Alakazam Best Moveset
The fastest special damage source in the format. Held ItemAlakazite pushes to 175 Sp. Atk at 150 Speed, and AbilityTrace copies opposing Mega abilities when they activate. Psychic TermStab fires on cooldowns nothing else can match. The moveset is pure offense at maximum pace.
135 base Special was the second-highest in the game, and Psychic-type had almost no real counters in Gen I (Red & Blue). Recover kept it healthy while it blasted everything.
Best Moves
Best Build
Support Moveset
- Psychic
- Recover
- Thunder Wave
- Seismic Toss
Recommended Teammates
The Special split dropped Sp. Def to 85, but 135 Sp. Atk and 120 Speed were still elite in Gen II (Gold & Silver). Dark-types existed as a counter now, but Alakazam outran most of them.
Utility Moveset
- Psychic
- Recover
- Fire Punch
- Ice Punch
Recommended Teammates
More Dark-types, better coverage against Psychic, and new threats pushed Alakazam down in Gen III (Ruby & Sapphire). Still fast and powerful, but no longer the unstoppable force it once was.
Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Psychic
- Fire Punch
- Ice Punch
- Calm Mind
Recommended Teammates
Focus Sash became its signature item in Gen IV (Diamond & Pearl). Lead with Taunt, throw Focus Blast at Dark-types, and Encore anything that tried to set up.
Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Calm Mind
Recommended Teammates
Magic Guard changed everything in Gen V (Black & White). Immune to hazards, weather chip, and Life Orb recoil. Alakazam hit harder than ever with zero downsides to its item.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Focus Blast
- Psychic
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power Ice
Recommended Teammates
Mega Alakazam with Trace and 175 Sp. Atk existed, but even the base form stayed strong in Gen VI (X & Y). Magic Guard plus Focus Sash or Life Orb still worked.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Dazzling Gleam
Recommended Teammates
Consistent across gens. 120 Speed still outran most of the format in Gen VII (Sun & Moon), and Magic Guard gave it durability that other glass cannons didn't have.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Energy Ball
- Shadow Ball
Recommended Teammates
No Mega form anymore in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield), but Magic Guard alone kept Alakazam competitive. Focus Sash guaranteed at least two attacks, and that was often enough.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Shadow Ball
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Energy Ball
Recommended Teammates
Alakazam Weakness
Bug, Ghost, and Dark moves hit Alakazam for super-effective damage. Alakazam's special bulk (base 105 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Bug, Ghost, Dark |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fighting, Psychic |
What is Alakazam Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Alakazam
Dragapult can KO Alakazam with Shadow Ball (125-147%). Genesect threatens a KO with U-turn (135-159%). Hydreigon's Dark Pulse also KOs at 97-115%.
 Dragapult DragonGhost | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityInfiltrator ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Alakazam View Dragapult builds →U Turn 2x60-71% Draco Meteor102-120%KO Shadow Ball 2x125-147%KO | ||
 Genesect BugSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDownload ItemChoice Scarf NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Alakazam View Genesect builds →U Turn 2x135-159%KO Extreme Speed51-61% | ||
 Hydreigon DarkDragon | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Alakazam View Hydreigon builds →Dark Pulse 2x97-115%KO Draco Meteor79-93% Flash Cannon32-38% | ||
Recommended Build AbilityIntrepidsword ItemRustedsword NatureJolly Moves View Zacian-Crowned builds →
| ||
Evolution
Alakazam evolved from Abra's chain using a trade. It's a non-standard trigger, so check the details below. Breed this form to get Abra eggs (average hatch time). The evolution from Abra pushed Alakazam to 600 total stats. Sp.Atk saw the largest single gain at +70. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Alakazam to get Abra eggs easily using 70 partners from the Humanshape egg group.
How to Get Alakazam
Alakazam's 3-stage chain starts with Abra, which appears at moderate rates in the locations below. Level through 3 stages while you find a trade partner. Everything except the trade step is solo.
Where To Catch Alakazam in LZA
Abra is your first catch on the way to Alakazam. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 12-65 across 3 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch AbraWild Zone 5Lv.12-14OverworldLegends: Z-A
Step 3Alakazam ✓Wild Zone 20Lv.64-65OverworldLegends: Z-Aor evolve from Kadabra (Step 2)
A trade step sits in Alakazam's 3-stage chain from Abra. The step cards below map each stage with catch locations and evolution methods. Abra shows up at decent rates, so the starting catch is the easy part.
Where To Catch Alakazam in PLA
The path to Alakazam starts with Abra at Lv. 9-55 via walking encounters. 3 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch AbraWindswept RunLv.9-12GrassRate 15%Lake AcuityLv.12-15GrassRate 15%Sandgem FlatsLv.12-15GrassRate 15%
Step 2Catch or Evolve KadabraSandgem FlatsLv.16-19GrassRate 15%Space-Time Distortion - Cobalt CoastlandsLv.40-55CaveRate 15%Lake AcuityLv.49-52GrassRate 15%or evolve from Abra (Step 1)
Step 3Alakazam ✓Sandgem FlatsLv.12-33GrassRate 15%Space-Time Distortion - Cobalt CoastlandsLv.40-55CaveRate 5%or evolve from Kadabra (Step 2)
The chain to Alakazam requires a trade evolution through a trade. Catch Abra at decent rates and level through the stages, but line up the trade first. The rest of the chain runs on levels alone.
How to Obtain Alakazam in BDSP
To get Alakazam, start by catching Abra through walking encounters at Lv. 4-47. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
The chain to Alakazam requires a trade evolution through a trade. Catch Abra at moderate rates and level through the stages, but line up the trade first. The rest of the chain runs on levels alone.
How to Obtain Alakazam in SwSh
To get Alakazam, start by catching Abra through walking encounters at Lv. 10-15. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch AbraFields of HonorLv.10-15OverworldRate 5%RainingFields of HonorLv.10-15OverworldRate 5%SnowstormFields of HonorLv.10-15OverworldRate 5%Intense SunFields of HonorLv.10-15OverworldRate 5%Heavy FogFields of HonorLv.10-15OverworldRate 5%SnowingFields of HonorLv.10-15OverworldRate 5%OvercastFields of HonorLv.10-15OverworldRate 5%SandstormFields of HonorLv.10-15OverworldRate 5%ThunderstormFields of HonorLv.10-15OverworldRate 5%Normal Weather
Step 2Evolve into KadabraBREEDINGAvailableLeave Alakazam with a compatible partner at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Kadabra egg.
Step 3Alakazam ✓
Base Stats
The stat bars tell the story: Sp. Atk carries everything and Attack's dead weight. But this Psi Pokemon still yields 3 Sp. Atk EVs per fight on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
Its brain cells multiply continually until it dies. As a result, it remembers everything.
Alakazam Guide
Alakazam works as a sweeper with 600 BST behind it. A-Tier on our list: a strong competitive pick. That 175 base Sp. Atk does the heavy lifting.
Yes. Mega Alakazam is the evolved form, sitting at 700 BST. Big power spike over base Alakazam (600). Equip the Mega Stone and it transforms in battle.
No. Alakazam is not catchable in the wild. It only comes from trade-evolving Kadabra. Trade needs a Game Boy Advance link cable and a second GBA running another Gen 3 game (FireRed, LeafGreen, Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald). Trade Kadabra to a friend, then have them trade it back. The 2026 Switch re-release supports the same trade through local wireless on the Pokemon Center 2F Wireless Club, with no cables required.
Trace copies an opponent's ability upon entering battle. That's the one you want on Alakazam. It's the only ability Alakazam has.
Game Availability
Available since Red & Blue, Alakazam appears in 21 games spanning 10 generations. Beyond its original form, it gained a Mega form in Generation 6.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
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 6ORASMega
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