Defense leads and HP gets almost nothing. That's Carbink's stat line in a nutshell. 2 stats sit in respectable range, but the spread is brutal. Moderately hard to find and yields 2 Defense and Sp. Def EVs.
When beset by attackers, Carbink wipes them all out by firing high-energy beams from the gems embedded in its body.
It’s said that somewhere in the world, there’s a mineral vein housing a large pack of slumbering Carbink. It’s also said that this pack has a queen.
Carbink's Rock/Fairy typing leaves it vulnerable to Steel, Water, Grass, and Ground. Steel hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It shrugs off Dragon-type attacks completely. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Carbink's overall bulk (50/150/150) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Steel |
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Grass, Ground |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Fire, Flying, Bug, Dark |
| 0x (Immune) | Dragon |
 | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityOrichalcumpulse ItemLoaded Dice NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Carbink View Koraidon builds →Flare Blitz12-14% U Turn7-8% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves View Talonflame builds →
| ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Carbink View Hitmontop builds →Rapid Spin4-5% Close Combat30-35% Mach Punch10-12% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Carbink View Tyranitar builds →Knock Off16-19% Stone Edge49-58% Pursuit10-12% Earthquake 2x65-77% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureBold Moves View Toxapex builds →
| ||
Breeding is the whole story for Carbink. No compatible partners through two egg groups, eggs are average hatch time, and you won't need to evolve anything. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Carbink is genderless and can only breed with Ditto. Part of the Fairy and Mineral egg groups.
Ditto onlyStealth Rock is the priority every time Carbink comes in. Relaxed nature and max HP and Defense EVs keep it alive long enough to get layers down, while Leftovers provides passive recovery each turn. Sturdy rounds it out.
Best Build
Carbink best EVs are HP and Defense
Hazard Setter Moveset
- Body Press
- Moonblast
- Stealth Rock
- Iron Defense
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Utility Moveset
- Endeavor
- Trick Room
- Protect
- Moonblast
Recommended Teammates
Utility Moveset
- Endeavor
- Stealth Rock
- Trick Room
- Body Press
Recommended Teammates
Bulky Support Moveset
- Body Press
- Moonblast
- Iron Defense
- Calm Mind
Recommended Teammates
Hazard Setter Moveset
- Body Press
- Moonblast
- Stealth Rock
- Iron Defense
Doubles Utility Moveset
- Endeavor
- Trick Room
- Protect
- Moonblast
Recommended Teammates
Utility Moveset
- Endeavor
- Stealth Rock
- Trick Room
- Body Press
Bulky Support Moveset
- Body Press
- Moonblast
- Iron Defense
- Calm Mind
Doubles Bulky Support Moveset
- Skill Swap
- Trick Room
- Protect
- Ally Switch
Recommended Teammates
Wall Moveset
- Moonblast
- Iron Defense
- Body Press
- Rest
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Bulky Support Moveset
- Skill Swap
- Protect
- Trick Room
- Ally Switch
Recommended Teammates
Hazard Setter Moveset
- Stealth Rock
- Explosion
- Trick Room
- Magic Coat
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Level-up moves are just the starting point for Carbink. TMs unlock Normal and Fighting coverage and more and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Meteor Beam and Stone Edge into something with actual range.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Level-up moves are just the starting point for Carbink. TMs unlock Normal and Steel coverage and more and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Meteor Beam and Stone Edge into something with actual range.
Level-up moves are just the starting point for Carbink. TMs unlock Normal and Fighting coverage and more and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Meteor Beam and Stone Edge into something with actual range.
Leveling does the heavy lifting. Carbink picks up Stone Edge and Moonblast along the way, building toward a complete offensive set. TMs add Normal and Steel coverage and more, but the foundation's already strong by then.
No wild encounters for Carbink in Scarlet & Violet. It's available in X, Sun, or Sword and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.
Carbink can't be caught in Legends: Z-A. Bring it over from X, Sun, or Sword instead. The encounter info below covers the source games.
A handful of locations for Carbink with decent spawn rates across endgame routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Best Locations to Catch Carbink in Sword & Shield
6 walking encounters at Lv. 60-65 for Carbink across Shield and Sword. A few locations are version-exclusive, so your copy of the game affects what's available.
Carbink starts showing up in early-game routes at decent spawn rates across 10 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Best Locations to Catch Carbink in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Which version you're playing matters for Carbink. 10 walking spots at Lv. 11-46 spread across Ultra Moon and Ultra Sun, and some routes only appear in one cartridge. Check the version badges below.
We rate Carbink B-Tier: a solid choice for the right team. At 500 BST, it fits the hazard setter role. Base 150 Defense stands out.
Watch for Steelix (Steel), Milotic (Water), and Venusaur (Grass) when using Carbink. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Steelix is the most dangerous since Steel moves deal 4x damage. Ground-type attackers are also a problem. Carbink has enough bulk to absorb a hit, but don't push the matchup. Pivot to a teammate that resists.
Clear Body prevents stats from being lowered by other Pokémon. That's the one you want on Carbink. Sturdy is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.
Base 50 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Carbink is a physical attacker with base 50 Attack. Defensively? Tanky enough to absorb a few hits. Best used as a hazard setter.
Run Bodypress, Moonblast, Stealth Rock, and Iron Defense on Carbink. Bodypress is the most common pick at 19% usage. Moonblast provides reliable STAB damage.
Carbink joined the series in X & Y and has been available in 7 titles so far. With 5 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 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XYDebut
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