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#059 · Generation 1

Arcanine

fire

Forms & variants

Max CP (L40 / L50)
3,029 / 3,425
Raid catch CP (L20 / L25)
1,731 / 2,164
Research CP (L15)
1,298
Buddy distance
3 km
2nd charged move
50,000 dust · 50 candy
  • Shiny
  • Shadow
  • Tradable
  • Mega
  • Dynamax
Arcanine
Situational

Verdict: Situational

Arcanine has a niche: C-tier Max Battle attacker, C-tier Max Battle tank. Keep one with the right IVs and transfer the rest.

Battle roles

  • C
    Max Battle attackerdynamax#11 Fire · 224 per Max Move

    Dynamax Arcanine ranks #11 of 20 Fire-type Max attackers: 224 damage per Max Flare at level 40 (fast move Fire Fang). Only a copy caught in a Max Battle can use it.

  • C
    Max Battle tankdynamax#50 of 157 tanks

    C-tier Max Battle tank (#50 of 157 by Defence × HP): it takes the boss's hits and shields the party with Max Guard.

  • C
    Max Battle healerdynamax#32 of 157 healers

    C-tier Max Battle healer (heals 28 HP per Max Spirit, #32 of 157): Max Spirit heals a share of its own HP to every ally.

  • –
    Great Leagueshadow#738 of 1154 · score 68.2

    Ranked #738 of 1154; not competitive in Great League.

  • –
    Ultra Leagueshadow#340 of 851 · score 77.5

    Ranked #340 of 851; not competitive in Ultra League.

  • –
    Master League#215 of 409 · score 60.7

    Ranked #215 of 409; not competitive in Master League.

Collection value

  • Can Dynamax: only copies caught in Max Battles can Dynamax, so keep at least one Max copy.
  • Shadow version exists: Shadows hit 20% harder and are worth a raid slot even with low IVs.

Tiers: S = meta-defining, A = strong, B = playable, C = niche. PvP from PvPoke overall rankings; raids from computed DPS/TDO within each attacking type; Max Battles from GO Hub tier lists.

Base stats

Attack227
Defense166
Stamina207

Base stats. Bars are scaled to the strongest Pokemon in the game.

Weak to

Resists

Evolution line

Check your Pokemon's IVs

Ranks all 4,096 spreads for each league

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PvP rankings (GO Battle League)

LeagueTierRankScoreRecommended movesTypical build
Great League–#758 / 115467.3
Bite · Wild Charge · Psychic Fangs
L18 · 6/15/14
Great LeagueShadow–#738 / 115468.2
Bite · Wild Charge · Psychic Fangs
L18 · 6/15/14
Ultra League–#763 / 85158
Snarl · Crunch · Flamethrower
L31 · 4/13/14
Ultra LeagueShadow–#340 / 85177.5
Fire Fang · Wild Charge · Psychic Fangs
L31 · 4/13/14
Master League–#215 / 40960.7
Fire Fang · Wild Charge · Psychic Fangs
L50 · 15/15/15
Master LeagueShadow–#221 / 40960.2
Fire Fang · Wild Charge · Psychic Fangs
L50 · 15/15/15
Ultra Premier–#590 / 68963.3
Snarl · Crunch · Flamethrower
Ultra PremierShadow–#277 / 68980.4
Fire Fang · Wild Charge · Psychic Fangs
Master Premier–#221 / 27453.6
Snarl · Wild Charge · Crunch
L50 · 15/15/15
Master PremierShadow–#235 / 27451.6
Snarl · Wild Charge · Crunch
L50 · 15/15/15

Source: PvPoke overall rankings. Score is relative to the league meta (100 = best). Typical build is the IV spread PvPoke assumes.

Max Battles (Dynamax & Gigantamax)

Arcanine can Dynamax. Only copies caught in Max Battles (or from Max research) can enter Power Spot battles.

Max Moves

  • fireMax Flarefrom Fire Fang250 / 300 / 350 power
  • darkMax Darknessfrom Snarl250 / 300 / 350 power
  • electricMax Lightningfrom Thunder Fang250 / 300 / 350 power
  • Max Guard+20 / +40 / +60 HP shield
  • Max Spiritheals 8 / 12 / 16% HP

Max Battle roles

  • AttackerC Dynamax
  • Tank (Max Guard)C Dynamax
  • Healer (Max Spirit)C Dynamax

Max Move power is per level 1 / 2 / 3; levels are unlocked with Max Particles and Candy. Tiers are computed from level-3 Max Move damage, Defence × HP and HP at level 40; thresholds on the guide page.

Raid attacker rankings

Attacking typeTierRankDPSTDOBest moves
electricShadow–#33 / 24814.6228Fire Fang · Wild Charge
groundShadow–#40 / 30213.8214Fire Fang · Scorching Sands
fireShadow–#54 / 26314.6227Fire Fang · Flamethrower
electric–#59 / 24812.4232Fire Fang · Wild Charge
darkShadow–#68 / 36312.2191Fire Fang · Crunch
ground–#69 / 30211.6217Fire Fang · Scorching Sands
psychicShadow–#78 / 24811.9185Fire Fang · Psychic Fangs
fire–#82 / 26312.3231Fire Fang · Flamethrower

Level 40, 15/15/15, neutral target. DPS = damage per second, TDO = total damage output before fainting. Rank is among every Pokemon using that attacking type.

Moves

Fast moveTypeRaid powerEnergyDurationDPSPvP powerPvP energySpeed
Fire FangSTAB
fire13+91.0s13.08+62 turns
Snarl
dark11+131.0s11.05+133 turns
Thunder Fang
electric10+131.0s10.08+62 turns
BiteElite TM
dark6+40.5s12.02+41 turn
Charged moveTypeRaid powerEnergyDurationDmg/energyPvP powerPvP energyEffects
Fire BlastSTAB
fire140-1004.0s1.40140-80
Wild Charge
electric90-502.5s1.80100-45100% chance: -2 own Def
Crunch
dark65-333.0s1.9770-4520% chance: -1 foe Def
FlamethrowerSTAB
fire65-502.0s1.3090-55
Psychic Fangs
psychic25-331.0s0.7640-35100% chance: -1 foe Def
Scorching Sands
ground90-503.0s1.8080-5010% chance: -1 foe Atk
BulldozeElite TM
ground80-503.5s1.6080-55100% chance: -1 foe Def

Questions people ask

Is Arcanine good in Pokemon GO?
Yes. Arcanine is C-tier for Max Battle attacker and has 2 other ranked roles.
Should I keep or transfer Arcanine?
Arcanine has a niche: C-tier Max Battle attacker, C-tier Max Battle tank. Keep one with the right IVs and transfer the rest.
Is Arcanine a good raid attacker?
Arcanine ranks #59 of 248 electric attackers with 12.4 DPS. That is outside the top 15, so it is not a raid priority.
Can Arcanine be shiny in Pokemon GO?
Yes. Shiny Arcanine is available from evolution, photobomb, raid, research, wild. A shiny is worth keeping for the collection no matter its IVs.
Is Shadow Arcanine worth keeping?
Shadow Arcanine hits 20% harder and takes 20% more damage. It has no ranked role of its own, so treat it like a normal copy.

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