Is Noctowl Good in HeartGold & SoulSilver Playthrough?
Hoothoot evolves at level 20. Normal/Flying with AbilityInsomnia. Handles Morty and Chuck through Ghost immunity and Flying. Decent special Defense helps Noctowl absorb hits. Falls behind Pidgeot and Crobat by the Kanto stretch, but earns its keep through Johto.
Hoothoot trades roughly evenly with Falkner's team.
Hoothoot has the type edge here and should clean up Bugsy's team.
Hoothoot trades roughly evenly with Whitney's team.
Noctowl has the type edge here and should clean up Morty's team.
Noctowl has the type edge here and should clean up Chuck's team.
Jasmine's team hits Noctowl's weaknesses hard.
Noctowl trades roughly evenly with Pryce's team.
Noctowl trades roughly evenly with Clair's team.
Brock's team hits Noctowl's weaknesses hard.
Noctowl has the type edge here and should clean up Misty's team.
Noctowl trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.
Noctowl resists most of Erika's coverage and hits back hard.
Noctowl resists most of Janine's coverage and hits back hard.
Noctowl has the type edge here and should clean up Sabrina's team.
Blaine's team hits Noctowl's weaknesses hard.
Noctowl trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.
Noctowl has the type edge here and should clean up Will's team.
Noctowl has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.
Noctowl has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.
Noctowl has the type edge here and should clean up Karen's team.
Noctowl trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.
Catch Hoothoot
Catch Hoothoot in New Bark Town (Headbutt, Lv 2-5, limited).
Recommended Moves
- LV 25NormalTake DownPower 135Accuracy 85%PP 20
- After Morty
- TM88FlyingPluckPower 90Accuracy 100%PP 20Route 40
- LV 29FlyingAir SlashPower 113Accuracy 95%PP 20
- After Chuck
- HM02FlyingFlyPower 135Accuracy 95%PP 15From Chuck's wife outside Cianwood Gym
- After Jasmine
- TM43NormalSecret PowerPower 105Accuracy 100%PP 20Lake of Rage
- TM10NormalHidden PowerPower 90Accuracy 100%PP 15Lake of Rage
- After Clair
- TM40FlyingAerial AcePower 90Accuracy 100%PP 20Mt. Mortar
- LV 49PsychicDream EaterPower 100Accuracy 100%PP 15
Evolve Hoothoot to Noctowl
Hoothoot evolves into Noctowl at Level 20. Your Hoothoot should hit Level 20 before you reach Morty, at typical leveling pace.
Recommended Moves
- STARTING (Lv 20)
- LV 20FlyingSky AttackPower 210Accuracy 90%PP 5
- After Bugsy
- TM15NormalHyper BeamPower 225Accuracy 90%PP 5Goldenrod Department Store
- LV 27NormalTake DownPower 135Accuracy 85%PP 20
- After Chuck
- HM02FlyingFlyPower 135Accuracy 95%PP 15From Chuck's wife outside Cianwood Gym
- LV 32FlyingAir SlashPower 113Accuracy 95%PP 20
- After Jasmine
- TM43NormalSecret PowerPower 105Accuracy 100%PP 20Lake of Rage
- After Clair
- TM40FlyingAerial AcePower 90Accuracy 100%PP 20Mt. Mortar
- LV 57PsychicDream EaterPower 100Accuracy 100%PP 15
How to Get Noctowl in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Noctowl is a nighttime catch scattered across Kanto routes and a couple of Johto spots, never common but steady once the sun goes down. Headbutting forest trees also turns up younger ones if you would rather grab it early.
9 locations to catch Noctowl42 locations to catch Hoothoot
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8Catch Hoothoot at any of the 42 locations below, then level it up to 20 — it evolves into Noctowl.
Badge 1 Badge 2 Badge 3 Badge 4 Badge 5 Badge 6 Badge 7 Badge 8Where To Catch Noctowl in HGSS
Available earlier: catch Hoothoot at the very start and evolve it at Lv 20. Wild Noctowl first appears at Ilex Forest (after Badge 1).
- Step 1Catch HoothootNational ParkLv.10-14FloorRate 100%NightRoute 29Lv.2-4GrassRate 85%NightViridian ForestLv.3-5GrassRate 80%NightIlex ForestLv.3-8Headbutting treesRate 60%Route 30Lv.3-4GrassSoulSilverRate 60%NightRoute 2 - NorthLv.3-5GrassSoulSilverRate 60%NightRoute 2 - SouthLv.3-5GrassSoulSilverRate 60%NightRoute 37Lv.13-15GrassSoulSilverRate 60%NightCherrygrove CityLv.2-5Headbutting treesRate 50%New Bark TownLv.2-5Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 29Lv.2-5Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 30Lv.2-5Headbutting treesRate 50%Violet CityLv.2-10Headbutting treesRate 50%Pallet TownLv.2-6Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 1Lv.2-6Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 31Lv.3-6Headbutting treesRate 50%Pewter CityLv.3-9Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 2 - NorthLv.3-5GrassHeartGoldRate 50%NightRoute 2 - NorthLv.3-7Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 2 - SouthLv.3-5GrassHeartGoldRate 50%NightRoute 2 - SouthLv.3-7Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 22Lv.3-7Headbutting treesRate 50%Viridian CityLv.3-7Headbutting treesRate 50%Viridian ForestLv.3-7Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 32Lv.4-7Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 36Lv.4-7Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 3Lv.6-10Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 34Lv.9-12Headbutting treesRate 50%National ParkLv.10-15Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 35Lv.10-14Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 25Lv.10-14Headbutting treesRate 50%Cerulean CityLv.11-16Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 5Lv.11-16Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 6Lv.11-16Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 37Lv.12-17Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 38Lv.13-16Headbutting treesRate 50%Lake of RageLv.14-19Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 39Lv.14-17Headbutting treesRate 50%Safari Zone GateLv.14-19Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 43Lv.15-18Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 47Lv.15-18Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 48Lv.15-18Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 1Lv.2-4GrassRate 45%NightRoute 31Lv.4-5GrassSoulSilverRate 40%NightRoute 30Lv.4GrassHeartGoldRate 30%NightRoute 36Lv.13-15GrassRate 25%NightRoute 37Lv.15GrassHeartGoldRate 20%NightRoute 31Lv.5GrassHeartGoldRate 10%NightRoute 35Lv.14GrassRate 5%NightRoute 8Lv.16-19Headbutting treesRate 50%Fuchsia CityLv.21-34Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 15Lv.21-26Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 12Lv.22-25Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 13Lv.22-25Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 21Lv.24-30Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 14Lv.26-30Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 18Lv.26-30Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 26Lv.28-32Headbutting treesRate 50%Route 27Lv.28-32Headbutting treesRate 50%
- Step 2Noctowl ✓Viridian ForestLv.5-7Headbutting treesRate 50%Viridian ForestLv.7GrassRate 15%NightRoute 2 - NorthLv.7-10GrassHeartGoldRate 14%NightRoute 2 - NorthLv.7GrassSoulSilverRate 14%NightRoute 2 - SouthLv.7-10GrassHeartGoldRate 14%NightRoute 2 - SouthLv.7GrassSoulSilverRate 14%NightIlex ForestLv.6-8Headbutting treesRate 10%Route 8Lv.17-18GrassHeartGoldRate 40%NightRoute 43Lv.17GrassRate 20%NightRoute 13Lv.25GrassRate 20%NightRoute 14Lv.25GrassRate 20%NightRoute 15Lv.25GrassRate 20%NightRoute 8Lv.18GrassSoulSilverRate 10%NightRoute 47Lv.35GrassRate 20%Nightor evolve from Hoothoot (Step 1)
Bring the right balls: check Noctowl catch odds in the HeartGold & SoulSilver Catch Rate Calculator before you throw.
How to Get Shiny Noctowl in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Noctowl glides over Route 13, Route 14, and Route 15 at night, though a shiny hatches faster from Masuda breeding. Compare Shiny Noctowl odds across every game
HeartGold & SoulSilver Shiny Noctowl Calculator
2 MethodsThe best route is Masuda Method, about 1 in 1,639 on each try.
Masuda Method: Breed with a parent from a different-language game. Works on any breedable line.
Full Odds: Walk through grass, surf, or fish. Every encounter is its own independent shiny roll.
How many you have done, or plan to do.
| Chance | Encounters | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 10%lucky few | 173-- | -- |
| 25%one in four | 472-- | -- |
| 50%coin flip | 1,136-- | -- |
| 90%very likely | 3,773-- | -- |
Time assumes -- at your pace and does not change your shiny odds.
How is this calculated?
Every encounter has the same shiny chance, the Shiny Odds Per Try shown above. Each one is a separate roll that does not care how many you have already done, so the more you hunt, the higher your overall chance of at least one shiny. The formula below turns your odds and your number of tries into that combined chance.
chance after N tries = 1 − (1 − p)^N, where p = 1 / odds per try
Example at 1 in 8,192 (classic full odds): about 864 encounters for a 10 percent chance, 5,678 for 50 percent, and 18,862 for 90 percent.
The table above flips that around: it shows how many encounters it takes to reach a 10, 25, 50, and 90 percent chance at your current odds. Turning on boosts like the Shiny Charm, sandwiches, or chains improves your odds, so the encounter numbers drop.
These are estimates, not promises. Most games have no pity counter, meaning no guaranteed shiny no matter how many you hunt, so even Very Likely is not guaranteed: some hunters find one early, others go well past that point.
Planning a longer hunt? Set up Noctowl in the HeartGold & SoulSilver Shiny Odds Calculator to compare every method side by side.
Noctowl Weakness
Noctowl is weak to Electric, Ice, and Rock. 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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Ice, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground, Ghost |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
What is Noctowl Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Noctowl
 Magnezone ElectricSteel | A | |
 Ampharos Electric | C | |
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Lapras builds →Ice Beam 2x58-70% Thunderbolt 2x39-46% | ||
 Glaceon Ice | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Goldenrod City Gift) | ||
 Luxray Electric | C | |
 Plusle Electric | B | |
 Electrode Electric | B | |
Obtain MethodTeam Rocket Hq Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Electrode builds →Thunderbolt 2x57-67% Rollout 2x14-18% | ||
 Minun Electric | C | |
 Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 36 Interact Encounter | ||
 Pupitar RockGround | C | |
 Rhyhorn GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Noctowl View Rhyhorn builds →Rock Tomb 2x53-62% Ice Beam 2x20-24% Thunderbolt 2x20-24% | ||
 Graveler RockGround | C | |
 Pichu Electric | D | |
Obtain MethodIlex Forest Interact Encounter | ||
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Noctowl Evolutions
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 442 total stats. HP saw the largest single gain at +40. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Noctowl to get Hoothoot eggs easily using 31 partners from the Flying egg group. Notable egg moves include Agility, Feather Dance, Feint Attack and 6 more.
HGSS Noctowl Best Moveset
Special bulk at 100 HP and 96 Sp. Def with AbilityInsomnia blocking all sleep attempts. The moveset absorbs special attacks and supports with status. 86 Sp. Atk fires modest Psychic and Flying damage. 50 Attack and 50 Defense are the obvious holes.
Best Build
Noctowl best EVs are HP and Attack
Physical Tank Moveset
- Air Slash
- Roost
- Fly
- Hyper Beam
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Egg moves make a real difference. Noctowl gets Agility and Feather Dance exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Coverage across 7 types rounds out the picture alongside Hyper Beam and Sky Attack.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
21 of 22 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
Its eyes are specially adapted. They concentrate even faint light and enable it to see in the dark.
When it needs to think, it rotates its head 180 degrees to sharpen its intellectual power.
Noctowl HeartGold & SoulSilver Guide
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Noctowl can work for a story run. It rates C-Tier, a middle-of-the-pack pick, so the Normal/Flying typing decides whether it earns a team slot.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Noctowl plays as a support. Speed is middling, so pick your spots carefully. Fly is the primary attack.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Hardy is the go-to nature for Noctowl. Pair it with 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def EVs. Fits the support role.
Game Availability
Debuting in Gold & Silver, Noctowl appears in 17 games across 8 generations. A reliable presence in most mainline games, typically found through wild encounters.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
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 7Let's Go
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
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