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.
With its flotation sac inflated, it can carry people on its back. It deflates the sac before it dives.
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 131 partners from the Ground and Water1 egg groups. Notable egg moves include Baton Pass, Double Slap, Fury Cutter and 5 more.
Life Orb and Swiftswim form the backbone. Floatzel invests max Attack and Speed EVs to play its physical attacker role properly, and Jolly nature pushes Speed higher. Waterfall handles the heavy lifting on offense. Dark coverage rounds it out.
Best Build
Best Floatzel Moveset
- Waterfall
- Aqua Jet
- Ice Punch
- Crunch
Recommended Teammates
You'll want to breed for Baton Pass and Double Slap on Floatzel. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Surf and Aqua Tail, they expand what Floatzel can actually threaten in practice.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
No wild encounters for Floatzel. The 2-stage line runs through Buizel, which you can catch at decent rates from the locations below. Evolve at level 26 once you've got the levels.
How to Obtain Floatzel in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Buizel is your first catch on the way to Floatzel. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 2-42 across 48 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch BuizelEASYRoute 30SoulSilverGrassLv.2-3UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 30HeartGoldGrassLv.2-3UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 22SoulSilverGrassLv.3UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 22HeartGoldGrassLv.3UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 31SoulSilverGrassLv.4UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 31HeartGoldGrassLv.4UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 32SoulSilverGrassLv.4-6UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 32HeartGoldGrassLv.4-6UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 4SoulSilverGrassLv.5UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 4HeartGoldGrassLv.5UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 24SoulSilverGrassLv.8-10UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 24HeartGoldGrassLv.8-10UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 25SoulSilverGrassLv.8-10UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 25HeartGoldGrassLv.8-10UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 34SoulSilverGrassLv.10-11UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 34HeartGoldGrassLv.10-11UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 35SoulSilverGrassLv.12UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 35HeartGoldGrassLv.12UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 42SoulSilverGrassLv.13-14UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 42HeartGoldGrassLv.13-14UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 6HeartGoldGrassLv.13UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 6SoulSilverGrassLv.13UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 9HeartGoldGrassLv.13-15UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 9SoulSilverGrassLv.13-15UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 43SoulSilverGrassLv.15UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 43HeartGoldGrassLv.15UncommonEarlyRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 10HeartGoldGrassLv.16-17UncommonMidRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 10SoulSilverGrassLv.16-17UncommonMidRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRuins of Alph - OutsideSoulSilverGrassLv.20-22UncommonMidRuinsRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRuins of Alph - OutsideHeartGoldGrassLv.20-22UncommonMidRuinsRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 44HeartGoldGrassLv.22-23UncommonMidRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 44SoulSilverGrassLv.22-23UncommonMidRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 45HeartGoldGrassLv.23UncommonMidRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 45SoulSilverGrassLv.23UncommonMidRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 13HeartGoldGrassLv.23UncommonMidRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 13SoulSilverGrassLv.23UncommonMidRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 21SoulSilverGrassLv.25-30UncommonMidRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 21HeartGoldGrassLv.25-30UncommonMidRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 26SoulSilverGrassLv.28UncommonMidRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 26HeartGoldGrassLv.28UncommonMidRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 27SoulSilverGrassLv.28UncommonMidRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 27HeartGoldGrassLv.28UncommonMidRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 47HeartGoldGrassLv.33-34UncommonLateRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 47SoulSilverGrassLv.33-34UncommonLateRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 28SoulSilverGrassLv.39-40UncommonLateRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYRoute 28HeartGoldGrassLv.39-40UncommonLateRouteRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYMt. Silver - BaseSoulSilverGrassLv.41-42UncommonLateCaveRadio: Sinnoh SoundEASYMt. Silver - BaseHeartGoldGrassLv.41-42UncommonLateCaveRadio: Sinnoh Sound
Step 2Floatzel ✓
Floatzel looks average on paper at 495 BST. But Swift Swim is why it sees play — build around that and it pulls its weight. B-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