Cottonee doesn't have much going for it on its own — the stats just aren't there. The payoff is Whimsicott, and getting there is worth the grind. Been around since Gen 5. 5 type weaknesses to keep in mind.
Cottonee's spread isn't flashy. Speed leads, Attack trails, 0 stats clear the bar. Common in the wild and worth 1 Speed EV, on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
When attacked, it escapes by shooting cotton from its body. The cotton serves as a decoy to distract the attacker.
They go wherever the wind takes them. On rainy days, their bodies are heavier, so they take shelter beneath big trees.
Cottonee Weakness
FragileType-wise, Cottonee takes extra damage from Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, and Bug. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage.
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
Evolving Cottonee into Whimsicott takes an evolution item. It's not a simple level-up, so check the chain details below. Evolving adds up to 200 stat points total.
How to Evolve
Breed Cottonee easily with 38 breeding partners from the Fairy and Plant egg groups. Pass egg moves like Beat Up, Encore, Fake Tears and 6 more to offspring.
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 5.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
The egg pool carries weight here. Beat Up and Encore aren't available any other way for Cottonee, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Solar Beam and Energy Ball for solid options.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Cottonee's scattered across 7 spots in early-game routes with high spawn rates. Check the list below for the closest location to wherever you are in the game. This one's quick.
Best Locations
Cottonee appears in 7 walking and trade locations at Lv. 14-58 across Black and White. Not all encounters show up in every version, so check which ones match your game.
Cottonee isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Whimsicott to unlock its full potential. At 280 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.
Cottonee evolves into Whimsicott using a Sun Stone. Cottonee is the base form of this evolutionary line.
Run Prankster on Cottonee. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Cottonee also gets Infiltrator and Chlorophyll, but they don't compare.
Cottonee fills the balanced role. It's leaning toward the special side (base 37 Sp. Atk). At base 66 Speed, it won't be moving first often. And it's fragile — can't afford to take many hits.
Cottonee appears in 8 games, including Black & White, Black 2 & White 2, and X & Y.
Introduced in Black & White, Cottonee has appeared in 8 games across 5 generations. Later debuts mean fewer total appearances, but it's been a consistent presence since its introduction.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBWDebut
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A