Slow is good when Trick Room is up, and Dondozo is about as slow as they come. Water typing gives it a defined role on the team. Unaware ignores the opponent's stat boosts. Only weak to Electric and Grass.
The stat line revolves around HP. Percentage recovery gets extra mileage here. Defense backs it up, though Speed doesn't pull its weight. Worth 3 HP EVs on a slow 1.25M XP grind to max out.
This Pokémon is a glutton, but it’s bad at getting food. It teams up with a Tatsugiri to catch prey.
It treats Tatsugiri like its boss and follows it loyally. Though powerful, Dondozo is apparently not very smart.
Dondozo Weakness
GoodElectric and Grass-type moves hit Dondozo for super-effective damage. The Water typing picks up 4 resistances to work with. Dondozo's physical bulk (base 115 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
Dondozo is what you get. No evolutions, but it breeds through one egg group with no compatible partners. Hatching is takes forever to hatch.
How to Evolve
Breed Dondozo from the Water2 egg group.
max HP and Defense EVs and Impish nature turn Dondozo into a wall that doesn't fold easily. Leftovers brings passive recovery each turn for the long game, and Rest handles sustain. Unaware fills in the gaps.
Best Build
Best Dondozo Moveset
- Fissure
- Wave Crash
- Rest
- Protect
The level-up pool is slim, so TMs matter here. Dondozo's coverage across 9 types all comes from technical machines, built on top of Hydro Pump and Muddy Water for same-type damage. Take Down and Double-Edge are the payoff moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Dondozo doesn't appear in Legends: Z-A. Transfer it from Scarlet to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.
Dondozo is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Catch in the wild in:
Then trade to Legends: Z-A.
Dondozo looks average on paper at 530 BST. But Unaware is why it sees play — build around that and it pulls its weight. A-Tier tank on our tier list.
Dondozo doesn't evolve and has no evolutionary line. It's a Water-type Pokemon with strong stats at 530 BST — no evolution needed.
Dondozo gets Unaware, Oblivious, and Water Veil. But Unaware is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Dondozo is leaning toward the physical side (base 100 Attack). Tanky enough to absorb a few hits, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 35 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. Fits the tank role.
Dondozo can be found in Legends: Z-A and Scarlet & Violet.
Since Scarlet & Violet, Dondozo has been obtainable in 2 games. A Generation 9 debut means a shorter history, but Dondozo has appeared steadily across every generation since.
- 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 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 IXSVDebut
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A