Pupitar Best Moveset
84 Attack at 51 Speed on Rock/Ground. AbilityShed Skin has a 33% chance to heal status each turn. Held ItemEviolite adds bulk since Tyranitar exists. The moveset is functional but everything it does, Tyranitar does harder. One evolution from the sandstorm setter that reshapes every matchup.
Rock/Ground pre-evolution of Tyranitar in Gen II (Gold & Silver). 70 Attack and 70 Speed. Dragon Dance later. Shed Skin healed status.
Best Moves
Best Build
Utility Moveset
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Rest
- Rock Slide
Two gens at the same tier in Gen III (Ruby & Sapphire). Tyranitar dominated above. Pupitar served as the stopgap before evolution.
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Dragon Dance
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power Bug
Recommended Teammates
Pupitar saw minimal competitive use in Gen IV (Diamond, Pearl & Platinum). This was a decline from C-Tier in the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Shedskin with Leftovers, favoring a Adamant nature.
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Brick Break
Recommended Teammates
Pupitar saw minimal competitive use in Gen V (Black & White / B2W2). Pupitar maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Shedskin with Eviolite, favoring a Adamant nature.
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Dragon Dance
- Brick Break
- Earthquake
- Protect
Recommended Teammates
Pupitar saw minimal competitive use in Gen VI (X & Y / ORAS). Pupitar maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Shedskin with Eviolite, favoring a Adamant nature.
Physical Attacker Moveset
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Rest
- Stone Edge
Recommended Teammates
Pupitar saw minimal competitive use in Gen VII (Sun & Moon / USUM). Pupitar maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Shedskin with Eviolite, favoring a Jolly nature.
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Earthquake
- Rest
- Dragon Dance
- Stone Edge
Recommended Teammates
Pupitar saw minimal competitive use in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield / BDSP). Pupitar maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Shedskin with Leftovers, favoring a Adamant nature.
Physical Tank Moveset
- Outrage
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rest
Recommended Teammates
Pupitar saw minimal competitive use in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-A). Pupitar maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Shedskin with Eviolite, favoring a Jolly nature.
Utility Moveset
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Rest
Recommended Teammates
Pupitar Weakness
Pupitar's Rock/Ground typing leaves it vulnerable to Water, Grass, Ice, Fighting, Ground, and Steel. Water and Grass hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It shrugs off Electric-type attacks completely. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Water, Grass |
| 2x (Weak) | Ice, Fighting, Ground, Steel |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Fire, Flying, Rock |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Poison |
| 0x (Immune) | Electric |
What is Pupitar Weak Against
FragileBest Pokemon Against Pupitar
Rillaboom can KO Pupitar with Wood Hammer (374-441%). Swampert threatens a KO with Liquidation (162-191%).
 Rillaboom Grass | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityGrassy Surge ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Pupitar View Rillaboom builds →Knock Off34-40% U Turn36-43% Wood Hammer 4x374-441%KO | ||
 Swampert WaterGround | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Pupitar View Swampert builds →Earthquake 2x96-113%KO Flip Turn 4x115-136%KO Liquidation 4x162-191%KO | ||
 Baxcalibur DragonIce | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityThermalexchange ItemLoaded Dice NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Pupitar View Baxcalibur builds →Icicle Spear 2x30-35% | ||
 Urshifu FightingDark | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnseenfist ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Pupitar View Urshifu builds →Close Combat 2x175-206%KO Close Combat 2x175-206%KO | ||
 Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySandrush ItemAir Balloon NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Pupitar View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x110-130%KO Rapid Spin9-11% | ||
Evolution
Partway through Larvitar's chain. Pupitar still has another evolution ahead before reaching Tyranitar. For breeding, takes forever to hatch with plenty of partners via one egg group. So far, HP got the biggest boost (+20 from Larvitar). The final form adds another 190 stats on top. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Pupitar to get Larvitar eggs using 81 partners from the Monster egg group.
How to Get Pupitar
low spawn rates is the best you'll get on Pupitar in late-game routes. Use the sort toggle below. Best shows where the odds peak, Earliest shows where you can access it soonest in your playthrough.
Where To Catch Pupitar in SV
Larvitar is your first catch on the way to Pupitar. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 16-58 across 15 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch LarvitarSouth Province (Area Five) - MountainLv.16-28OverworldScarletRate 25%East Province (Area One) - CaveLv.16-38OverworldScarletRate 5%East Province (Area Three) - CaveLv.16-38OverworldScarletRate 5%Glaseado MountainLv.16-38OverworldRate 5%North Province (Area One) - CaveLv.16-38OverworldScarletRate 5%North Province (Area Three) - CaveLv.16-38OverworldScarletRate 5%North Province (Area Two) - CaveLv.16-38OverworldScarletRate 5%South Province (Area One) - CaveLv.16-38OverworldScarletRate 5%South Province (Area Six) - CaveLv.16-38OverworldScarletRate 5%West Province (Area One) - CaveLv.16-38OverworldScarletRate 5%West Province (Area Three) - CaveLv.16-38OverworldScarletRate 5%West Province (Area Two) - CaveLv.16-38OverworldScarletRate 5%East Province (Area Three) - MineLv.16-38OverworldScarletRate 2%
Step 2Pupitar ✓South Province (Area Six) - CaveLv.42-58OverworldScarletRate 3%or evolve from Larvitar (Step 1)
Step 3Evolve into TyranitarBREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Tyranitar egg.
Pupitar doesn't appear wild. Catch Larvitar instead, it shows up at moderate rates. Evolve it at level 55 to get Pupitar. The 3-stage chain is mapped in the step cards below.
Pupitar starts showing up in endgame routes at moderate rates across 2 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Where To Catch Pupitar in BDSP
Larvitar is your first catch on the way to Pupitar. You'll find walking and special encounters from Lv. 6-63 across 5 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch LarvitarRoute 207Lv.6-7Using PokeRadarBrilliant DiamondRate 22%Big Bluff CavernLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameRocky CaveLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-game
Step 2Pupitar ✓Big Bluff CavernLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameRocky CaveLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameor evolve from Larvitar (Step 1)
Step 3Evolve into Tyranitar
You'll want endgame access before hunting Pupitar. Low spawn rates across 2 encounter spots means the location matters. Sort by Best below and target the top-rated area first.
Where To Catch Pupitar in SwSh
The path to Pupitar starts with Larvitar at Lv. 50-65 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch LarvitarRoaring-Sea CavesLv.60-65OverworldShieldRate 10%All WeatherLake of OutrageLv.50-52GrassShieldRate 5%OvercastLake of OutrageLv.50-52GrassShieldRate 5%Intense Sun
Step 2Pupitar ✓Lake of OutrageLv.50-52GrassShieldRate 2%SandstormLake of OutrageLv.55-58OverworldShieldRate 2%Sandstormor evolve from Larvitar (Step 1)
Step 3Evolve into TyranitarBREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Tyranitar egg.
Base Stats
Attack and HP carry most of Pupitar's stat budget. Speed's the obvious dump stat. Tough to catch and yields 2 Attack EVs. Follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.
This pupa flies around wildly by venting with great force the gas pressurized inside its body.
Pupitar Guide
Pupitar is meant to evolve into Tyranitar. At 410 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.
Watch for Starmie (Water), Exeggutor (Grass), and Cloyster (Ice) when using Pupitar. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Starmie is the most dangerous since Water moves deal 4x damage. Fighting, Ground, and Steel-type attackers are also a problem. With 6 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.
Shed Skin has a 33% chance of curing any major status ailment after each turn. That's the one you want on Pupitar. It's the only ability Pupitar has.
At base 51 Speed, it won't be moving first often. On offense, Pupitar is a physical attacker with base 84 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two.
You can run Pupitar through the first few routes without issues. 410 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Tyranitar as fast as you can.
Game Availability
Available in 18 titles since its debut in Gold & Silver, Pupitar spans 9 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through catching or hatching as a base form in most mainline games.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves