What separates Floatzel from the pack is Swift Swim — it doubles its Speed in rain. Combine that with Water typing and it comfortably outruns most offensive threats. Known as the Sea Weasel Pokemon. Can go either physical or special depending on the set.
Everything pushes toward mixed damage here. Floatzel's Speed does the work, Sp. Def pays the price. But you're still getting 2 Speed EVs per KO. Moderately hard to find, on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
It is a common sight around fishing ports. It is known to rescue people and carry off prey.
Floatzel Weakness
GoodFloatzel's Water typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric and Grass moves. The Water typing picks up 4 resistances to work with. At base 115 Speed, Floatzel outspeeds most threats and doesn't need to tank what it can outrun.
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
Floatzel is what Buizel becomes. Breed it for Buizel eggs (average hatch time). A massive partner pool for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are average hatch time. The evolution from Buizel pushed Floatzel to 495 total stats. Attack saw the largest single gain at +40.
How to Evolve
Breed with Floatzel to get Buizel eggs easily using 180 partners from the Ground and Water1 egg groups. Notable egg moves include Aqua Ring, Aqua Tail, Baton Pass and 10 more.
Mysticwater and Swiftswim form the backbone. Floatzel invests max Attack and Speed EVs to play its physical attacker role properly, and Adamant nature pushes Attack higher. Waterfall handles the heavy lifting on offense. The remaining moves rounds it out.
Best Build
Best Floatzel Moveset
- Ice Punch
- Waterfall
- Aqua Jet
- Rain Dance
Recommended Teammates
You'll want to breed for Aqua Ring and Aqua Tail on Floatzel. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Aqua Tail and Surf, they expand what Floatzel can actually threaten in practice.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
A handful of locations for Floatzel with decent spawn rates across late-game water routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Where To Catch Floatzel in Black & White
To get Floatzel, start by catching Buizel through surfing encounters at Lv. 25-70. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch BuizelEASYRoute 11BlackSurfing on waterLv.25-60CommonMidRouteAnyShaking spotEASYRoute 11BlackSurfing on waterLv.25-55CommonMidRouteAnyEASYRoute 11WhiteSurfing on waterLv.25-60CommonMidRouteAnyShaking spotEASYRoute 11WhiteSurfing on waterLv.25-55CommonMidRouteAnyEASYRoute 14WhiteSurfing on waterLv.25-60CommonMidRouteAnyShaking spotEASYRoute 14WhiteSurfing on waterLv.25-55CommonMidRouteAnyEASYRoute 14BlackSurfing on waterLv.25-60CommonMidRouteAnyShaking spotEASYRoute 14BlackSurfing on waterLv.25-55CommonMidRouteAny
Step 2Floatzel ✓MODERATERoute 11BlackSurfing on waterLv.35-70UncommonLateRouteAnyShaking spotMODERATERoute 11WhiteSurfing on waterLv.35-70UncommonLateRouteAnyShaking spotMODERATERoute 14BlackSurfing on waterLv.35-70UncommonLateRouteAnyShaking spotMODERATERoute 14WhiteSurfing on waterLv.35-70UncommonLateRouteAnyShaking spotor evolve from Buizel (Step 1)
Floatzel looks average on paper at 495 BST. But Swift Swim is why it sees play — build around that and it pulls its weight. C-Tier sweeper on our tier list.
Buizel evolves into Floatzel at level 26. Floatzel is the fully evolved form. At 495 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.
Floatzel gets Swift Swim and Water Veil. But Swift Swim is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that. With base 115 Speed, Swift Swim gives Floatzel an edge before opponents can react.
Floatzel is a physical attacker with base 105 Attack. But the speed tells the real story — base 115 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. Fits the sweeper role.
Floatzel appears in 12 games, including Platinum, HeartGold & SoulSilver, and Diamond & Pearl.
Debuting in Diamond & Pearl, Floatzel appears in 12 games across 6 generations. A reliable presence in a solid number of games, typically found through wild encounters.
- 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 IVDPDebut
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