Without Protean, Kecleon wouldn't see any competitive play. With it? It changes type to match whatever move it uses, turning modest base stats into a real offensive threat. Normal is solid coverage on top of that. It works well under Trick Room.
Sp. Def leads and Speed gets almost nothing. That's Kecleon's stat line in a nutshell. 2 stats sit in respectable range, but the spread is brutal. Easy to catch and yields 1 Sp. Def EV.
It can freely change its body’s color. The zigzag pattern on its belly doesn’t change, however.
Kecleon Weakness
GoodKecleon is weak to Fighting-type moves. On the flip side, it's immune to Ghost-type moves entirely. Kecleon's special bulk (base 120 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
Kecleon is what you get. No evolutions, but it breeds through one egg group with no compatible partners. Hatching is average hatch time. It's got 11 egg moves worth looking into.
How to Evolve
Breed Kecleon easily from the Ground egg group. Pass egg moves like Camouflage, Disable, Dizzy Punch and 8 more to offspring.
Kecleon runs a standard hazard lead set. Adamant nature with max HP and Sp. Def EVs shapes the build, while Mental Herb brings one-time Taunt or Encore immunity. Protean supports the kit from the background.
Best Build
Best Kecleon Moveset
- Power Up Punch
- Shadow Sneak
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder Wave
Recommended Teammates
The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 12 types means almost nothing walls Kecleon cleanly, with Double-Edge and Mega Kick anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Protean changes the entire equation for Kecleon. The 440 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as a trick room.
Kecleon's biggest threats include Hitmonlee (Fighting), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Only 1 weakness means fewer dedicated counters to worry about. At base 40 Speed, Kecleon won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.
Kecleon doesn't evolve and has no evolutionary line. It's a Normal-type Pokemon with a 440 base stat total.
Protean is what you want on Kecleon. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Color Change) work on paper but Protean is what makes Kecleon worth using.
Base 40 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Kecleon is a physical attacker with base 90 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a trick room.
Kecleon appears in 14 games, including Ruby & Sapphire, FireRed & LeafGreen, and Emerald.
Available in 14 titles since its debut in Ruby & Sapphire, Kecleon spans 7 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through wild encounters in a solid number of games.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A