
Is Golbat Good in Gold & Silver Playthrough?
Keep leveling it with high friendship and Crobat evolves from Golbat. That's the only reason to use Golbat in Gen 2. The Crobat upgrade is the whole point.
Golbat has the type edge here and should clean up Falkner's team.
Golbat has the type edge here and should clean up Bugsy's team.
Golbat trades roughly evenly with Whitney's team.
Golbat has the type edge here and should clean up Morty's team.
Golbat has the type edge here and should clean up Chuck's team.
Jasmine's team hits Golbat's weaknesses hard.
Golbat has the type edge here and should clean up Pryce's team.
Crobat trades roughly evenly with Clair's team.
Lt. Surge's team hits Crobat's weaknesses hard.
Crobat trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.
Crobat resists most of Erika's coverage and hits back hard.
Crobat has the type edge here and should clean up Janine's team.
Crobat has the type edge here and should clean up Misty's team.
Crobat has the type edge here and should clean up Brock's team.
Crobat trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.
Crobat trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.
Crobat has the type edge here and should clean up Will's team.
Crobat has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.
Crobat resists most of Bruno's coverage and hits back hard.
Crobat has the type edge here and should clean up Karen's team.
Crobat trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.
Catchable
Catch Golbat in Union Cave (walking, Lv 22, common).
Recommended Moves
- STARTING (Lv 22)
- LV 22DarkBitePower 60Accuracy 100%PP 25
- After Falkner
- TM39NormalSwiftPower 60Accuracy 100%PP 20Union Cave
- LV 30FlyingWing AttackPower 90Accuracy 100%PP 35
- After Jasmine
- TM10NormalHidden PowerPower 60Accuracy 100%PP 15Gift from a fisherman in a house at Lake of Rage
- After Lt. Surge
- TM06PoisonToxicPower —Accuracy 85%PP 10Prize for defeating Janine
- TM15NormalHyper BeamPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Celadon Game Corner
- TM47SteelSteel WingPower 70Accuracy 90%PP 25Route 28
- TM19GrassGiga DrainPower 60Accuracy 100%PP 5Prize for defeating Erika
Catch Zubat
Catch Zubat on Route 32 (walking, Lv 4, rare).
Recommended Moves
- After Falkner
- TM39NormalSwiftPower 60Accuracy 100%PP 20Union Cave
- LV 12DarkBitePower 60Accuracy 100%PP 25
- After Whitney
- TM13NormalSnorePower 40Accuracy 100%PP 15Moomoo Farm
- LV 27FlyingWing AttackPower 90Accuracy 100%PP 35
- After Jasmine
- TM10NormalHidden PowerPower 60Accuracy 100%PP 15Gift from a fisherman in a house at Lake of Rage
- TM46DarkThiefPower 40Accuracy 100%PP 10Team Rocket HQ (Mahogany Town)
- After Lt. Surge
- TM47SteelSteel WingPower 70Accuracy 90%PP 25Route 28
- TM19GrassGiga DrainPower 60Accuracy 100%PP 5Prize for defeating Erika
Evolve Golbat to Crobat
Golbat evolves into Crobat with high friendship. Friendship is usually high enough before you reach Clair.
Recommended Moves
- STARTING (Lv 31)
- LV 31FlyingWing AttackPower 90Accuracy 100%PP 35
- LV 31DarkBitePower 60Accuracy 100%PP 25
- LV 31GhostConfuse RayPower —Accuracy 100%PP 10
- After Chuck
- HM02FlyingFlyPower 105Accuracy 95%PP 15Cianwood City
- After Lt. Surge
- TM06PoisonToxicPower —Accuracy 85%PP 10Prize for defeating Janine
- TM15NormalHyper BeamPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Celadon Game Corner
- TM47SteelSteel WingPower 70Accuracy 90%PP 25Route 28
- TM19GrassGiga DrainPower 60Accuracy 100%PP 5Prize for defeating Erika
How to Get Golbat in Gold & Silver
Golbat takes over the deeper caves, 36 encounters that climb to level 51 near the endgame. Most trainers just raise a Zubat to 22 rather than dig that far into the late-game tunnels for one.
9 locations to catch Golbat16 locations to catch Zubat
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Catch Zubat at any of the 16 locations below, then level it up to 22 — it evolves into Golbat.
Where To Catch Golbat in GS
Zubat is your first catch on the way to Golbat. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 2-51 across 126 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch ZubatSlowpoke Well - B1FLv.5-8CaveRate 85%Mt. Mortar - 1F EntranceLv.13-15CaveRate 60%Mt. Mortar - B1FLv.15-17CaveRate 60%Mt. Moon - 1FLv.6-8CaveSilverRate 50%Route 33Lv.6-8GrassRate 40%NightRoute 42Lv.14-16GrassSilverRate 40%NightDark Cave - WestLv.2-4CaveRate 39%Route 3Lv.5GrassRate 30%NightRoute 4Lv.5GrassRate 30%NightMt. Moon - 1FLv.6CaveGoldRate 30%Route 42Lv.14-16GrassGoldRate 30%NightMt. Mortar - 1F EntranceLv.15CaveRate 30%the Marill swarm on Mt. Mortar that Hiker ParryIlex ForestLv.5-6GrassRate 25%NightUnion Cave - 1FLv.5-7CaveRate 25%Union Cave - B1FLv.7-9CaveRate 25%Dark Cave - WestLv.2CaveRate 20%the Dunsparce swarm on Dark Cave that HikerRock Tunnel - 1FLv.8CaveRate 10%Rock Tunnel - B1FLv.10CaveRate 10%Burned Tower - 1FLv.14FloorRate 10%Route 33Lv.4GrassRate 5%MorningIlex ForestLv.5GrassRate 5%Morning/dayRoute 32Lv.8GrassRate 5%NightMt. Mortar - 1F BackLv.14CaveRate 5%Burned Tower - B1FLv.15FloorRate 5%Route 32Lv.4GrassRate 1%MorningSlowpoke Well - B2FLv.19-23CaveRate 80%Union Cave - B2FLv.22CaveRate 30%Tohjo FallsLv.22GrassRate 30%Dark Cave - EastLv.23CaveRate 30%Whirl Islands - CaveLv.23GrassRate 30%Whirl Islands - NELv.23GrassRate 30%Whirl Islands - NWLv.23GrassRate 30%Whirl Islands - SELv.23GrassRate 30%Whirl Islands - SWLv.23GrassRate 30%Whirl Islands - B1FLv.24GrassRate 30%Whirl Islands - B2FLv.24GrassRate 30%Whirl Islands - B2F Inner CaveLv.25GrassRate 30%Ice Path - 1FLv.22CaveGoldRate 25%Morning/nightIce Path - B1FLv.22CaveGoldRate 25%Morning/nightIce Path - B2FLv.23CaveGoldRate 25%Morning/nightIce Path - B3FLv.24CaveGoldRate 25%Morning/nightIce Path - 1FLv.22CaveGoldRate 20%DayIce Path - B1FLv.22CaveGoldRate 20%DayIce Path - B2FLv.23CaveGoldRate 20%DayIce Path - B3FLv.24CaveGoldRate 20%DayIce Path - 1FLv.22CaveSilverRate 5%Morning/nightIce Path - B1FLv.22CaveSilverRate 5%Morning/nightIce Path - B2FLv.23CaveSilverRate 5%Morning/nightIce Path - B3FLv.24CaveSilverRate 5%Morning/night
Step 2Golbat ✓Ice Path - 1FLv.22CaveRate 30%Ice Path - B1FLv.22CaveRate 30%Ice Path - B2FLv.23CaveRate 30%Ice Path - B3FLv.24CaveRate 30%Union Cave - B2FLv.22CaveRate 20%Tohjo FallsLv.22GrassRate 20%Dark Cave - EastLv.23CaveRate 5%Slowpoke Well - B2FLv.23CaveRate 5%Whirl Islands - CaveLv.23GrassRate 5%Whirl Islands - NELv.23GrassRate 5%Whirl Islands - NWLv.23GrassRate 5%Whirl Islands - SELv.23GrassRate 5%Whirl Islands - SWLv.23GrassRate 5%Whirl Islands - B1FLv.24GrassRate 5%Whirl Islands - B2FLv.24GrassRate 5%Whirl Islands - B2F Inner CaveLv.25GrassRate 5%Mt. Mortar - 2FLv.30CaveRate 5%Victory Road - 1FLv.32CaveRate 30%Mt. Silver - 1FLv.45CaveRate 5%Mt. Silver - SummitLv.48-51CaveRate 50%Mt. Silver - 2FLv.48CaveRate 5%Mt. Silver - Side chambersLv.48CaveRate 5%or evolve from Zubat (Step 1)
Step 3Evolve into CrobatBREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Goldenrod Pokemon Day Care to receive a Zubat egg.
Want the exact numbers? Work out your catch odds in Gold & Silver for Golbat.
How to Get Shiny Golbat in Gold & Silver
Golbat lurks in the darker passages of Dark Cave, the Ice Path, and Mt. Mortar, so work those tunnels and let the encounters pile up. Compare Shiny Golbat odds across every game
Gold & Silver Shiny Golbat Calculator
2 MethodsThe best route is Breed w/ Shiny Parent, about 1 in 64 on each try.
Full Odds: Walk through grass, surf, or fish. Every encounter is its own independent shiny roll.
Breed w/ Shiny Parent: Eggs inherit stats from a shiny parent, so about 1 in 64 hatch shiny. A shiny Ditto helps every egg, and any other shiny parent (the red Gyarados works) helps only eggs of the opposite gender.
How many you have done, or plan to do.
| Chance | Encounters | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 10%lucky few | 7-- | -- |
| 25%one in four | 19-- | -- |
| 50%coin flip | 45-- | -- |
| 90%very likely | 147-- | -- |
Time assumes -- at your pace and does not change your shiny odds.
How is this calculated?
Every encounter has the same shiny chance, the Shiny Odds Per Try shown above. Each one is a separate roll that does not care how many you have already done, so the more you hunt, the higher your overall chance of at least one shiny. The formula below turns your odds and your number of tries into that combined chance.
chance after N tries = 1 − (1 − p)^N, where p = 1 / odds per try
Example at 1 in 8,192 (classic full odds): about 864 encounters for a 10 percent chance, 5,678 for 50 percent, and 18,862 for 90 percent.
The table above flips that around: it shows how many encounters it takes to reach a 10, 25, 50, and 90 percent chance at your current odds. Turning on boosts like the Shiny Charm, sandwiches, or chains improves your odds, so the encounter numbers drop.
These are estimates, not promises. Most games have no pity counter, meaning no guaranteed shiny no matter how many you hunt, so even Very Likely is not guaranteed: some hunters find one early, others go well past that point.
Curious how fast a hunt could go? Work out your Gold & Silver shiny odds for Golbat.
Golbat Weakness
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Ice, Psychic, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Poison |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting, Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
- Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def
What is Golbat Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Golbat
Magneton ElectricSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Golbat View Magneton builds →Thunder 2x135-160%KO Rollout 2x15-18% | ||
Kadabra Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Golbat View Kadabra builds →Future Sight 2x135-160%KO Ice Punch 2x57-67% Thunder Punch 2x57-67% | ||
Raikou Electric | S | |
Ampharos Electric | C | |
Xatu Psychic | C | |
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Golbat View Lapras builds →Ice Beam 2x81-96% Thunder 2x68-80% | ||
Jynx IcePsychic | B | |
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 36 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Golbat View Sudowoodo builds →Rock Slide 2x77-91% Ice Punch 2x22-26% Thunder Punch 2x22-26% | ||
Lugia Psychic | S | |
Obtain MethodWhirl Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Golbat View Lugia builds →Blizzard 2x70-84% Thunder 2x70-84% | ||
Electrode Electric | B | |
Obtain MethodTeam Rocket Hq Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Golbat View Electrode builds →Thunder 2x98-116%KO Rollout 2x14-16% | ||
Slowbro WaterPsychic | C | |
Obtain MethodSlowpoke Well Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Golbat View Slowbro builds →Blizzard 2x78-92% Confusion 2x50-59% | ||
Dewgong WaterIce | C | |
Graveler RockGround | B | |
Piloswine IceGround | C | |
Golbat Evolutions
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. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Golbat to get Zubat eggs easily using 19 partners from the Flying egg group. Notable egg moves include Feint Attack, Gust, Pursuit and 2 more.
GS Golbat Best Moveset
Poison/Flying with stats that sit below Crobat's competitive reach. MoveConfuse Ray adds disruption but nothing else threatens. Evolves into Crobat through friendship, where the Speed and moves finally matter.
Best Build
Support Moveset
- Wing Attack
- Whirlwind
- Toxic
- Giga Drain
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
The egg pool carries weight here. Feint Attack and Gust aren't available any other way for Golbat, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Wing Attack and Gust for solid options.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
13 of 20 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
However hard its victim’s hide may be, it punctures with sharp fangs and gorges itself with blood.
It can drink more than 10 ounces of blood at once. If it has too much, it gets heavy and flies clumsily.
Golbat Gold & Silver Guide
In Gold & Silver, Golbat does the job early-game if you need a Poison/Flying type on your team. Evolve it into Crobat before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.
In Gold & Silver, Golbat plays as a pivot. Speed is middling, so pick your spots carefully.
Game Availability
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.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut

Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS

Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS

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 7Let's Go

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
Explore
Where to go next after Golbat.
