Pokémon GO's Twilight Trails season changed the power and energy efficiency of existing moves and expanded many Pokémon's movesets. This article reviews the season-opening announcement rather than presenting a continuously updated live ranking.
The changes went beyond raw damage. Fast Attacks such as Bite and Take Down shifted roles, while Pokémon such as Skarmory and Gallade gained coverage or more flexible attack options.
Drill Run Skarmory, Sacred Sword Gallade, and Darkrai with Sucker Punch and Foul Play were notable candidates. Where the announcement gave only a direction for energy changes, the original analysis did not invent exact energy values. Check current battle results before committing Stardust.
Twilight Trails: Key Changes
Three areas stood out in the season announcement:
- Mega Editions allowing Mega-Evolved Pokémon in GO Battle League
- Fast Attack and Charged Attack power and energy adjustments
- Expanded movesets for Skarmory, Gallade, Darkrai, Lugia, and others
Mega-Evolved Pokémon could enter the corresponding Mega Editions of Great, Ultra, and Master League. The announced Great and Ultra League system temporarily adjusted their CP to fit those leagues' limits.
That did not make Mega Evolutions eligible in every ordinary league. Check the specific format and its entry rules.
Selected Move Changes
| Move | Announced change | Potential effect |
|---|---|---|
| Bite | Power 4 → 2; increased energy generation | Less Fast Attack damage, greater emphasis on Charged Attacks |
| Take Down | Power 5 → 14; increased energy generation | Potentially more useful for its users |
| Infestation | Power 6 → 10 | Stronger Bug-type Fast Attack damage |
| Scratch | Power 4 → 3; increased energy generation | Potentially faster Charged Attack access |
| Body Slam | Power 55 → 65; increased energy cost | More damage per use, slower cycling |
| Shadow Ball | Power 100 → 90 | Lower damage on a widely used Ghost move |
| Moonblast | Power 110 → 90; decreased energy cost | More frequent shield pressure rather than maximum single-hit damage |
| Draining Kiss | Power 60 → 80; raises the user's Defense | More potential in longer matchups |
| Bulldoze | Power 45 → 80; lowers the opponent's Defense | Damage plus a debuff |
| Brine | Power 60 → 100; increased energy cost | More finishing power, slower access |
| Bubble Beam | Power 25 → 50; increased energy cost | Attack debuffs remain relevant to longer fights |
| Rage Fist | Power 50 → 55; increased energy cost | First use may come later |
| High Horsepower | Decreased energy cost | Potential value for Miltank and relevant Master League users |
| Dark Pulse | Decreased energy cost | More frequent Dark-type shield pressure |
These are Trainer Battle values. For several moves the official announcement specified only whether energy cost rose or fell. Without exact updated values and matchup checks, the damage change alone does not settle a move's strength.
Fast Attack Changes
Bite
Bite's power fell from 4 to 2, while its energy generation increased.
Previously it emphasized sustained Fast Attack damage rather than quick Charged Attack access. The change shifted some of that pressure toward more frequent Charged Attacks.
The lower damage was not the entire story: Pokémon with useful Charged Attacks but poor energy access could gain a different play pattern.
Take Down
Take Down's power rose from 5 to 14, with increased energy generation.
It was one of the largest announced Fast Attack damage increases. Its practical strength still depended on move duration and final energy generation.
Users with suitable stats and Charged Attacks could become new options, subject to actual format and matchup performance.
Infestation
Infestation's power rose from 6 to 10.
Volbeat and Illumise gained Infestation, and Volbeat also gained Lunge to reduce opposing Attack. That combined a stronger move with wider access to it.
Volbeat could therefore be worth testing in restricted cups where its typing and coverage fit the field.
Scratch
Scratch's power fell from 4 to 3, with increased energy generation.
Ursaluna and Grafaiai gained Scratch. Since their Charged Attacks matter to their performance, the size of the energy improvement was part of evaluating it.
Charge Beam and Low Kick
Charge Beam and Low Kick each rose from 5 to 6 power.
Audino gained Charge Beam; Defense Forme Deoxys and Kingambit gained Low Kick.
Low Kick gave Kingambit a Fighting-type Fast Attack option against Steel-types. Whether that justified using it still depended on energy efficiency and matchups.
Charged Attack Changes
Body Slam
Body Slam's power rose from 55 to 65, with increased energy cost.
Each hit became stronger, but it lost some of its former cycling speed. Its users needed new move counts and timing rather than relying on old patterns.
Shadow Ball
Shadow Ball's power fell from 100 to 90.
Because so many Pokémon use it, the change could affect a broad field. Lickilicky, for example, had to account for adjustments to both Body Slam and Shadow Ball.
Moonblast
Moonblast's power fell from 110 to 90, with decreased energy cost.
It shifted toward more frequent pressure instead of one heavier hit. The exact energy reduction and individual matchups determined how much that helped each user.
Draining Kiss
Draining Kiss rose from 60 to 80 power and guaranteed a one-stage increase to the user's Defense.
Grimmsnarl gained the move. Repeated uses could combine damage with increasing durability.
That did not automatically solve its bulk or energy limitations. Restricted formats and favorable shield scenarios were sensible places to test it before assuming open-league dominance.
Bulldoze
Bulldoze rose from 45 to 80 power and guaranteed a one-stage reduction to the opponent's Defense. Its energy cost also increased.
The move gained both damage and a debuff, potentially helping a follow-up Pokémon. It was a different tactical option rather than simply a cheap move to spam.
Brine and Bubble Beam
Brine rose from 60 to 100 power; Bubble Beam rose from 25 to 50. Both cost more energy.
Bubble Beam's Attack reduction remained central to its role, making slower access significant. Brine gained finishing power, but its eventual value depended on the updated energy cost.
Rage Fist
Rage Fist rose from 50 to 55 power, with increased energy cost.
Its self-Attack boost remained relevant. A later first use could weaken early pressure for Pokémon such as Annihilape that relied on building boosts through repeated attacks.
High Horsepower and Dark Pulse
High Horsepower and Dark Pulse both had decreased energy costs.
Miltank gained High Horsepower, while Dark Pulse users such as Darkrai potentially gained faster pressure.
These changes mattered to attack access and timing even without a power increase.
Pokémon Worth Testing with New Moves
Skarmory with Drill Run
Skarmory gained the Charged Attack Drill Run.
Ground coverage gave it a way to threaten Electric- and Steel-types that could otherwise be difficult matchups.
Its bulk and Steel/Flying typing made it a notable candidate to benefit from the expanded moveset.
Running Drill Run still meant choosing which existing move to drop. Sky Attack plus Drill Run and Brave Bird plus Drill Run offered different balances of consistency and finishing power.
Gallade with Sacred Sword
Gallade gained Sacred Sword.
The relatively accessible Fighting-type Charged Attack could pair with Leaf Blade for repeated low-energy pressure.
Close Combat hit hard but lowered Gallade's Defense. Sacred Sword offered Fighting damage without that drawback, creating a different way to manage shields and staying power.
Darkrai with Sucker Punch and Foul Play
Darkrai gained the Fast Attack Sucker Punch and the Charged Attack Foul Play.
Both are Dark-type moves, enabling a same-type set. Together with Dark Pulse's reduced cost, this expanded Darkrai's options.
Darkrai's high Attack makes move efficiency significant. Raid evaluation requires move duration and energy comparisons; in GO Battle League, the question is whether faster attacks compensate for its limited bulk.
Greninja with Brutal Swing
Greninja gained Brutal Swing.
Water Shuriken and Hydro Cannon already supported rapid pressure. Brutal Swing added a Dark-type option against Psychic- and Ghost-types.
Unlike Night Slash's chance-based Attack boost, Brutal Swing does not rely on getting that boost to deliver its intended damage. That gave Great and Ultra League players another set to compare.
Lugia with Earth Power
Lugia gained Earth Power.
Ground coverage could threaten Electric-, Rock-, and Steel-types, widening its options beyond a Flying-focused set.
Master League move slots are valuable. Adding Earth Power means giving up an alternative such as Sky Attack or Aeroblast, so compare the actual matchups first.
Alolan Muk with Brutal Swing and Ice Punch
Alolan Muk gained Brutal Swing and Ice Punch.
Brutal Swing receives same-type attack bonus, while Ice Punch offers coverage against Ground- and Dragon-types. Those additions broadened its choices beyond sets built around Dark Pulse, Sludge Wave, or Acid Spray.
A wider move pool also made it harder for an opponent to assume a single predictable coverage set.
Houndoom with Incinerate and Trailblaze
Houndoom gained the Fast Attack Incinerate and the Charged Attack Trailblaze.
Incinerate could supply energy for Trailblaze, which threatens Water- and Ground-types while boosting the user's Attack.
Mega Editions also created a reason to test Mega Houndoom separately. Incinerate's long duration still made move timing and switching important.
Nidoking with Avalanche
Nidoking gained Avalanche.
It offered coverage against Ground- and Dragon-types. Sand Tomb's Defense debuff followed by Avalanche was one possible combination to examine.
Nidoking is not especially bulky, so safely reaching the required energy remained a practical concern.
Grimmsnarl with Draining Kiss
Grimmsnarl gained the improved Draining Kiss.
Its guaranteed one-stage Defense increase could make successive uses more valuable in an extended fight.
That did not remove every energy or durability issue. Check its performance in specific leagues and cups before treating it as an immediate top pick.
Changes Relevant to Raids
The announcement also included a separate change for Gym and Raid Battles.
Psycho Boost's Gym and raid power rose from 70 to 130, with decreased energy cost. That could substantially change Deoxys's offensive potential.
Deoxys's formes have very different Attack and bulk. The move's damage alone did not establish every forme as a leading raid attacker.
Darkrai's new moves, Greninja's Brutal Swing, and Gallade's Sacred Sword also warranted raid comparisons. Those needed raid-specific duration, energy, and species stats rather than the PvP power table above.
Where to Start Testing
The original season-opening shortlist was:
- Skarmory with Drill Run
- Gallade with Sacred Sword
- Darkrai with Sucker Punch and Foul Play
- Greninja with Brutal Swing
- Lugia with Earth Power
- Alolan Muk with Brutal Swing and Ice Punch
- Grimmsnarl with Draining Kiss
- Houndoom with Incinerate and Trailblaze
Established GO Battle League picks such as Skarmory and Greninja offered familiar baselines for comparing the new moves.
Lugia and Darkrai could demand substantial Stardust and Candy XL. Current simulations and practical usage were worth checking before that commitment.
Spending Stardust and TMs
Check Pokémon You Already Built
If you already have a powered-up Skarmory, Gallade, Greninja, or Alolan Muk, checking its new move options with regular TMs can cost less than building another individual.
Check Simulations and Actual Matchups
Better-looking move values do not guarantee better results against the opponents that matter. Include team weaknesses, energy, and shield scenarios in the comparison.
Delay Expensive Builds Until You Have a Use
For Candy XL-heavy Pokémon such as Lugia and Darkrai, a clear role and current evidence are better reasons to invest than early excitement alone.
Do Not Spend an Elite TM First
Check whether a newly added move is available with a regular TM. Without a special acquisition restriction, an Elite TM is unnecessary.
Twilight Trails FAQ
Which Pokémon were the first ones to examine?
Drill Run Skarmory and Sacred Sword Gallade were notable starting points. Greninja and Alolan Muk also had established roles worth reassessing with their new moves.
Can Mega-Evolved Pokémon enter ordinary Great League?
Mega eligibility applies to specifically designated Mega formats, including the appropriate Great, Ultra, and Master League editions. Check each format's rules instead of assuming ordinary leagues allow them.
Should I power up Darkrai immediately?
Sucker Punch and Foul Play broadened its options, but move efficiency and real matchups still matter. Its upgrade cost justifies checking current results before building it for GO Battle League.
Do the newly added moves require Elite TMs?
When no special restriction is announced, check regular TM availability first. Save Elite TMs for moves you cannot otherwise obtain on the intended Pokémon.
Regional and version notes
English localization reviewed October 23, 2026. Global local-time schedules follow your play location, including North America. Korea-only schedules remain KST and Japanese airport schedules remain JST. Ended event windows do not provide new claim opportunities. Team choices and tier comparisons are editorial, not guaranteed catches, wins, or a continuously updated ranking. This preserves the original season-opening selection and analysis, not every item in the full patch notes. Table values are for Trainer Battles; Psycho Boost has a separately stated Gym/raid change. Mega eligibility follows each format’s rules. Some illustrations are retained from the Korean edition and may include Korean labels. Use the English article text for instructions.
Localization sources checked October 23, 2026 (Korea time):