Noctowl punches above its weight class thanks to Tinted Lens. It makes resisted hits deal full damage, which is enough to make up for stats that don't impress on their own. Ground and Ghost moves can't touch it, and only 3 types hit it super-effectively.
Nothing fancy in Noctowl's spread. It leans special with HP out front. And you'll get 2 HP EVs per KO for it. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
Its eyes are specially developed to enable it to see clearly even in murky darkness and minimal light.
When it needs to think, it rotates its head 180 degrees to sharpen its intellectual power.
Noctowl Weakness
GoodNoctowl is weak to Electric, Ice, and Rock-type moves. On the flip side, it's immune to Ground and Ghost-type moves entirely. Noctowl's special bulk (base 96 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
Noctowl is what Hoothoot becomes. Breed it for Hoothoot eggs (quick to hatch). A decent partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are quick to hatch. The evolution from Hoothoot pushed Noctowl to 452 total stats. Sp.Atk saw the largest single gain at +50.
How to Evolve
Breed with Noctowl to get Hoothoot eggs easily using 39 partners from the Flying egg group. Notable egg moves include Defog, Feather Dance, Night Shade and 3 more.
Tintedlens helps Noctowl stick around while dealing real damage. Leftovers for passive recovery each turn, max HP and Sp. Atk EVs for the right balance, and Air Slash as the main threat. Not the fastest, but it doesn't need to be.
Best Build
Best Noctowl Moveset
- Air Slash
- Roost
- Hyper Voice
- Heat Wave
Recommended Teammates
Egg moves make a real difference. Noctowl gets Defog and Feather Dance exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Psychic and Fairy coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Giga Impact and Hyper Beam.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Plenty of locations for Noctowl with high spawn rates across mid-game routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Where To Catch Noctowl in Sword & Shield
To get Noctowl, start by catching Hoothoot through walking encounters at Lv. 2-30. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch HoothootEASYDappled GroveShieldOverworldLv.13-1528%EarlyForestOvercastEASYDappled GroveSwordOverworldLv.13-1528%EarlyForestOvercastEASYDappled GroveShieldOverworldLv.13-1525%EarlyForestNormal WeatherEASYDappled GroveSwordOverworldLv.13-1525%EarlyForestNormal WeatherEASYSlumbering WealdSwordGrassLv.2-315%EarlyForestAll WeatherEASYSlumbering WealdShieldGrassLv.2-315%EarlyForestAll WeatherMODERATEDappled GroveSwordOverworldLv.13-1510%EarlyForestSnowingMODERATEDappled GroveSwordOverworldLv.13-1510%EarlyForestSandstormMODERATEDappled GroveSwordOverworldLv.13-1510%EarlyForestHeavy FogMODERATEDappled GroveShieldOverworldLv.13-1510%EarlyForestSnowingMODERATEDappled GroveShieldOverworldLv.13-1510%EarlyForestSandstormMODERATEDappled GroveShieldOverworldLv.13-1510%EarlyForestHeavy FogCHALLENGINGRoute 1SwordGrassLv.2-55%EarlyRouteAll WeatherCHALLENGINGRoute 1ShieldGrassLv.2-55%EarlyRouteAll WeatherCHALLENGINGRoute 2SwordGrassLv.4-65%EarlyRouteAll WeatherCHALLENGINGRoute 2ShieldGrassLv.4-65%EarlyRouteAll WeatherMODERATEGiant's Cap - 2SwordOverworldLv.28-3010%MidNormal WeatherMODERATEGiant's Cap - 2ShieldOverworldLv.28-3010%MidSandstormMODERATEGiant's Cap - 2ShieldOverworldLv.28-3010%MidRainingMODERATEGiant's Cap - 2ShieldOverworldLv.28-3010%MidNormal WeatherMODERATEGiant's Cap - 2SwordOverworldLv.28-3010%MidSandstormMODERATEGiant's Cap - 2SwordOverworldLv.28-3010%MidRainingMODERATEGiant's Cap - 2SwordOverworldLv.28-305%MidOvercastMODERATEGiant's Cap - 2ShieldOverworldLv.28-305%MidIntense SunMODERATEGiant's Cap - 2ShieldOverworldLv.28-305%MidSnowingMODERATEGiant's Cap - 2ShieldOverworldLv.28-305%MidHeavy FogMODERATEGiant's Cap - 2SwordOverworldLv.28-305%MidThunderstormMODERATEGiant's Cap - 2ShieldOverworldLv.28-305%MidOvercastMODERATEGiant's Cap - 2SwordOverworldLv.28-305%MidIntense SunMODERATEGiant's Cap - 2SwordOverworldLv.28-305%MidSnowingMODERATEGiant's Cap - 2SwordOverworldLv.28-305%MidHeavy FogMODERATEGiant's Cap - 2ShieldOverworldLv.28-305%MidThunderstorm
Step 2Noctowl ✓EFFORTLESSMotostoke OutskirtsSwordOverworldLv.22-2640%MidAll WeatherEFFORTLESSGiant's CapShieldOverworldLv.28-3040%MidNormal WeatherEFFORTLESSGiant's CapSwordOverworldLv.28-3040%MidNormal WeatherEFFORTLESSMotostoke OutskirtsShieldOverworldLv.22-2635%MidAll WeatherEFFORTLESSMotostoke RiverbankShieldGrassLv.26-2830%MidNormal WeatherEFFORTLESSMotostoke RiverbankSwordGrassLv.26-2830%MidNormal WeatherEASYMotostoke RiverbankShieldGrassLv.26-2820%MidOvercastEASYMotostoke RiverbankSwordGrassLv.26-2820%MidSandstormEASYMotostoke RiverbankSwordGrassLv.26-2820%MidOvercastEASYMotostoke RiverbankShieldGrassLv.26-2820%MidSandstormMODERATEMotostoke RiverbankShieldGrassLv.26-2810%MidHeavy FogMODERATEMotostoke RiverbankSwordGrassLv.26-2810%MidIntense SunMODERATEMotostoke RiverbankSwordGrassLv.26-2810%MidSnowingMODERATEMotostoke RiverbankSwordGrassLv.26-2810%MidHeavy FogMODERATEMotostoke RiverbankShieldGrassLv.26-2810%MidIntense SunMODERATEMotostoke RiverbankShieldGrassLv.26-2810%MidSnowingMODERATEGiant's CapSwordOverworldLv.28-3010%MidSandstormMODERATEGiant's CapSwordOverworldLv.28-3010%MidRainingMODERATEGiant's CapSwordOverworldLv.28-3010%MidHeavy FogMODERATEGiant's CapShieldOverworldLv.28-3010%MidSandstormMODERATEGiant's CapShieldOverworldLv.28-3010%MidRainingMODERATEGiant's CapShieldOverworldLv.28-3010%MidHeavy FogMODERATEGiant's CapShieldOverworldLv.28-305%MidOvercastMODERATEGiant's CapSwordOverworldLv.28-305%MidThunderstormMODERATEGiant's CapSwordOverworldLv.28-305%MidIntense SunMODERATEGiant's CapSwordOverworldLv.28-305%MidSnowingMODERATEGiant's CapShieldOverworldLv.28-305%MidThunderstormMODERATEGiant's CapShieldOverworldLv.28-305%MidIntense SunMODERATEGiant's CapSwordOverworldLv.28-305%MidOvercastMODERATEGiant's CapShieldOverworldLv.28-305%MidSnowingor evolve from Hoothoot (Step 1)
Noctowl looks average on paper at 452 BST. But Tinted Lens is why it sees play — build around that and it pulls its weight. C-Tier on our tier list.
Noctowl's biggest threats include Jolteon (Electric), Cloyster (Ice), and Aerodactyl (Rock), all carrying super-effective STAB moves.
Hoothoot evolves into Noctowl at level 20. Noctowl is the fully evolved form. It sits at 452 BST in its evolved form.
Noctowl gets Tinted Lens, Insomnia, and Keen Eye. But Tinted Lens is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Noctowl is leaning toward the special side (base 86 Sp. Atk). Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 70 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many.
Noctowl appears in 17 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.
Debuting in Gold & Silver, Noctowl appears in 17 games across 8 generations. A reliable presence in most mainline games, typically found through wild encounters.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A