Poison Sting

Poison

Poison Sting is a Fast Attack of type Poison in Pokémon GO. In Gym and Raid battles, it deals 4 damage and it generates 6 energy. In GO Battle League, Poison Sting deals 4 damage and generates 9 energy. Explore its damage and energy stats in battles, its effectiveness against various Pokémon types, and see which Pokémon wield it best.

Poison Sting effectiveness against other Pokémon types

NormalFightingFlyingPoisonGroundRockBugGhostSteelFireWaterGrassElectricPsychicIceDragonDarkFairy
Poison×1.0×1.0×1.0×0.6×0.6×0.6×1.0×0.6×0.4×1.0×1.0×1.6×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.6

Poison Sting Adventure Effects

Poison Sting has no Adventure Effects.

Poison Sting in Gym and Raid Battles

Gym and Raid Battles Stats

CategoryFast Attack
TypePoison
Power4
Energy6
Animation Duration0.5s
Damage Window0.3s - 0.5s
DPS8 Damage per second
DPE0.67 Damage per Energy
EPS12 Energy per second

Similar moves in Gym and Raid Battles

PoisonPoison Jab1391.0s913
PoisonAcid11101.0s1011
PoisonPoison Sting460.5s128

Poison Sting in Trainer Battles

Trainer Battles Stats

CategoryFast Attack
TypePoison
Power4
Energy9
Duration2 Turns
DPT2 Damage per turn
EPT4.5 Energy per turn
DPE0.44 Damage per Energy
TagsFast Charge

Special effects

Poison Sting has no special effects.

Similar moves in Trainer Battles

PoisonPoison JabGeneral3.53.5771s
PoisonAcidMultipurpose34681s
PoisonPoison StingFast Charge24.5491s

Strongest Pokémon with Poison Sting

1.Mega Beedrill (Mega)Mega BeedrillPoisonPoison StingBugFell Stinger+14.2117.24196.081,038s73
2.Shadow Overqwil (Shadow)Shadow OverqwilPoisonPoison StingGhostShadow Ball12.3314.41205.961,193s70
3.Shadow Nidoking (Shadow)Shadow NidokingPoisonPoison StingGroundEarth Power11.0513.32158.281,335s91
4.OverqwilOverqwilPoisonPoison StingGhostShadow Ball10.7812.3210.911,361s68
5.Shadow Nidoqueen (Shadow)Shadow NidoqueenPoisonPoison StingGroundEarth Power10.5412.35174.371,395s82
6.RoseradeRoseradePoisonPoison StingPoisonSludge Bomb10.212.09159.321,443s90
7.Shadow Toxicroak (Shadow)Shadow ToxicroakPoisonPoison StingGhostShadow Ball9.9512.55117.781,488s122
8.NidokingNidokingPoisonPoison StingGroundEarth Power9.8311.51164.211,495s88
9.Shadow Drapion (Shadow)Shadow DrapionPoisonPoison StingPoisonSludge Bomb9.6111.21163.521,530s88
10.Shadow Scolipede (Shadow)Shadow ScolipedePoisonPoison StingPoisonSludge Bomb9.4411.68120.261,567s120

Best Great League Pokémon with Poison Sting

Great League

Best Ultra League Pokémon with Poison Sting

Ultra League

Best Master League Pokémon with Poison Sting

Master League
236.OverqwilOverqwil59.1PoisonPoison StingWaterAqua TailDarkDark Pulse
238.RoseradeRoserade58.9PoisonPoison StingFireWeather BallGrassLeaf Storm
335.Shadow Tentacruel (Shadow)Shadow Tentacruel48.8PoisonPoison StingWaterScaldDarkPayback

Mega and Primal Pokémon that boost Poison Sting

All Pokémon that can learn Poison Sting

13WeedleWeedlePoisonPoison StingReleasedStandard learnset
13Shadow Weedle (Shadow)Shadow WeedlePoisonPoison StingReleasedStandard learnset
14KakunaKakunaPoisonPoison StingReleasedStandard learnset
14Shadow Kakuna (Shadow)Shadow KakunaPoisonPoison StingReleasedStandard learnset
15BeedrillBeedrillPoisonPoison StingReleasedStandard learnset
15Mega Beedrill (Mega)Mega BeedrillPoisonPoison StingReleasedStandard learnset
15Shadow Beedrill (Shadow)Shadow BeedrillPoisonPoison StingReleasedStandard learnset
23EkansEkansPoisonPoison StingReleasedStandard learnset
23Shadow Ekans (Shadow)Shadow EkansPoisonPoison StingReleasedStandard learnset
24ArbokArbokPoisonPoison StingReleasedStandard learnset

Poison Sting FAQ

How does Poison Sting compare with other moves of the same type?

In raids, Poison Sting has lower move-only DPS compared with Poison Jab: 8 versus 13. This compares damage during the attack animation, not a Pokémon’s complete moveset.

In Trainer Battles, Poison Sting deals less damage per turn compared with Poison Jab (2 versus 3.5 DPT) and generates more energy per turn (4.5 versus 3.5 EPT). Its duration is the same (2 versus 2 turns). Shorter attacks offer more flexibility when switching or timing a Charged Attack.

Alternatives have the same type and attack category and at least one released Pokémon that learns them. The raid comparison uses the alternative with the highest move-only DPS; the PvP comparison uses the highest DPT for Fast Attacks or DPE for Charged Attacks. Stats alone do not account for buffs, debuffs, typing, or the other moves a Pokémon can learn.

How are the best PvP users selected?

These tables show Pokémon whose recommended moveset in our imported PvPoke rankings includes this move as the Fast Attack or either Charged Attack. The rank is their position in the full league ranking, not just among users of this move. Both recommended Charged Attacks are shown. Being able to learn the move does not automatically make a Pokémon a recommended user.

How are the strongest Pokémon with Poison Sting ranked?

Pokémon are ranked by eDPS (effective DPS), which accounts for damage, survivability, and time lost when rejoining. The default ranking uses Level 40 attackers and average raid boss weaknesses. Every moveset includes this attack. TTW estimates the time to win, and faints estimates how many attackers faint during the battle. Changing the settings can change the order.

How are tiers assigned?

Tiers group attackers by similar scores, emphasizing differences near the top. We use eight groups, labelled SS, S, A, B, C, D, E and F, when there are enough distinct scores; otherwise, fewer tiers are used. Group sizes are determined by the scores, not fixed rank cutoffs. Tiers update with the simulation settings and stay the same when you sort or change pages.

How do opponent choice and rejoin time affect the rankings?

Scores attackers against the configured T4+ raid boss pool, including Mega, Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. Outgoing damage reflects how effective each move type is against the bosses; incoming damage reflects the attacker’s resistances to their moves. Per-type rankings use bosses weak to that type. Types without super-effective matchups use the full pool. Unavailable Pokémon are excluded from the boss pool.

The dummy boss uses neutral effectiveness (1.0×) for every move, with incoming damage based on Defense alone. This can favor attackers whose moves the raid pool resists, or whose weaknesses make them take more damage in raids. The dummy has a fixed 25,000 HP, regardless of raid tier.

Time to return after a team of six faints. Applies to eDPS and estimated battle time.

How do Mega and Primal Pokémon boost Poison Sting?

The Pokémon in the Mega and Primal section above boost other Trainers’ Poison Sting damage by 30% (1.3×) in Raid Battles. The boost follows the attack’s type, not the attacking Pokémon’s type.

Standard Mega Pokémon must be on the battlefield. Primal Kyogre, Primal Groudon, and Mega Rayquaza provide their boost while in the current battle party, including after fainting. Multiple Mega or Primal boosts do not stack; the strongest applicable boost is used.

Explore all Mega and Primal type boosts

Does the ranking include Mega and Primal boosts to teammates?

No. The Mega Level setting adjusts the attacker’s own bonuses. Damage boosts provided to teammates are not included in this ranking.

What does the complete learnset list include?

It includes all Pokémon and forms that have access to Poison Sting, whether they have been released in Pokémon GO or not.

What do legacy and exclusive moves mean?

Legacy moves were once available to a Pokémon but can no longer be learned through standard methods, such as a regular TM. Legacy and exclusive moves may require an event, an Elite TM, or another special method to obtain. Some legacy moves cannot be taught with an Elite TM.