Nothing fancy in Ludicolo's spread. It leans mixed with Sp. Def out front. And you'll get 3 Sp. Def EVs per KO for it. Follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
If it hears festive music, all its muscles fill with energy. It can’t help breaking out into a dance.
If it hears festive music, all its muscles fill with energy. It can’t help breaking out into a dance.
Ludicolo is weak to Poison, Flying, and Bug. Ludicolo's special bulk (base 100 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Poison, Flying, Bug |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Ground, Steel |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Water |
Top-performing counters used against Ludicolo.
 Iron Treads GroundSteel | Ground | B |
 Dondozo Water | Water | A |
 Smeargle Normal | Normal | B |
 Alomomola Water | Water | A |
 Torkoal Fire | Fire | A |
Pokemon that perform well against Ludicolo.
 Volcarona BugFire | Bug | A |
 Glimmora RockPoison | Poison | A |
 Talonflame Fire | A | |
 Salazzle PoisonFire | Poison | A |
 Genesect BugSteel | Bug | B |
Ludicolo resists or is immune to these Pokemon in competitive.
 Archaludon SteelDragon | Steel½x | A |
Dondozo Water | Water¼x | A |
 Krookodile GroundDark | Ground½x | A |
 Swampert WaterGround | Water¼x | B |
 Landorus Ground | Ground½x | S |
Ludicolo resists or is immune to these Pokemon.
Archaludon SteelDragon | Steel½x | A |
Dondozo Water | Water¼x | A |
Krookodile GroundDark | Ground½x | A |
Swampert WaterGround | Water¼x | B |
Landorus Ground | Ground½x | S |
Ludicolo evolved from Lotad's chain using an evolution item. It's a non-standard trigger, so check the details below. Breed this form to get Lotad eggs (quick to hatch). The evolution from Lotad pushed Ludicolo to 480 total stats. Sp.Atk saw the largest single gain at +50. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Ludicolo to get Lotad eggs easily using 89 partners from the Plant and Water1 egg groups.
Bulk and offense in one package. Ludicolo runs Assault Vest for a special bulk boost with no status moves allowed with a Modest nature, so it survives long enough to threaten with Ice Beam. Max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs and the remaining moves make it hard to safely switch into.
Best Build
Ludicolo best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Doubles Special Sweeper Moveset
- Giga Drain
- Fake Out
- Ice Beam
- Hydro Pump
Recommended Teammates
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Giga Drain
- Ice Beam
- Rain Dance
- Hydro Pump
Recommended Teammates
Special Attacker Moveset
- Rain Dance
- Ice Beam
- Giga Drain
- Leech Seed
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Special Tank Moveset
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Giga Drain
- Fake Out
Recommended Teammates
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Giga Drain
- Ice Beam
- Energy Ball
- Scald
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Special Tank Moveset
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Giga Drain
- Fake Out
Recommended Teammates
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Giga Drain
- Ice Beam
- Energy Ball
- Scald
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Special Sweeper Moveset
- Ice Beam
- Fake Out
- Giga Drain
- Hydro Pump
Recommended Teammates
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Rain Dance
- Hydro Pump
- Energy Ball
- Focus Blast
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Most of Ludicolo's flexibility comes from TMs. Same-type output runs through Leaf Storm and Solar Beam, but Normal and Ice and the rest of the TM pool push it from predictable to genuinely threatening.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Breeding opens up real options for Ludicolo. Counter and Flail come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Solar Beam and Hydro Pump and Ghost and Normal coverage and more.
Breeding opens up real options for Ludicolo. Counter and Leech Seed come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Leaf Storm and Solar Beam and coverage across 9 types.
Breeding opens up real options for Ludicolo. Counter and Flail come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Solar Beam and Hydro Pump and coverage across 9 types.
No wild encounters for Ludicolo in Scarlet & Violet. Bring Lotad over from Sapphire, Emerald, or Shining Pearl, then level through the stages. Each step in the chain is laid out below.
Ludicolo doesn't appear wild. Catch Lotad instead, it shows up at moderate rates. Evolve it through a special method to get Ludicolo. The 3-stage chain is mapped in the step cards below.
How to Obtain Ludicolo in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
To get Ludicolo, start by catching Lotad through walking encounters at Lv. 58-63. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch LotadFountainspring CaveGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameGrassland CaveGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameRiverbank CaveGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameStill-Water CavernGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameSunlit CavernGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-game
Step 2Catch or Evolve LombreFountainspring CaveGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameGrassland CaveGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameRiverbank CaveGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameStill-Water CavernGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameSunlit CavernGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameor evolve from Lotad (Step 1)
Step 3Ludicolo ✓
Can't catch Ludicolo directly. Start with Lotad at solid rates from the locations below, then evolve through a special method. The 3-stage chain from Lotad to Ludicolo is where the leveling time goes.
How to Obtain Ludicolo in Sword & Shield
The path to Ludicolo starts with Lotad at Lv. 4-40 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch LotadWest Lake AxewellOverworld Lv.8-14 Cave60%EarlyOvercastRolling FieldsGrass Lv.7-1040%EarlyRainingDappled GroveGrass Lv.11-15 Forest40%EarlyNormal WeatherDappled GroveGrass Lv.11-15 Forest35%EarlyHeavy FogRoute 2Grass Lv.4-6 Route20%EarlyAll WeatherDappled GroveGrass Lv.11-15 Forest20%EarlyOvercastDappled GroveGrass Lv.11-15 Forest20%EarlyThunderstormDappled GroveGrass Lv.11-15 Forest20%EarlyRainingRoute 2 - High LevelGrass Lv.37-40 Route20%LateAll Weather
Step 2Catch or Evolve LombreDappled GroveOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest10%EarlyIntense SunDappled GroveOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest10%EarlyOvercastDappled GroveOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest5%EarlyNormal WeatherDappled GroveOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest5%EarlySnowstormDappled GroveOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest5%EarlyThunderstormDappled GroveOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest5%EarlySnowingDappled GroveOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest5%EarlySandstormDappled GroveOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest5%EarlyRainingDappled GroveOverworld Lv.13-15 Forest5%EarlyHeavy FogSouth Lake MilochOverworld Lv.14-16 Water5%EarlyOvercastSouth Lake MilochOverworld Lv.14-15 Water5%EarlyNormal WeatherGiant's CapGrass Lv.27-2940%MidNormal WeatherRoute 5Grass Lv.16-18 Route20%MidAll WeatherGiant's SeatGrass Lv.30-35 Water15%MidRainingGiant's SeatOverworld Lv.33-38 Water60%LateRainingGiant's SeatOverworld Lv.33-38 Water25%LateNormal Weatheror evolve from Lotad (Step 1)
Step 3Ludicolo ✓
No wild encounters for Ludicolo. The 3-stage chain runs through Lotad, which you can catch in the wild from the locations below. Evolve through a special method once you've got the levels.
How to Obtain Ludicolo in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Ludicolo looks average on paper at 480 BST. But Swift Swim is why it sees play. Build around that and it pulls its weight. C-Tier on our tier list.
Ludicolo gets Swift Swim, Rain Dish, and Own Tempo. But Swift Swim is the one that matters. It's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Ludicolo is a special attacker with base 90 Sp. Atk. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 70 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many.
Best way to handle Ludicolo: Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Poison, Flying, and Bug-type attackers hit hardest.
Since Ruby & Sapphire, Ludicolo has been in 15 games. Requiring an item-based evolution to obtain means it's consistently available but requires more effort than simply catching it in the wild.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves