Best Bug-type attackers in Pokémon Go

Bug-type Pokémon are just one of 18 different types in the world of Pokémon Go. Each has its own strengths, weaknesses and best Pokémon. Bug is mostly known for its early game utility - they evolve at relatively low levels and thus have overall lower base stats than the other types. It’s also known for having zero Legendary Pokémon.

As with the other types in the game, it's important to know the best Bug-type Pokémon in Pokémon Go. Given that they are super-effective against Dark, Grass and Psychic-types, this is a type you should keep an eye on, especially as a new Trainer. And as always, some are worthy of your time, Candy and Stardust, and others are not.

So, to make life easy for everyone, I've split this page into multiple sections, including an overview of what Bug-type Pokémon are, the best Legendary Bug-type Pokémon in Pokémon Go and the best non-Legendary Bug-type Pokémon in Pokémon Go, including a brief analysis of each.

On this page:

• Best Legendary Bug-type Pokémon
• Best non-Legendary Bug-type Pokémon
• What are Bug-type Pokémon?

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Best Bug-type Legendary Pokémon

With so many different Bug-type Pokémon in Pokémon Go, it is getting incredibly difficult to know which ones you can rely on. Level for level, is a perfect Volcarona better than a perfect Heracross? How do the PVP options Araquanid and Forretress compare? Who is the best Bug-type in Master League? As always, the strongest Pokémon depends on the situation, which is why our lists below come with a brief note for each Pokémon, telling you where and how it is useful.

It's worth noting at this point that this section is shorter than you'd normally see on these Best Pokémon pages. There is only one Mythical Bug-type Pokémon and two Bug-type Ultra Beasts, which we traditionally include in the Legendary slot of this page.

As with our list of best Pokémon in Pokémon Go, we’re going to avoid focusing on Shadow Pokémon and Mega Pokémon. Including them would pretty much knock everything else out of this list. If you want to read more about either of those, you can check out our best Shadow Pokémon and best Mega Pokémon in Pokémon Go guides.

And finally, it's also worth adding that this is an editorialised list of Pokémon - it's not strictly the Pokémon that throw the biggest punches.

Here’s a breakdown of the best Bug-type Legendary Pokémon:

Genesect (Shock Drive)

• Genesect types: Bug/Steel
• Genesect weaknesses: Fire (2x)
• Main use: Master League, Raids

Genesect is the only Bug-type Mythical Pokémon in the game. It’s known for its ability to swap out Drives in the main series games, which changes the typing of its signature move, Techno Blast. In Pokémon Go, these all count as individual Pokémon, with Shock being best for PVP.

Beyond that, it’s a perfectly reasonable attacker, though it’s not worth investing in unless you’re burning to use it in Master League. As an attacker, it’s marginally better than Vikavolt and slightly worse than Kartana (which isn’t even a Bug type) using two Bug moves. This doesn’t really bode well, does it?

Pheromosa

• Pheromosa types: Bug/Fighting
• Pheromosa weaknesses: Flying (2x), Fairy, Fire and Psychic
• Main use: Pokédex filler

Look, there’s only three Pokémon we can actually talk about here, so let’s talk about all three… Pheromosa is one of the two Bug-type Ultra Beasts, and on par with Genesect as a Bug-type attacker. Part of this is its whopping 316 Attack stat, which is huge. The downside is that it has a comically low Defense stat of just 85. It doesn’t take much to squash this bug.

Naturally, this makes it useless in PVP. You could use it in Raids, but dodging is essential and it’s just not worth the effort - especially when you consider it’s a 20km buddy distance Pokémon. Yikes.

Buzzwole

• Buzzwole types: Bug/Fighting
• Buzzwole weaknesses: Flying (2x), Fairy, Fire and Psychic
• Main use: Pokédex filler

Buzzwole is not useful as a Bug-type. It doesn’t even have a Bug-type Fast move. On a power level, this places it firmly between Ribombee and Ninjask. Again, yikes.

There’s not much to say other than this underscores how shallow the pool is. Bug-type wasn’t great to start with, but a look under the hood just makes you shudder.

The ever first Minior Shower is occuring this week! Want to know what's happening this month? Then take a look at the October schedule if you're already looking ahead. Don't forget to keep an eye out for both the rarest Pokémon and the best Pokémon in your travels.

Best Bug-type non-Legendary Pokémon

As a rule of thumb, Legendary Pokémon are typically stronger than non-Legendary Pokémon. However, if things were that simple you wouldn’t be here. In the case of Bugs, non-Legendary is all that matters.

Why? Because there are no Legendary Bug-types. There’s one Mythic Bug and two Bug-type Ultra Beasts (which are just as much of a pain to level up as Legendaries).

Again, this is an editorialised list of Pokémon, not simply those who have the biggest attack stats.

Here's a breakdown of the best Bug-type non-Legendary Pokémon:

Volcarona

• Volcarona types: Bug/Fire
• Volcarona weaknesses: Rock (2x), Flying and Water
• Main use: Raid attacker

Volcarona is one of those Pokémon we’re always surprised to remember isn’t Legendary. It’s a regular Pokémon with a high Attack, reasonable Defense and a signature move (Fiery Dance) waiting in the wings. As far as damage output goes, this is the strongest non-Mega, non-Shadow Bug-type in the game.

While it takes a lot of Candy (a whopping 400) to evolve from Larvesta, it’s worth it if you have one with high IV. If you don’t, keep holding out because (as mentioned) it’s going to take a while to evolve and level up anyway!

Unfortunately, its stat spread makes it useless in PVP.

Vikavolt

• Vikavolt types: Bug/Electric
• Vikavolt weaknesses: Fire and Rock
• Main use: Raids

Vikavolt is your go-to budget option as a Bug-type attacker. Volcarona is expensive to evolve, Genesect and Pheromosa are expensive to level up. Vikavolt is your next-best option while being a lot, lot cheaper to raise. 125 Candies to evolve from Grubbin and 1km to walk. Much easier.

As far as Raids go, we’re looking at an Attack stat of 254, which is impressive. Its Defense of 158 (while almost twice that of Pheromosa) is still a little on the low side, so make sure you know how to dodge. Or, you know, bring a load of these because they are fantastically cheap Pokémon to max out!

To which, it's worth mentioning that Swampert is excellent at Gym defense. When was the last time you attacked a Gym using a Grass-type Pokémon? Exactly.

Araquanid

• Araquanid types: Water/Bug
• Araquanid weaknesses: Electric, Flying and Rock
• Main use: Great League

Araquanid is the top Bug-type Pokémon in Great League. It is surprisingly bulky, takes down top-tier threats and can spam out its Psychic-type coverage move when needed. It’s a surprisingly good Pokémon.

Flying is the main issue here, so pair it with something like Melmetal or Stunfisk and you should be good.

As you might expect from things that excel in Great League, this Pokémon is useless everywhere else!

Forretress

• Forretress types: Bug/Steel
• Forretress weaknesses: Fire (2x)
• Main use: Ultra League

Yes, the best Bug in Ultra League runs a total zero Bug-type moves. As you might expect, we’re getting towards the bottom of the barrel.

Of note, however, is that this typing means Forretress is only weak to Fire-types and resistant to a whopping nine types. It’s a little clumsy to work with, but this Pokémon is a tried and tested tank. Unless your opponent has a Fire-type on hand, Forretress has pretty good staying power.

Heracross

• Heracross types: Bug/Fighting
• Heracross weaknesses: Flying (2x), Fairy, Fire and Psychic
• Main use: Mega Evolution, Raids

I debated for a while over which Pokémon to put last, but still actually recommend. It’s genuinely a tough call between Heracross and Scizor, though this one has slightly more utility as an attacker. Both are fine megas, but ultimately lose to Mega Beedrill, which is simply awful when not mega evolved.

If you’re looking to round out your Bug-type team, you could do a lot worse than Heracross. No evolution, just candy being thrown at leveling up. It’s ok in PVP, too, but not worth going out of your way for.

What are Bug-type Pokémon?

In order to save you from having to remember it, here's a breakdown of the Bug-typing in Pokémon Go.

Bug-type explained

• Type: Bug
• Weak to: Fire, Flying and Rock
• Resistant to: Grass, Fighting and Ground
• Super effective against: Grass, Psychic and Dark
• Not very effective against: Fire, Fighting, Poison, Flying, Ghost, Steel and Fairy
• Boosted by: Rainy weather

Good luck finding the most powerful Bug-type Pokémon in Pokémon Go!