Mixed
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 is said to be the guardian of the seas. It is rumored to have been seen on the night of a storm.

Fire Red

It is said that it quietly spends its time deep at the bottom of the sea because its powers are too strong.

Leaf Green

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 III Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
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 3.

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

Coverage runs deep. Lugia can hit 10 types beyond STAB, including Water and Normal. The offense anchors on Future Sight and Aeroblast while TMs handle everything else.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Whirlwind-6
20Normal
Lv 11
Safeguard
25Normal
Lv 22
Gust
4010035Flying
Lv 33
Recover
20Normal
Lv 44
Hydro Pump
120805Water
Lv 55
Rain Dance
5Water
Lv 66
Swift
6020Normal
Lv 77
Aeroblast
100955Flying
Lv 88
Ancient Power
601005Rock
Lv 99
Future Sight
12010010Psychic

TM Moves

Src
TM40
Aerial Ace
6020Flying
TM14
Blizzard
120705Ice
TM04
Calm Mind
20Psychic
TM
Dive
6010010Water
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM26
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
HM02
Fly
709515Flying
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM19
Giga Drain
751005Grass
TM07
Hail
10Ice
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
9510010Ice
TM23
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
TM16
Light Screen
30Psychic
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM29
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM33
Reflect
20Psychic
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6
20Normal
HM06
Rock Smash
2010015Fighting
TM20
Safeguard
25Normal
TM37
Sandstorm
10Rock
TM43
Secret Power
7010020Normal
TM30
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TM34
Shock Wave
6020Electric
TM48
Skill Swap
10Psychic
TM47
Steel Wing
709025Steel
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
HM03
Surf
9510015Water
TM25
Thunder
1207010Electric
TM24
Thunderbolt
9510015Electric
TM06
Toxic
8510Poison
TM03
Water Pulse
6010020Water
HM07
Waterfall
8010015Water

Egg Moves

Lugia doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Body Slam
8510015Normal
Tutor
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
Tutor
Dream Eater
10010015Psychic
Tutor
Mimic
10Normal
Tutor
Substitute
10Normal
Tutor
Thunder Wave
10020Electric

Lugia is a fixed encounter, not a random spawn. Walk up to it, interact, and the battle starts immediately. Head to Navel Rock when your team is ready for the fight.

Best Locations

Navel Rock - Basement
LeafGreenInteract with PokemonLv.70LimitedPostEvent: MysticTicket
HARD
Navel Rock - Basement
FireRedInteract with PokemonLv.70LimitedPostEvent: MysticTicket
HARD
  • 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 mixed attacker — base 90 Attack and 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.