Flying Pokémon are a pretty common occurrence in Pokémon Go, with each generation boasting numerous birds. It can be daunting choosing a flying-type for your team, which is why we’re here to tell you who the best flying Pokémon in Pokémon Go are. Prepare yourself, some of these entries take a considerable amount of effort to get, but we promise it’s worth it.
However, if you’re not in the market for a cheeky bird but want a companion that can read your mind, our list of the best psychic Pokémon has the ‘mon for you. We can also help you pick out the best ice Pokémon in case you want to freeze ‘em all, or just give them a soak with the best water Pokémon in Pokémon Go.
Here are the best flying Pokémon in Pokémon Go:
Moltres
Fast attack: Wing attack
Charged attack: Sky attack
Yes, we’re starting like this, and yes, this list is full of legendary ‘mon – you wanna know why? Because they absolutely slap, and a lot of them fly high in the sky, above you, where they should be. Anyway, first up is Moltres, one of the legendary birds from generation one. Not only is this bird gorgeous to look at, but it’s one of the best fire Pokémon in Pokémon Go, and the fact it can fly too is just the cherry on top.
If you happen to love Spring and enjoy the beautiful colors of the season, you should feel especially happy when you spot Moltres out in the wild, as that means Spring is on its way.
To learn how to put out the flames, consult our fire Pokémon weakness guide.
Braviary
Fast attack: Air Slash
Charged attack: Brave Bird
Honestly, Braviary is probably the most powerful flying-type on this list that doesn’t fall under the legendary category. Debuting in generation five, in Pokémon Go, Braviary is capable of high damage at an impressive speed, so if you’re after a solid flying-type, you can’t go wrong here.
Braviary is an incredibly loyal bird, with its Pokédex entry even claiming that it never stops fighting for its friends, even if injured. Thanks to its decent speed and attack prowess, this bird should be able to hold its own against anyone who dares attack its pals.
Considering Braviary isn’t just one of the best bird Pokémon but one of the best normal Pokémon, too, it’s a good idea to brush up on your normal Pokémon weakness knowledge.
Yveltal
Fast attack: Gust
Charged attack: Hurricane
Here you go, the second legendary to pop up on this list is Yveltal – what a bird. This ‘mon is a combination of the dark and flying-types, which opens it up to some unique combinations (I’m also just a huge fan of the dark-type in general).
The fact that the titular Pokémon Y ‘mon is hard-hitter doesn’t hurt either, with both its standard attack and special attack stats being higher than average, so sweep up the competition and blow them away with one of the best flying ‘mon.
Remember, Yvettal is also a dark Pokémon, so you may want to discover what the dark Pokémon weakness is with our guide.
Staraptor
Fast attack: Wing attack
Charged attack: Brave bird
Staraptor is a third-stage Pokémon, and it’s fair to say that it’s worth the effort you go through to get one, though we admittedly don’t think it’s the best-designed bird by a mile. Of course, this comes down to personal preference, as there are other entries on this list that fit the flying-type bill, but we can’t deny the stats and aggression that Staraptor can bring to your party.
According to its Pokédex entry, Staraptor is an extremely savage bird, so much so that it doesn’t care how big its opponent is. This Pokémon will go after a giant, and like Braviary, it doesn’t give a hoot if it’s injured, Staraptor will continue to fight. Good job it has the speed to strike first, with an attack stat that means some good damage.
Tornadus
Fast attack: Air slash
Charged attack: Hurricane
Here we go, another legendary flying Pokémon, but this one isn’t a bird – hooray! Instead, Tornadus is a member of the Forces of Nature trio, and in Pokémon Go, this impressive creature can unleash havoc with its impressive hurricane attack – just make sure you remain in the eye of the storm.
The main thing to take note of with Tornadus is its impressive speed stat. Mind you, its namesake should give an indication of how fast this creature can go, clocking in with top speeds of more than 200mph.
Talonflame
Fast attack: Peck
Charged attack: Brave bird
Another fire and flying-type hybrid, Talonflame, is a favorite at PT, but that could just be due to some of us having a strong love for fire – we’re not pyromaniacs, I swear. Anyway, much like Moltres, you can create a terrifying combination of attacks with Talonflame, one that’s sure to have your opponent go up in flames. Seriously, they might turn into a flying fireball.
Stats-wise, it’s Talonflame’s speed that makes it an ideal bird to have on your team. Very few creatures can match it, though its other stats fall mostly within the average bracket.
Zapdos
Fast attack: Drill peck
Charged attack: Charge beam
The second of the legendary birds to appear on this list is Zapdos. There’s just no way we couldn’t add it to this list, particularly as it happens to be one of the best electric Pokémon in Pokémon Go. You can light up the sky with the competition with some impressive electric attacks, or you send them sky-high with flying attacks. Either way, Zapdos is sure to cause some damage.
To give Zapdos a shocking surprise, check out our electric Pokémon weakness guide.
Pidgeot
Fast attack: Wing attack
Charged attack: Brave bird
As a gen 1 Pokémon, Pidgeot holds a special place in the hearts of many, especially as it’s likely the first powerful bird you ever got your hands on in the older ‘mon games, meaning it’s the first major bird you likely battled with, and the same is probably true in Pokémon Go, and thankfully, it happens to be one of the best flying Pokémon in the game, especially since it can hit hard and move at speed.
Honchkrow
Fast attack: Peck
Charged attack: Sky attack
Here we have another dark and flying-type hybrid, but trust us when we say Honchkrow should really be called Henchkrow, as it can inflict massive damage on its opponents. Seriously, if you’re in the market for a bird with a dark side, you need to look no further than Murkrow’s evolution. Fun fact, Honchkrow is a gen 4 Pokémon, while its first stage debuted in Johto as a gen 2 Pokémon.
Rayquaza
Fast attack: Air slash
Charged attack: Hurricane
Finally, here’s what we consider to be one of the best legendary Pokémon to ever grace the franchise. Rayquaza is a force of nature and is a dragon-type on top of flying, which unsurprisingly means this menacing ‘mon can cause some impressive damage and trap its foes in a ferocious storm. Yeah, you definitely want this creature of legend on your team. We’re not exaggerating when we say Pokémon Go’s Rayquaza has some of the highest damage output among the beasts of the skies.
Another important thing to note about Rayaquaza is that it’s also a dragon Pokémon, and given they’re weak to just one element, it’s wise to consult our dragon Pokémon weakness guide before you fight this legendary.
How many flying Pokémon are there?
There are 133 flying Pokémon at the moment, and this number is inclusive of mega evolutions and unique forms. New flying Pokémon tend to appear with each new generation, so you can expect that number to increase when generation ten arrives.
There you have it, the best flying Pokémon in Pokémon Go. To learn how to bring these creatures to the ground, check out our flying Pokémon weakness guide. We can also help you out with our Misdreavus evolution, Scyther evolution, Cetoddle evolution, Salandit evolution, Clefairy evolution, Ralts evolution, Floette evolution, and Bisharp evolution guides,