Utility
Support
430Average
85Moderate
CTier

Illumise punches above its weight class thanks to Prankster. It gives priority to its status moves, which is enough to make up for stats that don't impress on their own. Only weak to Fire, Flying, and Rock. Known as the Firefly Pokemon.

Nothing fancy in Illumise's spread. It leans special with Sp. Def out front. And you'll get 1 Speed EV per KO for it. Follows a standard growth curve.

Base Stats
430Above
HP65
C
Attack47
D
Defense75
C
Sp. Atk73
C
Sp. Def85
C
Speed85
C
Total430
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Illumise yields +1 Spe
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+1
Details
Catch150ModerateFluctuating1.64M XP0.6m / 2'00"17.7kg / 39 lbs151Base XP
Pokedex Entries

ILLUMISE attracts a swarm of VOLBEAT using a sweet fragrance. Once the VOLBEAT have gathered, this POKéMON leads the lit-up swarm in drawing geometric designs on the canvas of the night sky.

Ruby

ILLUMISE leads a flight of illuminated VOLBEAT to draw signs in the night sky. This POKéMON is said to earn greater respect from its peers by composing more complex designs in the sky.

Sapphire

Illumise Weakness

Avg

Type-wise, Illumise takes extra damage from Fire, Flying, and Rock. With 65 HP and balanced defenses, Illumise can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.

Gen III Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
4xCriticali
None
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
3Weak
3Resist
0Immune
Scorei-3
Stealth Rock25% on switch
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
ObliviousPrevents infatuation and protects against captivate.
Tinted LensDoubles damage inflicted with not-very-effective moves.
PranksterHARaises non-damaging moves' priority by one stage.

What you see is what you get. Illumise sits outside any evolution chain, so focus on the egg moves and a decent partner pool from two egg groups. Eggs are quick to hatch.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Illumise
#314Illumise
Does not evolve
Breeding
Moderate

Breed Illumise with 37 breeding partners from the Bug and Humanshape egg groups. Pass egg moves like Baton Pass, Growth, Silver Wind to offspring.

Egg Groups
BugHumanshape
Gender
100.0%
Hatch Time
15 cycles·3,855 steps
Quick~4 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
3moves
Breed With (best first)
flygongardevoircacturnemasquerainvolbeatillumiseparasectspindavibravacacneaparastrapinch

The special wall spread is where Illumise earns its spot. Leftovers for passive recovery each turn, Calm nature for the right lean, and Wish handles sustain. Oblivious does the rest without needing a move slot.

Best Build

Wall
Ability
Oblivious
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Nature
Calm+SPD
EVs

Best Illumise Moveset

  • WishRecovery
  • Thunder Wave
  • Seismic Toss
  • ProtectFAST +4

The egg pool carries weight here. Baton Pass and Growth aren't available any other way for Illumise, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Silver Wind for solid options.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Tackle
3510035Normal
Lv 5
Sweet Scent
10020Normal
Lv 9
Charm
10020Normal
Lv 13
Moonlight
5Normal
Lv 17
Quick Attack+1
4010030Normal
Lv 21
Wish
10Normal
Lv 25
Encore
1005Normal
Lv 29
Flatter
10015Dark
Lv 33
Helping Hand+5
20Normal
Lv 37
Covet
6010025Normal

TM Moves

Src
TM40
Aerial Ace
6020Flying
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM31
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
HM05
Flash
7020Normal
TM01
Focus Punch-3
15010020Fighting
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM19
Giga Drain
751005Grass
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM16
Light Screen
30Psychic
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM43
Secret Power
7010020Normal
TM30
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TM34
Shock Wave
6020Electric
TM22
Solar Beam
12010010Grass
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM46
Thief
6010025Dark
TM25
Thunder
1207010Electric
TM24
Thunderbolt
9510015Electric
TM06
Toxic
8510Poison
TM03
Water Pulse
6010020Water

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Baton Pass
40Normal
Egg
Growth
20Normal
Egg
Silver Wind
601005Bug

Tutor Moves

Illumise can't learn any Tutor moves

Illumise starts showing up in early-game routes at decent spawn rates across 2 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.

Best Locations

Route 117
RubyGrassLv.13-14UncommonEarlyRoute
EASY
Route 117
SapphireGrassLv.13RareEarlyRoute
CHALLENGING
  • Illumise looks average on paper at 430 BST. But Prankster is why it sees play — build around that and it pulls its weight. C-Tier support on our tier list.

  • Illumise's biggest threats include Blaziken (Fire), Dodrio (Flying), and Aerodactyl (Rock), all carrying super-effective STAB moves.

  • Illumise doesn't evolve and has no evolutionary line. It's a Bug-type Pokemon with a 430 base stat total.

  • Illumise gets Prankster, Oblivious, and Tinted Lens. But Prankster is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.

  • Illumise is leaning toward the special side (base 73 Sp. Atk). Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 85 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. Fits the support role.

  • Illumise appears in 14 games, including Ruby & Sapphire, FireRed & LeafGreen, and Emerald.

Debuting in Ruby & Sapphire, Illumise appears in 14 games across 7 generations. A reliable presence in a solid number of games, typically found through wild encounters.