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

Heart Gold

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

Soul Silver

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 IV Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
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

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Misdreavus
Ghost
HP
60
60
ATK
60
60
DEF
60
60
SP.ATK
85
105+20
SP.DEF
85
105+20
SPE
85
105+20
BST
435C-Tier
495B-Tier+60
ROLE
Balanced
Sweeper
TYPE
Special
Special
Breeding
Easy

Breed Misdreavus easily with 31 breeding partners from the Indeterminate egg group. Pass egg moves like Curse, Destiny Bond, Imprison and 8 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
11moves
Breed With (best first)
gardevoirgalladegastrodonshelloskirliacastformraltsmukgengarweezingswalotrotom

Find one free turn for Calm Mind and Misdreavus can run through teams. Modest nature leans special, Levitate supports the sweep, and utility options stops anything from walling it cleanly.

Best Build

Special Setup Sweeper
Ability
Levitate
Item
Focus SashSURVIVAL
Nature
Modest+SPA
EVs

Best Misdreavus Moveset

  • Shadow BallSTAB
  • Calm Mind
  • MementoUtility
  • CurseSetup

Breeding opens up real options for Misdreavus. Curse and Destiny Bond come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Shadow Ball and Ominous Wind and coverage across 7 types.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Growl
10040Normal
Lv 1
Psywave
8015Psychic
Lv 5
Spite
10010Ghost
Lv 10
Astonish
3010015Ghost
Lv 14
Confuse Ray
10010Ghost
Lv 19
Mean Look
5Normal
Lv 23
Psybeam
6510020Psychic
Lv 28
Pain Split
20Normal
Lv 32
Payback
5010010Dark
Lv 37
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
Lv 41
Perish Song
5Normal
Lv 46
Grudge
5Ghost
Lv 50
Power Gem
7010020Rock

TM Moves

Src
TM40
Aerial Ace
6020Flying
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM04
Calm Mind
20Psychic
TM78
Captivate
10020Normal
TM57
Charge Beam
509010Electric
TM79
Dark Pulse
8010015Dark
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM85
Dream Eater
10010015Psychic
TM63
Embargo
10015Dark
TM58
Endure+4
10Normal
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM70
Flash
10020Normal
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM83
Natural Gift
10015Normal
TM66
Payback
5010010Dark
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM77
Psych Up
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
TM82
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM49
Snatch+4
10Dark
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM87
Swagger
9015Normal
TM12
Taunt
10020Dark
TM46
Thief
6010025Dark
TM25
Thunder
1207010Electric
TM73
Thunder Wave
10020Electric
TM24
Thunderbolt
9510015Electric
TM41
Torment
10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
8510Poison
TM92
Trick Room-7
5Psychic
TM61
Will-O-Wisp
7515Fire

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Curse
10Ghost
Egg
Destiny Bond
5Ghost
Egg
Imprison
10Psychic
Egg
Memento
10010Dark
Egg
Nasty Plot
20Dark
Egg
Ominous Wind
601005Ghost
Egg
Psych Up
10Normal
Egg
Screech
8540Normal
Egg
Shadow Sneak+1
4010030Ghost
Egg
Spite
10010Ghost
Egg
Sucker Punch+1
801005Dark

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Headbutt
7010015Normal
Tutor
Heal Bell
5Normal
Tutor
Icy Wind
559515Ice
Tutor
Magic Coat+4
15Psychic
Tutor
Ominous Wind
601005Ghost
Tutor
Pain Split
20Normal
Tutor
Snore
4010015Normal
Tutor
Spite
10010Ghost
Tutor
Sucker Punch+1
801005Dark
Tutor
Swift
6020Normal
Tutor
Trick
10010Psychic
Tutor
Uproar
9010010Normal

Transfer Moves

Src
Gen 3
Defense Curl
40Normal
Gen 3
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
Gen 3
Mimic
10Normal

Misdreavus is available from mid-game routes onward at high spawn rates. 16 encounter spots give you plenty of options. Grab one early and it'll be ready to evolve or train by mid-game.

Best Locations

16 walking encounters at Lv. 20-48 for Misdreavus across HeartGold and SoulSilver. A few locations are version-exclusive, so your copy of the game affects what's available.

Cliff Cave - 1F
HeartGoldGrassLv.20RareMidCaveNight
CHALLENGING
Cliff Cave - 1F
SoulSilverGrassLv.20RareMidCaveNight
CHALLENGING
Cliff Cave - 2F
HeartGoldGrassLv.20RareMidCaveNight
CHALLENGING
Cliff Cave - 2F
SoulSilverGrassLv.20RareMidCaveNight
CHALLENGING
Cliff Cave - B1F
SoulSilverGrassLv.20RareMidCaveNight
CHALLENGING
Cliff Cave - B1F
HeartGoldGrassLv.20RareMidCaveNight
CHALLENGING
Mt. Silver - 1F Central Chamber
SoulSilverGrassLv.45CommonLateCaveNight
EFFORTLESS
Mt. Silver - 1F Central Chamber
HeartGoldGrassLv.45CommonLateCaveNight
EFFORTLESS
Mt. Silver - 1F Upper Chamber
HeartGoldGrassLv.45UncommonLateCaveNight
EASY
Mt. Silver - 1F Upper Chamber
SoulSilverGrassLv.45UncommonLateCaveNight
EASY
Mt. Silver - 2F
HeartGoldGrassLv.45UncommonLateCaveNight
EASY
Mt. Silver - 2F
SoulSilverGrassLv.45UncommonLateCaveNight
EASY
Mt. Silver - 3F
HeartGoldGrassLv.45UncommonLateCaveNight
EASY
Mt. Silver - 3F
SoulSilverGrassLv.45UncommonLateCaveNight
EASY
Mt. Silver - Upper mountainside
HeartGoldGrassLv.45-48UncommonLateCaveNight
EASY
Mt. Silver - Upper mountainside
SoulSilverGrassLv.45-48UncommonLateCaveNight
EASY
  • 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.