Utility
Balanced
262Low
50Slow
DTier

Almost nobody uses Hoothoot in battle. It exists to evolve into Noctowl, which is a completely different story. Get it there and you won't regret it. Ground and Ghost moves can't touch it, and only 3 types hit it super-effectively. Known as the Owl Pokemon.

HP and Sp. Def carry most of Hoothoot's stat budget. Attack's the obvious dump stat. Easy to catch and yields 1 HP EV. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats
262Below
HP60
C
Attack30
F
Defense30
F
Sp. Atk36
F
Sp. Def56
D
Speed50
D
Total262
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Hoothoot yields +1 HP
HP+1AtkDefSpASpDSpe
Details
Catch255GuaranteedMedium Fast1M XP0.7m / 2'04"21.2kg / 46.7 lbs52Base XP
Pokedex Entries

It always stands on one foot. It changes feet so fast, the movement can rarely be seen.

Sword

It begins to hoot at the same time every day. Some Trainers use them in place of clocks.

Shield

Hoothoot Weakness

Good

Hoothoot's Normal/Flying typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric, Ice, and Rock moves. It shrugs off Ground and Ghost-type attacks completely. Hoothoot's special bulk (base 56 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

4xCriticali
None
½xResisti
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
3Weak
2Resist
2Immune
Scorei+2
Stealth Rock25% on switch
Abilities
InsomniaPrevents sleep.
Keen EyePrevents accuracy from being lowered.
Tinted LensHADoubles damage inflicted with not-very-effective moves.

One evolution ahead. Hoothoot grows into Noctowl through a straightforward two-stage chain. A decent partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are quick to hatch. The evolved forms gain up to 190 total stats over Hoothoot.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Hoothoot
NormalFlying
Noctowl
NormalFlying
HP
60
100+40
ATK
30
50+20
DEF
30
50+20
SP.ATK
36
86+50
SP.DEF
56
96+40
SPE
50
70+20
BST
262D-Tier
452C-Tier+190
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Special
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed Hoothoot easily with 39 breeding partners from the Flying egg group. Pass egg moves like Defog, Feather Dance, Night Shade and 3 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
Flying
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
15 cycles·3,855 steps
Quick~4 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
6moves
Breed With (best first)
togekisstogetichawluchanoivernsirfetchdaltariacramorantpelipperswoobatfarfetchdwoobatswablu

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.

Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.

You'll want to breed for Defog and Feather Dance on Hoothoot. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Hurricane and Take Down, they expand what Hoothoot can actually threaten in practice.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Growl
10040Normal
Lv 1
Peck
3510035Flying
Lv 3
Tackle
4010035Normal
Lv 6
Echoed Voice
4010015Normal
Lv 9
Confusion
5010025Psychic
Lv 12
Reflect
20Psychic
Lv 15
Psycho Shift
10010Psychic
Lv 18
Air Slash
759515Flying
Lv 21
Extrasensory
8010020Psychic
Lv 24
Take Down
908520Normal
Lv 27
Uproar
9010010Normal
Lv 30
Roost
10Flying
Lv 33
Moonblast
9510015Fairy
Lv 36
Hypnosis
6020Psychic
Lv 39
Dream Eater
10010015Psychic

TM Moves

Src
TR12
Agility
30Psychic
TM95
Air Slash
759515Flying
TR17
Amnesia
20Psychic
TM31
Attract
10015Normal
TR49
Calm Mind
20Psychic
TR26
Endure+4
10Normal
TM39
Facade
7010020Normal
TM06
Fly
909515Flying
TR36
Heat Wave
959010Fire
TR89
Hurricane
1107010Flying
TR42
Hyper Voice
9010010Normal
TM44
Imprison
10Psychic
TR68
Nasty Plot
20Dark
TM25
Protect+4
10Normal
TR11
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM33
Rain Dance
5Water
TM18
Reflect
20Psychic
TM21
Rest
10Psychic
TM76
Round
6010015Normal
TM16
Screech
8540Normal
TR33
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TR27
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM24
Snore
5010015Normal
TM30
Steel Wing
709025Steel
TR82
Stored Power
2010010Psychic
TR20
Substitute
10Normal
TM34
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM40
Swift
6020Normal
TM23
Thief
6010025Dark
TR35
Uproar
9010010Normal
TR85
Work Up
30Normal
TR69
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Defog
15Flying
Egg
Feather Dance
10015Flying
Egg
Night Shade
10015Ghost
Egg
Supersonic
5520Normal
Egg
Whirlwind-6
20Normal
Egg
Wing Attack
6010035Flying

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Dual Wingbeat
409010Flying

Hoothoot is available from early-game routes onward at decent spawn rates. 32 encounter spots give you plenty of options. Grab one early and it'll be ready to evolve or train by mid-game.

Best Locations

Hoothoot's encounter pool splits between Shield and Sword. You've got 32 walking spots at Lv. 2-30 total, but your version determines which ones actually show up.

Dappled Grove
ShieldOverworldLv.13-1528%EarlyForestOvercast
EASY
Dappled Grove
SwordOverworldLv.13-1528%EarlyForestOvercast
EASY
Dappled Grove
ShieldOverworldLv.13-1525%EarlyForestNormal Weather
EASY
Dappled Grove
SwordOverworldLv.13-1525%EarlyForestNormal Weather
EASY
Slumbering Weald
SwordGrassLv.2-315%EarlyForestAll Weather
EASY
Slumbering Weald
ShieldGrassLv.2-315%EarlyForestAll Weather
EASY
Dappled Grove
SwordOverworldLv.13-1510%EarlyForestSnowing
MODERATE
Dappled Grove
SwordOverworldLv.13-1510%EarlyForestSandstorm
MODERATE
Dappled Grove
SwordOverworldLv.13-1510%EarlyForestHeavy Fog
MODERATE
Dappled Grove
ShieldOverworldLv.13-1510%EarlyForestSnowing
MODERATE
Dappled Grove
ShieldOverworldLv.13-1510%EarlyForestSandstorm
MODERATE
Dappled Grove
ShieldOverworldLv.13-1510%EarlyForestHeavy Fog
MODERATE
Route 1
SwordGrassLv.2-55%EarlyRouteAll Weather
CHALLENGING
Route 1
ShieldGrassLv.2-55%EarlyRouteAll Weather
CHALLENGING
Route 2
SwordGrassLv.4-65%EarlyRouteAll Weather
CHALLENGING
Route 2
ShieldGrassLv.4-65%EarlyRouteAll Weather
CHALLENGING
Giant's Cap - 2
SwordOverworldLv.28-3010%MidNormal Weather
MODERATE
Giant's Cap - 2
ShieldOverworldLv.28-3010%MidSandstorm
MODERATE
Giant's Cap - 2
ShieldOverworldLv.28-3010%MidRaining
MODERATE
Giant's Cap - 2
ShieldOverworldLv.28-3010%MidNormal Weather
MODERATE
Giant's Cap - 2
SwordOverworldLv.28-3010%MidSandstorm
MODERATE
Giant's Cap - 2
SwordOverworldLv.28-3010%MidRaining
MODERATE
Giant's Cap - 2
SwordOverworldLv.28-305%MidOvercast
MODERATE
Giant's Cap - 2
ShieldOverworldLv.28-305%MidIntense Sun
MODERATE
Giant's Cap - 2
ShieldOverworldLv.28-305%MidSnowing
MODERATE
Giant's Cap - 2
ShieldOverworldLv.28-305%MidHeavy Fog
MODERATE
Giant's Cap - 2
SwordOverworldLv.28-305%MidThunderstorm
MODERATE
Giant's Cap - 2
ShieldOverworldLv.28-305%MidOvercast
MODERATE
Giant's Cap - 2
SwordOverworldLv.28-305%MidIntense Sun
MODERATE
Giant's Cap - 2
SwordOverworldLv.28-305%MidSnowing
MODERATE
Giant's Cap - 2
SwordOverworldLv.28-305%MidHeavy Fog
MODERATE
Giant's Cap - 2
ShieldOverworldLv.28-305%MidThunderstorm
MODERATE
  • Hoothoot is meant to evolve into Noctowl. At 262 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.

  • Watch for Raikou (Electric), Lapras (Ice), and Golem (Rock) when using Hoothoot. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.

  • Hoothoot evolves into Noctowl at level 20. Hoothoot is the base form of this evolutionary line.

  • Tinted Lens is what you want on Hoothoot. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Insomnia, Keen Eye) work on paper but Tinted Lens is what makes Hoothoot worth using.

  • Base 50 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Hoothoot is leaning toward the special side (base 36 Sp. Atk). Defensively? Fragile — can't afford to take many hits.

  • Hoothoot appears in 17 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.

Available in 17 titles since its debut in Gold & Silver, Hoothoot spans 8 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through catching or hatching as a base form in most mainline games.