Best Pokémon in Poke Derby
These picks are sorted from species base stats and aptitude grades in version 1.7.0. They are not a voted tier list, and they are not a max-star final build.
How the sort works
- Overall rank uses the species stat total: Speed + Stamina + Power + Guts + Focus.
- Distance lists keep the grade first (S, then A+), then the total as a tie break.
- A grade is an aptitude, not a promise. Chansey’s long grade can look excellent while Speed and Power stay low. Dodrio’s long grade sits next to a thin Stamina bar.
Highest species totals
| Racer | Total |
|---|---|
| Dragonite | 4092 |
| Arcanine | 3970 |
| Charizard | 3826 |
| Gyarados | 3792 |
| Venusaur | 3782 |
| Nidoking | 3754 |
| Blastoise | 3749 |
| Nidoqueen | 3713 |
| Exeggutor | 3710 |
| Tentacruel | 3704 |
By distance
| Distance | Grade leaders |
|---|---|
| Sprint S | Aerodactyl 3650, Rapidash 3623, Jolteon 3583, Scyther 3571, Raichu 3499 |
| Mile A+ | Arcanine 3970, Charizard 3826, Gyarados 3792, Nidoking 3754, Nidoqueen 3713 |
| Medium A+ | Dragonite 4092, Arcanine 3970, Charizard 3826, Venusaur 3782, Nidoking 3754 |
| Long S | Dragonite 4092, Lapras 3685, Vaporeon 3598, Slowbro 3455, Dodrio 3380 |
The three starters
| Starter | SPD/STA/POW/GUT/FOC | Distance S/Mi/Md/L | Signature | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | 462/402/409/501/629 | D/B/A/B | Solar Beam Finish | Ace |
| Charmander | 621/340/441/407/579 | B/A/A/C | Tail Flame | Spark |
| Squirtle | 443/385/406/564/487 | D/B/A/A | Streamlined Shell | Spark |
Style grades for the same three, Front/Pace/Late/End: Bulbasaur C/B/A/B, Charmander B/A/C/D, Squirtle C/A/A/C. Charmander starts fastest and thinnest on Stamina. Bulbasaur’s Focus is the high bar. Squirtle’s Guts is the closer stat, which matches the Streamlined Shell cutaway on the snowy course.
Partners by role
Ace is the big bond-training card and likes its own facility. Coach hands out hints and skill points. Scout adds races and fans. Spark touches mood and events. Guard lowers failure and energy cost. The highest base pairs I kept: Ace Machamp and Rapidash at 105/100, Gyarados and Dragonite at 105/95. Coach Exeggutor, Starmie, Vaporeon, and Jolteon at 105/100. Scout Pidgeot at 115/115. Spark Clefable and Flareon at 105/100. Guard Muk and Kabutops at 105/100. Those are bases, not the percent the career UI shows after bond scaling.
A few cards do something extra. Pikachu is the only bondShare card. Aerodactyl has startStat +30. Charizard has race +7. Golem, Pinsir, and Kabutops also carry a startStat flag.
A Team Trials example, not a consensus
| Distance | Example | Why it is only an example |
|---|---|---|
| Sprint | Aerodactyl | Sprint S and a startStat flag |
| Mile | Arcanine | Mile A+ and the second-highest total |
| Medium | Dragonite | Highest total and Medium A+ |
| Long | Lapras | Long S with a higher Stamina read than Dodrio |
Questions
Who is the best starter in Poke Derby?
No single winner. Charmander has the Speed lead, Bulbasaur the Focus lead, Squirtle the Guts lead. Pick the distance you want to train.
Is there a Poke Derby tier list?
Not from a tournament sample. This page sorts the 1.7.0 species file. Treat it as a reading of that file.
Why is Chansey not on the long list above?
A high long grade with low Speed and Power is the trap I am flagging, not a recommendation.
Keep reading
Sources
- Species and aptitude data — checked 12 Nov 2026
- Partner cards — checked 12 Nov 2026
- Race card screenshot — checked 12 Nov 2026
- Remakit — checked 12 Nov 2026
