Special
Balanced
435Average
85Moderate
CTier

Misdreavus is technically a pre-evolution of Mismagius, but it holds its own in formats where Eviolite is allowed. Levitate gives it a Ground immunity, adding extra value. Flexible enough to run physical or special sets. A longtime staple going back to Gen 2.

You won't find a real weakness in Misdreavus's stat line. It's well-rounded for the Screech Pokemon, and what it does with that depends on moveset and items. Yields 1 Sp. Def EV, on a fast 800K XP curve.

Base Stats
435Above
HP60
C
Attack60
C
Defense60
C
Sp. Atk85
C
Sp. Def85
C
Speed85
C
Total435
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Misdreavus yields +1 SpD
HPAtkDefSpASpD+1Spe
Details
Catch45ChallengingFast800,000 XP0.7m / 2'04"1kg / 2.2 lbs87Base XP
Pokedex Entries

It loves to bite and yank people’s hair from behind without warning, just to see their shocked reactions.

Fire Red

It likes playing mischievous tricks such as screaming and wailing to startle people at night.

Leaf Green

Misdreavus Weakness

Excellent

Misdreavus is weak to Ghost and Dark-type moves. On the flip side, it's immune to Normal and Fighting-type moves entirely. Levitate grants an additional Ground immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. Misdreavus's special bulk (base 85 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

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
2xWeaki
½xResisti
¼xResisti
None
STAB (2)i
2Weak
2Resist
3Immune
Scorei+4
Abilities
LevitateEvades ground moves.
Levitate grants Ground immunity

To get Mismagius from Misdreavus, you need an evolution item. The evolution method matters here. Evolving adds up to 60 stat points total.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Misdreavus
#200Misdreavus
Does not evolve
Breeding
Easy

Breed Misdreavus easily with 22 breeding partners from the Indeterminate egg group. Pass egg moves like Destiny Bond, Imprison, Psych Up and 1 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
Indeterminate
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
25 cycles·6,425 steps
Moderate~6 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
4moves
Breed With (best first)
gardevoirkirliacastformraltsmukgengarweezingswalotmagcargohaunterwobbuffetkoffing

Misdreavus's built to absorb hits. Calm nature leans into special wall duty, Leftovers gives it passive recovery each turn, and Rest handles sustain. Levitate and max HP and Sp. Def EVs tie the defensive profile together.

Best Build

Wall
Ability
Levitate
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Nature
Calm+SPD
EVs

Best Misdreavus Moveset

  • Perish Song
  • Mean Look
  • RestRecovery
  • ThunderboltCoverage

Breeding opens up real options for Misdreavus. Destiny Bond and Imprison come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Shadow Ball and Astonish and Psychic and Flying coverage and more.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Growl
10040Normal
Lv 1
Psywave
8015Psychic
Lv 6
Spite
10010Ghost
Lv 11
Astonish
3010015Ghost
Lv 17
Confuse Ray
10010Ghost
Lv 23
Mean Look
5Normal
Lv 30
Psybeam
6510020Psychic
Lv 37
Pain Split
20Normal
Lv 45
Perish Song
5Normal
Lv 53
Grudge
5Ghost

TM Moves

Src
TM40
Aerial Ace
6020Flying
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM04
Calm Mind
20Psychic
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
HM05
Flash
7020Normal
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM29
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM43
Secret Power
7010020Normal
TM30
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TM34
Shock Wave
6020Electric
TM48
Skill Swap
10Psychic
TM49
Snatch+4
10Dark
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM12
Taunt
10020Dark
TM46
Thief
6010025Dark
TM25
Thunder
1207010Electric
TM24
Thunderbolt
9510015Electric
TM41
Torment
10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
8510Poison

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Destiny Bond
5Ghost
Egg
Imprison
10Psychic
Egg
Psych Up
10Normal
Egg
Screech
8540Normal

Tutor Moves

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

decent spawn rates across 14 locations for Misdreavus in early-game routes. Scroll the sorted list below and pick whichever spot sits closest to your current route. The rate differences between locations are worth comparing.

Best Locations

Misdreavus won't take long. 14 walking spots from Lv. 15-22 with solid rates across most of them. The top locations at each game stage are listed first.

Lost Cave - Room 11
GrassLv.15-22UncommonEarlyCave
EASY
Lost Cave - Room 12
GrassLv.15-22UncommonEarlyCave
EASY
Lost Cave - Room 13
GrassLv.15-22UncommonEarlyCave
EASY
Lost Cave - Room 14
GrassLv.15-22UncommonEarlyCave
EASY
Lost Cave - Room 1
GrassLv.22RareMidCave
CHALLENGING
Lost Cave - Room 10
GrassLv.22RareMidCave
CHALLENGING
Lost Cave - Room 2
GrassLv.22RareMidCave
CHALLENGING
Lost Cave - Room 3
GrassLv.22RareMidCave
CHALLENGING
Lost Cave - Room 4
GrassLv.22RareMidCave
CHALLENGING
Lost Cave - Room 5
GrassLv.22RareMidCave
CHALLENGING
Lost Cave - Room 6
GrassLv.22RareMidCave
CHALLENGING
Lost Cave - Room 7
GrassLv.22RareMidCave
CHALLENGING
Lost Cave - Room 8
GrassLv.22RareMidCave
CHALLENGING
Lost Cave - Room 9
GrassLv.22RareMidCave
CHALLENGING
  • At 435 BST, Misdreavus is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Mismagius before bringing it to any serious fight.

  • Misdreavus's biggest threats include Gengar (Ghost) and Houndoom (Dark), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

  • Misdreavus evolves into Mismagius using a Dusk Stone. Misdreavus is the base form of this evolutionary line.

  • Misdreavus gets Levitate. But Levitate is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.

  • Misdreavus is a special attacker with base 85 Sp. Atk. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 85 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many.

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

Since Gold & Silver, Misdreavus has been in 17 games. Requiring an item-based evolution to obtain means it's consistently available but requires more effort than simply catching it in the wild.