Mixed
Pivot
580Very High
108Fast
CTier

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

It has a body and heart of steel. Its glare is sufficient to make even an unruly Pokémon obey it.

X

It has a body and heart of steel. It worked with its allies to punish people when they hurt Pokémon.

Y

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

Jolly nature gives Cobalion the fast physical lean it needs to trade hits effectively. Leftovers adds passive recovery each turn, max Attack and Speed EVs split the difference, and the remaining moves punishes anything trying to wall it.

Best Build

Support
Ability
Justified
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Nature
Jolly+SPE
EVs

Best Cobalion Moveset

  • Iron HeadSTAB
  • Close CombatSTAB
  • Stealth Rock
  • Thunder Wave

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
Leer
10030Normal
Lv 1
Metal Burst
10010Steel
Lv 1
Quick Attack+1
4010030Normal
Lv 1
Quick Guard+3
15Fighting
Lv 1
Work Up
30Normal
Lv 7
Double Kick
3010030Fighting
Lv 13
Metal Claw
509535Steel
Lv 19
Take Down
908520Normal
Lv 25
Helping Hand+5
20Normal
Lv 31
Retaliate
701005Normal
Lv 37
Iron Head
8010015Steel
Lv 42
Sacred Sword
9010015Fighting
Lv 49
Swords Dance
20Normal
Lv 55
Quick Guard+3
15Fighting
Lv 61
Work Up
30Normal
Lv 67
Metal Burst
10010Steel
Lv 73
Close Combat
1201005Fighting

TM Moves

Src
TM40
Aerial Ace
6020Flying
TM04
Calm Mind
20Psychic
TM100
Confide
20Normal
HM01
Cut
509530Normal
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
TM01
Hone Claws
15Dark
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM84
Poison Jab
8010020Poison
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM77
Psych Up
10Normal
TM33
Reflect
20Psychic
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM67
Retaliate
701005Normal
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6
20Normal
TM69
Rock Polish
20Rock
TM94
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM20
Safeguard
25Normal
TM37
Sandstorm
10Rock
TM88
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM71
Stone Edge
100805Rock
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
TM87
Swagger
9015Normal
TM75
Swords Dance
20Normal
TM12
Taunt
10020Dark
TM73
Thunder Wave
10020Electric
TM06
Toxic
9010Poison
TM72
Volt Switch
7010020Electric
TM81
X-Scissor
8010015Bug

Egg Moves

Cobalion doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Cobalion can't learn any Tutor moves

Cobalion doesn't appear in X & Y. Transfer it from Black, Black 2, or Ultra Sun to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.

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

Special encounter in:

Then trade to X & Y.

Also found in:

  • Cobalion is a Legendary Pokemon rated C-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.