Utility
Pivot
580Very High
108Fast
BTier

Free switch-ins on Poison moves make Cobalion useful in any team that needs that coverage. Only 3 weaknesses keeps it safe in most matchups. Known as the Iron Will Pokemon. Flexible enough to run physical or special sets.

Nothing fancy in Cobalion's spread. It leans mixed with Defense out front. And you'll get 3 Defense EVs per KO for it. Follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.

Base Stats
580Pseudo
HP91
B
Attack90
B
Defense129
A
Sp. Atk90
B
Sp. Def72
C
Speed108
B
Total580
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Cobalion yields +3 Def
HPAtkDef+3SpASpDSpe
Details
Catch3LegendarySlow1.25M XP2.1m / 6'11"250kg / 551.2 lbs261Base XP
Pokedex Entries

This Pokémon appears in a legend alongside Terrakion and Virizion, fighting against humans in defense of the Unova region’s Pokémon.

Sword

From the moment it’s born, this Pokémon radiates the air of a leader. Its presence will calm even vicious foes.

Shield

Cobalion Weakness

Excellent

Type-wise, Cobalion takes extra damage from Fire, Fighting, and Ground. Poison moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. It resists 8 types, so it can switch into a lot of moves safely. Cobalion's physical bulk (base 129 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

4xCriticali
None
¼xResisti
0xImmunei
3Weak
8Resist
1Immune
Scorei+7
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Abilities
JustifiedRaises Attack one stage upon taking damage from a dark move.

No breeding, no evolution. Cobalion is a Steel/Fighting legendary with 580 base stat total that you obtain once and build around.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Cobalion
#638Cobalion
Does not evolve
Breeding
Unavailable
Undiscovered egg group

Click Volt Switch, bring in a teammate, repeat. Cobalion's pivot game is backed by Rocky Helmet for chip damage on every physical hit received and flexible EVs EVs. Justified works in the background while the remaining moves covers bad matchups.

Best Build

Pivot
Ability
Justified
Item
Rocky HelmetPUNISH
Nature
Timid+SPE
EVs

Best Cobalion Moveset

  • Body PressSTAB
  • Volt Switch
  • Stealth Rock
  • Thunder Wave

Recommended Teammates

Most of Cobalion's flexibility comes from TMs. Same-type output runs through Steel Beam and Close Combat, but Normal and Flying and the rest of the TM pool push it from predictable to genuinely threatening.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Helping Hand+5
20Normal
Lv 1
Leer
10030Normal
Lv 1
Quick Attack+1
4010030Normal
Lv 1
Work Up
30Normal
Lv 7
Metal Claw
509535Steel
Lv 14
Quick Guard+3
15Fighting
Lv 21
Double Kick
3010030Fighting
Lv 28
Retaliate
701005Normal
Lv 35
Metal Burst
10010Steel
Lv 42
Take Down
908520Normal
Lv 49
Sacred Sword
9010015Fighting
Lv 56
Swords Dance
20Normal
Lv 63
Iron Head
8010015Steel
Lv 70
Close Combat
1201005Fighting

TM Moves

Src
TM27
Aerial Ace
6020Flying
TM65
Air Slash
759515Flying
TM112
Aura Sphere
8020Fighting
TM89
Body Press
8010010Fighting
TM66
Body Slam
8510015Normal
TM58
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TM129
Calm Mind
20Psychic
TM167
Close Combat
1201005Fighting
TM213
Coaching
10Fighting
TM204
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
TM47
Endure+4
10Normal
TM25
Facade
7010020Normal
TM57
False Swipe
4010040Normal
TM93
Flash Cannon
8010010Steel
TM158
Focus Blast
120705Fighting
TM152
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM121
Heavy Slam
10010Steel
TM130
Helping Hand+5
20Normal
TM163
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM104
Iron Defense
15Steel
TM99
Iron Head
8010015Steel
TM31
Metal Claw
509535Steel
TM223
Metal Sound
8540Steel
TM83
Poison Jab
8010020Poison
TM07
Protect+4
10Normal
TM203
Psych Up
10Normal
TM50
Rain Dance
5Water
TM74
Reflect
20Psychic
TM85
Rest
5Psychic
TM134
Reversal
10015Fighting
TM172
Roar-6
20Normal
TM51
Sandstorm
10Rock
TM06
Scary Face
10010Normal
TM70
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM53
Smart Strike
7010Steel
TM116
Stealth Rock
20Rock
TM170
Steel Beam
140955Steel
TM150
Stone Edge
100805Rock
TM103
Substitute
10Normal
TM49
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM32
Swift
6020Normal
TM88
Swords Dance
20Normal
TM01
Take Down
908520Normal
TM87
Taunt
10020Dark
TM171
Tera Blast
8010010Normal
TM82
Thunder Wave
9020Electric
TM229
Upper Hand+3
6510015Fighting
TM184
Vacuum Wave+1
4010030Fighting
TM48
Volt Switch
7010020Electric
TM105
X-Scissor
8010015Bug
TM59
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic

Egg Moves

Cobalion doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Cobalion can't learn any Tutor moves

Cobalion can't be caught in Scarlet & Violet. Bring it over from Black, Black 2, or Ultra Sun instead. The encounter info below covers the source games.

Cobalion is not available as a wild encounter in this game.

Also found in:

  • Cobalion is a Legendary Pokemon rated B-Tier on our tier list. At 580 BST, it hits hard. It excels as a pivot. That 129 base Defense does the heavy lifting.

  • Cobalion's biggest threats include Infernape (Fire), Conkeldurr (Fighting), and Excadrill (Ground), all carrying super-effective STAB moves.

  • Cobalion doesn't evolve. As a Legendary Pokemon, it stands on its own without an evolutionary line. It's a Steel/Fighting type with 580 BST.

  • Justified is the go-to ability for Cobalion. It raises Attack one stage upon taking damage from a dark move. It's Cobalion's only ability.

  • Cobalion is leaning toward the physical side (base 90 Attack). Tanky enough to absorb a few hits, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 108 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. Fits the pivot role.

  • Cobalion appears in 9 games, including Black & White, Black 2 & White 2, and X & Y.

Since Black & White, Cobalion has appeared in 9 games. Legendary Pokemon like Cobalion are usually found through story events or special post-game areas rather than random encounters.