Special
Sweeper
500High
120Very Fast
BTier

If Alakazam goes down before it attacks, it contributed nothing. If it doesn't, something on the other side is going down. Magic Guard blocks all indirect damage — no chip, no hazard damage, nothing, which helps. A longtime staple going back to Gen 1.

The stat bars tell the story: Sp. Atk carries everything and Defense's dead weight. But this Psi Pokemon still yields 3 Sp. Atk EVs per fight on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.

Base Stats
500High
HP55
D
Attack50
D
Defense45
D
Sp. Atk135
A
Sp. Def95
B
Speed120
A
Total500
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Alakazam yields +3 SpA
HPAtkDefSpA+3SpDSpe
Details
Catch50ChallengingMedium Slow1.06M XP1.5m / 4'11"48kg / 105.8 lbs225Base XP
Pokedex Entries

It has an incredibly high level of intelligence. Some say that Alakazam remembers everything that ever happens to it, from birth till death.

Sword

Alakazam wields potent psychic powers. It’s said that this Pokémon used these powers to create the spoons it holds.

Shield

Alakazam Weakness

Vulnerable

Bug, Ghost, and Dark-type moves hit Alakazam for super-effective damage. Alakazam's special bulk (base 95 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

4xCriticali
None
½xResisti
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
3Weak
2Resist
0Immune
Scorei-4
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
SynchronizeCopies burns, paralysis, and poison received onto the Pokémon that inflicted them.
Inner FocusPrevents flinching.
Magic GuardHAProtects against damage not directly caused by a move.

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 500 total stats. Sp.Def saw the largest single gain at +40.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Abra
Psychic
Kadabra
Psychic
Alakazam
Psychic
HP
25
40+15
55+15
ATK
20
35+15
50+15
DEF
15
30+15
45+15
SP.ATK
105
120+15
135+15
SP.DEF
55
70+15
95+25
SPE
90
105+15
120+15
BST
310D-Tier
400C-Tier+90
500B-Tier+100
ROLE
Attacker
Sweeper
Sweeper
TYPE
Special
Special
Special
Breeding
Easy

Breed with Alakazam to get Abra eggs easily using 51 partners from the Humanshape egg group. Notable egg moves include Confusion, Guard Split, Magic Coat.

Egg Groups
Humanshape
Gender
75.0%25.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
3moves
Breed With (best first)
gardevoirgalladehawluchacinderacegrimmsnarllopunnyrabootmorgrembunearylucariomienshaoscorbunny

Alakazam leads with Focus Sash insurance. Even if it can't take a hit naturally, it'll survive long enough to deal early damage. Max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs go all-in on offense since bulk doesn't matter here.

Best Build

Special Sweeper
Ability
Magic Guard
Item
Focus SashSURVIVAL
Nature
Modest+SPA
EVs

Best Alakazam Moveset

  • Dazzling Gleam
  • PsyshockSTAB
  • Expanding ForceSTAB
  • Focus Blast

Coverage runs deep. Alakazam can hit 10 types beyond STAB, including Normal and Fairy. The offense anchors on Future Sight and Psychic while TMs handle everything else.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Confusion
5010025Psychic
Lv 1
Disable
10020Normal
Lv 1
Kinesis
8015Psychic
Lv 1
Teleport-6
20Psychic
Lv 5
Psybeam
6510020Psychic
Lv 10
Reflect
20Psychic
Lv 15
Ally Switch+2
15Psychic
Lv 20
Psycho Cut
7010020Psychic
Lv 25
Recover
10Normal
Lv 30
Psyshock
8010010Psychic
Lv 35
Psychic
9010010Psychic
Lv 40
Role Play
10Psychic
Lv 45
Future Sight
12010010Psychic
Lv 50
Calm Mind
20Psychic

TM Moves

Src
TR83
Ally Switch+2
15Psychic
TM31
Attract
10015Normal
TR01
Body Slam
8510015Normal
TR49
Calm Mind
20Psychic
TR92
Dazzling Gleam
8010010Fairy
TM63
Drain Punch
7510010Fighting
TR30
Encore
1005Normal
TR26
Endure+4
10Normal
TR65
Energy Ball
9010010Grass
TM39
Facade
7010020Normal
TM03
Fire Punch
7510015Fire
TM59
Fling
10010Dark
TR64
Focus Blast
120705Fighting
TR81
Foul Play
9510015Dark
TR34
Future Sight
12010010Psychic
TM09
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TR77
Grass Knot
10020Grass
TM61
Guard Swap
10Psychic
TM08
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM04
Ice Punch
7510015Ice
TM44
Imprison
10Psychic
TR31
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
TM17
Light Screen
30Psychic
TM72
Magic Room
10Psychic
TM01
Mega Kick
120755Normal
TM
Mega Punch
808520Normal
TR14
Metronome
10Normal
TR68
Nasty Plot
20Dark
TM60
Power Swap
10Psychic
TM25
Protect+4
10Normal
TR11
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM91
Psychic Terrain
10Psychic
TM69
Psycho Cut
7010020Psychic
TR25
Psyshock
8010010Psychic
TM33
Rain Dance
5Water
TM18
Reflect
20Psychic
TM21
Rest
10Psychic
TM76
Round
6010015Normal
TM19
Safeguard
25Normal
TR33
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TR40
Skill Swap
10Psychic
TR27
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM24
Snore
5010015Normal
TM62
Speed Swap
10Psychic
TR82
Stored Power
2010010Psychic
TR20
Substitute
10Normal
TM34
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM40
Swift
6020Normal
TR37
Taunt
10020Dark
TM23
Thief
6010025Dark
TM05
Thunder Punch
7510015Electric
TM14
Thunder Wave
9020Electric
TR19
Tri Attack
8010010Normal
TR38
Trick
10010Psychic
TM70
Trick Room-7
5Psychic
TM71
Wonder Room
10Psychic
TR69
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Confusion
5010025Psychic
Egg
Guard Split
10Psychic
Egg
Magic Coat+4
15Psychic

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Expanding Force
8010010Psychic

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.

Trade Evolution Required — Requires trading with another player

How to Obtain Alakazam in Sword & Shield

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.

  1. Abra
    Step 1Catch Abra
    Fields of Honor
    ShieldOverworldLv.10-155%EarlyNormal Weather
    MODERATE
    Fields of Honor
    SwordOverworldLv.10-155%EarlyOvercast
    MODERATE
    Fields of Honor
    ShieldOverworldLv.10-155%EarlySnowstorm
    MODERATE
    Fields of Honor
    SwordOverworldLv.10-155%EarlyNormal Weather
    MODERATE
    Fields of Honor
    SwordOverworldLv.10-155%EarlySnowstorm
    MODERATE
    Fields of Honor
    ShieldOverworldLv.10-155%EarlyThunderstorm
    MODERATE
    Fields of Honor
    ShieldOverworldLv.10-155%EarlyIntense Sun
    MODERATE
    Fields of Honor
    SwordOverworldLv.10-155%EarlyThunderstorm
    MODERATE
    Fields of Honor
    ShieldOverworldLv.10-155%EarlySnowing
    MODERATE
    Fields of Honor
    SwordOverworldLv.10-155%EarlyIntense Sun
    MODERATE
    Fields of Honor
    ShieldOverworldLv.10-155%EarlySandstorm
    MODERATE
    Fields of Honor
    SwordOverworldLv.10-155%EarlySnowing
    MODERATE
    Fields of Honor
    ShieldOverworldLv.10-155%EarlyRaining
    MODERATE
    Fields of Honor
    SwordOverworldLv.10-155%EarlySandstorm
    MODERATE
    Fields of Honor
    ShieldOverworldLv.10-155%EarlyHeavy Fog
    MODERATE
    Fields of Honor
    SwordOverworldLv.10-155%EarlyRaining
    MODERATE
    Fields of Honor
    ShieldOverworldLv.10-155%EarlyOvercast
    MODERATE
    Fields of Honor
    SwordOverworldLv.10-155%EarlyHeavy Fog
    MODERATE
  2. Kadabra
    Step 2Evolve into Kadabra
  3. Alakazam
    Step 3Alakazam
  • Alakazam looks average on paper at 500 BST. But Magic Guard is why it sees play — build around that and it pulls its weight. B-Tier sweeper on our tier list.

  • Watch for Pinsir (Bug), Gengar (Ghost), and Houndoom (Dark) when using Alakazam. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Alakazam's base 120 Speed lets it outpace many threats and strike first, which matters more than trying to tank hits.

  • Kadabra evolves into Alakazam by trading. Alakazam is the final evolution in a 3-stage line starting from Abra. At 500 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.

  • Alakazam gets Magic Guard, Synchronize, and Inner Focus. But Magic Guard is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that. With base 120 Speed, Magic Guard gives Alakazam an edge before opponents can react.

  • Alakazam is a special attacker with base 135 Sp. Atk. But the speed tells the real story — base 120 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. Fits the sweeper role.

  • Alakazam appears in 21 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.

Available since Red & Blue, Alakazam appears in 21 games spanning 9 generations. Beyond its original form, it gained a Mega form in Generation 7.