115 base Attack is no joke, but Banette can't afford to take a hit back. And it's not fast enough to guarantee moving first, which makes it fragile in practice. Known as the Marionette Pokemon. A competitive option since Gen 3.
Banette's built around physical offense. Attack leads the charge, Sp. Def pays for it. Tough to catch, worth 2 Attack EVs. Follows a fast 800K XP curve.
A doll that became a Pokémon over its grudge of being thrown away. It seeks the child who disowned it.
Banette Weakness
ExcellentType-wise, Banette takes extra damage from Ghost and Dark. Normal and Fighting moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity.
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
Banette is the evolved form of Shuppet. Breeding produces Shuppet eggs, and they're average hatch time. Evolving from Shuppet gave Banette the biggest boost in Attack (+40), bringing the total to 455 stats.
How to Evolve
Breed with Banette to get Shuppet eggs easily from the Indeterminate egg group. Notable egg moves include Astonish, Confuse Ray, Destiny Bond and 7 more.
The slow wall spread is where Banette earns its spot. Leftovers for passive recovery each turn, Sassy nature for the right lean, and Rest handles sustain. Cursedbody does the rest without needing a move slot.
Best Build
Best Banette Moveset
- Cotton Guard
- Calm Mind
- Rest
- Shadow Ball
Recommended Teammates
The egg pool carries weight here. Astonish and Confuse Ray aren't available any other way for Banette, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Shadow Ball and Shadow Claw for solid options.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
6 encounter spots for Banette at high spawn rates starting from late-game routes. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.
Where To Catch Banette in Black 2 & White 2
To get Banette, start by catching Shuppet through walking encounters at Lv. 32-50. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Obtain Shuppet
Step 2Banette ✓EASYStrange HouseBlack 2GrassLv.32-34UncommonLateBuildingAnyEASYStrange HouseWhite 2GrassLv.32-34UncommonLateBuildingAnyEFFORTLESSVictory Road - 1FBlack 2GrassLv.47-50CommonPostCaveAnyEFFORTLESSVictory Road - 1FWhite 2GrassLv.47-50CommonPostCaveAnyEFFORTLESSVictory Road - 3FWhite 2GrassLv.47-50CommonPostCaveAnyEFFORTLESSVictory Road - 3FBlack 2GrassLv.47-50CommonPostCaveAnyor evolve from Shuppet (Step 1)
Banette has a 455 base stat total and ranks as C-Tier — a situational pick that fills a niche. It works best as a cannon. Base 115 Attack is where it shines.
Shuppet evolves into Banette at level 37. Banette is the fully evolved form. It sits at 455 BST in its evolved form.
Insomnia is the go-to ability for Banette. It prevents sleep. Its hidden ability Cursed Body can work in specific setups. Frisk is the other option — pick based on what your team needs.
Banette fills the cannon role. It's a physical attacker with base 115 Attack. At base 65 Speed, it won't be moving first often.
Banette appears in 15 games, including Ruby & Sapphire, FireRed & LeafGreen, and Emerald.
Banette first appeared in Ruby & Sapphire and spans 15 games across 7 generations. It later gained a Mega form in Generation 7, adding new dimensions to its competitive identity.
- 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 VIORASMega
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