We tested these in Survival and kept the combinations that made a run easier to stay alive. Each one uses that partner’s own kit: the attack worth keeping, the signature fusion at level 8, three vitamins and the items to take first. They are not a leaderboard and not a win-rate ranking.
Solo Survival · recoveryBulbasaur: stay up with Grass hits
Start as Bulbasaur.
In our Survival tests, Bulbasaur lasted longer when a Grass attack kept connecting. The passive heals a little on those hits, and Flower Beam is the signature those two later kit attacks combine into.
Attacks
- Keep
The level-1 attack. It can root the nearest enemy. Keep a Grass hit connecting while Razor Leaf and Solar Beam level up.
- Fuse at level 8
Bulbasaur’s signature, and it is a special attack. Razor Leaf can appear from level 2. Solar Beam is a level-7 kit offer, so the fusion waits on it.
Tradeoff. The Grass healing is capped and needs hits to land. Solar Beam is not an opening offer, and standing in the middle of a crowd is still how this route ends.
Solo Survival · armorSquirtle: armor until Hydro Spiral
Start as Squirtle.
Squirtle’s tests went further when we treated armor and recovery as the opening, and the signature as a later payoff. The passive gives armor and a shield from the start. Hydro Spiral needs a level-7 attack.
Attacks
- Keep
The level-1 attack. Keep it working until Rapid Spin and Hydro Pump are both ready.
- Fuse at level 8
Squirtle’s signature, a special attack. Rapid Spin can appear from level 4. Hydro Pump is a level-7 kit offer.
Tradeoff. Hydro Pump arrives late. Until then the route is Water Gun, Rapid Spin, armor and recovery. Skipping that opening for a damage fusion is a different plan.
Solo Survival · Fire damageCharmander: finish Fiery Whirlwind
Start as Charmander.
Charmander’s Survival tests held up when the signature was finished before we spent the Fire attacks on anything else. The passive adds Fire damage, and a larger bonus only while you are under 40% HP, so the route still needs recovery.
Attacks
- Keep
The level-1 attack. It can burn. Once Fire Blast is offered, at level 7, it can take this slot: Fire Blast is not an ingredient of the signature.
- Fuse at level 8
Charmander’s signature, a special attack. Fire Spin can appear from level 2 and Flamethrower from level 4. This pair is chosen ahead of a same-type Fire fusion.
Items to prefer
CharcoalTake firstFire-type damage while Fire Spin and Flamethrower are still leveling.
LeftoversThenSteady recovery. Fire damage does not replace it.
Wide LensLaterMore area once Fiery Whirlwind is the attack you are standing in.
Tradeoff. The passive’s larger damage bonus only applies below 40% HP. Armor and regen are what kept these tests from ending on the way to the fusion.
Solo Survival · recoverySlowpoke: sleep, then Psychic Geyser
Start as Slowpoke.
Slowpoke was one of the more stable Survival tests. The passive adds HP and regen, and its yawn can put nearby enemies to sleep. We kept the Yawn attack for the same reason and fused the two later damage attacks.
Attacks
- Keep
The level-1 attack. The projectiles chase and can cause sleep, in the same direction as the passive’s yawn. It is not a fusion ingredient.
- Fuse at level 8
Slowpoke’s signature, a special Water attack. Scald can appear from level 2. Expanding Force is a level-7 kit offer.
Tradeoff. The passive lowers speed, and sleep is a timed effect. An enemy that does not fall asleep still has to be kited.
Solo Survival · healingChansey: heal, then Sonic Egg
Start as Chansey.
Chansey’s Survival tests depended on picking up the passive’s egg and keeping a never-miss attack while the signature leveled. The passive adds HP and healing, and every 10 seconds it lays an egg that heals when collected.
Attacks
- Keep
The level-1 attack. The projectiles chase, never miss, and can confuse. Egg Bomb and Boomburst are the ones you level for the fusion.
- Fuse at level 8
Chansey’s signature, a special attack. Egg Bomb can appear from level 4. Boomburst is a level-7 kit offer.
Tradeoff. The egg heals only if you pick it up, and it appears on a timer. Leaving it behind removes the passive’s main recovery.
Solo Survival · recoveryTangela: roots and Solar Tangle
Start as Tangela.
Tangela’s tests worked when the vines and a rooting attack did the crowd control, and the signature was built out of the two Grass attacks that actually fuse. The passive regens and, every few seconds, roots up to four nearby enemies.
Attacks
- Keep
The level-1 attack. It strikes the nearest enemy and can root. Giga Drain is leveled for the fusion instead of being kept.
- Fuse at level 8
Tangela’s signature, a physical attack. Giga Drain can appear from level 2. Solar Blade is a level-7 kit offer.
Tradeoff. The vines reach only the four closest enemies within their range. Ranged pressure and a crowd outside that circle still get through.
Solo Survival · healingClefairy: drain, then the Moon fusion
Start as Clefairy.
Clefairy lasted longer in testing when Draining Kiss stayed equipped and the Ultimate was cast for the heal, not saved. The passive adds luck and regen, charges the Ultimate faster, and recovers HP when you cast it.
Attacks
- Keep
The level-1 attack. It steals life on impact and can charm. Gravity and Moonblast are the fusion ingredients.
- Fuse at level 8
Clefairy’s signature, a special attack. Gravity can appear from level 4. Moonblast is a level-7 kit offer.
Tradeoff. The biggest heal is tied to casting the Ultimate. Holding that charge leaves a gap that regen and Draining Kiss have to cover.
Solo Survival · damage reductionLapras: keep Ice Beam, fuse Glacial Tide
Start as Lapras.
Lapras did not need a weather effect or a kill condition to stay comfortable in our tests. The passive reduces incoming damage and adds a little regen. We kept Ice Beam, which is not part of the signature, and fused the Water and Ice kit attacks that are.
Attacks
- Keep
A level-2 kit attack. The beam pierces and can freeze. It is not a fusion ingredient. Water Pulse is only the level-1 attack until Ice Beam appears.
- Fuse at level 8
Lapras’s signature, a special Water attack. Surf can appear from level 4. Blizzard is a level-7 kit offer.
Tradeoff. Damage reduction is not immunity. Blizzard is a late offer, so the early route is Water Pulse, then Ice Beam, plus armor and regen.
Solo Survival · recoveryOddish: drain, then Dancing Garden
Start as Oddish.
Oddish’s tests were steadier when Mega Drain stayed on the bar. It steals life and can root. The passive already adds speed and regen, with a larger speed and damage bonus in sun, and the signature is the two petal attacks.
Attacks
- Keep
The level-1 attack. It steals life on impact and can root. Petal Blizzard and Petal Dance are the fusion ingredients.
- Fuse at level 8
Oddish’s signature, a special attack. Petal Blizzard can appear from level 4. Petal Dance is a level-7 kit offer.
Tradeoff. The larger speed and damage bonuses need sun. The pollen cloud is local, so the route still has to work when that weather is down.
Read the Survival guideCheck every fusion pair
Vine Whip
CalciumSpecial damage
Super PotionHP regen
IronArmor
Miracle SeedTake first
Shell BellLater
Water Gun
Rapid Spin
Mystic WaterTake first
Assault VestThen
Ember
Expanding Force
HP UpMax HP
Sweet Kiss
Silk ScarfTake first
ProteinPhysical damage
Fairy FeatherTake first
Ice Beam
Never-Melt IceThen
CarbosMovement speed