Dustox Best Moveset
Bug/Poison at 50 Sp. Atk and 90 Sp. Def with 65 Speed. Special bulk exists but the moveset's offensive output at 50 Sp. Atk is negligible. Takes special hits reasonably. Deals almost no damage back.
Shield Dust blocked secondary effects in Gen III (Ruby & Sapphire). Dustox tanked special hits from 90 Sp. Def but 50 Sp. Atk hit nothing.
Wall Moveset
- Toxic
- Moonlight
- Thief
- Sunny Day
Recommended Teammates
Toxic Spikes setter in Gen IV (Diamond & Pearl). Bug/Poison with 90 Sp. Def survived special attacks. 385 BST meant one physical hit ended the run.
Best Moves
Best Build
Dustox best EVs are HP and Sp. Def
Wall Moveset
- Toxic
- Bug Buzz
- Roost
- Light Screen
Recommended Teammates
Quiver Dance existed in Gen V (Black & White) but Dustox didn't learn it. Venomoth and Butterfree got the setup move. Dustox got left behind.
Wall Moveset
- Toxic
- Giga Drain
- Hyper Beam
- Bug Buzz
Recommended Teammates
Fell in Gen VI (X & Y). Bug/Poison with 50 Sp. Atk was purely defensive. Better Toxic Spikes setters existed. Better walls existed. Dustox was neither.
Special Tank Moveset
- Bug Buzz
- Roost
- Sludge Bomb
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
Five gens as the defensive Wurmple evolution in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). 385 BST with no offensive presence. Shield Dust was the only distinction.
Wall Moveset
- Quiver Dance
- Roost
- Iron Defense
- Bug Buzz
Recommended Teammates
Dustox Weakness
Fire, Flying, Psychic, and Rock moves hit Dustox for super-effective damage. The Bug/Poison typing picks up 5 resistances to work with.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Flying, Psychic, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Poison, Bug, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting |
What is Dustox Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Dustox
Cinderace's Sucker Punch hits Dustox for 36-43%. Terrakion's Stone Edge also KOs at 168-198%.
 Cinderace Fire | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLibero ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Dustox View Cinderace builds →U Turn18-21% Sucker Punch36-43% | ||
 Hatterene PsychicFairy | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagic Bounce ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Dustox View Hatterene builds →Nuzzle7-8% | ||
 Terrakion RockFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Dustox View Terrakion builds →Close Combat25-30% Stone Edge 2x168-198%KO Earthquake56-66% | ||
 Talonflame Fire | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves View Talonflame builds →
| ||
Evolution
You get Dustox from Wurmple at level 10. It's one of 2 possible evolutions in this branching family, each requiring its own method. Breed through Wurmple to get eggs. The evolution from Wurmple pushed Dustox to 385 total stats. Sp.Def saw the largest single gain at +60. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Dustox to get Wurmple eggs easily using 91 partners from the Bug egg group.
How to Get Dustox
Dustox starts showing up in early-game routes at decent spawn rates across 4 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Where To Catch Dustox in PLA
Wurmple is your first catch on the way to Dustox. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 2-32 across 9 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch WurmpleFloaro GardensLv.2-6GrassRate 15%Horseshoe PlainsLv.2-6GrassRate 15%The HeartwoodLv.3-6GrassRate 15%
Step 2Catch or Evolve CascoonFloaro GardensLv.3-5GrassRate 15%NightThe HeartwoodLv.7-9GrassRate 15%Nightor evolve from Wurmple (Step 1)
Step 3Dustox ✓The HeartwoodLv.13-16GrassRate 15%NightGrueling GroveLv.15-18GrassRate 15%NightFloaro GardensLv.18-22GrassRate 15%NightVeilstone CapeLv.29-32GrassRate 15%Nightor evolve from Cascoon (Step 2)
Dustox starts showing up in early-game routes at moderate rates across 2 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Where To Catch Dustox in BDSP
Wurmple is your first catch on the way to Dustox. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 10-51 across 19 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch WurmpleEterna ForestLv.10-11GrassRate 30%Morning/dayEterna ForestLv.10GrassRate 20%NightGrassland CaveLv.16-20CaveRiverbank CaveLv.16-20CaveStill-Water CavernLv.16-20CaveSunlit CavernLv.16-20Cave
Step 2Catch or Evolve CascoonEterna ForestLv.10GrassShining PearlRate 20%Grassland CaveLv.16-20CaveShining PearlRiverbank CaveLv.16-20CaveShining PearlStill-Water CavernLv.16-20CaveShining PearlSunlit CavernLv.16-20CaveShining Pearlor evolve from Wurmple (Step 1)
Step 3Dustox ✓Eterna ForestLv.12GrassShining PearlRate 2%Route 230Lv.51GrassShining PearlRate 10%or evolve from Cascoon (Step 2)
No wild encounters for Dustox in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. Bring Wurmple over from Ruby & Sapphire, Emerald, or Diamond & Pearl, then level through the stages. Each step in the chain is laid out below.
How to Obtain Dustox in USUM
Step 1Obtain WurmpleLATER APPEARANCEfrom Ruby & SapphireNot TradeableAppears in Ruby & Sapphire via Walking · Route 101. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom EmeraldNot TradeableAppears in Emerald via Walking · Route 101. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Diamond & PearlNot TradeableAppears in Diamond & Pearl via Honey tree · Route 208. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
Step 2Evolve into Cascoon- Step 3Dustox ✓
Dustox can't be caught in Sun & Moon. Transfer Wurmple from Ruby & Sapphire, Emerald, or Diamond & Pearl and evolve through the 3-stage chain to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
How to Obtain Dustox in SM
- Step 1Obtain WurmpleBREEDINGAvailableLeave Cascoon with a compatible partner at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Wurmple egg.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Ruby & SapphireNot TradeableAppears in Ruby & Sapphire via Walking · Route 101. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom EmeraldNot TradeableAppears in Emerald via Walking · Route 101. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Diamond & PearlNot TradeableAppears in Diamond & Pearl via Honey tree · Route 208. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
- Step 2Evolve into Cascoon
- Step 3Dustox ✓
Base Stats
Dustox's built to absorb hits, not race for knockouts. Special bulk with Sp. Def doing the heavy lifting. And the medium-fast 1M XP curve means it won't take forever to bring up, worth 3 Sp. Def EVs.
Tends to be drawn to bonfires on dark nights. Difficult to chase away from settlements because of the way it scatters highly toxic scales.
Dustox Guide
Dustox has niche appeal at best. 385 base stats means you're fighting uphill by mid-game. There are better Bug/Poison Pokemon available.
Dustox brings 385 BST to the table. C-Tier on our list: a situational pick that fills a niche.
Shield Dust protects against incoming moves' extra effects. That's the one you want on Dustox. Compound Eyes is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.
Dustox is a special attacker with base 50 Sp. Atk. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. At base 65 Speed, it won't be moving first often.
Game Availability
Debuting in Ruby & Sapphire, Dustox appears in 14 games across 8 generations. A reliable presence in a solid number of games, typically found through wild encounters.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves