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Trainers carefully handpick competitive Pokemon teams to maintain a winning battle strategy. There are many team types and Pokemon roles in competitive play, and one of the most common are utility Pokemon. A utility Pokemon has a moveset designed to play a specific part in battles that can be either offensive or defensive.
Utility Pokemon will have solid base stats and an extensive movepool, and they can be used in multiple ways depending on a team's needs. However, utility Pokemon are usually tailored for only one task, providing a supportive advantage. Examples of utilities in competitive Pokemon include but aren't limited to lead, defense support, and sweeper. Let's review the best utility Pokemon for competitive Pokemon and the Video Game Championships (VGC).
Updated September 14, 2023, by Taylor Pittman: Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have made an exciting mark on the competitive Pokemon community with several new features, including an evolution method, unique Pokemon, and a Pokemon anomaly known as Paradox Pokemon. Players now have more strategies and team-building options in the new competitive formats. Utility Pokemon are found on the majority of teams in the Pokemon VGC, so this list has been updated to include Generation Nine Pokemon.
Maushold
Maushold is a great ally on the field due to its flexible typing and various support moves. Maushold is a Generation Nine Normal-type Pokemon, giving it a mix-up moveset. Depending on its partner Pokemon, it can be an offensive utility or a defensive one. Maushold's best stat is its high Speed, so players can get in some attack moves. One strategy is to take advantage of its multi-hit moves, including Beat Up, Double Hit, Bullet Seed, and Population Bomb.
Population Bomb has a chance to hit 10 consecutive times, which many Pokemon will not be able to withstand. Pair this with the move Tidy Up, and its Speed and Attack will only increase with each use. Maushold has other support moves players can use, including Follow Me and Helping Hand, if they aren't worried about keeping it on the field for an extended time.
Gholdengo
Gholdengo is a unique Pokemon in almost all aspects. Between its bold design and its incredibly powerful signature move, competitive Pokemon players will enjoy having it on their team. It can run an offensive set with a high Sp. Atk, but defense is one of Gholdengo's best bets as a utility Pokemon. It has several type resistances and the move Recover, so getting it off the field will be challenging. Unless, of course, players want to use its move, Memento, which causes it to faint but lowers the attack stats of its target.
There are other ways Gholdengo can set up its allies without sacrificing itself. The move Metal Sound will lower the targets Sp. Def allowing Gholdengo's partner Pokemon to strike. The Steel/Ghost-type Pokemon can also use Confuse Ray for a chance to pull in passive damage. Players can use Gholdengo as a screen with Reflect and Light Screen available to assist everyone on the team.
Baxcalibur
As a Dragon/Ice-type pseudo-legendary, Baxcalibur falls into the same category as some of the strongest Pokemon. Baxcalibur shines on competitive teams as an offensive utility Pokemon. High HP and Attack mean that not only can it dish out damage, but it can soak it up as well. Additionally, the move Snowscape will trigger a snowstorm on the field for up to five turns, boosting Baxcalibur's Defense.
Players can strive to apply status conditions using Baxcalibur's Ice-type moves, such as Ice Fang and Ice Beam. There's a slight chance they will be able to Freeze their targets. These moves can be followed up with Glaive Rush, which is its best but comes at the risk of taking double the damage when hit.
Jirachi
Jirachi is one of the most versatile Pokemon with incredibly balanced stats, all sitting at 100. Because of its even stat distribution, its utility options are based on its moveset. Its ability Serene Grace gives moves' additional effects a boost, which will come into play often as a Steel/Psychic-type Pokemon. Jirachi's STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) move, Iron Head, is more likely to cause its target to flinch. Moves like Protect or Thunder can solidify its stall abilities, with Thunder having an increased chance to Paralyze its target.
Jirachi also has a better recovery move that benefits its allies if used as a healer, Healing Wish. Healing Wish will cause the user to faint immediately, but they will restore the HP of the following Pokemon and heal all status conditions when they switch in. The best part is that the next Pokemon that takes the field won't activate Healing Wish if it's already in perfect health. It will only activate if another Pokemon is sent in with a Status Condition or low HP.
Gardevoir
Gardevoir works best as a Special attacker and lead. It is a Psychic/Fairy-type, so it holds the defensive advantage over common STAB abusers Fighting and Psychic-type. Gardevoir also possesses good recovery options like Draining Kiss, Rest, and Recover, so it can stay on the field. Another defensive perk is its ability. Synchronize means the user will gain that same condition whenever a Pokemon inflicts it with a Status Condition (i.e., Burn, Paralyze, and Poison).
Its best offensive option is Moonblast, with an impressive power of 95 and a STAB boost. Alone its Speed doesn't hold it back much, but an item such as Choice Scarf makes it able to take move priority in most cases, though this does limit it to its first move. Nevertheless, even without the increased Speed, Gardevoir can take the field with its other attack moves pulling from its Psychic roots to put holes in opponent's teams.
Whimsicott
Whimsicott is a solid support utility Pokemon. Its movepool includes multiple options for passive damage, including but not limited to Poison Powder, Stun Spore, Hurricane, and Leech Seed. Players can also use it to set up team support moves such as Tailwind and Safeguard. Furthermore, Tailwind means slower tank Pokemon aren't as limited by their bulk, and Safeguard will protect against Status Conditions for a limited time.
Its support options don't end there, and Whimsicott works well on Sun teams as a Sunny Day setter. Solar Beam, its most robust Grass-type moves, no longer needs to charge up if Harsh Sunlight is on the field. Additionally, players can use it to activate Grassy Terrain to double up its field coverage and assist any Grass-type allies.
Gengar
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Gengar is a Ghost/Poison-type Pokemon that works well on offensive teams. Utility-wise, players often use it as a Substitute Pokemon. The Substitute takes 25% of the user's HP and puts that HP into a Pokedoll that takes all incoming damage for the user unless broken. Gengar can be lying in wait while its ally pulls in damage. After the Substitute is broken, players can start hitting their opponents with some of its Poison and Ghost STAB moves. Sludge Wave and Shadow Ball are hard to survive, even without a type-weakness.
Players can also take advantage of its Poisonous aura by getting passive damage from a poison infection. All its Poison moves have some percentage to leave behind the deadly Status Condition. Its Speed makes this hard to avoid, and slower opponents don't stand a chance. Gengar does lack recovery options, so players would do well to pair it with a healer or to give it an HP-restoring Held Item or Berry.
Azumarill
Azumarill is often overlooked, but it is a formidable Revenge Killer or mid-match Wall Breaker. When it comes to its stats, don't expect to get too many surprises from it, but its type resistances and immunities go far in the Pokemon VGC. Azumarill is resistant to common offensive types such as Fire, Fighting, Water, and Dark. Electric-types are its primary issue, but a Ground-type ally can remove some of that pressure.
Since it holds its own against most types defensively, players can use it to absorb damage for their Glass Cannons and Sweepers. It's also a Screen Setter, protecting its team against attack moves. It's also got support moves like Helping Hand and Encore. Offensively, its water STAB moves like Scald and Liquidation pack enough power to punch a hole in its target, not to mention the potential burn Scald can leave behind. With the right strategy, Azumarill is an essential partner.