Insomnia blocks sleep and Mean Look traps opponents, giving Murkrow a C-Tier niche in Emerald. Import-only, and Honchkrow waits until Gen 4.
Ability 1InsomniaAbility 1Prevents sleep.
405HP60Attack85Defense42Speed91Sp.Def42Sp.Atk85
Weak to
Mixed
Pivot
91Speed · Above Avg

Is Murkrow Good in Emerald Playthrough?

Breed-only Dark/Flying with AbilityInsomnia blocking sleep. Murkrow has decent Attack but no evolution in Gen 3. Dark handles Phoebe, Flying handles Brawly. Low overall stats and trade-only access limit the contribution. Absol and Sharpedo are better native Dark options.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTGTEEEGEEGEEERoxanneGym 1BrawlyGym 2WattsonGym 3FlanneryGym 4NormanGym 5WinonaGym 6Tate & LizaGym 7JuanGym 8MurkrowTradeSidneyE4PhoebeE4GlaciaE4DrakeE4WallaceChamp*
Roxanne
Gym 1
Tough

Roxanne's team hits Murkrow's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense CurlRock ThrowRock Tomb
Risky
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense CurlRock ThrowRock Tomb
Risky
Nosepass
Lv 15
Rock
Sturdy
BlockHardenTackleRock Tomb
Brawly
Gym 2
Good

Murkrow has the type edge here and should clean up Brawly's team.

You Win
Machop
Lv 16
Fighting
Guts
Karate ChopLow KickSeismic TossBulk Up
Easy KO
Meditite
Lv 16
FightingPsychic
Pure Power
Focus PunchLight ScreenReflectBulk Up
You Win
Makuhita
Lv 19
Fighting
Thick Fat
Arm ThrustVital ThrowReversalBulk Up
Wattson
Gym 3
Tough

Wattson's team hits Murkrow's weaknesses hard.

Even
Voltorb
Lv 20
Electric
Soundproof
RolloutSparkSelf DestructShock Wave
Even
Electrike
Lv 20
Electric
Static
Shock WaveLeerQuick AttackHowl
Risky
Magneton
Lv 22
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicShock WaveThunder WaveSonic Boom
Risky
Manectric
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Quick AttackThunder WaveShock WaveHowl
Flannery
Gym 4
Even

Murkrow trades roughly evenly with Flannery's team.

You Win
Numel
Lv 24
FireGround
Oblivious
OverheatTake DownMagnitudeSunny Day
You Win
Slugma
Lv 24
Fire
Magma Armor
OverheatSmogLight ScreenSunny Day
Even
Camerupt
Lv 26
FireGround
Magma Armor
OverheatTackleSunny DayAttract
Even
Torkoal
Lv 29
Fire
White Smoke
OverheatSunny DayBody SlamAttract
Norman
Gym 5
Even

Murkrow trades roughly evenly with Norman's team.

You Win
Spinda
Lv 27
Normal
Own Tempo
Teeter DancePsybeamFacadeEncore
Even
Vigoroth
Lv 27
Normal
Vital Spirit
SlashFacadeEncoreFeint Attack
Even
Linoone
Lv 29
Normal
Pickup
SlashBelly DrumFacadeHeadbutt
Risky
Slaking
Lv 31
Normal
Truant
CounterYawnFacadeFeint Attack
Winona
Gym 6
Even

Murkrow trades roughly evenly with Winona's team.

You Win
Swablu
Lv 29
NormalFlying
Natural Cure
Perish SongMirror MoveSafeguardAerial Ace
Easy KO
Tropius
Lv 29
GrassFlying
Chlorophyll
Sunny DayAerial AceSolar BeamSynthesis
You Win
Pelipper
Lv 30
WaterFlying
Keen Eye
Water GunSupersonicProtectAerial Ace
Risky
Skarmory
Lv 31
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
Sand AttackFury AttackSteel WingAerial Ace
Even
Altaria
Lv 33
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
EarthquakeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Tate & Liza
Gym 7
Good

Murkrow has the type edge here and should clean up Tate & Liza's team.

You Win
Claydol
Lv 41
GroundPsychic
Levitate
EarthquakeAncient PowerPsychicLight Screen
You Win
Xatu
Lv 41
PsychicFlying
Synchronize
PsychicSunny DayConfuse RayCalm Mind
You Win
Lunatone
Lv 42
RockPsychic
Levitate
Light ScreenPsychicHypnosisCalm Mind
You Win
Solrock
Lv 42
RockPsychic
Levitate
Sunny DaySolar BeamPsychicFlamethrower
Juan
Gym 8
Even

Murkrow trades roughly evenly with Juan's team.

You Win
Luvdisc
Lv 41
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseAttractSweet KissFlail
You Win
Whiscash
Lv 41
WaterGround
Oblivious
Rain DanceWater PulseAmnesiaEarthquake
Even
Sealeo
Lv 43
IceWater
Thick Fat
EncoreBody SlamAurora BeamWater Pulse
Even
Crawdaunt
Lv 43
WaterDark
Hyper Cutter
Water PulseCrabhammerTauntLeer
Risky
Kingdra
Lv 46
WaterDragon
Swift Swim
Water PulseDouble TeamIce BeamRest
Sidney
Elite Four
Even

Murkrow trades roughly evenly with Sidney's team.

Even
Mightyena
Lv 46
Dark
Intimidate
RoarDouble EdgeSand AttackCrunch
You Win
Shiftry
Lv 48
GrassDark
Chlorophyll
TormentDouble TeamSwaggerExtrasensory
You Win
Cacturne
Lv 46
GrassDark
Sand Veil
Leech SeedFeint AttackNeedle ArmCotton Spore
Risky
Crawdaunt
Lv 48
WaterDark
Hyper Cutter
SurfSwords DanceStrengthFacade
Risky
Absol
Lv 49
Dark
Pressure
Aerial AceRock SlideSwords DanceSlash
Phoebe
Elite Four
Good

Murkrow has the type edge here and should clean up Phoebe's team.

You Win
Dusclops
Lv 48
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow PunchConfuse RayCurseProtect
Easy KO
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallGrudgeWill O WispFeint Attack
You Win
Sableye
Lv 50
DarkGhost
Keen Eye
Shadow BallDouble TeamNight ShadeFeint Attack
You Win
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallPsychicThunderboltFacade
Even
Dusclops
Lv 51
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow BallIce BeamRock SlideEarthquake
Glacia
Elite Four
Even

Murkrow trades roughly evenly with Glacia's team.

You Win
Sealeo
Lv 50
IceWater
Thick Fat
EncoreBody SlamHailIce Ball
Even
Glalie
Lv 50
Ice
Inner Focus
Light ScreenCrunchIcy WindIce Beam
Even
Sealeo
Lv 52
IceWater
Thick Fat
AttractDouble EdgeHailBlizzard
Even
Glalie
Lv 52
Ice
Inner Focus
Shadow BallExplosionHailIce Beam
Risky
Walrein
Lv 53
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamIce BeamSheer Cold
Drake
Elite Four
Even

Murkrow trades roughly evenly with Drake's team.

Even
Shelgon
Lv 52
Dragon
Rock Head
Rock TombDragon ClawProtectDouble Edge
Even
Altaria
Lv 54
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
Double EdgeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Even
Kingdra
Lv 53
WaterDragon
Swift Swim
SmokescreenDragon DanceSurfBody Slam
Even
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
Levitate
FlamethrowerCrunchDragon BreathEarthquake
Risky
Salamence
Lv 55
DragonFlying
Intimidate
FlamethrowerDragon ClawRock SlideCrunch
Wallace
Champion
Even

Murkrow trades roughly evenly with Wallace's team.

Even
Wailord
Lv 57
Water
Water Veil
Rain DanceWater SpoutDouble EdgeBlizzard
Risky
Tentacruel
Lv 55
WaterPoison
Clear Body
ToxicHydro PumpSludge BombIce Beam
You Win
Ludicolo
Lv 56
WaterGrass
Swift Swim
Giga DrainSurfLeech SeedDouble Team
Even
Whiscash
Lv 56
WaterGround
Oblivious
EarthquakeSurfAmnesiaHyper Beam
Risky
Gyarados
Lv 56
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon DanceEarthquakeHyper BeamSurf
Risky
Milotic
Lv 58
Water
Marvel Scale
RecoverSurfIce BeamToxic

Trade

Transfer-only
Type
DarkFlying
Tier
C

Murkrow cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.

View Murkrow locations

How to Get Murkrow in Emerald

The roster tags Murkrow as breed-only, yet no wild one exists in Hoenn to lay the egg. Trade a Murkrow in and the Day Care can produce more, but that first bird has to come from another save.

Murkrow cannot be caught in the wild in Emerald, but you can still get it via these paths:

Catch in the wild and trade from these games:

Then trade to Emerald.

How to Get Shiny Murkrow in Emerald

Murkrow appears in no Hoenn route, so trade one over from FireRed, where it haunts the shadows of the Lost Cave; the shiny Murkrow crosses the cable and lands in Emerald unchanged. See every game where Shiny Murkrow can be hunted

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Murkrow in EmeraldNormal
Shiny Murkrow in Emerald Shiny
Color ShiftBlacktoPurple
Shiny TierA Tier Shiny

Shiny Murkrow Evolution

Does Not Evolve
Murkrow does not evolve
Single-stage PokemonView Full Evolution Chart

Murkrow Weakness

Type-wise, Murkrow takes extra damage from Electric, Ice, and Rock. Ground and Psychic moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity.

Murkrow Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Ice, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Grass, Ghost, Dark
0x (Immune)Ground, Psychic
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

What is Murkrow Weak Against

Excellent
3Weak
3Resist
2Immune
Score+3
4xCritical
None
¼xResist
None

What is Murkrow Strong Against

5Strong
1Resisted
0Immune
Score+4
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Murkrow

Magneton
Magneton
ElectricSteel
A
Ampharos
Ampharos
Electric
C
Walrein
Walrein
IceWater
C
B
Manectric
Manectric
Electric
C

Murkrow Evolutions

Breeding is the whole story for Murkrow. A decent partner pool through one egg group, eggs take an average time to hatch, and you won't need to evolve anything. It's got 8 egg moves worth looking into. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Murkrow
#198Murkrow
Does not evolve

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Murkrow easily with 25 breeding partners from the Flying egg group. Pass egg moves like Confuse Ray, Drill Peck, Feather Dance and 5 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
Flying
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
8moves
Breed With (best first)
togeticaltariapelipperfarfetchdswabluwingullcrobatpidgeotdodrioxatufearowgolbat

E Murkrow Best Moveset

Murkrow brings Psychic immunity through Dark typing and sleep immunity through AbilityInsomnia, giving the moveset safe switch-ins against two common strategies. 85 Attack at 91 Speed fires MoveDrill Peck and Dark coverage from the physical side. Glass-thin 60/42/42 bulk means Murkrow contributes through one or two fast hits before going down.

Best Build

Experimental
Physical Stallbreaker
Ability
Insomnia
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Murkrow

Murkrow best EVs are Attack and Speed

EVs

Physical Stallbreaker Moveset

  • Thunder Wave
  • Drill PeckSTAB
  • PursuitSTAB
  • TauntUtility

Moves List

Breeding's the move. Confuse Ray and Drill Peck give Murkrow options it can't learn any other way, and Ghost and Normal coverage and more already covers a decent range on top of Sky Attack and Fly. The egg moves push it further.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Peck
D5210035Flying
Lv 9
Astonish
D3010015Ghost
Lv 14
Pursuit
B6010020Dark
Lv 22
Haze
C——30Ice
Lv 27
Night Shade
D—10015Ghost
Lv 35
Feint Attack
—90—20Dark
Lv 40
Taunt
A—10020Dark
Lv 48
Mean Look
D——5Normal

TM Moves

20 of 21 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM40C90—20Flying
TM45
AttractVerdanturf Townbadge 2
——10015Normal
TM04
Calm MindPrize for defeating Tate & Lizanot until badge 7
C——20Psychic
TM32
Double TeamRoute 113badge 2
———15Normal
TM42D7010020Normal
TM21
FrustrationPacifidlog Townbadge 5
D—10020Normal
TM10
Hidden PowerFortree Citybadge 3
—6010015Normal
TM17C——10Normal
TM18
Rain DanceAbandoned Shipnot until badge 7
C——5Water
TM44
RestLilycove Citybadge 5
C——10Psychic
TM27
ReturnFallarbor Townbadge 3
D—10020Normal
TM43
Secret PowerRoute 111badge 3
—7010020Normal
TM30
Shadow BallMt. Pyrebadge 5
A8010015Ghost
TM49
Snatch+4S.S. Tidal
———10Dark
TM47
Steel WingGranite Cavebadge 1
D709025Steel
TM11
Sunny DayScorched Slabbadge 5
C——5Fire
TM12
TauntTrick Housebadge 6
A—10020Dark
TM46
ThiefSlateport Citybadge 1
C9010025Dark
TM41
TormentSlateport Citybadge 1
D—10015Dark
TM06
ToxicFiery Pathbadge 4
C—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Confuse Ray
D—10010Ghost
Egg
Drill Peck
B12010020Flying
Egg
Feather Dance
——10015Flying
Egg
Mirror Move
———20Flying
Egg
Perish Song
C——5Normal
Egg
Sky Attack
B210905Flying
Egg
Whirlwind-6
A——20Normal
Egg
Wing Attack
—9010035Flying

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
Tutor
Dream Eater
—10010015Psychic
Tutor
Endure+4
C——10Normal
Tutor
Icy Wind
D559515Ice
Tutor
Mimic
D——10Normal
Tutor
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
Tutor
Psych Up
D——10Normal
Tutor
Sleep Talk
D——10Normal
Tutor
Snore
—4010015Normal
Tutor
Substitute
A——10Normal
Tutor
Swagger
D—9015Normal
Tutor
Swift
—60—20Normal
Tutor
Thunder Wave
B—10020Electric

Base Stats

Base Stats
Above
HP60
C
Attack85
C
Defense42
D
Sp. Atk85
C
Sp. Def42
D
Speed91
B
Total405
Details
Catch Rate
Difficult30 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height0.5 m
Weight2.1 kg
Base XP81
Abilities
Insomnia
Prevents sleep.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+1
Speed training source
Pokedex Entry

MURKROW were feared as the alleged bearers of ill fortune. It shows strong interest in anything that sparkles. It will even try to steal rings from women.

Pokemon Emerald

Murkrow Emerald Guide

  • No. Murkrow isn't catchable in Emerald. Catch one in FireRed, then trade it over.

  • In Emerald, Murkrow has 405 BST, so weigh it against what your team already covers.

  • In Emerald, Murkrow plays as a pivot. Speed is middling, so pick your spots carefully. Pursuit is the primary attack.

  • In Emerald, Adamant is the go-to nature for Murkrow. That's +Attack / -Sp. Atk. Pair it with 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe EVs. Fits the pivot role.

  • In Emerald, Murkrow pairs best with Tyranitar, Swampert, and Metagross. Tyranitar has Good synergy and covers what Murkrow can't handle on its own.

Game Availability

Murkrow first appeared in Gold & Silver and has been available in 17 games across 8 generations. Obtainable through wild encounters in most titles where it appears.

Explore

Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Want to tell us more?
What was most useful?
What could be improved?
Thanks for your feedback