Changes were made to the CP (Combat Power) of various Pokémon in Pokémon GO—many Pokémon had their CP increased, while others had their CP lowered to allow for a more balanced and competitive battling and training experience in Gyms. Pokémon with high CP perform better at attacking and defending Gyms, so finding Pokémon with high CP for your team is key to having consistent success in Gym battles.

It’s tricky to figure out which Pokémon will have lots of CP before you power them up using valuable Stardust. Read on about the Pokémon species most impacted by these changes so that you know which Pokémon to track down and power up next. Plus, if you haven’t already, make sure to log into the game and see how the power of your Pokémon may have shifted!

Gym Battle Heroes

The Pokémon that have recently enjoyed a boost to their Combat Power can largely be split into two groups: Pokémon that had a reputation for being quick and frail, and those that are known for being slow and stout. Many of the bigger, sturdier Pokémon received smaller boosts than their speedier counterparts, but they powered up just enough to land among the best choices to lead your team into battle.

Few Pokémon gained more from the recent changes than the Rock- and Ground-type Rhydon. It was already a powerful Pokémon, but its improved CP may make it one of the most sought after Pokémon for use in Gym battles, alongside Vaporeon, Lapras, and Snorlax. Golem shares the same types as Rhydon and gained a boost in power, as well. You may want to make sure you’re packing a Water- or Grass-type Pokémon for your team the next time you try to claim a Gym!

If you’re not sure about how to deal with Golem and Rhydon, look no further than several Water-type Pokémon ascending toward the top of the pool of available Pokémon. You’ll probably need myriad Magikarp before you can get a Gyarados, but the effort will definitely be worth it as Gyarados’ already formidable power has been increased. Omastar and Kingler also received significant boosts, deepening the pool of powerful Water-type Pokémon to choose from. Omastar’s combination of the Rock and Water types can be especially useful, so try Omastar out if you’re fortunate enough to have one.

You’ll have to be very lucky to run into the rare Chansey. But if you happen to have the Egg Pokémon, you may notice its CP has increased the most of all relative to other Pokémon. Chansey is famous for its high HP, making it a tricky Gym defender to topple. There’s now a little more power behind Chansey’s massive amount of hit points, so keep an eye out for this rare and treasured Pokémon!

Moving on Up

Many Pokémon known for their speed are also looking more fit for battle recently. These Pokémon enjoyed some of the largest jumps in CP, making them great candidates for a second look. If you tried training one of these Pokémon before and didn’t feel like their Gym performance was up to your standards, it might be worth giving them another shot.

Abra may not be able to Teleport in Pokémon GO, but it does escape frequently enough that it can take a lot of dedication to catch enough Abra to power up an Alakazam. That dedication is sure to pay off, as Abra, Kadabra, and Alakazam enjoyed some of the biggest gains from the recent changes to CP.

Trainers who chose to celebrate Halloween with Pokémon GO likely built up a good stock of Gastly Candy. Now is a great time to empty the reserves and power up a Gastly to try to spook your rivals because Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar also enjoyed a sizable bump to their CP.

Each of the Evolutions of the popular Eevee gained a little boost, but the Evolution that gained the most was Jolteon. The normally speedy Jolteon had been lagging behind its contemporaries a little in Pokémon GO, but the recent changes should help Jolteon get back on pace. There aren’t many Electric-type Pokémon, so many Trainers may want to add this sparky Pokémon to their rosters.

Hit the Gyms

With the CP of many Pokémon changing, we imagine many Trainers are looking to improve their teams. It can take a lot of Stardust to power up a powerful Pokémon, so we’d like to remind Trainers that another recent game update introduced daily bonuses for both capturing Pokémon and for visiting PokéStops. And if you capture a Pokémon or visit a PokéStop seven days in a row, you even get a much larger bonus! If you keep working at these daily bonuses, you’ll be able to power-up some great new additions to your team in no time. Plus, don’t forget to pick a Buddy Pokémon to earn more candy for your rare Pokémon.

Many other Pokémon received boosts to their CP in addition to those mentioned in this article. The best way to acquaint yourself all the recent changes to Pokémon GO is to log in and check out your Pokémon roster and get out to some Gyms. We hope you enjoy your future Gym battles, and remember to check back at Pokemon.co.uk/Strategy for more Pokémon GO, video game, and Pokémon TCG tips.