PokéPath TD Tier List – Best Team & Meta Builds 2026

This PokéPath TD tier list ranks over 140 Pokémon from S tier to D tier, based on overall performance across all 9 routes, Wave 1–99 consistency, scaling, utility, and how forgiving they are in real runs. This is not just about raw DPS. Range, targeting behavior, terrain value, abilities, and economy impact all matter just as much.

If you are new, this list helps you avoid wasting money and upgrades. If you are experienced, it explains why some Pokémon feel better than their stats suggest, and why others fall off hard later.

PokéPath TD Tier List – Best Team & Meta Builds 2026

How This Tier List Is Judged

Pokémon are ranked by how well they perform without perfect conditions. A Pokémon that needs ideal terrain, perfect timing, or very specific team support will almost never be S tier, no matter how high its peak damage is.

Things that heavily influence ranking:

Reliability from early to late waves

Coverage and range efficiency

Utility beyond damage (control, economy, anti-invisible)

Cost-to-impact ratio

Synergy with common teams

This is a general-purpose tier list, not a speedrun or gimmick ranking.

 

PokéPath TD Tier List

All Pokémon Listed by Tier (Patch 1.3.3)

This section lists every Pokémon included in the PokéPath TD tier list, grouped by tier. Pokémon are ordered alphabetically within each tier for clarity.

S Tier – Meta Pokémon

These Pokémon perform at an elite level across nearly all routes and team compositions.

  • Ditto
  • Greninja
  • Persian
  • Charizard
  • Infernape
  • Lapras
  • Lucario

A Tier

Reliable and powerful Pokémon that work well in most situations, with minor limitations.

  • Excadrill
  • Sunflora
  • Alakazam
  • Natu
  • Murkrow
  • Aggron
  • Breloom
  • Clawitzer
  • Flygon
  • Hawlucha
  • Honchkrow
  • Kabutops
  • Machamp
  • Noivern
  • Rampardos
  • Samurott
  • Sceptile
  • Staraptor
  • Starmie
  • Xatu

B Tier

Good Pokémon that shine in specific setups, maps, or team compositions.

  • Gengar
  • Gardevoir
  • Weavile
  • Armaldo
  • Spoink
  • Absol
  • Ampharos
  • Barbaracle
  • Bastiodon
  • Charmeleon
  • Clefable
  • Cofagrigus
  • Cradily
  • Cryogonal
  • Dewgong
  • Druddigon
  • Electrode
  • Frogadier
  • Golduck
  • Grumpig
  • Haunter
  • Kadabra
  • Lilligant
  • Machoke
  • Marowak
  • Meganium
  • Monferno
  • Octillery
  • Omastar
  • Pidgeot
  • Primeape
  • Sableye
  • Sandslash
  • Tangrowth
  • Weezing
  • Whimsicott
  • Whiscash

C Tier

These Pokémon can work in niche scenarios but are generally outperformed by higher-tier options.

  • Ferrothorn
  • Torkoal
  • Castform
  • Abra
  • Anorith
  • Arbok
  • Ariados
  • Bayleef
  • Charmander
  • Chimchar
  • Clauncher
  • Clefairy
  • Corsola
  • Cranidos
  • Cubone
  • Dewott
  • Drilbur
  • Flaaffy
  • Froakie
  • Gastly
  • Girafarig
  • Grovyle
  • Jumpluff
  • Kirlia
  • Koffing
  • Lairon
  • Maractus
  • Masquerain
  • Meowth
  • Pidgeotto
  • Riolu
  • Shuckle
  • Sneasel
  • Staravia
  • Staryu
  • Swalot
  • Tangela
  • Vibrava

D Tier

These Pokémon are generally not recommended for progression and are best used only for collection or experimentation.

  • Dunsparce
  • Farfetch’d
  • Spinda
  • Aron
  • Barboach
  • Binacle
  • Chikorita
  • Cottonee
  • Ekans
  • Ferroseed
  • Gulpin
  • Hoppip
  • Kabuto
  • Lileep
  • Machop
  • Mankey
  • Mareep
  • Noibat
  • Omanyte
  • Oshawott
  • Petilil
  • Pidgey
  • Psyduck
  • Ralts
  • Remoraid
  • Sandshrew
  • Seel
  • Shieldon
  • Shroomish
  • Skiploom
  • Spinarak
  • Starly
  • Sunkern
  • Surskit
  • Trapinch
  • Treecko
  • Voltorb
  • Yamask

This tier list reflects general performance across all 9 routes, not edge-case strategies. Pokémon may perform better or worse depending on terrain, targeting, team synergy, and player experience.