Special
Pivot
680Elite
110Fast
STier

Lugia has the stats to dominate any format it's allowed in. 154 base Sp. Def stands out, and the rest of the spread doesn't have obvious weak points either. Multiscale adds even more value. Known as the Diving Pokemon.

Lugia's spread favors special bulk over offense. Sp. Def leads the defensive side, Attack eats the cost. Yields 3 Sp. Def EVs per defeat. Slow 1.25M XP grind to level.

Base Stats
680Legend
HP106
B
Attack90
B
Defense130
A
Sp. Atk90
B
Sp. Def154
S
Speed110
B
Total680
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Lugia yields +3 SpD
HPAtkDefSpASpD+3Spe
Details
Catch3LegendarySlow1.25M XP5.2m / 17'01"216kg / 476.2 lbs306Base XP
Pokedex Entries

It sleeps in a deep-sea trench. If it flaps its wings, it is said to cause a 40-day storm.

Black 2 / White 2

Lugia Weakness

Avg

Electric, Ice, Rock, Ghost, and Dark-type moves hit Lugia for super-effective damage. The upside? Ground-type moves can't touch it at all. Lugia's overall bulk (106/130/154) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.

Gen V Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
4xCriticali
None
½xResisti
¼xResisti
0xImmunei
5Weak
3Resist
1Immune
Scorei-3
Stealth Rock25% on switch
Abilities
PressureIncreases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one.
MultiscaleHAHalves damage taken from full HP.

A Psychic/Flying-type legendary, Lugia doesn't evolve or breed. At 680 total stats, it's meant to stand on its own.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Lugia
#249Lugia
Does not evolve
Breeding
Unavailable
Undiscovered egg group

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 5.

Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.

Coverage runs deep. Lugia can hit 13 types beyond STAB, including Normal and Dragon. The offense anchors on Sky Attack and Future Sight while TMs handle everything else.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Weather Ball
5010010Normal
Lv 1
Whirlwind-6
10020Normal
Lv 9
Gust
4010035Flying
Lv 15
Dragon Rush
1007510Dragon
Lv 23
Extrasensory
8010030Psychic
Lv 29
Rain Dance
5Water
Lv 37
Hydro Pump
120805Water
Lv 43
Aeroblast
100955Flying
Lv 50
Punishment
1005Dark
Lv 57
Ancient Power
601005Rock
Lv 65
Safeguard
25Normal
Lv 71
Recover
10Normal
Lv 79
Future Sight
10010010Psychic
Lv 85
Natural Gift
10015Normal
Lv 93
Calm Mind
20Psychic
Lv 99
Sky Attack
140905Flying

TM Moves

Src
TM40
Aerial Ace
6020Flying
TM14
Blizzard
120705Ice
TM78
Bulldoze
6010020Ground
TM04
Calm Mind
20Psychic
TM57
Charge Beam
509010Electric
HM06
Dive
8010010Water
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM82
Dragon Tail-6
609010Dragon
TM85
Dream Eater
10010015Psychic
TM26
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM49
Echoed Voice
4010015Normal
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM70
Flash
10020Normal
HM02
Fly
909515Flying
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM07
Hail
10Ice
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
9510010Ice
TM16
Light Screen
30Psychic
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM77
Psych Up
10Normal
TM29
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM03
Psyshock
8010010Psychic
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM33
Reflect
20Psychic
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6
10020Normal
TM94
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM20
Safeguard
25Normal
TM37
Sandstorm
10Rock
TM30
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TM58
Sky Drop
6010010Flying
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
HM03
Surf
9510015Water
TM87
Swagger
9015Normal
TM19
Telekinesis
15Psychic
TM25
Thunder
1207010Electric
TM73
Thunder Wave
10020Electric
TM24
Thunderbolt
9510015Electric
TM06
Toxic
9010Poison
HM05
Waterfall
8010015Water

Egg Moves

Lugia doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Aqua Tail
909010Water
Tutor
Dragon Pulse
9010010Dragon
Tutor
Earth Power
9010010Ground
Tutor
Giga Drain
7510010Grass
Tutor
Hyper Voice
9010010Normal
Tutor
Icy Wind
559515Ice
Tutor
Iron Head
8010015Steel
Tutor
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
Tutor
Roost
10Flying
Tutor
Signal Beam
7510015Bug
Tutor
Skill Swap
10Psychic
Tutor
Sky Attack
140905Flying
Tutor
Sleep Talk
10Normal
Tutor
Snore
4010015Normal
Tutor
Tailwind
30Flying
Tutor
Trick
10010Psychic
Tutor
Wonder Room
10Psychic
Tutor
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic

Transfer Moves

Src
Gen 4
Air Cutter
559525Flying
Gen 4
Avalanche-4
6010010Ice
Gen 3
Body Slam
8510015Normal
Gen 4
Brine
6510010Water
Gen 4
Defog
15Flying
Gen 3
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
Gen 4
Endure+4
10Normal
Gen 4
Headbutt
7010015Normal
Gen 3
Mimic
10Normal
Gen 4
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
Gen 4
Ominous Wind
601005Ghost
Gen 4
Secret Power
7010020Normal
Gen 4
Shock Wave
6020Electric
Gen 4
Steel Wing
709025Steel
Gen 4
Swift
6020Normal
Gen 4
Twister
4010020Dragon
Gen 4
Water Pulse
6010020Water
Gen 4
Whirlpool
358515Water

Lugia can't be caught in Black 2 & White 2. Bring it over from Gold, Crystal, or Ultra Moon instead. The encounter info below covers the source games.

Lugia is not available as a wild encounter in this game.

Also found in:

  • At 680 BST, Lugia is built different. We rank it S-Tier. As a Legendary Pokemon, the raw stats back up the reputation. Best used as a pivot.

  • Watch for Raikou (Electric), Lapras (Ice), and Tyranitar (Rock) when using Lugia. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Ghost and Dark-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter. Lugia has enough bulk to absorb a hit, but don't push the matchup. Pivot to a teammate that resists.

  • Lugia doesn't evolve. As a Legendary Pokemon, it stands on its own without an evolutionary line. It's a Psychic/Flying type with 680 BST.

  • Run Multiscale on Lugia. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Lugia also gets Pressure, but they don't compare.

  • Lugia fills the pivot role. It's a special attacker with base 90 Sp. Atk. Base 110 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. And it's tanky enough to absorb a few hits.

  • Lugia appears in 17 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.

Lugia has appeared in 17 games since Gold & Silver, spanning 8 generations. As a Legendary, it's typically a one-per-save encounter tied to the story or post-game content.