Azelf Best Moveset
125 in both Attack and Sp. Atk at 115 Speed on Psychic with AbilityLevitate blocking Ground. Held ItemFocus Sash with NatureJolly guarantees one turn to set MoveStealth Rock or attack. The moveset outspeeds most of the format and hits devastatingly hard from either side. 75/70/70 defenses fold to anything that connects. B-Tier as a fast lead and attacker.
125 Sp. Atk and 115 Speed with Levitate in Gen IV (Diamond & Pearl). The premier Stealth Rock lead. Set rocks, hit hard, then Explosion to deny Defog.
Best Moves
Best Build
Azelf best EVs are HP and Speed
Pivot Moveset
- Explosion
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- U Turn
Recommended Teammates
Dropped a tier in Gen V (Black & White). Faster leads with better utility appeared, and Team Preview let opponents prepare for the Azelf lead before the game started.
Physical Stallbreaker Moveset
- Stealth Rock
- Explosion
- Taunt
- Flamethrower
Recommended Teammates
Back at the top in Gen VI (X & Y). Nasty Plot sets took advantage of Fairy-types that couldn't resist Psychic STAB, and 115 Speed outran most of the format.
Special Stallbreaker Moveset
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- Explosion
- Psychic
Recommended Teammates
Dropped again in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). Two tier shifts in seven gens. Tapu Lele did the Psychic attacker job with better utility from Psychic Terrain.
Physical Stallbreaker Moveset
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- Explosion
- Knock Off
Recommended Teammates
Three gens below the top in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield). Azelf still set rocks and hit hard, but the power level passed its 125 Sp. Atk by a wide margin.
Physical Stallbreaker Moveset
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- Explosion
- Thunder Wave
Recommended Teammates
Fell further in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet). Four gens at the top, then four gens of decline. 115 Speed wasn't fast enough in the modern format.
Physical Stallbreaker Moveset
- Explosion
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- Flamethrower
Recommended Teammates
Azelf Weakness
Type-wise, Azelf takes extra damage from Bug, Ghost, and Dark. Levitate grants an additional Ground immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. Azelf leans offensive (base 125 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Bug, Ghost, Dark |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fighting, Psychic |
What is Azelf Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Azelf
Pelipper deals 35-41% with Hurricane.
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves View Toxapex builds →
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B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityUnaware ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Azelf View Clodsire builds →Earthquake26-31% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityDrizzle ItemDamprock NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Azelf View Pelipper builds →Hurricane35-41% U Turn 2x27-32% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityDrought ItemHeatrock NatureTimid Moves View Ninetales builds →
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Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemRocky Helmet NatureJolly Moves View Landorus-Therian builds →
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Evolution
No breeding, no evolution. Azelf is a Psychic legendary with 580 base stat total that you obtain once and build around. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
How to Get Azelf
No wild encounters for Azelf in Scarlet & Violet. It's available in Diamond & Pearl, Platinum, or Legends: Arceus and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.
Azelf is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Also Obtainable In:
Pokemon transfers only go forward through generations, never backward. Direct cross-gen trades aren't supported.
You'll find Azelf at Lake Valor as a set encounter. It's always there at that location, so come prepared for the battle. The location details below cover exact positioning.
How to Get Azelf in Legends: Arceus
No wild encounters for Azelf in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. It's available in Diamond & Pearl, Platinum, or Legends: Arceus and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.
Azelf cannot be caught in the wild in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, but you can still get it via these paths:
Obtain and trade from these games:
Then trade to Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl.
Also Obtainable In:
Pokemon transfers only go forward through generations, never backward. Direct cross-gen trades aren't supported.
Azelf doesn't appear in Sword & Shield. Transfer it from Diamond & Pearl, Platinum, or Legends: Arceus to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.
Azelf cannot be caught in the wild in Sword & Shield, but you can still get it via these paths:
Obtain and trade from these games:
Then trade to Sword & Shield.
Also Obtainable In:
Pokemon transfers only go forward through generations, never backward. Direct cross-gen trades aren't supported.
Base Stats
Everything pushes toward mixed damage here. Azelf's Attack does the work, Defense pays the price. But you're still getting 3 Attack and Sp. Atk EVs per KO. Near-impossible to catch, on a slow 1.25M XP grind.
The dreaded Being of Willpower. Legends tell of this Pokémon manipulating the will of its adversaries and turning them into puppets of its own.
Azelf Guide
Azelf is a Legendary Pokemon rated B-Tier. At 580 BST, it hits hard. It excels as a sweeper. That 125 base Attack does the heavy lifting.
Azelf gets Levitate. But Levitate is the one that matters. It's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that. With base 115 Speed, Levitate gives Azelf an edge before opponents can react.
Azelf is a mixed attacker with base 125 Attack and 125 Sp. Atk. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 115 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. Fits the sweeper role.
The core moveset is Explosion, Stealth Rock, Taunt, and Flamethrower. Explosion leads at 0% usage. This set covers the sweeper role with a mix of damage and utility.
Game Availability
Since Diamond & Pearl, Azelf has appeared in 13 games. Legendary Pokemon like Azelf are usually found through story events or special post-game areas rather than random encounters.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DPDebut
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