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.
Strong feelings of hatred turned a puppet into a POKéMON. If it opens its mouth, its cursed energy escapes.
Banette Weakness
ExcellentType-wise, Banette takes extra damage from Ghost and Dark. Normal and Fighting moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity.
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
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 using 22 partners from the Indeterminate egg group. Notable egg moves include Astonish, Destiny Bond, Disable and 2 more.
Insomnia helps Banette stick around while dealing real damage. Leftovers for passive recovery each turn, flexible EVs EVs for the right balance, and Hiddenpowerfighting as the main threat. Not the fastest, but it doesn't need to be.
Best Build
Best Banette Moveset
- Hidden Power Fighting
- Shadow Ball
- Will O Wisp
- Knock Off
Recommended Teammates
The egg pool carries weight here. Astonish and Destiny Bond aren't available any other way for Banette, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Shadow Ball and Astonish for solid options.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Banette can't be caught in FireRed & LeafGreen. Transfer Shuppet from Ruby, Emerald, or Omega Ruby and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
How to Obtain Banette in FireRed & LeafGreen
Step 1Obtain ShuppetCatch in the wild in:
Then trade to FireRed & LeafGreen to continue the evolution chain.
Also found in:
Step 2Banette ✓
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 leaning toward the physical side (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