Best Moveset for Trevenant (and Phantump)

This article is a part of directory: Mastering Pokémon GO. The Ultimate Guide to Catching Them All

Trevenant, the Elder Tree Pokémon, has carved a significant niche for itself in the Pokémon GO meta, particularly in the PvP scene. While not a Legendary or Mythical Pokémon, Trevenant’s unique Ghost/Grass typing and access to powerful moves make it a force to be reckoned with. This is not a starter pokemon. This comprehensive guide provides everything you need to know about Trevenant in Pokémon GO, including the best PvE and PvP movesets, counter strategies, insights into Shadow Trevenant, and expert tips to maximize its potential.

Trevenant Overview

Pokédex Entry & Typing

Introduced in Generation VI, Trevenants are dual-type Ghost/Grasp Pokémon. The Pokédex claims that it is adept in both trapping those who damage the forest and regulating trees at will.

• Type: Ghost / Grass
• Weaknesses: Fire, Flying, Ghost, Dark, Ice (all 1.6x damage)
• Resistances: Normal, Fighting (Double, 0.391x damage), Electric, Ground, Water, Grass (0.625x damage)

Base Stats

• Attack: 201
• Defense: 154
• Stamina: 198

Best Roles

Trevenant excels especially in the Great and Ultra Leagues of the GO Battle League (PvP). Although it can cause some reasonable damage in raids, other Ghost and Grass-type attackers usually outclass it. Given its several flaws, Gym defense does not rank among top choices.

Best Moveset for Trevenant in PvE (Raids & Gym Battles)

Optimal Moveset

• Fast Move: Shadow Claw (Ghost)
• Charged Move: Seed Bomb (Grass)

DPS & TDO

Comparatively to Hex, Shadow Claw provides better damage output and energy generation. Being a 3-bar charged action, Seed Bomb gives Trevenant consistent damage and lets her launch more frequent attacks. Shadow Ball strikes harder, but in PvE environments its high energy cost makes it less dependable.

PvE Moveset Comparison Table

Use Cases

Against Water, Ground, and Rock-type Pokémon typically found in raids and gyms, Trevenant’s Ghost/Grasp typing offers it an advantage. Still, its several flaws make it a dangerous decision against many opponents.

Ideal Trevenant Moves for PvP (GO Battle League)

Great League, Ultra League, & Master League Viability

In the Great League and the Ultra League Trevenant is a top-class competitor. Its strong moveset and bulk help it to pressure a large spectrum of meta-relevant Pokémon. Its rather low CP cap makes it unworkable in Master League.

Recommended Moveset

• Fast Move: Shadow Claw (Ghost)
• Charged Moves: Seed Bomb (Grass) and Shadow Ball (Ghost)

PvP Moveset Comparison Table

Playstyle and Strategy

• Lead: Trevenant can operate as a lead, applying shield pressure with Seed Bomb and threatening major damage with Shadow Ball.
• Safe Switch: Though it’s vulnerable to common Flying and Dark-type attacks, Trevenant is a decent safe switch thanks to its unusual typing and rather good bulk.
• Closer: Trevenant’s strong charged motions help to clean up weaker opponents, even if it is not its intended use.

Advanced Tactics

• Shield-Baiting: Shield-baiting depends critically on Seed Bomb’s low energy cost. Often shielding, expecting a Shadow Ball, opponents will let you land a more forceful hit later. Success also depends critically on energy management.

PvP Rankings

Trevenant routinely ranks highly in both the Great League and Ultra League Open metas, per PvPoke (at the time of writing). Its strengths are in its challenge to other Ghost-types as well as in its counterpoint of popular Water, Ground, and Fighting-types.

Shadow Trevenant: Is It Worth It?

Shadow Bonus

Shadow Trevenant receives a 20% attack boost but takes 20% more damage. This makes it significantly more powerful in raids, turning it into a potent, albeit frail, attacker.

Best Moveset for Shadow Trevenant

• Fast Move: Shadow Claw (Ghost)
• Charged Move: Seed Bomb (Grass) (PvE and PvP)
  • Add Shadow Ball (Ghost) for PvP

Should You Purify?

Generally NO. Particularly for PvE, the attack boost from the Shadow bonus is quite valuable to forfeit. Although the extra damage output usually exceeds the risk, in PvP the heightened fragility can be a disadvantage. Your playstyle and resources will ultimately determine the decision, but for most players keeping Trevenge as a Shadow is advised.

Best Counters to Trevenant

Trevenant’s numerous weaknesses make it vulnerable to a variety of Pokémon.

Top Pokémon to Counter Trevenant in Raids & PvP:

• Charizard (Fire/Flying)
• Ho-Oh (Fire/Flying)
• Darkrai (Dark)
• Yveltal (Dark/Flying)
• Gengar (Ghost/Poison)
• Chandelure (Ghost/Fire)
• Alolan Muk (Poison/Dark)
• Mandibuzz (Dark/Flying)

Counter Moveset Table

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How to Get Trevenant in Pokémon GO

• Evolving Phantump: The primary way to obtain Trevenant is by evolving Phantump. It requires 200 Phantump Candy, or can be evolved for free if traded.
• Raid Availability: Trevenant has occasionally appeared in raids, particularly during Halloween events. Keep an eye on the in-game news for upcoming raid rotations.
• Research Tasks: Phantump and Trevenant have been featured in limited-time research tasks in the past.
• Trading: Trading with a friend is a viable option, especially if you’re looking for a Trevenant with better IVs or want to evolve a Phantump for no candy cost.

Conclusion

Particularly shining in the Great and Ultra Leagues, Trevenant is a strong and flexible Pokémon available in Pokémon GO. Shadow Claw, Seed Bomb, and Shadow Ball (for PvP) makes the ideal moveset for both PvE and PvP. For serious battlers, Shadow Trevenge improves its offensive power even more, thus it is a valuable purchase. Although it has several flaws, its strong moves and unusual typing help it to defeat many common meta threats.

Players should most especially invest Stardust, TMs, and Rare Candy into a good Trevenge, especially for PvP. Any team could benefit much from its performance in the GO Battle League.