Physical
Balanced
290Low
90Moderate
DTier

Meowth sits at the start of its evolution line — not yet at full power, but that changes fast. Most trainers push through to Persian as fast as possible. Ghost moves can't touch it, and only a single type hits it super-effectively. Known as the Scratch Cat Pokemon.

Speed and Attack carry most of Meowth's stat budget. Defense's the obvious dump stat. Easy to catch and yields 1 Speed EV. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats
290Below
HP40
D
Attack45
D
Defense35
F
Sp. Atk40
D
Sp. Def40
D
Speed90
B
Total290
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Meowth yields +1 Spe
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+1
Details
Catch255GuaranteedMedium Fast1M XP0.4m / 1'04"4.2kg / 9.3 lbs58Base XP
Pokedex Entries

This Pokémon was not originally found in Alola. Human actions caused a surge in their numbers, and they went feral. They’re prideful and crafty.

Sun

When its delicate pride is wounded, or when the gold coin on its forehead is dirtied, it flies into a hysterical rage.

Moon

Meowth Weakness

Good

Meowth is weak to Fighting-type moves. On the flip side, it's immune to Ghost-type moves entirely. Just 1 weak spot to worry about, which keeps teambuilding straightforward.

4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
½xResisti
None
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
STABi
No super-effective STAB
1Weak
0Resist
1Immune
Scorei+1
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
PickupPicks up other Pokémon's used and Flung held items. May also pick up an item after battle.
TechnicianStrengthens moves of 60 base power or less to 1.5× their power.
UnnerveHAPrevents opposing Pokémon from eating held Berries.

One evolution ahead. Meowth grows into Persian through a straightforward two-stage chain. No compatible partners for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. Evolving adds up to 150 stat points total.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Meowth
#052Meowth
High Friendship
Persian
#053Persian
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Meowth
Normal
Persian
Normal
HP
40
65+25
ATK
45
70+25
DEF
35
60+25
SP.ATK
40
65+25
SP.DEF
40
65+25
SPE
90
115+25
BST
290C-Tier
440C-Tier+150
ROLE
Balanced
Pivot
TYPE
Utility
Physical
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed Meowth easily from the Ground egg group. Pass egg moves like Amnesia, Assist, Charm and 10 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
Ground
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
13moves

For a physical attacker, Meowth wants max Attack and Speed EVs and Life Orb. The Adamant nature tilts toward physical duty, and Technician contributes without taking a move slot.

Best Build

Physical Sweeper
Ability
Technician
Item
Life OrbPOWER
Nature
Adamant+ATK
EVs

Best Meowth Moveset

  • Fake OutSTAB
  • Knock Off
  • Foul Play
  • FeintFAST +2

Egg moves make a real difference. Meowth gets Amnesia and Assist exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Coverage across 9 types rounds out the picture alongside Last Resort and Skull Bash.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Growl
10040Normal
Lv 1
Scratch
4010035Normal
Lv 6
Bite
6010025Dark
Lv 9
Fake Out+3
4010010Normal
Lv 14
Fury Swipes
188015Normal
Lv 17
Screech
8540Normal
Lv 22
Feint Attack
6020Dark
Lv 25
Taunt
10020Dark
Lv 30
Pay Day
4010020Normal
Lv 33
Slash
7010020Normal
Lv 38
Nasty Plot
20Dark
Lv 41
Assurance
6010010Dark
Lv 46
Captivate
10020Normal
Lv 49
Night Slash
7010015Dark
Lv 50
Feint+2
3010010Normal

TM Moves

Src
TM40
Aerial Ace
6020Flying
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM100
Confide
20Normal
TM97
Dark Pulse
8010015Dark
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM85
Dream Eater
10010015Psychic
TM49
Echoed Voice
4010015Normal
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM66
Payback
5010010Dark
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM77
Psych Up
10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM30
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TM65
Shadow Claw
7010015Ghost
TM88
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM87
Swagger
8515Normal
TM12
Taunt
10020Dark
TM46
Thief
6010025Dark
TM25
Thunder
1107010Electric
TM24
Thunderbolt
9010015Electric
TM41
Torment
10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
9010Poison
TM89
U-turn
7010020Bug
TM01
Work Up
30Normal

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Amnesia
20Psychic
Egg
Assist
20Normal
Egg
Charm
10020Fairy
Egg
Flail
10015Normal
Egg
Foul Play
9510015Dark
Egg
Hypnosis
6020Psychic
Egg
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
Egg
Last Resort
1401005Normal
Egg
Odor Sleuth
40Normal
Egg
Punishment
1005Dark
Egg
Snatch+4
10Dark
Egg
Spite
10010Ghost
Egg
Tail Whip
10030Normal

Tutor Moves

Meowth can't learn any Tutor moves

Transfer Moves

Src
Gen 1
Bide+1
10Normal
Gen 3
Body Slam
8510015Normal
Gen 1
Bubble Beam
6510020Water
Gen 2
Curse
10Ghost
Gen 6
Cut
509530Normal
Gen 3
Defense Curl
40Normal
Gen 2
Detect+4
5Fighting
Gen 6
Dig
8010010Ground
Gen 3
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
Gen 4
Endure+4
10Normal
Gen 6
Flash
10020Normal
Gen 4
Headbutt
7010015Normal
Gen 6
Hone Claws
15Dark
Gen 3
Mimic
10Normal
Gen 4
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
Gen 4
Natural Gift
10015Normal
Gen 2
Nightmare
10015Ghost
Gen 1
Rage
2010020Normal
Gen 6
Retaliate
701005Normal
Gen 6
Secret Power
7010020Normal
Gen 1
Skull Bash
13010010Normal
Gen 4
Swift
6020Normal
Gen 1
Take Down
908520Normal
Gen 1
Water Gun
4010025Water
Gen 2
Zap Cannon
120505Electric

Easy grab on Meowth with high spawn rates across 8 locations in early-game routes. The sorted list below shows the full spread so you can pick the most convenient spot.

Best Locations

Before you go hunting for Meowth, check which of the 8 spots belong to your version. Sun and Moon each have different walking encounters at Lv. 5-27.

Route 1 - Hau'oli Outskirts
SunGrassLv.6-830%EarlyRoute
EFFORTLESS
Route 1 - Hau'oli Outskirts
MoonGrassLv.6-830%EarlyRoute
EFFORTLESS
Route 2 - South
SunGrassLv.7-1030%EarlyRoute
EFFORTLESS
Route 2 - South
MoonGrassLv.7-1030%EarlyRoute
EFFORTLESS
Hau'oli City - Shopping District
MoonGrassLv.5-810%EarlyCity
MODERATE
Hau'oli City - Shopping District
SunGrassLv.5-810%EarlyCity
MODERATE
Malie Garden
MoonGrassLv.24-2720%MidForest
EASY
Malie Garden
SunGrassLv.24-2720%MidForest
EASY
  • Meowth is meant to evolve into Persian. At 290 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.

  • Meowth's biggest threats include Machamp (Fighting), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Only 1 weakness means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

  • Meowth can evolve into Persian, Galarian Perrserker, and Alolan Persian depending on the method. Meowth is the base form in a 4-stage evolutionary line.

  • Technician is what you want on Meowth. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Pickup, Unnerve) work on paper but Technician is what makes Meowth worth using.

  • Base 90 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Meowth is a physical attacker with base 45 Attack. Defensively? Fragile — can't afford to take many hits.

  • Meowth appears in 21 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.

Since debuting in Red & Blue, Meowth has appeared in 21 titles over 9 generations. Along the way, it received an Alolan form in Generation 7 and Gigantamax and Galarian forms in Generation 8, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.