Mixed
Wallbreaker
98Speed · Above Avg

Hydreigon Best Moveset

125 Sp. Atk at 98 Speed on Dark/Dragon with AbilityLevitate granting Ground immunity. Held ItemLeftovers with NatureTimid runs special dual TermStab that covers most matchups for at least neutral damage. The moveset outspeeds defensive targets and fires special Dark and Dragon coverage backed by real bulk at 92/90/90. B-Tier as a fast special attacker with three immunities.

SABCDEFSAAABBlack & White / B2W2VBW/B2W2PEAKX & Y / ORASVIXY/ORASSun & Moon / USUMVIISM/USUMSword & Shield / BDSPVIIISS/BDSPScarlet & Violet / Legends Z-AIXSV/LZACURRENT
Gen V — Black & White / B2W2S

Dark/Dragon with 125 Sp. Atk and Levitate in Gen V (Black & White). No Ground weakness, Draco Meteor nuked switch-ins, and Dark Pulse hit everything else. Top tier on debut.

Hidden Abilities became available

Best Moves

SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Egg
Dark Pulse
Dark80COMMONSTAB
Tutor
Draco Meteor
Dragon130COMMONSTAB
TM38
Fire Blast
Fire110COMMONCoverage
TM35
Flamethrower
Fire90RARECoverage
TM89
U-turn
Bug70RARECoverage
TM52
Focus Blast
Fighting120RARECoverage
Lv 32
Dragon Pulse
Dragon85RARESTAB

Best Build

Experimental
Special Revenge Killer
Ability
Levitate
Item
Choice ScarfSPEED
Best Nature for Hydreigon
Timid+SPE

Hydreigon best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

Special Revenge Killer Moveset

  • Dark PulseSTAB
  • Draco MeteorSTAB
  • Fire Blast
  • FlamethrowerCoverage
Gen VI — X & Y / ORASA

Fairy-type destroyed Hydreigon in Gen VI (X & Y). Dragon immunity plus super-effective Fairy STAB meant the new type countered both of its STABs simultaneously. Immediate collapse.

Fairy type added to the gameMega Evolution became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM97
Dark Pulse
Dark80COMMONSTAB
Tutor
Draco Meteor
Dragon130COMMONSTAB
TM38
Fire Blast
Fire110COMMONCoverage
TM91
Flash Cannon
Steel80RARECoverage
TM52
Focus Blast
Fighting120RARECoverage
Experimental
Special Sweeper
Ability
Levitate
Item
Life OrbPOWER
Best Nature for Hydreigon
Timid+SPE
EVs

Special Sweeper Moveset

  • Dark PulseSTAB
  • Draco MeteorSTAB
  • Fire Blast
  • Flash Cannon

Recommended Teammates

Gen VII — Sun & Moon / USUMA

98 Speed was too slow to outrun Fairy threats in Gen VII (Sun & Moon), and Dark/Dragon was now a defensive liability. Two gens below the top after the Fairy introduction.

Z-Moves became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM97
Dark Pulse
Dark80COMMONSTAB
Tutor
Draco Meteor
Dragon130COMMONSTAB
Egg
Earth Power
Ground90COMMONCoverage
TM35
Flamethrower
Fire90COMMONCoverage
TM89
U-turn
Bug70RARECoverage
TM38
Fire Blast
Fire110RARECoverage
TM91
Flash Cannon
Steel80RARECoverage
TM19
Roost
FlyingRARERecovery
Experimental
Special Revenge Killer
Ability
Levitate
Item
Choice ScarfSPEED
Best Nature for Hydreigon
Timid+SPE
EVs

Special Revenge Killer Moveset

  • Dark PulseSTAB
  • Draco MeteorSTAB
  • Earth Power
  • FlamethrowerCoverage
Gen VIII — Sword & Shield / BDSPA

Choice Specs Hydreigon still hit hard in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield) but couldn't stay on the field against the Fairy-types infesting every team. Three gens of decline.

Gigantamax became availableDynamax became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TR58
Dark Pulse
Dark80COMMONSTAB
Xfer
Draco Meteor
Dragon130COMMONSTAB
TR2
Flamethrower
Fire90COMMONCoverage
TR67
Earth Power
Ground90RARECoverage
TR70
Flash Cannon
Steel80RARECoverage
TM56
U-turn
Bug70RARECoverage
Xfer
Roost
FlyingRARERecovery
Lv 60
Nasty Plot
DarkRARESTAB
Experimental
Special Sweeper
Ability
Levitate
Item
Choice SpecsPOWER
Best Nature for Hydreigon
Timid+SPE
EVs

Special Sweeper Moveset

  • Dark PulseSTAB
  • Draco MeteorSTAB
  • FlamethrowerCoverage
  • Earth Power
Gen IX — Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-AB

Dark/Dragon's once-elite coverage was now a weakness magnet in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet). Stuck between tiers in a Fairy-saturated format. Four gens since the top.

Terastallization became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM94
Dark Pulse
Dark80COMMONSTAB
TM169
Draco Meteor
Dragon130COMMONSTAB
TM93
Flash Cannon
Steel80COMMONCoverage
Lv 60
Nasty Plot
DarkRARESTAB
TM133
Earth Power
Ground90RARECoverage
TM125
Flamethrower
Fire90RARECoverage
TM60
U-turn
Bug70RARECoverage
Experimental
Special Setup Sweeper
Ability
Levitate
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Hydreigon
Timid+SPE
EVs

Special Setup Sweeper Moveset

  • Dark PulseSTAB
  • Draco MeteorSTAB
  • Flash Cannon
  • Nasty PlotSTAB

Hydreigon Weakness

Hydreigon's Dark/Dragon typing leaves it vulnerable to Fairy, Ice, Fighting, Bug, and Dragon. Fairy hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It shrugs off Psychic-type attacks completely. It resists 6 types, so it can switch into a lot of moves safely. Levitate grants an additional Ground immunity, reshaping the matchup chart.

Hydreigon Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Fairy
2x (Weak)Ice, Fighting, Bug, Dragon
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Electric, Grass, Ghost, Dark
0x (Immune)Psychic

What is Hydreigon Weak Against

Vulnerable
5Weak
6Resist
2Immune
Score-3
4xCritical
¼xResist
None

What is Hydreigon Strong Against

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

Best Pokemon Against Hydreigon

Evolution

The three-stage chain from Deino through Zweilous ends here at Hydreigon. Want more? Breed for Deino eggs. Plenty of partners available via one egg group. The evolution from Deino pushed Hydreigon to 600 total stats. Sp.Atk saw the largest single gain at +80. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Deino
DarkDragon
Zweilous
DarkDragon
Hydreigon
DarkDragon
HP
52
72+20
92+20
ATK
65
85+20
105+20
DEF
50
70+20
90+20
SP.ATK
45
65+20
125+60
SP.DEF
50
70+20
90+20
SPE
38
58+20
98+40
BST
300C-Tier
420C-Tier+120
600B-Tier+180
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Wallbreaker
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Special

Breeding

Moderate

Breed with Hydreigon to get Deino eggs using 72 partners from the Dragon egg group.

Egg Groups
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
40 cycles·10,280 steps
Slow~10 min with Flame Body
Breed With (best first)
gyaradoscharizardkingdrasceptileflygonmiloticnoivernaltariascraftydragalgehelioliskarbok

How to Get Hydreigon

All 8 games

Hydreigon doesn't appear wild. Catch Deino instead, it shows up at decent rates. Evolve it at level 64 to get Hydreigon. The 3-stage chain is mapped in the step cards below.

Scarlet Exclusive — Trade with Violet for Dragapult

How to Obtain Hydreigon in SV

The path to Hydreigon starts with Deino at Lv. 36-64 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Deino
    Step 1Catch Deino
    East Province (Area One) - Cave
    Lv.36-54Overworld
    ScarletRate 15%
    East Province (Area Three) - Cave
    Lv.36-54Overworld
    ScarletRate 15%
    Glaseado Mountain
    Lv.36-54Overworld
    Rate 15%
    North Province (Area One) - Cave
    Lv.36-54Overworld
    ScarletRate 15%
    North Province (Area Three) - Cave
    Lv.36-54Overworld
    ScarletRate 15%
    North Province (Area Two) - Cave
    Lv.36-54Overworld
    ScarletRate 15%
    South Province (Area One) - Cave
    Lv.36-54Overworld
    ScarletRate 15%
    South Province (Area Six) - Cave
    Lv.36-54Overworld
    ScarletRate 15%
    West Province (Area One) - Cave
    Lv.36-54Overworld
    ScarletRate 15%
    West Province (Area Three) - Cave
    Lv.36-54Overworld
    ScarletRate 15%
    West Province (Area Two) - Cave
    Lv.36-54Overworld
    ScarletRate 15%
  2. Zweilous
    Step 2Catch or Evolve Zweilous
    The Great Crater of Paldea
    Lv.50-64Overworld
    ScarletRate 6%
    East Province (Area One) - Cave
    Lv.50-64Overworld
    ScarletRate 3%
    East Province (Area Three) - Cave
    Lv.50-64Overworld
    ScarletRate 3%
    Glaseado Mountain
    Lv.50-64Overworld
    Rate 3%
    North Province (Area One) - Cave
    Lv.50-64Overworld
    ScarletRate 3%
    North Province (Area Three) - Cave
    Lv.50-64Overworld
    ScarletRate 3%
    North Province (Area Two) - Cave
    Lv.50-64Overworld
    ScarletRate 3%
    South Province (Area One) - Cave
    Lv.50-64Overworld
    ScarletRate 3%
    South Province (Area Six) - Cave
    Lv.50-64Overworld
    ScarletRate 3%
    West Province (Area One) - Cave
    Lv.50-64Overworld
    ScarletRate 3%
    West Province (Area Three) - Cave
    Lv.50-64Overworld
    ScarletRate 3%
    West Province (Area Two) - Cave
    Lv.50-64Overworld
    ScarletRate 3%
    or evolve from Deino (Step 1)
  3. Hydreigon
    Step 3Hydreigon
    BREEDING
    Available
    Leave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Hydreigon egg.

Base Stats

Everything pushes toward mixed damage here. Hydreigon's Sp. Atk does the work, Defense pays the price. But you're still getting 3 Sp. Atk EVs per KO. Tough to catch, on a slow 1.25M XP grind.

Base Stats
Legend
HP92
B
Attack105
B
Defense90
B
Sp. Atk125
A
Sp. Def90
B
Speed98
B
Total600
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height1.8 m
Weight160.0 kg
Base XP300
Abilities
Levitate
Evades ground moves.
Levitate grants Ground immunity
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpA+3SpDSpe
Strong Special Attack training target
Pokedex Entry

It’s said that Hydreigon grew ferocious because people in times long past loathed it, considering it to be evil incarnate and attacking it relentlessly.

Pokemon Violet

Hydreigon Guide

  • Hydreigon already has 600 BST going for it, and Levitate pushes the competitive value even higher. B-Tier wallbreaker on our tier list.

  • Watch for Togekiss (Fairy), Lapras (Ice), and Hitmonlee (Fighting) when using Hydreigon. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Togekiss is the most dangerous since Fairy moves deal 4x damage. Bug and Dragon-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.

  • Hydreigon gets Levitate. But Levitate is the one that matters. It's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.

  • Hydreigon is a mixed attacker with base 105 Attack and 125 Sp. Atk. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 98 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. Fits the wallbreaker role.

  • Run Dark Pulse, Draco Meteor, Flash Cannon, and Nasty Plot on Hydreigon. Dark Pulse is the most common pick at 0% usage. This set covers the wallbreaker role with a mix of damage and utility.

Game Availability

Since Black & White, Hydreigon has been obtainable in 8 games. A Generation 5 debut means a shorter history, but Hydreigon has appeared steadily across every generation since.

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