Utility
Support
455Average
90Moderate
DTier

Golbat is technically a pre-evolution of Crobat, but it holds its own in formats where Eviolite is allowed. Ground moves can't touch it, which offsets the 4 weaknesses somewhat. It sits at a decent but contested Speed tier. Known as the Bat Pokemon.

Golbat's stats barely vary. 2 sit in respectable range with no real gaps. It's a blank slate for EV investment. Worth 2 Speed EVs, medium-fast 1M XP curve to max.

Base Stats
455Above
HP75
C
Attack80
C
Defense70
C
Sp. Atk65
C
Sp. Def75
C
Speed90
B
Total455
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Golbat yields +2 Spe
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+2
Details
Catch90Challenging•Medium Fast1M XP•1.6m / 5'03"•55kg / 121.3 lbs•159Base XP
Pokedex Entries

Its sharp fangs puncture the toughest of hides and have small holes for greedily sucking blood.

Black / White

Golbat Weakness

Good

Type-wise, Golbat takes extra damage from Electric, Ice, Psychic, and Rock. Ground moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage.

Gen V Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
ElectricIcePsychicRock
½xResisti
Poison
¼xResisti
GrassFightingBug
0xImmunei
Ground
STAB (3)i
GrassFightingBug
4Weak
4Resist
1Immune
Scorei+2
Stealth Rock25% on switch
Abilities
Inner FocusPrevents flinching.
InfiltratorHABypasses light screen, reflect, and safeguard.

Golbat is the middle stage between Zubat and Crobat. It's a three-stage line with one more evolution to go. For breeding, quick to hatch with a decent partner pool via one egg group. HP has grown the most so far (+35), but there's still another 80 stats to gain in the final evolution.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Zubat
#041Zubat
22
Level 22
Golbat
#042Golbat
High Friendship
Crobat
#169Crobat
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Zubat
PoisonFlying
Golbat
PoisonFlying
Crobat
PoisonFlying
HP
40
75+35
85+10
ATK
45
80+35
90+10
DEF
35
70+35
80+10
SP.ATK
30
65+35
70+5
SP.DEF
40
75+35
80+5
SPE
55
90+35
130+40
BST
245D-Tier
455D-Tier+210
535B-Tier+80
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Pivot
TYPE
Utility
Physical
Physical
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed with Golbat to get Zubat eggs easily using 45 partners from the Flying egg group. Notable egg moves include Brave Bird, Curse, Defog and 10 more.

Egg Groups
Flying
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
15 cycles·3,855 steps
Quick~4 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
13moves
Breed With (best first)
togekisstogeticaltariaswannapelipperswoobatfarfetchdwoobatswabluarcheopsducklettwingull
12 of 45·

max HP and Defense EVs and Impish nature turn Golbat into a wall that doesn't fold easily. Eviolite brings a bulk boost that only works before full evolution for the long game, and Roost handles sustain. Innerfocus fills in the gaps.

Best Build

Wall
Ability
Innerfocus
Item
EvioliteBULK
Nature
Impish+DEF
EVs

Best Golbat Moveset

  • RoostRecovery
  • Brave BirdSTAB
  • Confuse Ray
  • TauntUtility

Recommended Teammates

Gastrodon
GastrodonGood
Scizor
ScizorGood
Gengar
GengarGood

The egg pool carries weight here. Brave Bird and Curse aren't available any other way for Golbat, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Brave Bird and Fly for solid options.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Astonish
3010015Ghost
Lv 1
Leech Life
2010010Bug
Lv 1
Screech
—8540Normal
Lv 1
Supersonic
—5520Normal
Lv 5
Supersonic
—5520Normal
Lv 9
Astonish
3010015Ghost
Lv 13
Bite
6010025Dark
Lv 17
Wing Attack
6010035Flying
Lv 21
Confuse Ray
—10010Ghost
Lv 27
Air Cutter
559525Flying
Lv 33
Mean Look
——5Normal
Lv 39
Acrobatics
5510015Flying
Lv 45
Poison Fang
5010015Poison
Lv 51
Haze
——30Ice
Lv 57
Air Slash
759520Flying

TM Moves

Src
TM62
Acrobatics
5510015Flying
TM40
Aerial Ace
60—20Flying
TM45
Attract
—10015Normal
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
HM02
Fly
909515Flying
TM21
Frustration
—10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM66
Payback
5010010Dark
TM88
Pluck
6010020Flying
TM17
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
——5Water
TM44
Rest
——10Psychic
TM27
Return
—10020Normal
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM30
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TM36
Sludge Bomb
9010010Poison
TM90
Substitute
——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
——5Fire
TM87
Swagger
—9015Normal
TM12
Taunt
—10020Dark
TM46
Thief
6010010Dark
TM41
Torment
—10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
—9010Poison
TM89
U-turn
7010020Bug
TM09
Venoshock
6510010Poison

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Brave Bird
12010015Flying
Egg
Curse
——10Ghost
Egg
Defog
——15Flying
Egg
Feint Attack
60—20Dark
Egg
Giga Drain
7510010Grass
Egg
Gust
4010035Flying
Egg
Hypnosis
—6020Psychic
Egg
Nasty Plot
——20Dark
Egg
Pursuit
4010020Dark
Egg
Quick Attack+1
4010030Normal
Egg
Steel Wing
709025Steel
Egg
Whirlwind-6
—10020Normal
Egg
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic

Tutor Moves

Golbat can't learn any Tutor moves

Transfer Moves

Src
Gen 4
Captivate
—10020Normal
Gen 3
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
Gen 4
Endure+4
——10Normal
Gen 3
Mimic
——10Normal
Gen 4
Natural Gift
—10015Normal
Gen 4
Ominous Wind
601005Ghost
Gen 4
Secret Power
7010020Normal
Gen 4
Twister
4010020Dragon

decent spawn rates across 12 locations for Golbat in endgame routes. Scroll the sorted list below and pick whichever spot sits closest to your current route. The rate differences between locations are worth comparing.

Where To Catch Golbat in Black & White

The path to Golbat starts with Zubat at Lv. 47-60 via walking encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Zubat
    Step 1Obtain Zubat
  2. Golbat
    Step 2Golbat ✓
    Giant Chasm - Cave
    BlackGrassLv.47UncommonPostIceAny
    EASY
    Giant Chasm - Cave
    WhiteGrassLv.47UncommonPostIceAny
    EASY
    Giant Chasm - Outside
    WhiteGrassLv.48-50UncommonPostIceAny
    EASY
    Giant Chasm - Outside
    BlackGrassLv.48-50UncommonPostIceAny
    EASY
    Route 13
    WhiteGrassLv.48-50UncommonPostRouteAny
    EASY
    Route 13
    BlackGrassLv.48-50UncommonPostRouteAny
    EASY
    Giant Chasm - Inner Cave
    BlackGrassLv.57UncommonPostIceAny
    EASY
    Giant Chasm - Inner Cave
    WhiteGrassLv.57UncommonPostIceAny
    EASY
    Giant Chasm - Outside
    WhiteGrassLv.58-60UncommonPostIceAnyDouble grass
    EASY
    Giant Chasm - Outside
    BlackGrassLv.58-60UncommonPostIceAnyDouble grass
    EASY
    Route 13
    WhiteGrassLv.58-60UncommonPostRouteAnyDouble grass
    EASY
    Route 13
    BlackGrassLv.58-60UncommonPostRouteAnyDouble grass
    EASY
    or evolve from Zubat (Step 1)

  • Golbat isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Crobat to unlock its full potential. At 455 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.

  • Golbat's biggest threats include Jolteon (Electric), Cloyster (Ice), and Alakazam (Psychic), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Rock-type attackers are also a problem.

  • Zubat evolves into Golbat at level 22. Golbat evolves into Crobat by leveling up. Golbat is a middle-stage evolution in the Zubat line.

  • Inner Focus is the go-to ability for Golbat. It prevents flinching. Its hidden ability Infiltrator can work in specific setups.

  • Golbat fills the support role. It's leaning toward the physical side (base 80 Attack). Base 90 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.

  • Golbat appears in 21 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.

Golbat has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 21 titles across all 9 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.