Pokemon GO Mawile best moveset, counters, and is it any good?

Pokemon GO Mawile's best moveset, counters, and competitive viability will be of interest to players wishing to use the creature in battles in Niantic's mobile game. The Gen III creature itself has been available since December 2017, but its Mega Evolution was added to the game in October 2024.

This article breaks down Mawile's best moveset in Pokemon GO, as well as the best creatures to counter it.

Note: This article is subjective and reflects the writer's opinions.

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Pokemon GO Mawile's best moveset

Mawile in the anime (Image via TPC)

Pokemon GO Mawile best PvP moveset:

• Fast Attack: Fairy Wind
• Charged Attacks: Iron Head and Play Rough

Pokemon GO Mawile best PvE moveset:

Fairy-type attacker

• Fast Attack: Fairy Wind
• Charged Attack: Play Rough

Steel-type attacker

• Fast Attack: Bite
• Charged Attack: Iron Head

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Is Mawile good in Pokemon GO PvP and PvE?

Mawile in Pokemon GO PvP

Mawile has very little utility in GO Battle League. The only arena it can compete in is the Great League. However, despite having excellent typing and moves, the creature doesn't have stats that can take it too far. It is neither bulky nor is it offensively built.

This makes it difficult for Mawile to find a niche in the open league format. The creature can, however, find some success in limited metas like the Fantasy Cup.

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Mawile in Pokemon GO PvE

Mawile's excellent defensive typing makes it one of the best Gym Defenders in Pokemon GO. Other than that, the creature has next to no utility in the game's PvE arena. Even Mega Mawile is too weak to have any impact on the game.

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Pokemon GO Mawile: All moves and stats

Shiny Mawile and its Mega Evolution (Image via TPC)

Fast Attacks:

• Ice Fang
• Fire Fang
• Fairy Wind
• Astonish
• Bite

Charged Attacks:

• Power-Up Punch
• Iron Head
• Play Rough
• Vise Grip

Base Stats:

• Attack: 155
• Defense: 141
• Stamina: 137
• Max CP: 1,848

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Related: Dynamax debuted in September 2024. Check out our guides on the different mechanics involved:

• Power Spots: Everything you need to know
• How to get Max Particles in Pokemon GO
• Max Moves: Everything you need to know
• Max Battles: Everything you need to know
• What is the Dynamax Band in Pokemon GO?

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Pokemon GO Mawile: Strengths and weaknesses

Mawile in Pokemon GO resists the following types:

• Dragon (39.0%)
• Bug (39.0%)
• Dark (62.5%)
• Fairy (62.5%)
• Flying (62.5%)
• Grass (62.5%)
• Ice (62.5%)
• Normal (62.5%)
• Poison (62.5%)
• Psychic (62.5%)
• Rock (62.5%)

Mawile has the following weaknesses:

• Ground (160.0%)
• Fire (160.0%)

The types that Mawile can hit with STAB super-effective damage are

• Rock
• Ice
• Fairy
• Dragon
• Fighting
• Dark

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Best counters to Pokemon GO Mawile

Great League counters: Gastrodon, Feraligatr, Clodsire, Talonflame, Dunsparce

PvE counters:

• Mega or Shadow Blaziken with Fire Spin and Blast Burn.
• Mega Charizard Y or X with Fire Spin and Blast Burn.
• Shadow Ho-Oh with Incinerate and Sacred Fire.
• Reshiram with Fire Fang and Fusion Flare.
• Mega Houndoom with Fire Fang and Flamethrower.
• Primal or regular Groudon with Mud Shot and Precipice Blades.
• Mega or Shadow Garchomp with Mud Shot and Earth Power.
• Therian Forme Landorus with Mud Shot and Sandsear Storm.
• Shadow Excadrill with Mud Slap and Scorching Sands.
• Shadow Mamoswine with Mud-Slap and High-Horsepower.

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Check out our other Pokemon GO guides:

• Ditto disguises
• Buddy Evolution Adventure Together guide
• Best Fast Attacks in Pokemon GO
• Sierra counters
• Cliff counters
• Arlo counters
• Giovanni counters
• Team GO Rocket Grunts

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