Ground and Ghost moves don't affect Swellow at all — that's the advantage of Normal/Flying typing. It comfortably outruns most offensive threats. Comfortably outruns most offensive threats. Known as the Swallow Pokemon.
The stat budget goes to damage. Speed and Attack carry the offense, Sp. Def doesn't even come close. A Swallow Pokemon on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve, worth 2 Speed EVs per KO.
It circles the sky in search of prey and dives sharply to catch its target.
Swellow Weakness
GoodElectric, Ice, and Rock-type moves hit Swellow for super-effective damage. The upside? Ground and Ghost-type moves can't touch it at all. At base 125 Speed, Swellow outspeeds most threats and doesn't need to tank what it can outrun.
Evolved from Taillow. Swellow is the final form in this two-stage line. Plenty of partners for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are quick to hatch. Sp.Atk grew the most through evolution (+45 over Taillow), and Swellow peaks at 455 total stats.
How to Evolve
Breed with Swellow to get Taillow eggs easily using 73 partners from the Flying egg group.
Start with max Attack and Speed EVs. Jolly nature gives Swellow the right fast physical lean, Flame Orb adds self-burn for Guts activation, and Guts works in the background. Facade is the main damage option.
Best Build
Best Swellow Moveset
- Brave Bird
- Facade
- Defog
- Pursuit
Recommended Teammates
Leveling does the heavy lifting. Swellow picks up Brave Bird and Fly along the way, building toward a complete offensive set. TMs add Fighting and Steel coverage and more, but the foundation's already strong by then.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Without breeding, Swellow misses out on Boomburst and Brave Bird. That's 13 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Giga Impact and Hyper Beam, with coverage across 8 types rounding things out.
Without breeding, Swellow misses out on Boomburst and Brave Bird. That's 13 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Giga Impact and Hyper Beam, with coverage across 7 types rounding things out.
Without breeding, Swellow misses out on Boomburst and Brave Bird. That's 12 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Giga Impact and Hyper Beam, with coverage across 8 types rounding things out.
Swellow is only available through the PokeRadar in this game. No standard wild encounters here. 2 spots are listed below with details on how to trigger them. These become available in mid-game encounter areas.
Where To Catch Swellow in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Step 1Obtain Taillow
Step 2Swellow ✓CHALLENGINGRoute 213Shining PearlUsing PokeRadarLv.20-2222%MidRouteCHALLENGINGRoute 213Brilliant DiamondUsing PokeRadarLv.20-2222%MidRouteor evolve from Taillow (Step 1)
Swellow waits at a fixed spot in this game. Head to Ultra Space Wilds for a one-time encounter. No random spawns or encounter rates involved — it's a set battle at a known location.
How to Obtain Swellow in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Step 1Obtain Taillow
Step 2Swellow ✓Ultra Space Wilds - CliffUltra SunInteract with PokemonLv.60PostDistortionUltra Space Wilds - CliffUltra MoonInteract with PokemonLv.60PostDistortionor evolve from Taillow (Step 1)
Swellow can't be caught in Sun & Moon. Transfer Taillow from Ruby, Emerald, or Omega Ruby and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
Swellow doesn't appear wild. Catch Taillow instead, it shows up at solid rates. Evolve it at level 22 to get Swellow. The 2-stage line is mapped in the step cards below.
How to Obtain Swellow in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
To get Swellow, start by catching Taillow through walking encounters at Lv. 3-20. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch TaillowMODERATERoute 104 - Area 1Alpha SapphireGrassLv.5-78%EarlyRouteMODERATERoute 104 - Area 1Omega RubyGrassLv.5-78%EarlyRouteMODERATERoute 116Omega RubyGrassLv.6-88%EarlyRouteMODERATERoute 116Alpha SapphireGrassLv.6-88%EarlyRouteCHALLENGINGRoute 104 - Area 1Omega RubyGrassLv.35%EarlyRouteHorde battleCHALLENGINGRoute 104 - Area 1Alpha SapphireGrassLv.35%EarlyRouteHorde battleCHALLENGINGPetalburg WoodsAlpha SapphireGrassLv.54%EarlyForestCHALLENGINGPetalburg WoodsOmega RubyGrassLv.54%EarlyForestHARDRoute 104 - Area 2Omega RubyGrassLv.3-52%EarlyRouteHARDRoute 104 - Area 2Alpha SapphireGrassLv.3-52%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSRoute 115Omega RubyGrassLv.17-2030%MidRouteEFFORTLESSRoute 115Alpha SapphireGrassLv.17-2030%MidRoute
Step 2Swellow ✓
We rate Swellow C-Tier — a situational pick that fills a niche. At 455 BST, it fits the pivot role. Base 125 Speed stands out.
Taillow evolves into Swellow at level 22. Swellow is the fully evolved form. It sits at 455 BST in its evolved form.
Guts increases Attack to 1.5× with a major status ailment — that's the one you want on Swellow. Scrappy is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.
Base 125 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Swellow is a mixed attacker — base 85 Attack and 75 Sp. Atk. Best used as a pivot.
Swellow appears in 13 games, including Ruby & Sapphire, FireRed & LeafGreen, and Emerald.
Available in 13 titles since its debut in Ruby & Sapphire, Swellow spans 7 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through wild encounters in a solid number of games.
- 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