13 Best Poison Type Pokémon to Train in Pokémon Go!

Whenever you play Pokémon, whether it is the classic Red and Blue games on GameBoy Color or newer games like Pokémon Shield and Sword or Pokémon Go, most people don’t think much about poison type pokémon, which is a big shame. You may ask why? It is simple — poison type Pokémon are some of the best damage dealers in the franchise, whether through direct damage by their attacks or the deadly poison status affliction it leaves behind. For that reason, here’s our list for the 13 best poison type Pokémon in Pokémon Go!

Also read: Pokemon Go Hacks: Catch ‘Em All With These Tips and Tricks

What Are Poison Type Pokémon?

Although they may not be as rare as the ghost-type Pokémon, which only have 30 individuals in their ranks, secondary poison and pure poison type Pokémon are rarely used by trainers except in Pokémon Go. Among the 18 different Pokémon types, poison type Pokémon are some of the few whose attacks can leave lasting status ailments on enemy Pokémon. The poisoned status, though, has a big addition to it, as it also reduces enemy health, a useful trait for any situation.

Aside from that, pure poison type Pokémon have few weaknesses, with only steel-type Pokémon being fully resistant to it. In turn, the poison type is quite resistant to a lot of Pokemon. Bug, Fairy, Fighting, Grass, and fellow Poison-type attacks have almost no effect on them.

The Best Poison Type Pokémon

Before we start with the list, we have a few general tips when looking for poison type Pokémon. Generally, trainers can find these pokémon in “wetlands” and “industrial areas” due to their connection with either poisonous creatures or pollution. Aside from continent or event exclusives, poison type Pokémon can be found in ponds, lakes, marshes, bogs, and other natural watery areas. Other places to find them might be near factories, high-rises, and other manufacturing-centered locations.

1. Roserade

Our pick for the strongest poison type Pokémon, Roserade, comes from the fourth generation’s Sinnoh region. It is a mix of Grass and Poison-type, which is one of the more common combinations for poison secondary type Pokémon.

It has a high Max CP, which ranks it among some of the highest hitters in the game, although not as high as some legendary Pokémon. Those wanting a Roserade would do well in training and evolving one up from a Budew using 25 candies to get a Roselia. Roselia then needs 100 candies and a Sinnoh Stone to evolve into Roserade.

2. Gengar

A rare combination of Pokémon types, our pick for the second strongest poison type Pokémon is Gengar. Gengar is mainly a Ghost-type with poison as its secondary type. This combination gives it additional resistance to Normal-type Pokémon. It does, however, make it weak to Dark and other Ghost-type Pokémon.

Gengar is a Pokémon hailing from the first generation’s Kanto region and is the second evolution of Gastly. If you want one, the most efficient way you can get a Gengar is from evolving a Gastly using 25 candies into a Haunter. You then evolve the Haunter into Gengar using 100 candies.

3. Muk

Our third pick on this list is Muk, the slime-like Pokémon. Muk is also the first on this list to be a pure poison type Pokémon. There are three forms of Muk in the game, the normal Muk, the Team Rocket Go Shadow Muk, and the colorful Alola Muk. All three share the same statistics and can be interchangeable on this list.

Another first-generation Pokémon from the Kanto region, Muk, is a first evolution Pokémon. Those wanting to have their own Muk would find it easier to catch themselves a Grimer, whether normal, shadow, or Alolan versions, and give it 50 candies to evolve.

4. Venusaur

Another Grass and Poison dual-type Pokémon, Venusaur, has a decently high Max CP. Similar to our first pick, Roserade, Venusaur’s dual type makes it weak only to Fire, Flying, Ice, and Psychic pokémon.

Hailing from the first generation of Pokémon from the Kanto region, it also has the distinction of being a starter Pokémon in Pokémon Red, Blue, and Green. If you want to have your own Venusaur, the best way to get it is through evolving a Bulbasaur twice. You can do this by giving it 25 candies to get an Ivysaur and then evolve it another time by giving it 100 candies.

5. Crobat

Crobat is a double Poison-Flying type Pokémon. This combination removes the poison type’s weakness to ground types but makes it weak to Electric, Ice, and Rock Pokémon. The advantage of the double-type is obvious as Crobat’s movesets combine flying and poison-type attacks.

A Pokémon from the second generation’s Johto region, Crobat is the second evolution Pokémon of Zubat. Those wanting one would have an easier time by evolving one by training up a Zubat. By giving a Zubat 25 candies, you can get a Golbat, which you then give 100 candies to get a Crobat.

6. Nidoking

A dual Poison-Ground type pokémon, Nidoking has a respectable Max CP of 2,567 that lets it tackle most of the Pokémon in the game single-handedly. This dual-type gives it resistance to Electric and Rock pokémon aside from the usual Poison-type resistances. It does, however, make it weak to Water and Ice-type attacks.

Another Pokémon from the first generation’s Kanto region, Nidoking is the second evolution of Nidoran♂. Therefore, those that want a Nidoking should just evolve one from Nidoran♂. You can do that by turning Nidoran♂ into Nidorino using 25 candies, which you can then evolve into Nidoking using 100 candies. Nidoking is the male counterpart to Nidoqueen, which is further down this list.

7. Vileplume

Vileplume is another Grass-Poison dual-type Pokémon and is the seventh pick for the best poison type Pokémon. Similar to other Grass-Poison Pokémon, Vileplume is weak only to Fire, Flying, Ice, and Psychic pokémon. Its dual types do make it strong against Electric and Water pokémon aside from other advantages of poison type pokémon.

A Pokémon from the original first-generation region of Kanto, Vileplume is the second generation evolution of Oddish. Those wanting a Vileplume can get one by evolving Oddish twice. You do this by first using 25 candies to get a Gloom and then using 100 candies to get a Vileplume.

8. Toxicroak

Another rare dual type, Toxicroak, is a mix of Poison and Fighting Pokémon. This makes Toxicroak weak to Flying and Ground Pokémon while being doubly weak to Psychic damage. However, its dual Poison-Fighting type does give it additional resistance to Dark and Rock-type attacks, although it loses resistance to Fairy type Pokemon.

Toxicroak originated from the fourth generation’s Sinnoh region and is a first evolution Pokémon. Those that want a Toxicroak should evolve one by giving Croagunk 50 candies to get Toxicroak. While Toxicroak has Poison, Fighting, and Ground-type moves, its best moveset is based on just its Fighting-type moves.

9. Nidoqueen

The female companion to the earlier Nidoking, Nidoqueen, is a little weaker in terms of Max CP. Similar to Nidoking, it has the same resistance to Electric and Rock-type attacks alongside the usual resistances of Poison-type Pokémon. It also has additional weaknesses to Water and Ice-type attacks that Nidoking has.

Nidoqueen originated from the first generation’s Kanto region and is the second evolution Pokémon of Nidoran♀.  You can obtain this Pokémon by using 25 candies on Nidoran♀ to turn it into Nidorina, which you can then evolve using 100 candies.

10. Drapion

A mixture of Poison and Dark Pokémon, Drapion is based on a scorpion. Its dual-type nature removes all other weaknesses from this Pokémon except for its double weakness to Ground-type attacks. Drapion’s dual types also give it additional protection against Dark, Ghost, and Grass-type attacks. Due to its high Max CP, Drapion is tenth on our list of Poison-type Pokémon.

Drapion comes from the Sinnoh region’s fourth generation. It is also the first and only evolution Pokémon of Skorupi. Those wanting a Drapion can get one by capturing and then evolving Skorupi using 50 candies.

11. Scolipede

Scolipede is another dual-type Pokémon, this time a mix of Bug and Poison-type Pokémon. This trait increases its resistance to Bug, Fairy, and Poison-type attacks while making it partially resistant to Fighting and Grass-type attacks. On the other hand, it is vulnerable to Fire, Flying, Psychic, and Rock-type attacks.

Scolipede is the first Pokémon on this list from the Unova region’s fifth generation. It has a decent Max CP of 2766 and is the second evolution Pokémon of Venipede. You can get one of these by evolving a Venipede using 25 candies to get a Whirlipede, which you then evolve again using 100 candies.

12. Victreebel

Victreebel is another Grass-Poison type Pokémon similar to our first ranked Roserade and the weaker Vileplume. Shaped like a Venus Fly Trap, Victreebel is well known in the Pokémon franchise for being one of Team Rocket James’ Pokémon. Similar to other Pokémon of the same type, Victreebel is weak to Fire, Fighting, Ice, and Psychic attacks. However, it is resistant to Grass, Electric, Fairy, Fighting, and Water Types.

Victreebel belongs to the Kanto region’s first generation. The easiest way to obtain this Pokémon is to evolve a Bellsprout using 25 candies to get a Weepinbell. You then evolve Weepinbell using 100 candies to get a Victreebel.

13. Tentacruel

Our last pick for the best poison type Pokémon is Tentacruel. Although it may not be a powerhouse, it can still take on most other Pokémon that comes on its way. A dual Water-Poison type, Tentacruel has weaknesses in Electric, Ground, and Psychic attacks. However, it is resistant to Bug, Fairy, Fighting, Fire, Ice, Poison, Steel, and Water-type attacks.

A first-generation Pokémon from the Kanto region, Tentacruel is the first and final evolution of Tentacool. While available in the wild, you might find it easier to get a Tentacruel by evolving a Tentacool using 50 candies.

Potential Future Poison-type Pokémon

That’s it for our list of the best Poison-type Pokémon. We hope you’ve found one or two to add to your Pokémon trainer belt for your adventures in Pokémon Go! That said, this list won’t be complete yet as there are still tons of Poison-type Pokémon that are to be released in Pokémon Go. Some of these Pokémon include powerhouses like Eternatus with its dual Poison-Dragon type attacks and Toxtricity, which has Electric-Poison typing. If you’re interested in these new Pokémon, the Pokemon Go Team on Twitter usually announces when new Pokémon are added to the game.