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

Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl

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.

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 8.

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

Coverage runs deep. Lugia can hit 10 types beyond STAB, including Rock and Dragon. The offense anchors on Sky Attack and Future Sight while TMs handle everything else.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Ancient Power
601005Rock
Lv 1
Dragon Rush
1007510Dragon
Lv 1
Gust
4010035Flying
Lv 1
Weather Ball
5010010Normal
Lv 1
Whirlwind-6
20Normal
Lv 9
Mist
30Ice
Lv 18
Safeguard
25Normal
Lv 27
Calm Mind
20Psychic
Lv 36
Extrasensory
8010020Psychic
Lv 45
Recover
10Normal
Lv 54
Aeroblast
100955Flying
Lv 63
Rain Dance
5Water
Lv 72
Hydro Pump
110805Water
Lv 81
Future Sight
12010010Psychic
Lv 90
Sky Attack
140905Flying

TM Moves

Src
TM95
Air Slash
759515Flying
TM64
Avalanche-4
6010010Ice
TR06
Blizzard
110705Ice
TR01
Body Slam
8510015Normal
TM55
Brine
6510010Water
TM81
Bulldoze
6010020Ground
TR49
Calm Mind
20Psychic
TM45
Dive
8010010Water
TR62
Dragon Pulse
8510010Dragon
TR67
Earth Power
9010010Ground
TR10
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TR26
Endure+4
10Normal
TM39
Facade
7010020Normal
TM06
Fly
909515Flying
TR34
Future Sight
12010010Psychic
TM28
Giga Drain
7510010Grass
TM09
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM35
Hail
10Ice
TM41
Helping Hand+5
20Normal
TR89
Hurricane
1107010Flying
TR03
Hydro Pump
110805Water
TM08
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TR42
Hyper Voice
9010010Normal
TR05
Ice Beam
9010010Ice
TM27
Icy Wind
559515Ice
TM44
Imprison
10Psychic
TR74
Iron Head
8010015Steel
TR31
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
TM17
Light Screen
30Psychic
TM25
Protect+4
10Normal
TR11
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TR25
Psyshock
8010010Psychic
TM33
Rain Dance
5Water
TM18
Reflect
20Psychic
TM21
Rest
10Psychic
TM76
Round
6010015Normal
TM19
Safeguard
25Normal
TM32
Sandstorm
10Rock
TR33
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TR40
Skill Swap
10Psychic
TR27
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM24
Snore
5010015Normal
TM30
Steel Wing
709025Steel
TR20
Substitute
10Normal
TM34
Sunny Day
5Fire
TR04
Surf
9010015Water
TM40
Swift
6020Normal
TR09
Thunder
1107010Electric
TM14
Thunder Wave
9020Electric
TR08
Thunderbolt
9010015Electric
TR38
Trick
10010Psychic
TR16
Waterfall
8010015Water
TM46
Weather Ball
5010010Normal
TM36
Whirlpool
358515Water
TM71
Wonder Room
10Psychic
TR69
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic

Egg Moves

Lugia doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Dual Wingbeat
409010Flying
Tutor
Scale Shot
259020Dragon

No wild encounters for Lugia in Sword & Shield. It's available in Gold, Crystal, or Ultra Moon and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.

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 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.