Physical
Balanced
BTier
98Speed · Above Avg

The stat budget goes to damage. Speed and Attack carry the offense, Sp. Def doesn't even come close. A Hostile Pokemon on a medium-fast 1M XP curve, worth 2 Speed EVs per KO.

Base Stats
Above
HP70
C
Attack92
B
Defense65
C
Sp. Atk80
C
Sp. Def55
D
Speed98
B
Total460
Details
Catch Rate
Difficult25 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height1.0 m
3'03"Small
Weight18.0 kg
39.7 lbsFeather
Base XP161
Average
Abilities
Reckless
Strengthens recoil moves to 1.2× their power.
AdaptabilityTop Pick
Increases the same-type attack bonus from 1.5× to 2×.
Mold BreakerHA
Bypasses targets' abilities if they could hinder or prevent a move.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+2
Speed training target
Pokedex Entries

These Pokémon form schools with others of the same color. The greatest foe of a school of blue Basculin is a school of red Basculin.

Type-wise, Basculin takes extra damage from Electric and Grass. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Basculin leans offensive (base 92 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.

Basculin Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Grass
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Ice, Steel
Type ChartGood
2Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Score0
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
ElectricGrass
½xResist
FireWaterIceSteel
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None
STAB (3)
FireGroundRock
How to Beat Basculin (Best Counters)

Sandslash's Earthquake hits Basculin for 55-64%. Hitmontop deals 84-99% with Close Combat.

Mesprit
MespritThreatens with Grass Knot
Psychic
S
Recommended Build
AbilityLevitate
ItemRocky Helmet
NatureRelaxed
Moves
  • U Turn
  • Stealth Rock
  • Psychic Noise
  • Knock Off
Damage vs Basculin
U Turn
27-32%
Knock Off
25-29%
View Mesprit builds →

Basculin doesn't evolve by leveling. You'll need a unique condition to push it forward to Basculegion. Evolving adds up to 70 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Basculin
#550Basculin
Female Only
Basculegion
#902Basculegion
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Basculin
Water
Basculegion
WaterGhost
HP
70
120+50
ATK
92
112+20
DEF
65
65
SP.ATK
80
80
SP.DEF
55
75+20
SPE
98
78-20
BST
460B-Tier
530A-Tier+70
ROLE
Balanced
Tank
TYPE
Mixed
Physical

Breeding

Moderate

Breed Basculin with 34 breeding partners from the Water2 egg group.

Egg Groups
Water2
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
40 cycles·10,280 steps
Slow~10 min with Flame Body
Breed With (best first)
gyaradosoctillerymalamarmagikarpremoraidinkaywailordrelicanthalomomolapalafinwailmerfinizen
12 of 34·

Basculin's locked into one move per switch-in with Choice Scarf, trading flexibility for speed patching through item lock. Flip Turn is the go-to spam option, with the remaining moves keeping switch-ins honest.

Best Build

All 9 games
Solid pick
Ability
Adaptability
Item
Choice ScarfSPEED
Best Nature for Basculin
Jolly+SPE

Basculin best EVs are Attack and Speed

EVs

Physical Revenge Killer Moveset

  • Flip TurnSTAB
  • Wave CrashSTAB
  • Aqua JetSTAB
  • Psychic Fangs

Recommended Teammates

Mesprit
MespritDecent
Jolteon
JolteonDecent

Moves

All 9 games

TMs carry this one. Basculin learns Wave Crash and Hydro Pump naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Normal and Dark and beyond give it real matchup play.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Tail Whip
D—10030Normal
Lv 1
Water Gun
D4010025Water
Lv 4
Tackle
D4010035Normal
Lv 8
Flail
D—10015Normal
Lv 12
Aqua Jet+1
S4010020Water
Lv 16
Bite
D6010025Dark
Lv 20
Scary Face
C—10010Normal
Lv 24
Headbutt
C7010015Normal
Lv 28
Soak
C—10020Water
Lv 32
Crunch
B8010015Dark
Lv 36
Take Down
C908520Normal
Lv 40
Final Gambit
A—1005Fighting
Lv 44
Wave Crash
S12010010Water
Lv 48
Thrash
C12010010Normal
Lv 52
Double-Edge
A12010015Normal
Lv 56
Head Smash
A150805Rock

TM Moves

TM
TM04
Agility
B——30Psychic
TM143
Blizzard
C110705Ice
TM22
Chilling Water
C5010020Water
TM108
Crunch
B8010015Dark
TM204
Double-Edge
A12010015Normal
TM205
Endeavor
A—1005Normal
TM47
Endure+4
C——10Normal
TM25
Facade
C7010020Normal
TM196
Flip Turn
S6010020Water
TM152
Giga Impact
B150905Normal
TM142
Hydro Pump
C110805Water
TM163
Hyper Beam
C150905Normal
TM135
Ice Beam
C9010010Ice
TM10
Ice Fang
A659515Ice
TM34
Icy Wind
D559515Ice
TM110
Liquidation
S8510010Water
TM35
Mud Shot
D559515Ground
TM209
Muddy Water
C908510Water
TM07
Protect+4
A——10Normal
TM63
Psychic Fangs
A8510010Psychic
TM50
Rain Dance
C——5Water
TM85
Rest
C——5Psychic
TM134
Reversal
D—10015Fighting
TM200
Scale Shot
B259020Dragon
TM06
Scary Face
C—10010Normal
TM70
Sleep Talk
C——10Normal
TM52
Snowscape
C——10Ice
TM103
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM123
Surf
C9010015Water
TM32
Swift
D60—20Normal
TM01
Take Down
C908520Normal
TM87
Taunt
C—10020Dark
TM171
Tera Blast
A8010010Normal
TM11
Water Pulse
C6010020Water
TM77
Waterfall
A8010015Water
TM208
Whirlpool
D358515Water
TM59
Zen Headbutt
B809015Psychic

Egg Moves

Basculin doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Basculin can't learn any Tutor moves
All 9 games

Basculin's scattered across 120 spots in early-game routes with high spawn rates. Check the list below for the closest location to wherever you are in the game. This one's quick.

Best Locations to Catch Basculin in Scarlet & Violet

Basculin appears in 120 walking locations at Lv. 15-40 across Scarlet and Violet. Not all encounters show up in every version, so check which ones match your game.

Asado Desert - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Desert
36%Early
Asado Desert - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Desert
36%Early
Asado Desert - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Desert
36%Early
Asado Desert - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Desert
36%Early
Casseroya Lake - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
36%Early
Casseroya Lake - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
36%Early
Casseroya Lake - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
36%Early
Casseroya Lake - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
36%Early
Casseroya Lake - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
36%Early
Casseroya Lake - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
36%Early
Casseroya Lake - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
36%Early
Casseroya Lake - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
36%Early
East Province (Area One) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area One) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area One) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area One) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area Three) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area Three) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area Three) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area Three) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area Three) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area Three) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area Three) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area Three) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area Two) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area Two) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area Two) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area Two) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
Glaseado Mountain
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Cave
36%Early
Glaseado Mountain
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Cave
36%Early
Glaseado Mountain
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Cave
36%Early
Glaseado Mountain
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Cave
36%Early
Glaseado Mountain
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Cave
36%Early
Glaseado Mountain
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Cave
36%Early
Glaseado Mountain
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Cave
36%Early
Glaseado Mountain
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Cave
36%Early
Glaseado Mountain
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Cave
36%Early
Glaseado Mountain
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Cave
36%Early
Glaseado Mountain
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Cave
36%Early
Glaseado Mountain
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Cave
36%Early
North Province (Area One) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area One) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area One) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area One) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area One) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area One) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area One) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area One) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area Three) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area Three) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area Three) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area Three) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area Two) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area Two) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area Two) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area Two) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Paldean Sea - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
36%Early
South Paldean Sea - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
36%Early
South Paldean Sea - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
36%Early
South Paldean Sea - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
36%Early
South Province (Area Five) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Five) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Five) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Five) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Five) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Five) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Five) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Five) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Four) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Four) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Four) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Four) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Four) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Four) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Four) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Four) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area One) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area One) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area One) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area One) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area One) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area One) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area One) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area One) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Six) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Six) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Six) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Six) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Six) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Six) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Six) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Six) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Two) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Two) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Two) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Two) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
Tagtree Thicket - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Forest
36%Early
Tagtree Thicket - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Forest
36%Early
Tagtree Thicket - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Forest
36%Early
Tagtree Thicket - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Forest
36%Early
Tagtree Thicket - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Forest
36%Early
Tagtree Thicket - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Forest
36%Early
Tagtree Thicket - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Forest
36%Early
Tagtree Thicket - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Forest
36%Early
West Province (Area One) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
West Province (Area One) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
West Province (Area One) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
West Province (Area One) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
West Province (Area Three) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
West Province (Area Three) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
West Province (Area Three) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
West Province (Area Three) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
West Province (Area Three) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
West Province (Area Three) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
West Province (Area Three) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
West Province (Area Three) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
West Province (Area Two) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
West Province (Area Two) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
West Province (Area Two) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early
West Province (Area Two) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
36%Early

  • Basculin is meant to evolve into Basculegion. At 460 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.

  • Basculin's biggest threats include Manectric (Electric) and Roserade (Grass), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

  • Adaptability is what you want on Basculin. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Reckless, Mold Breaker) work on paper but Adaptability is what makes Basculin worth using.

  • Mold Breaker is the hidden ability. It bypasses targets' abilities if they could hinder or prevent a move. Worth hunting for if you want Basculin to compete at a higher level.

  • Base 98 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Basculin is a physical attacker with base 92 Attack.

Basculin joined the series in Black & White and has been available in 9 titles so far. With 6 generations of appearances, it's established itself despite the later start.

Click a game to view version-specific details

Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Want to tell us more?
What was most useful?
What could be improved?
Thanks for your feedback