Mothim Best Moveset
Bug/Flying at 94/94 mixed offenses and 66 Speed. The moveset hits from either side at moderate power. 60/50/50 bulk collapses on any strong hit, but the mixed offensive flexibility is decent for encounters.
Tinted Lens removed resistances in Gen IV (Diamond & Pearl). Bug/Flying with 94/94 mixed offenses. Nothing resisted the hits, but 50/50 defenses crumbled to everything.
Best Moves
Best Build
Mothim best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Hidden Power Water
- Psychic
- Bug Buzz
- Air Slash
Recommended Teammates
66 Speed moved too slowly in Gen V (Black & White). Quiver Dance on Butterfree and Vivillon outclassed the Tinted Lens approach.
Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Bug Buzz
- Giga Drain
- Quiver Dance
- Air Slash
Recommended Teammates
Bug/Flying with 25% Stealth Rock damage in Gen VI (X & Y). Same typing as Butterfree, worse stats, no Sleep Powder.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- U Turn
- Bug Buzz
- Hidden Power Ground
- Air Slash
Recommended Teammates
Four gens as the worse Burmy evolution in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). Tinted Lens was the one trick and it couldn't carry 424 BST.
Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Bug Buzz
- Air Slash
- U Turn
- Quiver Dance
Recommended Teammates
Mothim Weakness
Type-wise, Mothim takes extra damage from Rock, Fire, Electric, Ice, and Flying. Watch out for Rock attacks, those deal 4x damage. Ground moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Rock |
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Electric, Ice, Flying |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Bug |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground |
What is Mothim Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Mothim
Cinderace's Sucker Punch hits Mothim for 43-51%. Kyurem threatens a KO with Draco Meteor (131-155%). Tyranitar's Stone Edge also KOs at 675-794%.
 Cinderace Fire | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLibero ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Mothim View Cinderace builds →U Turn22-26% Sucker Punch43-51% | ||
 Kyurem DragonIce | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemLoaded Dice NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Mothim View Kyurem builds →Icicle Spear 2x38-45% Draco Meteor131-155%KO | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Mothim View Tyranitar builds →Knock Off110-129%KO Stone Edge 4x675-794%KO | ||
 Salamence Dragon | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityMoxie ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureAdamant Moves View Salamence builds →
| ||
 Rotom ElectricGhost | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Mothim View Rotom builds →Volt Switch 2x148-175%KO Shadow Ball85-100%KO Thunderbolt 2x191-225%KO | ||
Evolution
Mothim is the evolved form of Burmy. Breeding produces Burmy eggs, and they're quick to hatch. Evolving from Burmy gave Mothim the biggest boost in Attack (+65), bringing the total to 424 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Mothim to get Burmy eggs using 91 partners from the Bug egg group.
How to Get Mothim
Mothim appears at decent spawn rates across 6 spots in mid-game routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.
Where To Catch Mothim in PLA
Burmy is your first catch on the way to Mothim. You'll find special and walking encounters from Lv. 2-46 across 32 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch BurmyDeertrack PathLv.7-10Shaking berry treesDeertrack HeightsLv.9-14Shaking berry treesNature’s PantryLv.9-12Shaking berry treesGrueling GroveLv.15-18Shaking berry treesAspiration HillLv.2-4Shaking berry treesRate 15%Tidewater DamLv.9-12Shaking berry treesRate 15%Deadwood HauntLv.10-40Shaking berry treesRate 15%Droning MeadowLv.11-36Shaking berry treesRate 15%Avalanche SlopesLv.16-19Shaking berry treesBonechill WastesLv.16-19Shaking berry treesCelestica RuinsLv.16-19Shaking berry treesCloudpool RidgeLv.16-19Shaking berry treesCrossing SlopeLv.16-19Shaking berry treesGlacier TerraceLv.16-19Shaking berry treesGolden LowlandsLv.16-19Shaking berry treesHeavenward LookoutLv.16-19Shaking berry treesShrouded RuinsLv.16-19Shaking berry treesStonetooth RowsLv.16-19Shaking berry treesVeilstone CapeLv.16-19Shaking berry treesCelestica TrailLv.30-46Shaking berry treesBathers' LagoonLv.16-19Shaking berry treesRate 15%Gapejaw BogLv.16-19Shaking berry treesRate 15%Ginkgo LandingLv.16-19Shaking berry treesRate 15%Sacred PlazaLv.16-19Shaking berry treesRate 15%Tranquility CoveLv.16-19Shaking berry treesRate 15%Ursa's RingLv.16-19Shaking berry treesRate 15%
Step 2Mothim ✓Ginkgo LandingLv.16-30GrassRate 15%Grueling GroveLv.20-23GrassRate 15%Aipom HillLv.29-32GrassRate 15%Veilstone CapeLv.29-32GrassRate 15%Wayward WoodLv.35-38GrassRate 15%Spring PathLv.41-44GrassRate 15%or evolve from Burmy (Step 1)
Mothim can't be caught in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. Transfer Burmy from Diamond & Pearl or Platinum and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
How to Obtain Mothim in BDSP
Step 1Obtain BurmyLATER APPEARANCEfrom Diamond & PearlNot TradeableAppears in Diamond & Pearl via Honey tree · Route 210. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom PlatinumNot TradeableAppears in Platinum via Honey tree · Route 205. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
Step 2Mothim ✓
No wild encounters for Mothim in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. Bring Burmy over from Diamond & Pearl or Platinum, then level through the stages. Each step in the chain is laid out below.
How to Obtain Mothim in USUM
- Step 1Obtain BurmyLATER APPEARANCEfrom Diamond & PearlNot TradeableAppears in Diamond & Pearl via Honey tree · Route 210. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom PlatinumNot TradeableAppears in Platinum via Honey tree · Route 205. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
- Step 2Mothim ✓
Mothim can't be caught in Sun & Moon. Transfer Burmy from Diamond & Pearl or Platinum and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
How to Obtain Mothim in SM
- Step 1Obtain BurmyBREEDINGAvailableLeave Mothim with a compatible partner at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Burmy egg.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Diamond & PearlNot TradeableAppears in Diamond & Pearl via Honey tree · Route 210. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom PlatinumNot TradeableAppears in Platinum via Honey tree · Route 205. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
- Step 2Mothim ✓
Base Stats
Mothim's built around mixed offense. Attack leads the charge, Defense pays for it. Tough to catch, worth 2 Attack and Sp. Atk EVs. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
Scatters steel-colored scales as it flaps its wings. Despite being observed feeding primarily on the nectar of flowers, Mothim is not often seen around flower gardens.
Mothim Guide
Mothim's biggest threats include Tyranitar (Rock), Blaziken (Fire), and Rotom (Electric), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Tyranitar is the most dangerous since Rock moves deal 4x damage. Ice and Flying-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.
Mothim can work for a story run. 424 BST is average, but Bug/Flying typing fills a niche depending on your team composition.
Don't let Mothim's 424 base stat total fool you. Tinted Lens is what makes it tick. It punches way above its weight class. We rate it C-Tier.
Run Tinted Lens on Mothim. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Mothim also gets Swarm, but they don't compare.
Tinted Lens is the hidden ability. It doubles damage inflicted with not-very-effective moves. Worth hunting for if you want Mothim to compete at a higher level.
Game Availability
Mothim first appeared in Diamond & Pearl and has been available in 11 games across 7 generations. Obtainable through wild encounters in most titles where it appears.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves