Gym attackers, the lineup

So, let's have a look at which gym attackers you should have in your lineup.

First we'll start with the dream team, and after that I'll suggest replacements when luck isn't on your side. The replacements are all based on the assumption that you need them now, and for that reason are stuck with post generation 2 moves. Observe that pokemon in the replacement list could have better legacy moves, so if you happen to have one lying around -- good for you.

Replacements might very well be more difficult to find than the best in slot, but if you happen to have a rare one with good moves, why not?

Replacements can also be attackers on the nice to have list.


Dream team, must have:

• Dragonite -- Dragon Tail and Hurricane
• Gyarados -- Dragon Tail and Hydro Pump
• Jolteon -- Thunder Shock and Thunder
• Lapras -- Frost Breath and Blizzard

With the must have list you've covered the ability to get through blissey and snorlax in a timely fashion while standing a chance to survive the combat. All other usual defenders in gyms are also covered.

Dream Team, nice to have:

• Flareon -- Fire Spin and Overheat
• Exeggutor -- Bullet Seed and Solar Beam
• Alakazam -- Psycho Cut / Confusion and Future Sight
• Machamp -- Counter and Close Combat

The nice to have list is for making short work of the few grass type defenders out there, speeding through rhydon and tyranitar and gain access to the best overall DPS in the game. Machamp speeds up the fights against blissey and snorlax.

Replacements:

• Dragonite -- alakazam, gyarados or espeon
• Gyarados -- vaporeon with Water Gun and Hydro Pump
• Jolteon -- ampharos with Charge Beam and Thunder
• Lapras -- cloyster with Frost Breath and Avalanche
• Flareon -- arcanine with Fire Fang and Fire Blast
• Exeggutor -- none
• Alakazam -- espeon with Confusion and Future Sight
• Machamp -- heracross with Counter and Close Combat

The must have list will enable you to handle tyranitar, dragonite, gyarados, snorlax, rhydon, blissey and vaporeon. These defenders make up for the vast majority of what you'll encounter in a gym.

If at all possible push the four on the must have list (or your preferred replacement) to max. While the gain for going above level 30 isn't much, it still adds an edge, and you can afford spending the stardust on four gym attackers.

Of the pokemon in the must have list I strongly advice you to double up on gyarados, lapras and jolteon, or at least build a replacement pokemon to level 30. Powering up doubles above level 30 is optional.

In the case of jolteon you can make do with a large number of evolved eevee above 700 CP that turned out to be jolteon. In fact, if you do so don't bother about the attacks. You'll cut down defending vaporeon and gyarados no matter what. However, there is a price to pay in revives and potions.