Special
Balanced
DTier
30Speed · Very Slow

Lotad Best Moveset

Water/Grass at 40 Sp. Atk and 30 Speed. AbilitySwift Swim doubles Speed under rain but the Sp. Atk behind it can't threaten. The moveset is pre-evolution filler. Evolve through to Ludicolo for 90 Sp. Atk and the Swift Swim rain attacker that functions.

SABCDEFFEFFEEFRuby, Sapphire & EmeraldIIIRS/EDiamond, Pearl & PlatinumIVDP/PtPEAKBlack & White / B2W2VBW/B2W2THE FALLX & Y / ORASVIXY/ORASSun & Moon / USUMVIISM/USUMTHE RISESword & Shield / BDSPVIIISS/BDSPScarlet & Violet / Legends Z-AIXSV/LZACURRENT
●Gen III — Ruby, Sapphire & EmeraldF

Lotad was a niche pick at best in Gen III (Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald), rarely seen in standard play. This marked Lotad's competitive debut. Its most popular set ran Swiftswim with Nothing, favoring a Hardy nature.

Received Swift Swim and Rain Dish
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Egg
Water Gun
Water40POPULARSTAB
Lv 1
Astonish
Ghost30POPULARCoverage
TM10
Hidden Power (Grass)
Grass60POPULARSTAB
Lotad Ruby & Sapphire MovesLotad Emerald Moves
Experimental
Special Attacker
Ability
Swift Swim
Item
Nothing
Best Nature for Lotad
HardyNEUTRAL
EVs

Special Attacker Moveset

  • Water GunSTAB
  • AstonishCoverage
  • Hidden Power GrassSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Shroomish
ShroomishExcellent
★Gen IV — Diamond, Pearl & PlatinumE

Lotad saw minimal competitive use in Gen IV (Diamond, Pearl & Platinum). This was Lotad's competitive peak. Its most popular set ran Swiftswim with Leftovers, favoring a Modest nature.

Physical/Special split overhauled move damage

Best Moves

SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
HM3
Surf
Water90COMMONSTAB
TM19
Giga Drain
Grass75COMMONSTAB
TM13
Ice Beam
Ice90COMMONCoverage
Lv 37
Rain Dance
Water—COMMONSTAB
Lv 45
Energy Ball
Grass90COMMONSTAB
Egg
Leech Seed
Grass—RARESTAB
TM10
Hidden Power (Electric)
Electric60RARECoverage
Lotad Diamond & Pearl MovesLotad Platinum Moves

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Swift Swim
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Lotad
Modest+SPA

Lotad best EVs are Sp. Atk and Sp. Def

EVs

Utility Moveset

  • SurfSTAB
  • Giga DrainSTAB
  • Ice Beam
  • Rain DanceSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Abra
AbraDecent
Goldeen
GoldeenDecent
Chinchou
ChinchouDecent
↓Gen V — Black & White / B2W2F

Lotad was a niche pick at best in Gen V (Black & White / B2W2), rarely seen in standard play. This was a decline from E-Tier in the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Swiftswim with Life Orb, favoring a Timid nature.

Gained Own Tempo as hidden abilityHidden Abilities became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Egg
Giga Drain
Grass75POPULARSTAB
TM13
Ice Beam
Ice90POPULARCoverage
Lv 37
Rain Dance
Water—POPULARSTAB
HM3
Surf
Water90COMMONSTAB
TM55
Scald
Water80RARESTAB
Lotad Black & White MovesLotad Black 2 & White 2 Moves
Experimental
Utility
Ability
Swift Swim
Item
Life OrbPOWER
Best Nature for Lotad
Timid+SPE
EVs

Utility Moveset

  • Giga DrainSTAB
  • Ice Beam
  • Rain DanceSTAB
  • SurfSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Horsea
HorseaGood
Mantyke
MantykeGood
Voltorb
VoltorbGood
→Gen VI — X & Y / ORASF

Lotad was a niche pick at best in Gen VI (X & Y / ORAS), rarely seen in standard play. Lotad maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Raindish with Life Orb, favoring a Quiet nature.

Fairy type added to the gameMega Evolution became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Tutor
Uproar
Normal90POPULARCoverage
TM22
Solar Beam
Grass120POPULARSTAB
Xfer
Double-Edge
Normal120POPULARCoverage
TM14
Blizzard
Ice110POPULARCoverage
Lotad X & Y MovesLotad ORAS Moves
Experimental
Utility
Ability
Rain Dish
Item
Life OrbPOWER
Best Nature for Lotad
Quiet+SPA

Utility Moveset

  • UproarCoverage
  • Solar BeamSTAB
  • Double Edge
  • BlizzardCoverage

Recommended Teammates

Roselia
RoseliaExcellent
Darmanitan
DarmanitanExcellent
Arceus-Dragon
Arceus-DragonExcellent
↑Gen VII — Sun & Moon / USUME

Lotad saw minimal competitive use in Gen VII (Sun & Moon / USUM). Lotad climbed from F-Tier as the competitive landscape shifted. Its most popular set ran Swiftswim with Eviolite, favoring a Modest nature.

Z-Moves became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 27
Rain Dance
Water—COMMONSTAB
Lv 30
Giga Drain
Grass75COMMONSTAB
TM55
Scald
Water80COMMONSTAB
TM13
Ice Beam
Ice90COMMONCoverage
Egg
Leech Seed
Grass—RARESTAB
TM94
Surf
Water90RARESTAB
Lv 36
Energy Ball
Grass90RARESTAB
Lotad Sun & Moon MovesLotad Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Moves
Experimental
Utility
Ability
Swift Swim
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Lotad
Modest+SPA
EVs

Utility Moveset

  • Rain DanceSTAB
  • Giga DrainSTAB
  • ScaldSTAB
  • Ice Beam
→Gen VIII — Sword & Shield / BDSPE

Lotad saw minimal competitive use in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield / BDSP). Lotad maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran swift swim with Eviolite, favoring a Timid nature.

Gigantamax became availableDynamax became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM11
Solar Beam
Grass120POPULARSTAB
Lv 43
Energy Ball
Grass90POPULARSTAB
TR5
Ice Beam
Ice90POPULARCoverage
Lv 28
Giga Drain
Grass75POPULARSTAB
Lotad Sword & Shield MovesLotad BDSP Moves
Experimental
Special Sweeper
Ability
Swift Swim
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Lotad
Timid+SPE
EVs

Special Sweeper Moveset

  • Solar BeamSTAB
  • Energy BallSTAB
  • Ice Beam
  • Giga DrainSTAB
↓Gen IX — Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-AF

Lotad was a niche pick at best in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-A), rarely seen in standard play. This was a decline from E-Tier in the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Swiftswim with Eviolite, favoring a Modest nature.

Terastallization became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 33
Rain Dance
Water—COMMONSTAB
TM193
Weather Ball
Normal50COMMONCoverage
Lv 24
Leech Seed
Grass—RARESTAB
Lv 28
Giga Drain
Grass75RARESTAB
TM135
Ice Beam
Ice90RARECoverage
Lv 43
Energy Ball
Grass90RARESTAB
TM123
Surf
Water90RARESTAB
Egg
Synthesis
Grass—RARESTAB
Lotad Scarlet & Violet MovesLotad Legends Z-A Moves
Experimental
Special Attacker
Ability
Swift Swim
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Lotad
Modest+SPA
EVs

Special Attacker Moveset

  • Rain DanceSTAB
  • Weather Ball
  • Leech SeedSTAB
  • Giga DrainSTAB

Lotad Weakness

Type-wise, Lotad takes extra damage from Poison, Flying, and Bug. 3 weaknesses is about average, nothing too hard to play around.

Lotad Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Poison, Flying, Bug
0.5x (Resist)Ground, Steel
0.25x (Resist)Water

What is Lotad Weak Against

Avg
3Weak
3Resist
0Immune
Score-2
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
PoisonFlyingBug
½xResist
GroundSteel
¼xResist
Water
0xImmune
None

What is Lotad Strong Against

4Strong
2Resisted
0Immune
Score+2
2xStrong
FireWaterGroundRock
½xResisted
GrassDragon
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Lotad

Scizor can KO Lotad with U-turn (280-330%). Gengar threatens a KO with Sludge Bomb (154-182%). Salamence deals 46-54% with Earthquake.

Evolution

Lotad is the start of a three-stage chain. It evolves into Lombre first, then eventually reaches Ludicolo. For breeding, quick to hatch with plenty of partners via two egg groups. Evolving adds up to 260 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Lotad
#270Lotad
14
Level 14
Lombre
#271Lombre
Water Stone
Water Stone
Ludicolo
#272Ludicolo
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Lotad
WaterGrass
Lombre
WaterGrass
Ludicolo
WaterGrass
HP
40
60+20
80+20
ATK
30
50+20
70+20
DEF
30
50+20
70+20
SP.ATK
40
60+20
90+30
SP.DEF
50
70+20
100+30
SPE
30
50+20
70+20
BST
220D-Tier
340D-Tier+120
480C-Tier+140
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Utility
Special

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Lotad easily with 89 breeding partners from the Plant and Water1 egg groups.

Egg Groups
GrassWater 1
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
15 cycles·3,855 steps
Quick~4 min with Flame Body
Breed With (best first)
azumarillvenusaurmeganiumtorterraroseradeserperiorblastoisegolduckferaligatrkingdraswampertludicolo
12 of 89·

How to Get Lotad

All 15 games

Lotad appears at moderate rates across 16 spots in early-game routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.

Where To Catch Lotad in SV

Lotad is your first catch on the way to Lotad. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 7-60 across 30 total spots in the chain.

  1. Lotad
    Step 1Lotad ✓
    Apple Hills
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Infernal Pass
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Kitakami Wilds
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Oni Mountain
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Paradise Barrens
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Revelers Road
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Timeless Woods
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Wistful Fields
    Lv.7-60Overworld
  2. Lombre
    Step 2Catch or Evolve into Lombre
    Apple Hills
    Lv.14-60Overworld
    Kitakami Wilds
    Lv.14-60Overworld
    Mossfell Confluence
    Lv.14-60Overworld
    Oni Mountain
    Lv.14-60Overworld
    Paradise Barrens
    Lv.14-60Overworld
    Timeless Woods
    Lv.14-60Overworld
    Wistful Fields
    Lv.14-60Overworld
    or evolve from Lotad (Step 1)
  3. Ludicolo
    Step 3Evolve into Ludicolo
    BREEDING
    Available
    Leave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Ludicolo egg.

Base Stats

Lotad's stats barely vary. None sit in respectable range with no real gaps. It's a blank slate for EV investment. Worth 1 Sp. Def EV, 1.06M XP medium-slow curve to max.

Base Stats
Below
HP40
D
Attack30
F
Defense30
F
Sp. Atk40
D
Sp. Def50
D
Speed30
F
Total220
Details
Catch Rate
Guaranteed255 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height0.5 m
1'08"Tiny
Weight2.6 kg
5.7 lbsFeather
Base XP44
Low Yield
Abilities
Swift Swim
Doubles Speed during rain.
Rain Dish
Heals for 1/16 max HP after each turn during rain.
Own TempoHidden Ability
Prevents confusion.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpD+1Spe
Special Defense training source
Pokedex Entry

It looks like an aquatic plant and serves as a ferry for Pokémon that can’t swim.

Pokemon Shining Pearl

Lotad Guide

  • Lotad does the job early-game if you need a Water/Grass type on your team. Evolve it into Lombre before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.

Game Availability

Lotad first appeared in Ruby & Sapphire and has been available in 15 games across 8 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form in most titles where it appears.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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