Upper Hand

Fighting

Upper Hand is a Charged Attack of type Fighting in Pokémon GO. In Gym and Raid battles, it deals 50 damage and it costs 33 energy. In GO Battle League, Upper Hand deals 70 damage and costs 40 energy. Explore its damage and energy stats in battles, its effectiveness against various Pokémon types, and see which Pokémon wield it best.

Upper Hand effectiveness against other Pokémon types

NormalFightingFlyingPoisonGroundRockBugGhostSteelFireWaterGrassElectricPsychicIceDragonDarkFairy
Fighting×1.6×1.0×0.6×0.6×1.0×1.6×0.6×0.4×1.6×1.0×1.0×1.0×1.0×0.6×1.6×1.0×1.6×0.6

Upper Hand Adventure Effects

Upper Hand has no Adventure Effects.

Upper Hand in Gym and Raid Battles

Gym and Raid Battles Stats

CategoryCharged Attack
TypeFighting
Power50
Energy33
Animation Duration2.0s
Damage Window2.3s - 3.1s
DPS25 Damage per second
DPE1.52 Damage per Energy

Similar moves in Gym and Raid Battles

FightingCross Chop50501.5s33.33
FightingSubmission55502.0s27.5
FightingLow Sweep40332.0s20
FightingBrick Break40331.5s26.67
FightingClose Combat1051002.5s42
FightingDynamic Punch85502.5s34
FightingFocus Blast1401003.5s40
FightingSuperpower85503.0s28.33
FightingDrain Punch50332.5s20
FightingPower-Up Punch50332.0s25

Upper Hand in Trainer Battles

Trainer Battles Stats

CategoryCharged Attack
TypeFighting
Power70
Energy40
DPE1.75 Damage per Energy
TagsSpam / BaitDebuff

Special effects

Special effectsSpecial

Upper Hand has a 30.0% chance to:

  • Decrease Target's Defense by 20.0%

Similar moves in Trainer Battles

FightingCross ChopSpam / Bait1.575535
FightingSubmissionGeneral1.26050
FightingLow SweepSpam / Bait14040
FightingBrick BreakSpam / BaitDebuff
Special effectsSpecial

Brick Break has a 100.0% chance to:

  • Decrease Target's Defense by 20.0%
1.255040
FightingClose CombatGeneralSelf-Debuff
Special effectsSpecial

Close Combat has a 100.0% chance to:

  • Decrease User's Defense by 33.3%
2.2210045
FightingDynamic PunchGeneral29045
FightingFocus BlastNuke215075
FightingSuperpowerSpam / BaitSelf-Debuff
Special effectsSpecial

Superpower has a 100.0% chance to:

  • Decrease User's Attack by 20.0%
  • Decrease User's Defense by 20.0%
2.138540
FightingDrain PunchSpam / BaitBoost
Special effectsSpecial

Drain Punch has a 100.0% chance to:

  • Increase User's Defense by 25.0%
14040
FightingPower-Up PunchSpam / BaitBoost
Special effectsSpecial

Power-Up Punch has a 100.0% chance to:

  • Increase User's Attack by 25.0%
0.572035

Strongest Pokémon with Upper Hand

1.Mega Heracross (Mega)Mega HeracrossFightingCounterFightingUpper Hand14.5516.5293.921,008s49
2.Shadow Hariyama (Shadow)Shadow HariyamaFightingCounterFightingUpper Hand10.8112.87165.091,362s87
3.Kommo-oKommo-oDragonDragon TailFightingUpper Hand10.5411.91221.531,390s65
4.HeracrossHeracrossFightingCounterFightingUpper Hand9.9411.64164.961,480s87
5.HariyamaHariyamaFightingCounterFightingUpper Hand9.4210.91168.011,559s86
6.FlamigoFlamigoFlyingWing AttackFightingUpper Hand9.0610.83135.711,626s106
7.Hisuian Lilligant (Hisuian)Hisuian LilligantGrassMagical LeafFightingUpper Hand7.89.48108.051,891s133
8.ScraftyScraftyDarkSnarlFightingUpper Hand7.548.69139.981,946s103
9.ScraggyScraggyDarkFeint AttackFightingUpper Hand5.046.555.672,940s259
10.Shadow Makuhita (Shadow)Shadow MakuhitaFightingRock SmashFightingUpper Hand2.674.2817.635,646s820

Best Great League Pokémon with Upper Hand

Great League

Best Ultra League Pokémon with Upper Hand

Ultra League

Best Master League Pokémon with Upper Hand

Master League

All Pokémon that can learn Upper Hand

214HeracrossHeracrossFightingUpper HandReleasedStandard learnset
214Mega Heracross (Mega)Mega HeracrossFightingUpper HandReleasedStandard learnset
296MakuhitaMakuhitaFightingUpper HandReleasedStandard learnset
296Shadow Makuhita (Shadow)Shadow MakuhitaFightingUpper HandReleasedStandard learnset
297HariyamaHariyamaFightingUpper HandReleasedStandard learnset
297Shadow Hariyama (Shadow)Shadow HariyamaFightingUpper HandReleasedStandard learnset
549Hisuian Lilligant (Hisuian)Hisuian LilligantFightingUpper HandReleasedStandard learnset
559ScraggyScraggyFightingUpper HandReleasedStandard learnset
560ScraftyScraftyFightingUpper HandReleasedStandard learnset
560Mega Scrafty (Mega)Mega ScraftyFightingUpper HandUnreleasedStandard learnset

Upper Hand FAQ

How does Upper Hand compare with other moves of the same type?

In raids, Upper Hand has lower move-only DPS compared with Brick Break+: 25 versus 100. This compares damage during the attack animation, not a Pokémon’s complete moveset.

In Trainer Battles, Upper Hand deals less damage per energy compared with Flying Press (1.75 versus 2.25 DPE), and costs the same energy (40 versus 40). Higher DPE uses energy more efficiently; a lower cost lets you reach the attack sooner.

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 Upper Hand 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 Upper Hand?

The Pokémon in the Mega and Primal section above boost other Trainers’ Upper Hand 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 Upper Hand, 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.