Stats & Training
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.
Red- and blue-striped Basculin are very violent and always fighting. They are also remarkably tasty.
Red and blue Basculin usually do not get along, but sometimes members of one school mingle with the other’s school.
Basculin Weakness
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Grass |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Steel |
 Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Roselia builds →Magical Leaf 2x80-94% Mega Drain 2x55-66% Absorb 2x31-38% | ||
 Skiddo Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Skiddo builds →Razor Leaf 2x52-61% Vine Whip 2x44-52% | ||
 Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
 Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodLumiose City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Bulbasaur builds →Razor Leaf 2x39-47% Vine Whip 2x34-42% | ||
 Pansage Grass | D | |
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Roselia builds →Giga Drain 2x90-106%KO Magical Leaf 2x74-88% Mega Drain 2x50-59% Absorb 2x26-31% | ||
Skiddo Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Skiddo builds →Seed Bomb 2x64-75% Razor Leaf 2x45-53% Vine Whip 2x36-44% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Oddish builds →Mega Drain 2x40-47% Absorb 2x21-25% | ||
Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodLumiose City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Bulbasaur builds →Razor Leaf 2x36-44% Vine Whip 2x31-38% | ||
Pansage Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Pansage builds →Seed Bomb 2x55-66% Vine Whip 2x31-38% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Roselia builds →Giga Drain 2x90-106%KO Magical Leaf 2x74-88% Mega Drain 2x50-59% Absorb 2x26-31% | ||
Skiddo Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Skiddo builds →Seed Bomb 2x64-75% Razor Leaf 2x45-53% Vine Whip 2x36-44% | ||
 Exeggcute GrassPsychic | D | |
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Oddish builds →Mega Drain 2x40-47% Absorb 2x21-25% | ||
Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodLumiose City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Bulbasaur builds →Razor Leaf 2x36-44% Vine Whip 2x31-38% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Roselia builds →Giga Drain 2x90-106%KO Magical Leaf 2x74-88% Mega Drain 2x50-59% Absorb 2x26-31% | ||
Skiddo Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Skiddo builds →Seed Bomb 2x64-75% Razor Leaf 2x45-53% Vine Whip 2x36-44% | ||
Exeggcute GrassPsychic | D | |
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Oddish builds →Mega Drain 2x40-47% Absorb 2x21-25% | ||
Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodLumiose City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Bulbasaur builds →Razor Leaf 2x36-44% Vine Whip 2x31-38% | ||
 Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Carnivine builds →Leaf Tornado 2x77-91% Vine Whip 2x52-62% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Roselia builds →Petal Dance 2x150-177%KO Giga Drain 2x96-113%KO Magical Leaf 2x77-91% Mega Drain 2x52-62% | ||
 Weepinbell GrassPoison | D | |
Skiddo Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Skiddo builds →Seed Bomb 2x65-78% Razor Leaf 2x46-54% Vine Whip 2x38-46% | ||
 Pumpkaboo GhostGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Pumpkaboo builds →Razor Leaf 2x46-54% Charge Beam 2x24-29% Bullet Seed 2x22-27% | ||
 Abomasnow GrassIce | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Abomasnow builds →Wood Hammer 2x125-147%KO Razor Leaf 2x60-71% | ||
Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Carnivine builds →Leaf Tornado 2x77-92% Vine Whip 2x52-61% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Roselia builds →Petal Dance 2x151-178%KO Giga Drain 2x95-112%KO Magical Leaf 2x77-92% Mega Drain 2x52-61% | ||
Weepinbell GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Weepinbell builds →Razor Leaf 2x58-69% Vine Whip 2x47-56% | ||
Skiddo Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Skiddo builds →Seed Bomb 2x64-76% Razor Leaf 2x45-53% Vine Whip 2x38-46% | ||
 Amoonguss GrassPoison | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Amoonguss builds →Solar Beam 2x132-155%KO Giga Drain 2x84-99% Mega Drain 2x46-54% Absorb 2x24-29% | ||
Abomasnow GrassIce | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Abomasnow builds →Wood Hammer 2x125-147%KO Razor Leaf 2x58-68% | ||
 Trevenant GhostGrass | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Trevenant builds →Wood Hammer 2x144-170%KO | ||
Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Carnivine builds →Power Whip 2x133-157%KO Leaf Tornado 2x75-89% Vine Whip 2x50-60% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Roselia builds →Petal Dance 2x151-178%KO Petal Blizzard 2x68-81% Giga Drain 2x94-112%KO Magical Leaf 2x77-91% | ||
In X & Y, Serperior can KO Basculin with Leaf Storm (161-189%). Zapdos threatens a KO with Thunderbolt (135-160%). Rotom's Volt Switch also KOs at 106-126%.
 Serperior Grass | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityContrary ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Serperior builds →Leaf Storm 2x161-189%KO | ||
 Zapdos Electric | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityStatic ItemSitrus Berry NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Zapdos builds →Heat Wave24-28% Thunderbolt 2x135-160%KO | ||
 Rotom ElectricGhost | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves
Damage vs Basculin View Rotom builds →Volt Switch 2x106-126%KO Shadow Ball61-72% | ||
X & Y Evolution
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
Breeding
Breed Basculin with 23 breeding partners from the Water2 egg group. Pass egg moves like Agility, Brine, Bubble Beam and 6 more to offspring.
X & Y Basculin Best Moveset
Basculin's locked into one move per switch-in with Choice Band, trading flexibility for raw power at the cost of move flexibility. Aquatail is the go-to spam option, with Fighting and Dark coverage keeping switch-ins honest.
Best Build
Basculin best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Aqua Tail
- Aqua Jet
- Superpower
- Crunch
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Breeding's the move. Agility and Brine give Basculin options it can't learn any other way, and Normal and Dark coverage and more already covers a decent range on top of Aqua Tail and Surf. The egg moves push it further.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
X & Y Basculin Locations
high spawn rates across 44 locations for Basculin in mid-game fishing spots. Scroll the sorted list below and pick whichever spot sits closest to your current route. The rate differences between locations are worth comparing.
Best Locations to Catch Basculin in X & Y
Bring Good Rod and Super Rod for Basculin. There are 44 fishing encounters from Lv. 25-55 with no walking alternatives. Pick the spot with the best rate and settle in.
Basculin Guide
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.
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.
In X & Y, 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.
Game Availability
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
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BWDebut
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves