Without Thick Fat, Dewgong wouldn't see any competitive play. With it? It halves incoming Fire and Ice damage, turning modest base stats into a real offensive threat. Water/Ice is solid coverage on top of that. Needs some investment to avoid getting outsped.
Dewgong's spread favors balanced defenses over offense. Sp. Def leads the defensive side, Attack eats the cost. Yields 2 Sp. Def EVs per defeat. Medium-fast 1M XP curve to level.
Its streamlined body has little drag in water. The colder the temperature, the friskier it gets.
It loves frigid seas with ice floes. It uses its long tail to change swimming direction quickly.
Dewgong Weakness
VulnerableDewgong's Water/Ice typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric, Grass, Fighting, and Rock moves. Thick Fat reduces Fire/Ice damage, further improving the defensive spread.
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
Dewgong is the evolved form of Seel. Breeding produces Seel eggs, and they're average hatch time. Evolving from Seel gave Dewgong the biggest boost in HP (+25), bringing the total to 475 stats.
How to Evolve
Breed with Dewgong to get Seel eggs easily using 131 partners from the Ground and Water1 egg groups. Notable egg moves include Disable, Encore, Fake Out and 9 more.
max HP and Sp. Def EVs and Calm nature turn Dewgong into a wall that doesn't fold easily. Leftovers brings passive recovery each turn for the long game, and Rest handles sustain. Hydration fills in the gaps.
Best Build
Best Dewgong Moveset
- Rest
- Ice Beam
- Rain Dance
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
The natural movepool does the job, but Disable and Encore from the egg pool give Dewgong something extra. Pair those with Blizzard and Aqua Tail for STAB and Normal and Bug coverage and more for reach, and the kit fills out nicely.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Transfer Moves
Dewgong appears at decent spawn rates across 4 spots in late-game routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.
Where To Catch Dewgong in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Seel is your first catch on the way to Dewgong. You'll find walking and surfing encounters from Lv. 10-40 across 24 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch SeelEASYRoute 47HeartGoldSurfing on waterLv.10-20CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 47SoulSilverSurfing on waterLv.10-20CommonEarlyRouteEASYSeafoam Islands - B4FHeartGoldSurfing on waterLv.30-40CommonMidWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - B4FSoulSilverSurfing on waterLv.30-40CommonMidWaterEASYWhirl Islands - 1FHeartGoldGrassLv.22-24UncommonMidWaterEASYWhirl Islands - 1FSoulSilverGrassLv.22-24UncommonMidWaterEASYWhirl Islands - B1FHeartGoldGrassLv.22-24UncommonMidWaterEASYWhirl Islands - B1FSoulSilverGrassLv.22-24UncommonMidWaterEASYWhirl Islands - B2FHeartGoldGrassLv.22-24UncommonMidWaterEASYWhirl Islands - B2FSoulSilverGrassLv.22-24UncommonMidWaterEASYWhirl Islands - B3FHeartGoldGrassLv.23-25UncommonMidWaterEASYWhirl Islands - B3FSoulSilverGrassLv.23-25UncommonMidWaterEFFORTLESSSeafoam Islands - B1FHeartGoldGrassLv.32-34CommonLateWaterEFFORTLESSSeafoam Islands - B1FSoulSilverGrassLv.32-34CommonLateWaterEFFORTLESSSeafoam Islands - B2FHeartGoldGrassLv.33-35CommonLateWaterEFFORTLESSSeafoam Islands - B2FSoulSilverGrassLv.33-35CommonLateWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - B4FHeartGoldGrassLv.34UncommonLateWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - B4FSoulSilverGrassLv.34UncommonLateWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - B3FHeartGoldGrassLv.34UncommonLateWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - B3FSoulSilverGrassLv.34UncommonLateWater
Step 2Dewgong ✓EASYSeafoam Islands - B3FHeartGoldGrassLv.35-36UncommonLateWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - B3FSoulSilverGrassLv.35-36UncommonLateWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - B4FHeartGoldGrassLv.37-38UncommonLateWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - B4FSoulSilverGrassLv.37-38UncommonLateWateror evolve from Seel (Step 1)
Don't let Dewgong's 475 base stat total fool you. Thick Fat is what makes it tick — it punches way above its weight class. We rate it C-Tier.
Seel evolves into Dewgong at level 34. Dewgong is the fully evolved form. It sits at 475 BST in its evolved form.
Run Thick Fat on Dewgong. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Dewgong also gets Hydration and Ice Body, but they don't compare.
Dewgong fills the balanced role. It's a special attacker with base 70 Sp. Atk. Base 70 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
Dewgong appears in 19 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
Dewgong has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 19 titles across all 9 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
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 VBW
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