2P friendly |
| Scyther | B | Dual Wingbeat, mobile but fragile |
| Falinks | C+ | Iron Head + No Retreat, niche |
Tinkaton’s S placement is the one I want to highlight specifically. Its Tinker hammer mechanic lets you contest objectives in ways no other All-Rounder can. Drednaw and Rayquaza fights with a Tinkaton on your team are dramatically easier — you can pre-stack hammers and burst the boss faster than the enemy team can react.
Mewtwo X and Garchomp deserve their tied S+ spot. Both clear jungle fast, both win most early skirmishes, and both scale into late-game wincons. Pick whichever fits your jungle pathing preference.
The Speedster Lineup Ranked
Speedsters are the high-mobility flankers. They score, they pick off targets, they cycle the map. The current Version 1.22.2.11 patch nerfed Speedsters slightly so this lane is leaner than it was a month ago.
| Speedster | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zeraora | S+ | Spark + Volt Switch, still the benchmark |
| Meowscarada | S | Triple Axel + Flower Trick, current top pick |
| Talonflame | S | Brave Bird + Fly, classic dive |
| Absol | A+ | Pursuit + Sucker Punch, solo queue king |
| Dodrio | A | Tri Attack burst, niche |
| Leafeon | A | Leaf Blade combo, decent |
| Gengar | B+ | Hex + Sludge Bomb, dropped off after nerfs |
| Sneasel | B | Triple Axel, niche |
Zeraora has been the speedster benchmark for years and the recent nerfs didn’t actually move that. Spark + Volt Switch is still the cleanest assassin combo in the game, and the cooldown reductions on knockouts mean snowballing matters more than ever.
Meowscarada keeps climbing the lists. Triple Axel + Flower Trick is genuinely scary in solo queue because you can one-shot squishies before they realize you’re in their backline.
Defenders Ranked: Who Actually Tanks
Defenders are the frontline tanks. They eat damage, they zone enemies, they protect carries. The Version 1.22.2.11 buffs to defenders specifically pushed Snorlax and Articuno into S.
| Defender | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Snorlax | S+ | Just promoted, Heavy Slam + Block CC |
| Articuno | S | New legendary defender, Snow Cloak + Freeze |
| Mamoswine | S | Ice Fang + Ice Crash, pure CC |
| Goodra | S | Acid Spray sustain tank |
| Crustle | A+ | Rock Tomb + Stealth Rock, denial |
| Greedent | A+ | Belch + Defense Curl, sleeper top laner |
| Slowbro | A | Telekinesis + Surf, control |
| Trevenant | A | Wood Hammer + Pain Split, sustain |
| Umbreon | A | Foul Play + Mean Look, tricky |
| Lapras | B+ | Surf + Ice Beam, dated |
| Blastoise | B | Hydro Pump + Skull Bash, lacks identity |
| Wugtrio | C+ | Niche pick |
Snorlax being promoted to S+ is a big deal. The combination of Heavy Slam knockup and Block area denial is one of the best engagement packages in the game. If you main Defender, Snorlax is the safest pick right now.
Articuno is the legendary defender that finally gives Defender lane some legendary representation. Snow Cloak gives massive damage reduction, the Freeze CC is unreliable but devastating when it lands, and the kit fits modern Defender design philosophy.
Supporters Ranked from Best to Skip
Supporters are healers and buff bots. The right Supporter doubles your team’s effective health pool. The wrong one feels useless.
| Supporter | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alcremie | S+ | Just promoted, Sweet Kiss + Cotton Guard |
| Blissey | S | Egg Bomb + Soft-Boiled, untouchable for years |
| Hoopa | S | Hyperspace Hole map warps, comp-defining |
| Comfey | S | Floral Healing attached support, niche but elite |
| Wigglytuff | A+ | Sing CC + Pound burst |
| Eldegoss | A | Pollen Puff + Cotton Guard, F2P |
| Mr. Mime (support build) | A | Confusion + Light Screen |
| Sableye | A- | Knock Off + Confuse Ray, tricky |
| Clefable | B | Follow Me + Gravity, niche |
Alcremie’s promotion to S+ is the support headline of the patch. Sweet Kiss applies CC reliably, Cotton Guard provides shield for the carry, and her base damage is surprisingly competitive for a Supporter. She’s the Pokemon I’d recommend for new Supporter mains right now.
Hoopa being S despite niche utility is because of map warps. Hyperspace Hole lets your team reposition in ways no other Pokemon allows — it’s how 5-stacks win competitive games. In solo queue, Hoopa requires teammates who actually use the warp, so the value drops.
Comfey is the niche elite pick. She attaches to an ally and heals them while moving with them, which sounds dumb until you pair her with a fed Cinderace or Greninja and they suddenly become unkillable.
Where Typhlosion Lands (and What’s Next)
Typhlosion released April 24 as the first of the Johto starter trio. Two weeks in, here’s the honest take.
Typhlosion is currently A-tier. Its rage gauge mechanic is genuinely fun — moves get enhanced when you stack rage from dealing damage — but the kit feels like it’s trying to be both Attacker and All-Rounder without fully committing to either. The Slick Spoon + Wise Glasses + Drive Lens build is the cleanest right now, with Eject Button for repositioning.
Where Typhlosion will climb to is dependent on the next balance patch. If they tighten the rage gauge generation curve, it climbs to S. If they buff its survivability, it stays A but feels much better to play. Right now it’s a comfortable solo queue pick if you understand the rage mechanic, and a weaker pick if you don’t.
Feraligatr drops May 8, 2026 as an All-Rounder. Early footage looks like a bruiser with strong sustain, somewhere between Buzzwole and Mewtwo X in playstyle. I expect it to debut at A or S depending on launch tuning.
Meganium drops May 22, 2026 as a Supporter. Drip marketing has been minimal but it’s filling the Supporter role, which is the highest-impact role in solo queue. If Meganium has clean healing + buff utility, it could land directly in S alongside Alcremie and Blissey.
If you’re saving Aeos Coins or your Battle Pass progress, hold for Meganium. Supporters age the best in this game.
Best Pokemon for Climbing Solo Queue
Solo queue is its own meta. The best 5-stack picks aren’t always the best solo queue picks, because solo queue rewards self-sufficient kits.
- Cinderace is the cleanest solo queue carry. Pyro Ball execute lets you secure objectives without coordination. Build it with Muscle Band, Scope Lens, and Razor Claw.
- Garchomp wins jungle fights without help. Earthquake clears stacks, Dragon Rush picks off retreating enemies, and Outrage finishes objectives.
- Snorlax lets you eat mistakes. New mains should start here for Defender — the kit forgives positioning errors that other Defenders punish.
- Blissey or Alcremie for Supporter mains. Both have self-sustain so you don’t die when teammates abandon you.
- Absol is the speedster pick I tell solo queuers to learn. Pursuit + Sucker Punch combo lets you delete squishies without needing your team to follow up.
Avoid Hoopa, Mewtwo Y, and Comfey for solo climbing. All three are competitive S-tier in 5-stacks but require coordination that solo queue doesn’t provide.
Panic Parade Tier Picks
Panic Parade is the PvE 5-player defense mode added back during the 30th Anniversary celebrations. Different mode, different tier list. Wave clear and boss damage matter way more than 1v1 dueling.
| Pokemon | Panic Parade Tier | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Greninja | S | Surf wave clear + boss burst |
| Cinderace | S | Pyro Ball execute on bosses |
| Mewtwo Y | S | AoE Future Sight wave clear |
| Glaceon | S | Freeze + Avalanche AoE |
| Decidueye | S | Spirit Shackle sustained boss DPS |
| Blissey | S | Healing keeps Tinkaton alive |
| Alcremie | A | Sustained healing + Sweet Kiss CC |
| Snorlax | A | Tanks aggro from Tinkaton |
| Garchomp | A | Earthquake AoE wave clear |
| Charizard | A | Fire Blast wave + boss damage |
Avoid Speedsters in Panic Parade. They don’t bring enough wave clear or boss damage to justify the role slot.
FAQs
Is Moltres really OP-tier or is that just hype?
Genuinely OP. The 64% win rate across all ranks means it’s outperforming statistically, not just feeling strong. Sky Attack execute on objectives plus solid lane presence makes it a problem to draft against. It’s getting nerfed in the next patch — almost certainly.
Should I buy Typhlosion right away?
If you have Aeos Coins to spare, sure. It’s A-tier and fun to play. If you’re saving for one of the three Johto starters, wait for Meganium — Supporters have the longest shelf life in this game.
Why is Snorlax suddenly S-tier after years of being A-tier?
The Version 1.22.2.11 patch buffed Defenders broadly, and Snorlax benefitted the most because his kit was already on the edge of S without buffs. Heavy Slam + Block is one of the best engagement combos in the game, and the patch made his uptime more consistent.
Is Greninja actually S-tier? Most lists put it lower.
Yes, in solo queue specifically. Surf is one of the best pick-off abilities at all skill levels, and Greninja’s mobility lets it disengage when fights go bad. Most lists rank it lower because it doesn’t perform as well in 5-stack competitive play, where coordinated CC counters its hit-and-run style.
What’s the best F2P Pokemon to grind first?
Cinderace for Attacker — it’s affordable and S-tier. Garchomp for All-Rounder — same reason. Snorlax for Defender. Eldegoss for Supporter (cheap and A-tier). Zeraora is free if you’ve been logging in since launch and remains S+ for Speedster.
Will the meta change after Worlds in San Francisco?
Probably yes. Pokemon Unite Worlds in August historically brings a balance patch right before the tournament, and another right after. Expect Moltres nerfs, possibly Tinkaton nerfs, and likely Meganium buffs once she’s been out for two weeks.
Should I bother with Panic Parade if I’m a ranked player?
Yes, for the rewards. Panic Parade gives Item Enhancers and License Points that translate into your ranked progression. Run it with one of the listed S-tier Panic Parade picks and you’ll clear consistently.
Wrapping Up
That’s my Pokemon Unite tier list for May 2026. The Moltres is OP and about to be nerfed, Mewtwo X and Garchomp are tied for top All-Rounder, Snorlax and Articuno just made Defender relevant again, and Alcremie is the new Supporter to learn.
Typhlosion is fine but not amazing. Feraligatr drops May 8 and looks like a strong All-Rounder. Meganium on May 22 is the pick I’m watching most carefully — Supporters age best in this game and the meta has been begging for a new healer option.
Tier lists shift fast in this game, especially with three new Pokemon dropping in 30 days and Worlds prep starting. I’ll re-rank after Meganium settles in.
For now, draft smart, ban Moltres if you’re not first pick, and never auto-lock a Speedster in solo queue.
See you on Aeos Island.