Is Ludicolo Good in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Playthrough?
Water/Grass with AbilitySwift Swim for rain teams. Handles Wake's mirror matchup and Bertha's Ground-types. Needs rain support from Politoed or Pelipper to really shine. Without rain, Ludicolo is just decent.
Lotad has the type edge here and should clean up Roark's team.
Gardenia's Pokemon outpace and outclass Lotad here.
Maylene's typing presses Lotad's defenses.
Lotad trades roughly evenly with Crasher Wake's team.
Fantina's team hits Lotad's weaknesses hard.
Lotad trades roughly evenly with Byron's team.
Candice's typing presses Lotad's defenses.
Volkner's typing presses Lotad's defenses.
Aaron's team hits Lotad's weaknesses hard.
Lotad has the type edge here and should clean up Bertha's team.
Lotad trades roughly evenly with Flint's team.
Lucian's typing presses Lotad's defenses.
Cynthia's team hits Lotad's weaknesses hard.
Ludicolo cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.
How to Get Ludicolo in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
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 BDSP
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 CaveLv.58-63CaveShining PearlPost-gameGrassland CaveLv.58-63CaveShining PearlPost-gameRiverbank CaveLv.58-63CaveShining PearlPost-gameStill-Water CavernLv.58-63CaveShining PearlPost-gameSunlit CavernLv.58-63CaveShining PearlPost-game
Step 2Catch or Evolve LombreFountainspring CaveLv.58-63CaveShining PearlPost-gameGrassland CaveLv.58-63CaveShining PearlPost-gameRiverbank CaveLv.58-63CaveShining PearlPost-gameStill-Water CavernLv.58-63CaveShining PearlPost-gameSunlit CavernLv.58-63CaveShining PearlPost-gameor evolve from Lotad (Step 1)
Step 3Ludicolo ✓
Ludicolo Weakness
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 |
What is Ludicolo Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Ludicolo
 Doduo Normal | D | |
 Staravia Normal | D | |
 Budew GrassPoison | D | |
 Kricketune Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Kricketune builds →X-Scissor 2x76-90% Aerial Ace 2x36-44% | ||
 Zubat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Zubat builds →Fly 2x56-66% Sludge Bomb 2x34-42% | ||
 Beautifly Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Beautifly builds →Bug Buzz 2x75-91% Aerial Ace 2x53-62% Poison Sting 2x11-15% | ||
Doduo Normal | D | |
Staravia Normal | D | |
Budew GrassPoison | D | |
Kricketune Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Kricketune builds →X-Scissor 2x75-91% Aerial Ace 2x42-49% | ||
 Masquerain Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Masquerain builds →Bug Buzz 2x70-84% Air Cutter 2x46-56% | ||
 Noctowl Normal | C | |
 Golbat Poison | C | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Golbat builds →Fly 2x75-90% Sludge Bomb 2x53-62% U-turn 2x40-47% | ||
 Haunter GhostPoison | C | |
Kricketune Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Kricketune builds →X-Scissor 2x73-87% Aerial Ace 2x36-43% | ||
Masquerain Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Masquerain builds →Bug Buzz 2x70-84% Air Cutter 2x46-56% | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Golbat Poison | C | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Golbat builds →Fly 2x75-90% Sludge Bomb 2x53-62% U-turn 2x40-47% | ||
Haunter GhostPoison | C | |
Kricketune Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Kricketune builds →X-Scissor 2x73-87% Aerial Ace 2x36-43% | ||
 Staraptor Normal | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Staraptor builds →Fly 2x103-121%KO U-turn 2x54-63% | ||
Masquerain Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Masquerain builds →Bug Buzz 2x67-79% Air Cutter 2x46-55% | ||
 Dodrio Normal | C | |
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Golbat Poison | C | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Golbat builds →Fly 2x74-87% Sludge Bomb 2x49-58% U-turn 2x39-46% | ||
 Roselia GrassPoison | C | |
Staraptor Normal | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Staraptor builds →Fly 2x101-120%KO U-turn 2x52-62% | ||
Masquerain Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Masquerain builds →Bug Buzz 2x66-78% Air Slash 2x55-66% | ||
 Skuntank PoisonDark | C | |
Dodrio Normal | C | |
 Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Staraptor Normal | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Staraptor builds →Fly 2x100-118%KO U-turn 2x52-62% | ||
Masquerain Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Masquerain builds →Bug Buzz 2x65-77% Air Slash 2x55-66% | ||
Dodrio Normal | C | |
Skuntank PoisonDark | C | |
Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Staraptor Normal | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Staraptor builds →Fly 2x100-118%KO U-turn 2x52-62% | ||
Masquerain Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Masquerain builds →Bug Buzz 2x65-77% Air Slash 2x55-66% | ||
Dodrio Normal | C | |
Skuntank PoisonDark | C | |
Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Staraptor Normal | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Staraptor builds →Brave Bird 2x135-159%KO U-turn 2x53-62% | ||
 Vileplume GrassPoison | C | |
 Victreebel GrassPoison | C | |
 Farfetch'd Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Farfetch'd builds →Brave Bird 2x106-125%KO Poison Jab 2x48-56% U-turn 2x42-50% | ||
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Salazzle can KO Ludicolo with Sludge Bomb (88-103%). Genesect threatens a KO with U-turn (97-114%). Talonflame deals 64-75% with Flare Blitz.
 Salazzle PoisonFire | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityCorrosion ItemFocus Sash NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Salazzle builds →Flamethrower44-52% Sludge Bomb 2x88-103%KO | ||
 Genesect BugSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDownload ItemChoice Scarf NatureHasty Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Genesect builds →U Turn 2x97-114%KO | ||
 Talonflame Fire | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityGalewings ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Talonflame builds →Flare Blitz64-75% U Turn 2x50-59% | ||
Ludicolo Evolutions
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 45 partners from the Plant and Water1 egg groups. Notable egg moves include Counter, Flail, Leech Seed and 6 more.
BDSP Ludicolo Best Moveset
Crashed from A-tier as AbilitySwift Swim rain offense at 90 Sp. Atk and 100 Sp. Def couldn't compete without permanent rain support. Water/Grass TermStab and 80 HP give the moveset bulk and coverage. D-tier because 5-turn weather limits took away the sustained rain that defined the original Gen 4 Ludicolo.
Best Build
Ludicolo best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Giga Drain
- Ice Beam
- Energy Ball
- Scald
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
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.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
If it hears festive music, all its muscles fill with energy. It can’t help breaking out into a dance.
Ludicolo Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Guide
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, 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. Giga Drain with Life Orb is the standard set.
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.
For Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, the core moveset is Giga Drain, Ice Beam, Energy Ball, and Scald. Giga Drain leads at 0% usage. Scald provides reliable STAB damage.
Game Availability
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 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RSDebut
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves