Mixed
Pivot
580Very High
108Fast
ATier

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

One boost from Swords Dance and Cobalion gets dangerous fast. The Jolly nature targets max Attack and Speed, and Justified backs the whole approach. Ironhead and the remaining moves handle most of what's left standing.

Best Build

Physical Setup Sweeper
Ability
Justified
Item
Fightiniumz
Nature
Jolly+SPE
EVs

Best Cobalion Moveset

  • Iron HeadSTAB
  • Close CombatSTAB
  • Swords Dance
  • Stone Edge

Recommended Teammates

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

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Close Combat
1201005Fighting
Lv 1
Double Kick
3010030Fighting
Lv 1
Leer
10030Normal
Lv 1
Metal Burst
10010Steel
Lv 1
Metal Claw
509535Steel
Lv 1
Quick Attack+1
4010030Normal
Lv 7
Take Down
908520Normal
Lv 13
Helping Hand+5
20Normal
Lv 19
Retaliate
701005Normal
Lv 25
Iron Head
8010015Steel
Lv 31
Sacred Sword
9010015Fighting
Lv 37
Swords Dance
20Normal
Lv 42
Quick Guard+3
15Fighting
Lv 49
Work Up
30Normal
Lv 55
Metal Burst
10010Steel
Lv 61
Close Combat
1201005Fighting

TM Moves

Src
TM40
Aerial Ace
6020Flying
TM04
Calm Mind
20Psychic
TM100
Confide
20Normal
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM54
False Swipe
4010040Normal
TM91
Flash Cannon
8010010Steel
TM52
Focus Blast
120705Fighting
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM84
Poison Jab
8010020Poison
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM77
Psych Up
10Normal
TM33
Reflect
20Psychic
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6
20Normal
TM69
Rock Polish
20Rock
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM20
Safeguard
25Normal
TM37
Sandstorm
10Rock
TM88
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM71
Stone Edge
100805Rock
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
TM87
Swagger
8515Normal
TM75
Swords Dance
20Normal
TM12
Taunt
10020Dark
TM73
Thunder Wave
9020Electric
TM06
Toxic
9010Poison
TM72
Volt Switch
7010020Electric
TM01
Work Up
30Normal
TM81
X-Scissor
8010015Bug

Egg Moves

Cobalion doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Cobalion can't learn any Tutor moves

Transfer Moves

Src
Gen 6
Cut
509530Normal
Gen 6
Hone Claws
15Dark
Gen 6
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
Gen 6
Secret Power
7010020Normal
Gen 6
Strength
8010015Normal

No wild encounters for Cobalion in Sun & Moon. It's available in Black, Black 2, or Ultra Sun and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.

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

Special encounter in:

Then trade to Sun & Moon.

Also found in:

  • Cobalion is a Legendary Pokemon rated A-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 a mixed attacker — base 90 Attack and 90 Sp. Atk. 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.