Gen 5 of Pokémon GO had some incredibly powerful Pokémon. This is when top tier Pokémon like Zekrom, Landorus, and Conkeldurr were introduced – and immediately replaced Mewtwo as their “go-to” Pokémon.
Gen 5 also gave us the Pokémon listed below; which should be caught only to complete a Pokédex, aside from some minor use in the Great League. Even then, only the #10 - #8 entries are suitable for match-ups in the Great League. This list will only consider the final evolutionary stage of a Pokémon family, and all stats given for the Pokémon below are the maximum possible.
10 Mandibuzz
Mandibuzz is a buzzard-like Dark/Flying type Pokémon that is on this list due to its low attack rating. On the plus side, it takes almost no damage from Ground and Psychic type moves and is resistant to Dark, Grass, and Ghost moves.
With access to the legacy move Sky Attack, Mandibuzz’s DPS (damage per second) is 10.4. It has a CP of 2138, an attack of 129, a defense of 205, and a fairly good stamina of 242. Its available fast moves are Air Slash and Snarl; it available charge moves are Aerial Ace, Dark Pulse, Foul Play, and Shadow Ball. Snarl and Foul Play is the best non-legacy move-set.
9 Alomomola
Alomomola is a fish-like Water type Pokémon with extremely low attack and stamina ratings, but a stamina that surpasses even Snorlax’s maximum of 330. Unfortunately though, this top tier stamina isn’t enough to make up for its low attack and stamina. Alomomola has a CP of 2169, an attack of 138, a defense of 131, and a stamina of 338. It has a choice of Hidden Power and Waterfall for a fast move.
Hydro Pump, Blizzard, and Psychic are its available charge moves. Either fast move combined with Psychic is a strong move-set, but Alomomola’s low attack limits its effectiveness.
8 Stunfisk
Stunfisk is a Ground/Electric type Pokémon that resembles a beaked flounder – going by the picture one would assume it was a Water type Pokémon. Everything except its (slightly) good stamina is well below average. It has a CP of 2162, an attack of 144, a defense of 171, and a stamina of 240.
Stunfisk’s available fast moves are Mud Shot and Thunder Shock; its available charge moves are Discharge, Mud Bomb, and Muddy Water. Thunder Shock and Discharge is the best move-set is terms of DPS (9.2), but Mud Shot and Discharge is nearly as powerful with a DPS of 9.0.
7 Swanna
Swanna is a swan-like Water/Flying type Pokémon that is on the edge of being a good combatant, but comes up short in crucial areas. Its stats are a bit on the low side, and Electric type moves will make Swanna faint in a matter of seconds. It does have some decent resistances though, and if its attack was higher its move-sets would be much more effective.
Swanna has a CP of 2088, an attack of 182, a defense of 132, and a stamina of 181. Air Slash and Water Gun are its choices for a fast move; Bubble Beam, Hurricane, and Ice Beam are its choices for a charge move. Water Gun and Bubble Beam is by far the best move-set.
6 Amoonguss
Amoonguss is a Grass/Poison type Pokémon that looks like a mushroom with the Pokéball design on its caps. This Pokémon’s low defense and plethora of weaknesses make it unsuitable for combat. Amoonguss has a CP of 2140, an attack of 155, a defense of 139, and a stamina of 249.
Its available fast moves are Astonish and Feint Attack. Grass Knot, Foul Play, and Sludge Bomb are its available charge moves. Astonish and Grass Knot is the best move-set with the fastest recharge time and and a DPS of 10.6.
5 Liepard
Liepard is a cat-like Dark type Pokémon with some good move-sets and dismal stats. As a side note, why does every generation of Pokémon GO have a cat-like Pokémon that is always among the worst for that generation? Pyroar (from Gen 6) seems to be the only exception – it’s not that strong.
Liepard has a CP of 1846, an attack of 187, a defense of 106, and a stamina of 162. Its available fast moves are Charm and Snarl; its available charge moves are Dark Pulse, Gunk Shot, and Play Rough. Snarl and Dark Pulse is the best, but the Snarl/Play Rough move-set has practically the same DPS and the same recharge time.
4 Swoobat
Swoobat is a bat-like Psychic/Flying type Pokémon with some great move-sets - which are hindered by its low attack. Its defense and stamina are also quite low as well. The only redeeming quality of Swoobat is that it has some good resistances to Fighting and Groung type moves.
It has a CP of 1716, an attack of 161, a defense of 119, and a stamina of 167. The choice for a fast move is between Air Slash and Confusion. Aerial Ace, Futuresight, and Psychic are the choices for a charge move. Confusion and Psychic is a great move-set, but when Swoobat uses it this move-set has a DPS of only 10.3.
3 Watchog
Watchog is prairie dog Normal type Pokémon who’s stamina is way too low for it to outlast its opponent in a fight. Why are Normal type Pokémon either insanely powerful or incredibly weak? Watchog has a CP of 1819, an attack of 165, a defense of 139, and a stamina of 155. Its available fast moves are Bite and Low Kick; its available charge moves are Crunch, Grass Knot, and Hyper Fang.
Low Kick and Hyper Fang is probably the best move-set when factoring-in DPS (8.8) and recharge time; though Bite and Hyper Fang has the highest DPS (9.8).
2 Emolga
Emolga is a flying squirrel Electric/Flying type Pokémon that is kind of like a cuter version of Pikachu. However, whereas Pikachu is somewhat effective in battle, Emolga is sadly outclassed by nearly every Pokémon in Pokémon GO. It has a CP of 1633, an attack of 158, a defense of 127, and a stamina of 146.
To make matters worse for Emolga it doesn’t evolve into something better; so its stats are always going to be inadequate. Its available fast moves are Quick Attack and Thunder Shock; its available charge moves are Aerial Ace, Discharge, and Thunderbolt. Quick Attack and Discharge is Emolga's best move-set.
1 Audino
Audino is an adorable Normal type Pokémon with large, innocent eyes. One look at this Pokémon betrays the fact that it’s not the strongest of combatants. It has a CP of 1682, an awful attack rating of 114, a defense of 163, and a stamina of 230. Pound and Zen Headbutt are its choices for a fast move.
Its available charge moves are Dazzling Gleam, Disarming Voice, and Hyper Beam. Pound and Dazzling Gleam is the best move-set; Pound and Hyper Beam has a slightly higher DPS, but its recharge time is nearly twice that of Pound and Dazzling Gleam.