Swift Swim doubles its Speed in rain, adding real value on top of Ludicolo's already solid stats. Water/Grass typing means only weak to Poison, Flying, and Bug. Known as the Carefree Pokemon. Flexible enough to run physical or special sets.
Nothing fancy in Ludicolo's spread. It leans mixed with Sp. Def out front. And you'll get 3 Sp. Def EVs per KO for it. Follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
If it hears festive music, all its muscles fill with energy. It can’t help breaking out into a dance.
Ludicolo Weakness
AvgLudicolo is weak to Poison, Flying, and Bug-type moves. Ludicolo's special bulk (base 100 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
Ludicolo evolved from Lotad's chain using an evolution item. It's a non-standard trigger, so check the details below. Breed this form to get Lotad eggs (quick to hatch). The evolution from Lotad pushed Ludicolo to 480 total stats. Sp.Atk saw the largest single gain at +50.
How to Evolve
Breed with Ludicolo to get Lotad eggs easily using 89 partners from the Plant and Water1 egg groups.
Bulk and offense in one package. Ludicolo runs Assault Vest for a special bulk boost with no status moves allowed with a Modest nature, so it survives long enough to threaten with Ice Beam. Max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs and the remaining moves make it hard to safely switch into.
Best Build
Best Ludicolo Moveset
- Ice Beam
- Giga Drain
- Fake Out
- Energy Ball
Recommended Teammates
Most of Ludicolo's flexibility comes from TMs. Same-type output runs through Leaf Storm and Solar Beam, but Normal and Ice and the rest of the TM pool push it from predictable to genuinely threatening.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Breeding opens up real options for Ludicolo. Counter and Flail come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Solar Beam and Hydro Pump and Ghost and Normal coverage and more.
Breeding opens up real options for Ludicolo. Counter and Leech Seed come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Leaf Storm and Solar Beam and coverage across 9 types.
Breeding opens up real options for Ludicolo. Counter and Flail come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Solar Beam and Hydro Pump and coverage across 9 types.
No wild encounters for Ludicolo in Scarlet & Violet. Bring Lotad over from Sapphire, Emerald, or Shining Pearl, then level through the stages. Each step in the chain is laid out below.
Ludicolo doesn't appear wild. Catch Lotad instead, it shows up at moderate rates. Evolve it through a special method to get Ludicolo. The 3-stage chain is mapped in the step cards below.
How to Obtain Ludicolo in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
To get Ludicolo, start by catching Lotad through walking encounters at Lv. 58-63. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch LotadFountainspring CaveGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameGrassland CaveGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRiverbank CaveGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameStill-Water CavernGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameSunlit CavernGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
Step 2Catch or Evolve LombreFountainspring CaveGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameGrassland CaveGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRiverbank CaveGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameStill-Water CavernGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameSunlit CavernGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameor evolve from Lotad (Step 1)
Step 3Ludicolo ✓
Can't catch Ludicolo directly. Start with Lotad at solid rates from the locations below, then evolve through a special method. The 3-stage chain from Lotad to Ludicolo is where the leveling time goes.
How to Obtain Ludicolo in Sword & Shield
The path to Ludicolo starts with Lotad at Lv. 4-40 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch LotadEFFORTLESSWest Lake AxewellOverworldLv.8-1460%EarlyCaveOvercastEFFORTLESSRolling FieldsGrassLv.7-1040%EarlyRainingEFFORTLESSDappled GroveGrassLv.11-1540%EarlyForestNormal WeatherEFFORTLESSDappled GroveGrassLv.11-1535%EarlyForestHeavy FogEASYRoute 2GrassLv.4-620%EarlyRouteAll WeatherEASYDappled GroveGrassLv.11-1520%EarlyForestOvercastEASYDappled GroveGrassLv.11-1520%EarlyForestThunderstormEASYDappled GroveGrassLv.11-1520%EarlyForestRainingEASYRoute 2 - High LevelGrassLv.37-4020%LateRouteAll Weather
Step 2Catch or Evolve LombreMODERATEDappled GroveOverworldLv.13-1510%EarlyForestIntense SunMODERATEDappled GroveOverworldLv.13-1510%EarlyForestOvercastMODERATEDappled GroveOverworldLv.13-155%EarlyForestNormal WeatherMODERATEDappled GroveOverworldLv.13-155%EarlyForestSnowstormMODERATEDappled GroveOverworldLv.13-155%EarlyForestThunderstormMODERATEDappled GroveOverworldLv.13-155%EarlyForestSnowingMODERATEDappled GroveOverworldLv.13-155%EarlyForestSandstormMODERATEDappled GroveOverworldLv.13-155%EarlyForestRainingMODERATEDappled GroveOverworldLv.13-155%EarlyForestHeavy FogMODERATESouth Lake MilochOverworldLv.14-165%EarlyWaterOvercastMODERATESouth Lake MilochOverworldLv.14-155%EarlyWaterNormal WeatherEFFORTLESSGiant's CapGrassLv.27-2940%MidNormal WeatherEASYRoute 5GrassLv.16-1820%MidRouteAll WeatherEASYGiant's SeatGrassLv.30-3515%MidWaterRainingEFFORTLESSGiant's SeatOverworldLv.33-3860%LateWaterRainingEASYGiant's SeatOverworldLv.33-3825%LateWaterNormal Weatheror evolve from Lotad (Step 1)
Step 3Ludicolo ✓
No wild encounters for Ludicolo. The 3-stage chain runs through Lotad, which you can catch in the wild from the locations below. Evolve through a special method once you've got the levels.
Ludicolo looks average on paper at 480 BST. But Swift Swim is why it sees play — build around that and it pulls its weight. C-Tier on our tier list.
Ludicolo gets Swift Swim, Rain Dish, and Own Tempo. But Swift Swim is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Ludicolo is a special attacker with base 90 Sp. Atk. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 70 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many.
Ludicolo appears in 15 games, including Ruby & Sapphire, FireRed & LeafGreen, and Emerald.
Since Ruby & Sapphire, Ludicolo has been in 15 games. Requiring an item-based evolution to obtain means it's consistently available but requires more effort than simply catching it in the wild.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRSDebut
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