In what could be one of the biggest changes we’ve seen to Pokemon GO since the game’s launch, we’re finally seeing Niantic introduce some badly needed re-balancing for some of your favorite Pokemon. We saw a small effort made back when Niantic attempted to balance some of the game’s more powerful move sets, but today it’s the first time the developer has tweaked the actual CP levels of Pokemon in the game.
Niantic mentioned in a blog post that Pokemon like Alakazam, Rhydon, and Gengar will see big increases to the CP, while others will have their CP lowered. They didn’t go into too much detail, but it hasn’t taken long for reports to come flooding in from users posting their own findings. Here’s the still unofficial — and very much unconfirmed — list of Pokemon we’re seeing being changed (some more than others) as posted by user DinoRaawr:
Going Up:
- Alakazam(+++)
- Aerodactyl
- Beedrill
- Butterfree
- Chansey
- Charizard
- Cloyster
- Dodrio(++)
- Electabuzz
- Electrode
- Flareon
- Hitmonlee
- Gengar,
- Golem(+++)
- Gydrados
- Jolteon(+++)
- Jynx
- Kabutops
- Kangaskhans
- Kingler(+++)
- Machamp(+++)
- Magneton
- Mr. Mime
- Muk
- Omastar
- Onix
- Pinsir
- Pidgeot
- Primeape
- Raichu
- Rapidash(+)
- Rhydon
- Sandslash
- Scyther(++)
- Snorlax
- Starmie
- Tangela
- Tauros
- Tentacruel
- Vaporeon
- Venomoth(++)
Going Down:
- Arcanine
- Blastoise
- Clefable
- Dewgong
- Dragonite(?)
- Exeggutor
- Goldbat(-)
- Golduck
- Hypno
- Lickitung(–)
- Nidoking
- Nidoqueen
- Ninetails(–)
- Parasect
- Poliwrath
- Porygon
- Seadra
- Slowbro(-)
- Venusaur
- Victreebell
- Vileplume
- Wigglytuff
Unchanged:
- Lapras
- Wheezing
Eeveelutions are up, and the plants are all dying.
Dragonite is all over the place. I don’t know what to do with him.
Niantic says they hope the changes will bring more balanced and competitive battling in gyms. Diversity in gyms was something that was badly needed, where players would find the same 5 or so Pokemon in every gym they visited. These tweaks have the potential to flip gym battles upside down, allowing players to get more acquainted with Pokemon that normally didn’t stand a chance.
Moving forward, Niantic promises to continue making further CP tweaks in the future to adjust balancing. Let’s just hope it doesn’t take another six months for them to get on the ball.