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.
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Poison, Flying, Bug |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Ground, Steel |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Water |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Swampert WaterGround | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemLeftovers NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Swampert builds →Earthquake25-29% Ice Beam18-21% Waterfall10-12% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Hippowdon builds →Earthquake25-30% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityHypercutter ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Gliscor builds →Earthquake22-26% Ice Fang19-23% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Forretress builds →Rapid Spin14-17% Explosion70-82% Payback14-17% | ||
 QuagsireImmune to Water via Water Absorb, ignores boosts via Unaware, recovers with Recover WaterGround | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityWaterabsorb ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Ludicolo View Quagsire builds →Earthquake20-24% | ||
Platinum 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
Breeding
Breed with Ludicolo to get Lotad eggs easily using 45 partners from the Plant and Water1 egg groups. Notable egg moves include Flail, Leech Seed, Razor Leaf and 4 more.
Platinum Ludicolo Best Moveset
Ludicolo runs a standard special attacker set. Modest nature with flexible EVs shapes the build, while Life Orb brings extra damage on every hit for a health trade. Swiftswim supports the kit from the background.
Best Build
Ludicolo best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Attacker Moveset
- Ice Beam
- Rain Dance
- Surf
- Grass Knot
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Breeding opens up real options for Ludicolo. Flail and Leech Seed 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.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Ludicolo in Platinum
You're catching Lotad first, not Ludicolo. Lotad appears at moderate rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 3-stage chain with evolution methods between each stage.
How to Obtain Ludicolo in Platinum
To get Ludicolo, start by catching Lotad through walking encounters at Lv. 5-48. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch LotadRoute 203Grass Lv.5 RouteRareEarlyDual-slot: SapphireRoute 204 - NorthGrass Lv.10 RouteRareEarlyDual-slot: SapphireRoute 204 - SouthGrass Lv.10 RouteRareEarlyDual-slot: SapphireRoute 205 - NorthGrass Lv.13-14 RouteRareEarlyDual-slot: SapphireRoute 212 - SouthGrass Lv.26 RouteRareMidDual-slot: Sapphire
Step 2Catch or Evolve LombreRoute 212 - SouthGrass Lv.23 RouteRareMidDual-slot: SapphireRoute 229Grass Lv.48 Route8%PostDual-slot: Sapphireor evolve from Lotad (Step 1)
Step 3Ludicolo ✓
Ludicolo Guide
In Platinum, 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. Ice Beam 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 Platinum, the core moveset is Ice Beam, Raindance, Surf, and Grassknot. Ice Beam leads at 21% usage. Surf 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 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