Special
Balanced
70Speed · Below Avg

Stats & Training

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.

Base Stats
Above
HP80
C
Attack70
C
Defense70
C
Sp. Atk90
B
Sp. Def100
B
Speed70
C
Total480
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height1.5 m
Weight55.0 kg
Base XP216
Abilities
Swift SwimPopular
Doubles Speed during rain.
Rain DishPopular
Heals for 1/16 max HP after each turn during rain.
Own TempoHA
Prevents confusion.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpD+3Spe
Strong Special Defense training target
Pokedex Entries

If it hears festive music, all its muscles fill with energy. It can’t help breaking out into a dance.

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.

Ludicolo Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Poison, Flying, Bug
0.5x (Resist)Ground, Steel
0.25x (Resist)Water
Type ChartAvg
3Weak
3Resist
0Immune
Score-2
4xCritical
None
½xResist
¼xResist
0xImmune
None
How to Beat Ludicolo in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl (Best Counters)

In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Celesteela's Air Slash hits Ludicolo for 79-93%. Amoonguss deals 56-67% with Sludge Bomb.

Scizor
Scizor
BugSteel
A
Recommended Build
AbilityTechnician
ItemHeavy-Duty Boots
NatureAdamant
Moves
  • Bullet Punch
  • Knock Off
  • RoostRecovery
  • Swords Dance
Damage vs Ludicolo
Bullet Punch
10-12%
Knock Off
22-26%
View Scizor builds →

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Evolution

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

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 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.

Egg Groups
PlantWater1
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
15 cycles·3,855 steps
Quick~4 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
9moves
Breed With (best first)
azumarillvenusaurmeganiumtorterraroseradeblastoisegolduckferaligatrkingdraswampertshiftryabomasnow

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Ludicolo Best Moveset

Ludicolo runs a standard attacker set. Hardy nature with max Defense and Speed EVs shapes the build, while Leftovers brings passive recovery each turn. Swiftswim supports the kit from the background.

Best Build

Experimental
Ability
Swift Swim
Item
Assault VestBULK
Best Nature for Ludicolo
Modest+SPA

Ludicolo best EVs are HP and Sp. Atk

EVs

Doubles Special Tank Moveset

  • Hydro PumpSTAB
  • Ice Beam
  • Giga DrainSTAB
  • Fake Out

Recommended Teammates

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.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Absorb
2010025Grass
Lv 1
Astonish
3010015Ghost
Lv 1
Bubble Beam
C6510020Water
Lv 1
Energy Ball
A9010010Grass
Lv 1
Fake Out+3
S4010010Normal
Lv 1
Flail
D10015Normal
Lv 1
Fury Swipes
188015Normal
Lv 1
Giga Drain
S7510010Grass
Lv 1
Growl
10040Normal
Lv 1
Hydro Pump
S110805Water
Lv 1
Knock Off
D6510020Dark
Lv 1
Mega Drain
4010015Grass
Lv 1
Mist
D30Ice
Lv 1
Nature Power
D20Normal
Lv 1
Rain Dance
B5Water
Lv 1
Teeter Dance
D10020Normal
Lv 1
Water Gun
4010025Water
Lv 1
Zen Headbutt
D809015Psychic

TM Moves

TM
TM45
Attract
C10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
C110705Ice
TM31
Brick Break
D7510015Fighting
TM09
Bullet Seed
D2510030Grass
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM60
Drain Punch
D7510010Fighting
TM58
Endure+4
C10Normal
TM53
Energy Ball
A9010010Grass
TM42
Facade
D7010020Normal
TM70
Flash
10020Normal
TM56
Fling
10010Dark
TM52
Focus Blast
C120705Fighting
TM01
Focus Punch-3
C15010020Fighting
TM19
Giga Drain
S7510010Grass
TM68
Giga Impact
C150905Normal
TM86
Grass Knot
D10020Grass
TM07
Hail
C10Ice
TM15
Hyper Beam
B150905Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
S9010010Ice
TM17
Protect+4
C10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
B5Water
TM44
Rest
C10Psychic
TM100
Rock Climb
908520Normal
TM98
Rock Smash
D4010015Fighting
TM49
Scald
A8010015Water
TM82
Sleep Talk
C10Normal
TM22
Solar Beam
B12010010Grass
TM96
Strength
8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
C10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
C5Fire
TM95
Surf
B9010015Water
TM87
Swagger
D8515Normal
TM75
Swords Dance
C20Normal
TM46
Thief
D6010025Dark
TM03
Water Pulse
C6010020Water
TM99
Waterfall
C8010015Water

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Counter-5
D10020Fighting
Egg
Flail
D10015Normal
Egg
Leech Seed
A9010Grass
Egg
Razor Leaf
559525Grass
Egg
Sweet Scent
10020Normal
Egg
Synthesis
C5Grass
Egg
Teeter Dance
D10020Normal
Egg
Tickle
D10020Normal
Egg
Water Gun
4010025Water

Tutor Moves

Ludicolo can't learn any Tutor moves

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 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.

  1. Lotad
    Step 1Catch Lotad
    Fountainspring Cave
    Grass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Grassland Cave
    Grass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Riverbank Cave
    Grass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Still-Water Cavern
    Grass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Sunlit Cavern
    Grass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
  2. Lombre
    Step 2Catch or Evolve Lombre
    Fountainspring Cave
    Grass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Grassland Cave
    Grass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Riverbank Cave
    Grass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Still-Water Cavern
    Grass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Sunlit Cavern
    Grass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    or evolve from Lotad (Step 1)
  3. Ludicolo
    Step 3Ludicolo

Ludicolo 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 Leftovers is the standard set.

  • In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Ludicolo's biggest threats include Crobat (Poison), Dodrio (Flying), and Heracross (Bug), all carrying super-effective STAB moves.

  • 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.

  • In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, the best way to handle Ludicolo: Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Poison, Flying, and Bug-type attackers hit hardest.

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.

Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Want to tell us more?
What was most useful?
What could be improved?
Thanks for your feedback