For a casual playthrough, Archen works as a placeholder. Rock/Flying coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Archeops . That's where the stats start mattering.

How do you use Archen in battle?

Archen plays as a attacker. Speed is middling, so pick your spots carefully.

What is the best nature for Archen?

Jolly is the go-to nature for Archen. That's +Speed / -Sp. Atk. Pair it with 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe EVs. Fits the attacker role.

What Pokemon work well with Archen?

Archen pairs best with Tangela , Chansey , and Salazzle . Tangela has Good synergy and covers what Archen can't handle on its own.

Archen - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

The First Bird Pokemon. Archen is Unova's Plume Fossil option. Defeatist halves Attack and Sp. Atk below 50% HP, a crippling ability that defines this line.

Ability 1Defeatist

Weak to

Immune to

Physical

Attacker

UTier

70Speed · Below Avg

Archen Best Moveset

112 Attack on a pre-evo is outstanding, and Rock/Flying TermStab coverage hits wide. But AbilityDefeatist halves both offenses below 50% HP, making the moveset self-destructive after taking a single big hit. E-tier because the ability turns any damage taken into a power collapse.

Evolution family tier history

●Gen V — Black & White / B2W2E+

Archen saw minimal competitive use in Gen V (Black & White / B2W2). This marked Archen's competitive debut. Its most popular set ran Defeatist with Flyinggem, favoring a Jolly nature.

Hidden Abilities became available

SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE

TM26

Earthquake

Ground100COMMONCoverage

Lv 45

Rock Slide

Rock75COMMONSTAB

Lv 28

Acrobatics

Flying55COMMONSTAB

Lv 41

U-turn

Bug70COMMONCoverage

Egg

Head Smash

Rock150RARESTAB

Archen Black & White Moves Archen Black 2 & White 2 Moves

Experimental

Physical Sweeper

EVs

Atk

SpD

Spe

Physical Sweeper Moveset

EarthquakeCoverage
Rock SlideSTAB
AcrobaticsSTAB
U Turn

Recommended Teammates

MightyenaDecent

AudinoDecent

FrillishDecent

★Gen VI — X & Y / ORASD

Archen sat at D-Tier in Gen VI. This was Archen's competitive peak. Its most popular set ran Defeatist with Focus Sash, favoring a Adamant nature.

Fairy type added to the gameMega Evolution became available

Best Moves

SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE

Tutor

Stealth Rock

Rock—POPULARSTAB

Lv 38

Endeavor

Normal—POPULARCoverage

TM12

Taunt

Dark—POPULARUtility

Egg

Head Smash

Rock150POPULARSTAB

Archen X & Y Moves Archen ORAS Moves

Best Build

Experimental

Physical Stallbreaker

Archen best EVs are Attack and Speed

EVs

Atk

Def

Spe

Physical Stallbreaker Moveset

Stealth RockSTAB
EndeavorCoverage
TauntUtility
Head SmashSTAB

Recommended Teammates

MetangExcellent

ZebstrikaGood

MukGood

↓Gen VII — Sun & Moon / USUME+

Archen saw minimal competitive use in Gen VII (Sun & Moon / USUM). This was a decline from D-Tier in the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Defeatist with Eviolite, favoring a Jolly nature.

Z-Moves became available

SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE

Tutor

Stealth Rock

Rock—COMMONSTAB

Egg

Defog

Flying—COMMONSTAB

TM26

Earthquake

Ground100COMMONCoverage

Egg

Head Smash

Rock150COMMONSTAB

Egg

Switcheroo

Dark—RAREUtility

Lv 28

Acrobatics

Flying55RARESTAB

Archen Sun & Moon Moves Archen Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Moves

Experimental

Support

EVs

Atk

SpD

Spe

Support Moveset

Stealth RockSTAB
DefogUtility
EarthquakeCoverage
Head SmashSTAB

Recommended Teammates

PoipoleDecent

LeafeonDecent

RapidashDecent

→Gen VIII — Sword & Shield / BDSPE+

Archen saw minimal competitive use in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield / BDSP). Archen maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Defeatist with Focus Sash, favoring a Hardy nature.

Gigantamax became availableDynamax became available

SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE

Lv 45

Endeavor

Normal—COMMONCoverage

TM25

Protect

Normal—COMMONPriority

Tutor

Dual Wingbeat

Flying40COMMONSTAB

TR10

Earthquake

Ground100RARECoverage

Lv 1

Quick Attack

Normal40RARECoverage

Archen Sword & Shield Moves

Experimental

Physical Sweeper

EVs

Atk

Spe

Physical Sweeper Moveset

EndeavorCoverage
ProtectFAST +4
Dual WingbeatSTAB
EarthquakeCoverage

Recommended Teammates

RockruffGood

TreeckoGood

ToxapexGood

Archen Weakness

Type-wise, Archen takes extra damage from Water, Electric, Ice, Rock, and Steel. Ground moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. The Rock/Flying typing picks up 5 resistances to work with.

Archen Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Water, Electric, Ice, Rock, Steel
0.5x (Resist)	Normal, Fire, Poison, Flying, Bug
0x (Immune)	Ground

What is Archen Weak Against

Avg

5Weak

5Resist

1Immune

Score-2

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Water Electric Ice Rock Steel

½xResist

Normal Fire Poison Flying Bug

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

Ground

What is Archen Strong Against

6Strong

1Resisted

0Immune

Score+5

2xStrong

Fire Grass Ice Fighting Flying Bug

½xResisted

Steel

0xImmune

None

Best Pokemon Against Archen

Kyurem can KO Archen with Draco Meteor (157-185%). Starmie threatens a KO with Hydro Pump (222-262%). Terrakion's Stone Edge also KOs at 244-287%.

Kyurem DragonIce	A
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemLoaded Dice NatureTimid Moves Freeze Dry Earth Power Icicle Spear Draco Meteor Damage vs Archen Icicle Spear 2x 47-55% Draco Meteor 157-185%KO View Kyurem builds →
Starmie WaterPsychic	B
Recommended Build AbilityAnalytic ItemFocus Sash NatureTimid Moves Ice Beam Hydro Pump Rapid Spin PsychicSTAB Damage vs Archen Ice Beam 2x 121-143%KO Hydro Pump 2x 222-262%KO Rapid Spin 10-11% Psychic 91-107%KO View Starmie builds →
Terrakion RockFighting	B
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves Close Combat Stone Edge Earthquake Swords Dance Damage vs Archen Close Combat 145-171%KO Stone Edge 2x 244-287%KO View Terrakion builds →
Ferrothorn GrassSteel	B
Recommended Build AbilityIron Barbs ItemLeftovers NatureRelaxed Moves Leech Seed Gyro Ball Stealth Rock ProtectPriority View Ferrothorn builds →
Rotom ElectricGhost	C
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves Volt Switch Shadow Ball ThunderboltSTAB Will O Wisp Damage vs Archen Volt Switch 2x 178-210%KO Shadow Ball 102-120%KO Thunderbolt 2x 229-270%KO View Rotom builds →

Evolution

Archen is the base form in a two-stage line leading to Archeops. Check the evolution method below. Plenty of partners for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are slow to hatch. Evolving adds up to 166 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms

#566Archen

Level 37

#567Archeops

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Archen

RockFlying

Archeops

RockFlying

75+20

ATK

112

140+28

DEF

65+20

SP.ATK

112+38

SP.DEF

65+20

SPE

110+40

BST

401C-Tier

567B-Tier+166

ROLE

Attacker

Sweeper

TYPE

Physical

Breeding

Moderate

Breed Archen with 73 breeding partners from the Flying and Water 3 egg groups.

Egg Groups

FlyingWater 3

Gender

♂87.5%♀12.5%

Hatch Time

30 cycles·7,710 steps

Moderate~8 min with Flame Body

Breed With (best first)

Shiny Archen

Green-gold feathers replace the standard yellow-red combo, giving Archen a tropical bird feel it didn't have before. The change is clear and the palette works. B tier.

Normal vs Shiny

Color ShiftYellowtoGreen

Shiny TierB Tier Shiny

Shiny Archen Evolution

2 Forms

Stage 1Archen

Lv. 37

Stage 2Archeops

Showing shiny artworkView Full Evolution Chart

Shiny Archen Odds & Hunting Methods

7 of 7 Verified

GameBest MethodOddsDifficulty

GameSword & Shield

MethodBrilliant Aura battle-count boostGiant's Foot · 100%

GameOmega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire

GameUltra Sun & Ultra Moon

MethodMasuda Method

Odds1/512

Difficulty

GameBlack 2 & White 2

More dots = harder hunt1/200 Green = best verified rate

How do we research these odds?

We check every game where a shiny is possible, then rank each one by the best method available in that game, so the row at the top is the fastest route overall.

Odds marked verified are cross-checked against multiple independent sources before we publish them. Where a rate is not yet confirmed we mark the row pending rather than guess a number.

Read our full methodology

How to Get Archen

All 7 games

Archen appears at high spawn rates across 9 spots in endgame routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.

Where To Catch Archen in SwSh

Archen is the chain's first catch. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 60-65 across 18 total spots in the chain.

Step 1Archen ✓
Giant's Foot
Lv.60-65Overworld
Rate 100%
Sandstorm
Giant's Foot
Lv.60-65Overworld
Rate 10%
Snowstorm
Giant's Foot
Lv.60-65Overworld
Rate 10%
Normal Weather
Giant's Foot
Lv.60-65Overworld
Rate 10%
Overcast
Giant's Foot
Lv.60-65Overworld
Rate 10%
Heavy Fog
Giant's Foot
Lv.60-65Overworld
Rate 10%
Raining
Giant's Foot
Lv.60-65Overworld
Rate 10%
Snowing
Giant's Foot
Lv.60-65Overworld
Rate 10%
Intense Sun
Giant's Foot
Lv.60-65Overworld
Rate 10%
Thunderstorm
Level up once to evolve into Archeops
Step 2Evolve into Archeops
BREEDING
Available
Leave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Archen egg.

Want the exact numbers? Work out your catch odds in Sword & Shield for Archen.

Base Stats

Everything pushes toward physical damage here. Archen's Attack does the work, Defense pays the price. But you're still getting 1 Attack EV per KO. Tough to catch, on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats

Above

HP55

Attack112

Defense45

Sp. Atk74

Sp. Def45

Speed70

Total401

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging45 / 255

Growth Rate

Medium Fast1M XP

Height0.5 m

Weight9.5 kg

Base XP71

Abilities

Defeatist

Halves Attack and Special Attack at 50% max HP or less.

EV Yield

HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe

Attack training source

Pokedex Entry

Archen is said to be the ancestor of bird Pokémon. It lived in treetops, eating berries and bug Pokémon.

Pokemon Shield

Archen Event Distributions

Archen has been offered just once as a Mystery Gift event Pokemon.

Fossil Pokemon GiftJul 2012BlackWhiteBlack 2White 2Not shiny

Lv 15 OT: キャンプ Cherish Ball Souvenir Ribbon

Moves: Head Smash, Wing Attack, Double Team, Scary Face

from Jul 2012

Original name: カセキのポケモン　プレゼント

Archen Guide

For a casual playthrough, Archen works as a placeholder. Rock/Flying coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Archeops. That's where the stats start mattering.
Archen plays as a attacker. Speed is middling, so pick your spots carefully.
Jolly is the go-to nature for Archen. That's +Speed / -Sp. Atk. Pair it with 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe EVs. Fits the attacker role.
Archen pairs best with Tangela, Chansey, and Salazzle. Tangela has Good synergy and covers what Archen can't handle on its own.

Game Availability

Since Black & White, Archen has been obtainable in 7 games. A Generation 5 debut means a shorter history, but Archen has appeared steadily across every generation since.

Click a game to view version-specific details

Explore

Where to go next after Archen.

Next stepPokedexBrowse the full Pokedex for every gameSee Pokedex

Archen

Archen Best Moveset

Best Moves

Best Build

Archen Weakness

What is Archen Weak Against

Best Pokemon Against Archen

Evolution

How to Evolve

Breeding

Shiny Archen

Shiny Archen Evolution

Shiny Archen Odds & Hunting Methods

How to Get Archen

Where To Catch Archen in SwSh

How to Obtain Archen in USUM

How to Obtain Archen in SM

How to Obtain Archen in ORAS

Base Stats

Archen Event Distributions