Golbat is where the Zubat line stops in Gen 1. Poison/Flying doesn't offer enough, and Yellow has better flying options.
465HP75Attack80Defense70Speed90Sp.Def75Sp.Atk75
Zubat
Golbat
Weak to
Physical
Pivot
90Speed · Above Avg

Is Golbat Good in Yellow Playthrough?

Faster than most mid-game Pokemon and tough enough to take a hit. Poison/Flying still doesn't threaten anything important though. Golbat can fill a roster spot if you need one, but you won't miss it if you pass.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTTTGGEEEEGEEEBrockGym 1ZubatCatchableMistyGym 2GolbatEvolveSurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4KogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Zubat's defenses.

Even
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Risky
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
Misty
Gym 2
Tough

Misty's typing presses Zubat's defenses.

Risky
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Risky
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Tough

Lt. Surge's team hits Golbat's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Good

Golbat has the type edge here and should clean up Erika's team.

You Win
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBindMega DrainVine Whip
Easy KO
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafSleep PowderStun SporeAcid
Easy KO
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceStun SporeSleep PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Good

Golbat has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.

Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
You Win
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

You Win
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Even
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Even
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.

Even
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
Even
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
Even
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Giovanni's team.

You Win
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
Even
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
Even
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
Even
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
Even
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

Even
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
Even
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
Even
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
Even
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

Golbat has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.

You Win
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamDig
You Win
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
You Win
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
You Win
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
You Win
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.

You Win
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
Even
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
Even
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
Risky
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Even
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
Risky
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Golbat trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

You Win
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
Easy KO
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
Even
Ninetales
Lv 61
Fire
Flash Fire
Confuse RayTail WhipQuick AttackFire Spin
Avoid
Magneton
Lv 63
Electric
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveSwiftScreech
Even
Vaporeon
Lv 65
Water
Water Absorb
Aurora BeamMistQuick AttackHydro Pump

Catch Zubat

Available after Badge 1
Type
PoisonFlying
Tier
E

Catch Zubat in Mt. Moon (walking, Lv 6-11, common).

View Zubat locations

Evolve Zubat to Golbat

Level 22
Type
PoisonFlying
Tier
E

Zubat evolves into Golbat at Level 22. Your Zubat should hit Level 22 before you reach Lt. Surge, at typical leveling pace.

View Golbat locations

Recommended Moves

How to Get Golbat in Yellow

Deeper cave floors turn up wild Golbat, common but pushing into the 50s, so a wild catch comes pre-leveled. A Zubat raised to 22 gets you a low-level one much earlier.

3 locations to catch Golbat

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8
Post-Game

Golbat Weakness

Type-wise, Golbat takes extra damage from Electric, Ice, Psychic, and Rock. Ground moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity.

Golbat Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Ice, Psychic, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Poison
0.25x (Resist)Grass, Fighting
0x (Immune)Ground
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Golbat Weak Against

Good
4Weak
3Resist
1Immune
Score0
4xCritical
None
½xResist
¼xResist
0xImmune

What is Golbat Strong Against

3Strong
1Resisted
0Immune
Score+2
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Golbat

Articuno
Articuno
IceFlying
B
Rhydon
Rhydon
GroundRock
S
Zapdos
Zapdos
ElectricFlying
A
Hypno
Hypno
Psychic
C
Magneton
Magneton
Electric
C

Golbat Evolutions

Zubat's chain ends at Golbat (at level 22). Despite 465 base stats, this Poison/Flying type doesn't breed. Evolving from Zubat gave Golbat the biggest boost in Special (+45), bringing the total to 465 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Zubat
PoisonFlying
Golbat
PoisonFlying
HP
40
75+35
ATK
45
80+35
DEF
35
70+35
SP.ATK
30
65+35
SP.DEF
40
75+35
SPE
55
90+35
BST
245E-Tier
455E-Tier+210
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Physical
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Golbat Best Moveset

80 Speed and nothing else competitive. Poison/Flying TermStab doesn't threaten anything at the top, and the remaining stats can't support a defensive role. MoveConfuse Ray is the only tool with any impact, and confusion is too unreliable to build around.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Golbat
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Confuse Ray
  • Mega Drain
  • ToxicUtility
  • Wing AttackSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Moves List

TMs define Golbat's movepool. The natural moves cover basics with Wing Attack, but the real versatility comes from technical machines giving it Dark and Bug coverage and more. That's where the options open up.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Bite
D6010025Normal
Lv 1
Leech Life
C2010010Bug
Lv 1
Screech
A—8540Normal
Lv 10
Supersonic
——5520Normal
Lv 15
Bite
D6010025Normal
Lv 21
Confuse Ray
B—10010Ghost
Lv 32
Wing Attack
B5210035Flying
Lv 43
Haze
———30Ice

TM Moves

All 14 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
C12010015Normal
TM15
Hyper BeamRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C150905Normal
TM21B4010010Grass
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
D60—20Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
C908520Normal
TM06B—9010Poison
TM04
Whirlwind-6Route 4badge 1
———20Normal

Tutor Moves

Golbat can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Above
HP75
C
Attack80
C
Defense70
C
Sp. Atk75
C
Sp. Def75
C
Speed90
B
Total465
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging90 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height1.6 m
Weight55.0 kg
Base XP159
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+2
Speed training target
Pokedex Entry

It attacks in a stealthy manner, without warning. Its sharp fangs are used to bite and suck blood.

Pokemon Yellow

Golbat Yellow Guide

  • In Yellow, Golbat has 465 BST, so weigh it against what your team already covers.

  • In Yellow, 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.

Explore

Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Want to tell us more?
What was most useful?
What could be improved?
Thanks for your feedback