Special
Sweeper
BTier
110Speed · Fast

Stats & Training

The stat budget goes to damage. Sp. Atk and Speed carry the offense, Defense doesn't even come close. A Sun Pokemon on a medium-fast 1M XP curve, worth 2 Sp. Atk EVs per KO.

Base Stats
High
HP65
C
Attack65
C
Defense60
C
Sp. Atk130
A
Sp. Def95
B
Speed110
B
Total525
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.9 m
2'11"Small
Weight26.5 kg
58.4 lbsLight
Base XP184
High Yield
Abilities
SynchronizeRare
Copies burns, paralysis, and poison received onto the Pokémon that inflicted them.
Magic BounceHATop Pick
Reflects most non-damaging moves back at their user.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpA+2SpDSpe
Special Attack training target
Pokedex Entries

By reading air currents, it can predict things such as the weather or its foe’s next move.

Espeon Weakness

Espeon is weak to Bug, Ghost, and Dark. Espeon's special bulk (base 95 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

Espeon Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Bug, Ghost, Dark
0.5x (Resist)Fighting, Psychic
Type ChartVulnerable
3Weak
2Resist
0Immune
Score-4
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
BugGhostDark
½xResist
FightingPsychic
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None
STAB (2)
FightingPoison
How to Beat Espeon in Sword & Shield (Best Counters)

In Sword & Shield, Runerigus can KO Espeon with Poltergeist (128-151%). Incineroar threatens a KO with Knock Off (120-142%).

Runerigus
Runerigus
GroundGhost
S
Recommended Build
AbilityWanderingspirit
ItemLeftovers
NatureCareful
Moves
  • Stealth Rock
  • PoltergeistSTAB
  • HazeUtility
  • Will O Wisp
Damage vs Espeon
Poltergeist 2x
128-151%KO
View Runerigus builds →

Sword & Shield Evolution

Eevee's line splits into 8 evolutions, and Espeon is the level-up path. Each sibling form needs a different method to obtain. Breed through Eevee to get eggs. Espeon and Vaporeon share the same 525 total stats, but they're distributed differently. Check the comparison below to see where each one specializes. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

8 Evolutions
Eevee
#133Eevee
Vaporeon
VaporeonWater Stone
Jolteon
JolteonThunder Stone
Flareon
FlareonFire Stone
Espeon
EspeonHigh Friendship (Day)
Umbreon
UmbreonHigh Friendship (Night)
Leafeon
LeafeonLeaf Stone
Glaceon
GlaceonIce Stone
Sylveon
SylveonHigh Friendship
Stat Comparison 9 Forms
Eevee
Normal
Vaporeon
Water
Jolteon
Electric
Flareon
Fire
Espeon
Psychic
Umbreon
Dark
Leafeon
Grass
Glaceon
Ice
Sylveon
Fairy
HP
55
130+75
65+10
65+10
65+10
95+40
65+10
65+10
95+40
ATK
55
65+10
65+10
130+75
65+10
65+10
110+55
60+5
65+10
DEF
50
60+10
60+10
60+10
60+10
110+60
130+80
110+60
65+15
SP.ATK
45
110+65
110+65
95+50
130+85
60+15
60+15
130+85
110+65
SP.DEF
65
95+30
95+30
110+45
95+30
130+65
65
95+30
130+65
SPE
55
65+10
130+75
65+10
110+55
65+10
95+40
65+10
60+5
BST
325D-Tier
525B-Tier+200
525A-Tier+200
525C-Tier+200
525A-Tier+200
525B-Tier+200
525B-Tier+200
525B-Tier+200
525B-Tier+200
ROLE
Balanced
Tank
Sweeper
Wallbreaker
Sweeper
Wall
Attacker
Wallbreaker
Tank
TYPE
Utility
Special
Special
Physical
Special
Utility
Physical
Special
Special

Breeding

Challenging

Breed with Espeon to get Eevee eggs (with patience) using 152 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Curse, Detect, Double Kick and 5 more.

Egg Groups
Ground
Gender
♂87.5%♀12.5%
Hatch Time
35 cycles·8,995 steps
Slow~9 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
8moves
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachunidokinggolduckrhydonshiftryexploudquagsiremawilenidorinofarfetchdloudred
12 of 152·

Sword & Shield Espeon Best Moveset

Focus Sash guarantees Espeon survives one hit from full HP. That's enough to deal early damage and fire off Psychic before going down. Magic Bounce and max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs maximize first-turn impact.

Best Build

Experimental
Ability
Magic Bounce
Item
Focus SashSURVIVAL
Best Nature for Espeon
Timid+SPE

Espeon best EVs are HP and Speed

EVs

Doubles Bulky Support Moveset

  • Dazzling Gleam
  • PsyshockSTAB
  • Calm MindSTAB
  • Shadow Ball

Recommended Teammates

Incineroar
IncineroarDecent
Amoonguss
AmoongussDecent
Regigigas
RegigigasDecent

Moves

Egg moves make a real difference. Espeon gets Curse and Detect exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Coverage across 8 types rounds out the picture alongside Future Sight and Psychic.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Baton Pass
C——40Normal
Lv 1
Bite
D6010025Dark
Lv 1
Charm
C—10020Fairy
Lv 1
Confusion
—5010025Psychic
Lv 1
Copycat
C——20Normal
Lv 1
Covet
D6010025Normal
Lv 1
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
Lv 1
Growl
——10040Normal
Lv 1
Helping Hand+5
B——20Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
D4010035Normal
Lv 1
Tail Whip
——10030Normal
Lv 1
Take Down
D908520Normal
Lv 5
Sand Attack
D—10015Ground
Lv 10
Quick Attack+1
D4010030Normal
Lv 15
Baby-Doll Eyes+1
D—10030Fairy
Lv 20
Swift
C60—20Normal
Lv 25
Psybeam
B6510020Psychic
Lv 30
Morning Sun
C——5Normal
Lv 35
Power Swap
———10Psychic
Lv 40
Psychic
B9010010Psychic
Lv 45
Psych Up
C——10Normal
Lv 50
Future Sight
S12010010Psychic
Lv 55
Last Resort
C1401005Normal

TM Moves

TM
TR83
Ally Switch+2
B——15Psychic
TM31
Attract
C—10015Normal
TR29
Baton Pass
C——40Normal
TR01
Body Slam
D8510015Normal
TR49
Calm Mind
A——20Psychic
TM29
Charm
C—10020Fairy
TR92
Dazzling Gleam
S8010010Fairy
TM15
Dig
D8010010Ground
TR26
Endure+4
C——10Normal
TM39
Facade
D7010020Normal
TM47
Fake Tears
D—10020Dark
TR13
Focus Energy
C——30Normal
TR34
Future Sight
S12010010Psychic
TM09
Giga Impact
C150905Normal
TR77
Grass Knot
D—10020Grass
TM41
Helping Hand+5
B——20Normal
TM08
Hyper Beam
B150905Normal
TR42
Hyper Voice
C9010010Normal
TR31
Iron Tail
D1007515Steel
TM17
Light Screen
B——30Psychic
TM72
Magic Room
D——10Psychic
TM02
Pay Day
—4010020Normal
TM60
Power Swap
———10Psychic
TM25
Protect+4
S——10Normal
TR11
Psychic
B9010010Psychic
TR97
Psychic Fangs
C8510010Psychic
TR25
Psyshock
A8010010Psychic
TM33
Rain Dance
C——5Water
TM18
Reflect
C——20Psychic
TM21
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM79
Retaliate
D701005Normal
TM76
Round
C6010015Normal
TR33
Shadow Ball
S8010015Ghost
TR40
Skill Swap
B——10Psychic
TR27
Sleep Talk
C——10Normal
TM24
Snore
—5010015Normal
TR82
Stored Power
A2010010Psychic
TR20
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM34
Sunny Day
B——5Fire
TM40
Swift
C60—20Normal
TR38
Trick
B—10010Psychic
TM70
Trick Room-7
C——5Psychic
TM46
Weather Ball
C5010010Normal
TR85
Work Up
D——30Normal
TR69
Zen Headbutt
C809015Psychic

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Curse
C——10Ghost
Egg
Detect+4
C——5Fighting
Egg
Double Kick
D3010030Fighting
Egg
Flail
D—10015Normal
Egg
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
Egg
Tickle
D—10020Normal
Egg
Wish
C——10Normal
Egg
Yawn
C——10Normal

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Expanding Force
B8010010Psychic

How to Get Espeon in Sword & Shield

Can't catch Espeon directly. Start with Eevee at moderate rates from the locations below, then evolve with high friendship. The 2-stage line from Eevee to Espeon is where the leveling time goes.

How to Obtain Espeon in Sword & Shield

To get Espeon, start by catching Eevee through walking encounters at Lv. 14-65. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.

  1. Eevee
    Step 1Catch Eevee
    Route 4
    ShieldOverworld Lv.14-16 Route
    5%Early
    All Weather
    Route 4
    SwordOverworld Lv.14-16 Route
    1%Early
    All Weather
    Ballimere Lake
    ShieldOverworld Lv.60-65 Water
    5%Post
    Normal Weather
    Ballimere Lake
    SwordOverworld Lv.60-65 Water
    5%Post
    Normal Weather
    Giant's Bed
    ShieldOverworld Lv.60-65
    5%Post
    Normal Weather
    Giant's Bed
    SwordOverworld Lv.60-65
    5%Post
    Normal Weather
  2. Espeon
    Step 2Espeon ✓

Espeon Guide

  • In Sword & Shield, Magic Bounce changes the entire equation for Espeon. The 525 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked B-Tier as a sweeper. Shadow Ball with Focus Sash is the standard set.

  • In Sword & Shield, Espeon's biggest threats include Scyther (Bug), Misdreavus (Ghost), and Tyranitar (Dark), all carrying super-effective STAB moves.

  • Magic Bounce is what you want on Espeon. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Synchronize) work on paper but Magic Bounce is what makes Espeon worth using. With base 110 Speed, Magic Bounce gives Espeon an edge before opponents can react.

  • Base 110 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Espeon is a special attacker with base 130 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a sweeper.

  • In Sword & Shield, Magic Bounce is the hidden ability. It reflects most non-damaging moves back at their user. Worth hunting for if you want Espeon to compete at a higher level.

Game Availability

Available in 19 titles since its debut in Gold & Silver, Espeon spans 9 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through wild encounters in most mainline games.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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