Almost nobody uses Hoothoot in battle. It exists to evolve into Noctowl, which is a completely different story. Get it there and you won't regret it. Ground and Ghost moves can't touch it, and only 3 types hit it super-effectively. Known as the Owl Pokemon.
HP and Sp. Def carry most of Hoothoot's stat budget. Attack's the obvious dump stat. Easy to catch and yields 1 HP EV. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
It always stands on one foot. Even when attacked, it does not brace itself using both feet.
It switches its standing foot so quickly that the switch can’t be seen. It cries at the same time every day.
Hoothoot Weakness
GoodHoothoot's Normal/Flying typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric, Ice, and Rock moves. It shrugs off Ground and Ghost-type attacks completely. Hoothoot's special bulk (base 56 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
One evolution ahead. Hoothoot grows into Noctowl through a straightforward two-stage chain. Plenty of partners for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are quick to hatch. The evolved forms gain up to 190 total stats over Hoothoot.
How to Evolve
Breed Hoothoot easily with 73 breeding partners from the Flying egg group.
Keeneye gives Hoothoot passive value while it walls. Bold nature boosts Defense, max HP and Defense EVs maximize the physical wall profile, and Eviolite keeps it in the game.
Best Build
Best Hoothoot Moveset
- Night Shade
- Defog
- Psych Up
- Roost
Recommended Teammates
Level-up moves are just the starting point for Hoothoot. TMs unlock Psychic and Fairy coverage and more and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Brave Bird and Hurricane into something with actual range.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
You'll want to breed for Agility and Feather Dance on Hoothoot. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Sky Attack and Hurricane, they expand what Hoothoot can actually threaten in practice.
You'll want to breed for Defog and Feather Dance on Hoothoot. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Hurricane and Take Down, they expand what Hoothoot can actually threaten in practice.
You'll want to breed for Agility and Defog on Hoothoot. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Sky Attack and Double-Edge, they expand what Hoothoot can actually threaten in practice.
No wild encounters for Hoothoot in Scarlet & Violet. It's available in Gold or Crystal and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.
A solid number of locations for Hoothoot with decent spawn rates across early-game routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Best Locations
Hoothoot appears in 28 walking locations at Lv. 14-29 across Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Not all encounters show up in every version, so check which ones match your game.
Hoothoot is available from early-game routes onward at decent spawn rates. 32 encounter spots give you plenty of options. Grab one early and it'll be ready to evolve or train by mid-game.
Best Locations
Hoothoot's encounter pool splits between Shield and Sword. You've got 32 walking spots at Lv. 2-30 total, but your version determines which ones actually show up.
12 encounter spots for Hoothoot at decent spawn rates starting from mid-game routes. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.
Best Locations
12 spots to find Hoothoot at Lv. 19-55 via walking and gift. Not all of them exist in both Ultra Moon and Ultra Sun versions, so filter by your copy below.
Hoothoot is meant to evolve into Noctowl. At 262 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.
Hoothoot evolves into Noctowl at level 20. Hoothoot is the base form of this evolutionary line.
Tinted Lens is what you want on Hoothoot. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Insomnia, Keen Eye) work on paper but Tinted Lens is what makes Hoothoot worth using.
Base 50 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Hoothoot is a special attacker with base 36 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Fragile — can't afford to take many hits. Best used as a support.
Hoothoot appears in 17 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.
Available in 17 titles since its debut in Gold & Silver, Hoothoot spans 8 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through catching or hatching as a base form in most mainline games.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A