Special
Sweeper
525High
110Fast
ATier

Magic Bounce bounces status moves back at the user, adding real value on top of Espeon's already solid stats. Psychic typing means only weak to Bug, Ghost, and Dark. Introduced in Gen 2. It clears the crowded base-100 Speed benchmark.

The stat budget goes to damage. Sp. Atk and Speed carry the offense, Defense doesn't even come close. A Sun Pokemon on a medium-fast 1M XP curve, worth 2 Sp. Atk EVs per KO.

Base Stats
525High
HP65
C
Attack65
C
Defense60
C
Sp. Atk130
A
Sp. Def95
B
Speed110
B
Total525
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Espeon yields +2 SpA
HPAtkDefSpA+2SpDSpe
Details
Catch45ChallengingMedium Fast1M XP0.9m / 2'11"26.5kg / 58.4 lbs184Base XP
Pokedex Entries

The tip of its forked tail quivers when it is predicting its opponent’s next move.

Scarlet

It uses the fine hair that covers its body to sense air currents and predict its enemy’s actions.

Violet

Espeon Weakness

Vulnerable

Espeon is weak to Bug, Ghost, and Dark-type moves. Espeon's special bulk (base 95 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

4xCriticali
None
½xResisti
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
3Weak
2Resist
0Immune
Scorei-4
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
SynchronizeCopies burns, paralysis, and poison received onto the Pokémon that inflicted them.
Magic BounceHAReflects most non-damaging moves back at their user.

Eevee's line splits into 8 evolutions, and Espeon is the level-up path. Each sibling form needs a different method to obtain. Breed through Eevee to get eggs. Espeon and Vaporeon share the same 525 total stats, but they're distributed differently. Check the comparison below to see where each one specializes.

How to Evolve

8 Evolutions
Vaporeon
Vaporeon
Water Stone
Jolteon
Jolteon
Thunder Stone
Flareon
Flareon
Fire Stone
Espeon
Espeon
High Friendship (Day)
Umbreon
Umbreon
High Friendship (Night)
Leafeon
Leafeon
Leaf Stone
Glaceon
Glaceon
Ice Stone
Sylveon
Sylveon
High Friendship
Stat Comparison 9 Forms
Eevee
Normal
Jolteon
Electric
Espeon
Psychic
Leafeon
Grass
Sylveon
Fairy
HP
55
130+75
65+10
65+10
65+10
95+40
65+10
65+10
95+40
ATK
55
65+10
65+10
130+75
65+10
65+10
110+55
60+5
65+10
DEF
50
60+10
60+10
60+10
60+10
110+60
130+80
110+60
65+15
SP.ATK
45
110+65
110+65
95+50
130+85
60+15
60+15
130+85
110+65
SP.DEF
65
95+30
95+30
110+45
95+30
130+65
65
95+30
130+65
SPE
55
65+10
130+75
65+10
110+55
65+10
95+40
65+10
60+5
BST
325D-Tier
525B-Tier+200
525A-Tier+200
525C-Tier+200
525A-Tier+200
525B-Tier+200
525B-Tier+200
525B-Tier+200
525B-Tier+200
ROLE
Balanced
Tank
Sweeper
Wallbreaker
Sweeper
Wall
Attacker
Wallbreaker
Tank
TYPE
Utility
Special
Special
Physical
Special
Utility
Physical
Special
Special
Breeding
Challenging

Breed with Espeon to get Eevee eggs (with patience) using 278 partners from the Ground egg group.

Egg Groups
Ground
Gender
87.5%12.5%
Hatch Time
35 cycles·8,995 steps
Slow~9 min with Flame Body
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachunidokinggolduckampharosrhydondewgongarbokquagsirenidorinofarfetchdflaaffy

Espeon runs Calm Mind to boost before sweeping. Magic Bounce and Timid nature shape the build, with max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs to capitalize after one turn of setup, plus the remaining moves to back it up.

Best Build

Special Setup Sweeper
Ability
Magic Bounce
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Nature
Timid+SPE
EVs

Best Espeon Moveset

  • Alluring Voice
  • Calm MindSTAB
  • Morning Sun
  • PsyshockSTAB
All 19 games

TMs carry this one. Espeon learns Future Sight and Psychic naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Dark and Normal and beyond give it real matchup play.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Baton Pass
40Normal
Lv 1
Bite
6010025Dark
Lv 1
Charm
10020Fairy
Lv 1
Copycat
20Normal
Lv 1
Covet
6010025Normal
Lv 1
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
Lv 1
Growl
10040Normal
Lv 1
Helping Hand+5
20Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
4010035Normal
Lv 1
Tail Whip
10030Normal
Lv 1
Take Down
908520Normal
Lv 5
Sand Attack
10015Ground
Lv 10
Quick Attack+1
4010030Normal
Lv 15
Baby-Doll Eyes+1
10030Fairy
Lv 20
Swift
6020Normal
Lv 25
Psybeam
6510020Psychic
Lv 30
Morning Sun
5Normal
Lv 35
Power Swap
10Psychic
Lv 40
Psychic
9010010Psychic
Lv 45
Psych Up
10Normal
Lv 50
Future Sight
12010010Psychic
Lv 55
Last Resort
1401005Normal

TM Moves

Src
TM227
Alluring Voice
8010010Fairy
TM132
Baton Pass
40Normal
TM66
Body Slam
8510015Normal
TM129
Calm Mind
20Psychic
TM02
Charm
10020Fairy
TM17
Confuse Ray
10010Ghost
TM224
Curse
10Ghost
TM79
Dazzling Gleam
8010010Fairy
TM55
Dig
8010010Ground
TM204
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
TM37
Draining Kiss
5010010Fairy
TM47
Endure+4
10Normal
TM218
Expanding Force
8010010Psychic
TM25
Facade
7010020Normal
TM03
Fake Tears
10020Dark
TM217
Future Sight
12010010Psychic
TM152
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM81
Grass Knot
10020Grass
TM178
Gravity
5Psychic
TM130
Helping Hand+5
20Normal
TM163
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM117
Hyper Voice
9010010Normal
TM92
Imprison
10Psychic
TM75
Light Screen
30Psychic
TM33
Magical Leaf
6020Grass
TM05
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
TM101
Power Gem
8010020Rock
TM07
Protect+4
10Normal
TM16
Psybeam
6510020Psychic
TM203
Psych Up
10Normal
TM120
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM63
Psychic Fangs
8510010Psychic
TM228
Psychic Noise
7510010Psychic
TM138
Psychic Terrain
10Psychic
TM54
Psyshock
8010010Psychic
TM50
Rain Dance
5Water
TM74
Reflect
20Psychic
TM85
Rest
5Psychic
TM172
Roar-6
20Normal
TM114
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TM98
Skill Swap
10Psychic
TM70
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM41
Stored Power
2010010Psychic
TM103
Substitute
10Normal
TM49
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM32
Swift
6020Normal
TM01
Take Down
908520Normal
TM171
Tera Blast
8010010Normal
TM82
Thunder Wave
9020Electric
TM20
Trailblaze
5010020Grass
TM109
Trick
10010Psychic
TM161
Trick Room-7
5Psychic
TM193
Weather Ball
5010010Normal
TM59
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic

Egg Moves

Espeon doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Espeon can't learn any Tutor moves
All 19 games

You'll want late-game access before hunting Espeon. Low spawn rates across 28 encounter spots means the location matters. Sort by Best below and target the top-rated area first.

Where To Catch Espeon in Scarlet & Violet

The path to Espeon starts with Eevee at Lv. 11-65 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Eevee
    Step 1Catch Eevee
    South Province (Area Two) - Near Town
    ScarletOverworldLv.11-306%EarlyRoute
    MODERATE
    South Province (Area Two) - Near Town
    VioletOverworldLv.11-306%EarlyRoute
    MODERATE
    West Province (Area Three) - Near Town
    VioletOverworldLv.11-306%EarlyRoute
    MODERATE
    West Province (Area Three) - Near Town
    ScarletOverworldLv.11-306%EarlyRoute
    MODERATE
    South Province (Area Two) - Olive Grove
    ScarletOverworldLv.11-303%EarlyRoute
    CHALLENGING
    South Province (Area Two) - Olive Grove
    VioletOverworldLv.11-303%EarlyRoute
    CHALLENGING
  2. Espeon
    Step 2Espeon
    Asado Desert - Grass
    ScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateDesertMorning
    HARD
    Asado Desert - Grass
    VioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateDesertMorning
    HARD
    East Province (Area One) - Grass
    ScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    East Province (Area One) - Grass
    VioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    East Province (Area Three) - Grass
    VioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    East Province (Area Three) - Grass
    ScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    East Province (Area Two) - Grass
    VioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    East Province (Area Two) - Grass
    ScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    North Province (Area Three) - Grass
    VioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    North Province (Area Three) - Grass
    ScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    South Province (Area Five) - Grass
    VioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    South Province (Area Five) - Grass
    ScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    South Province (Area Four) - Grass
    VioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    South Province (Area Four) - Grass
    ScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    South Province (Area One) - Grass
    VioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    South Province (Area One) - Grass
    ScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    South Province (Area Three) - Grass
    VioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    South Province (Area Three) - Grass
    ScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    South Province (Area Two) - Grass
    ScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    South Province (Area Two) - Grass
    VioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    The Pokémon League - Grass
    ScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateMorning
    HARD
    The Pokémon League - Grass
    VioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateMorning
    HARD
    West Province (Area One) - Grass
    ScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    West Province (Area One) - Grass
    VioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    West Province (Area Three) - Grass
    VioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    West Province (Area Three) - Grass
    ScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    West Province (Area Two) - Grass
    VioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    West Province (Area Two) - Grass
    ScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteMorning
    HARD
    or evolve from Eevee (Step 1)
  • Magic Bounce changes the entire equation for Espeon. The 525 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked A-Tier as a sweeper.

  • Espeon's biggest threats include Scyther (Bug), Misdreavus (Ghost), and Tyranitar (Dark), all carrying super-effective STAB moves.

  • Eevee evolves into Espeon by leveling up. Espeon is the final evolution in a 9-stage line starting from Eevee. At 525 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.

  • Magic Bounce is what you want on Espeon. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Synchronize) work on paper but Magic Bounce is what makes Espeon worth using. With base 110 Speed, Magic Bounce gives Espeon an edge before opponents can react.

  • Base 110 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Espeon is a special attacker with base 130 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a sweeper.

  • Espeon appears in 19 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.

Available in 19 titles since its debut in Gold & Silver, Espeon spans 8 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through wild encounters in most mainline games.