Utility
Balanced
375Low
30Very Slow
CTier

While most trainers evolve Nosepass into Probopass immediately, the unevolved form has a niche with Eviolite boosting its defenses. 5 type weaknesses to keep in mind. Known as the Compass Pokemon. Can go either physical or special depending on the set.

The stat bars tell the story: Defense carries everything and HP's dead weight. But this Compass Pokemon still yields 1 Defense EV per fight on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats
375Avg
HP30
F
Attack45
D
Defense135
A
Sp. Atk45
D
Sp. Def90
B
Speed30
F
Total375
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Nosepass yields +1 Def
HPAtkDef+1SpASpDSpe
Details
Catch255GuaranteedMedium Fast1M XP1m / 3'03"97kg / 213.8 lbs75Base XP
Pokedex Entries

Its magnetic nose always faces north and draws iron objects to its body to protect itself better.

Black 2 / White 2

Nosepass Weakness

Fragile

Nosepass's Rock typing leaves it vulnerable to Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, and Steel moves. The Rock typing picks up 4 resistances to work with. Nosepass's physical bulk (base 135 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

Gen V Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
4xCriticali
None
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
5Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Scorei-6
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
SturdyPrevents being KOed from full HP, leaving 1 HP instead. Protects against the one-hit KO moves regardless of HP.
Magnet PullPrevents steel opponents from fleeing or switching out.
Sand ForceHAStrengthens rock, ground, and steel moves to 1.3× their power during a sandstorm. Protects against sandstorm damage.

To get Probopass from Nosepass, you need an evolution item. The evolution method matters here. The evolved forms gain up to 150 total stats over Nosepass.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Nosepass
Rock
Probopass
RockSteel
HP
30
60+30
ATK
45
55+10
DEF
135
145+10
SP.ATK
45
75+30
SP.DEF
90
150+60
SPE
30
40+10
BST
375C-Tier
525B-Tier+150
ROLE
Balanced
Support
TYPE
Utility
Special
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed Nosepass easily from the Mineral egg group. Pass egg moves like Block, Double-Edge, Endure and 3 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
Mineral
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
6moves

Berryjuice and Sturdy form the backbone. Nosepass invests max HP and Defense EVs to play its defensive wall role properly, and Impish nature pushes Defense higher. Painsplit handles the heavy lifting on offense. Utility options rounds it out.

Best Build

Wall
Ability
Sturdy
Item
BerryjuiceRECOVERY
Nature
Impish+DEF
EVs

Best Nosepass Moveset

  • Pain Split
  • ToxicUtility
  • ProtectFAST +4
  • Rock BlastSTAB

You'll want to breed for Block and Double-Edge on Nosepass. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Head Smash and Stone Edge, they expand what Nosepass can actually threaten in practice.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Tackle
5010035Normal
Lv 4
Harden
30Normal
Lv 8
Block
5Normal
Lv 11
Rock Throw
509015Rock
Lv 15
Thunder Wave
10020Electric
Lv 18
Rock Blast
259010Rock
Lv 22
Rest
10Psychic
Lv 25
Spark
6510020Electric
Lv 29
Rock Slide
759010Rock
Lv 32
Power Gem
7010020Rock
Lv 36
Sandstorm
10Rock
Lv 39
Discharge
8010015Electric
Lv 43
Earth Power
9010010Ground
Lv 46
Stone Edge
100805Rock
Lv 50
Lock-On
5Normal
Lv 50
Zap Cannon
120505Electric

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM78
Bulldoze
6010020Ground
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM26
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM64
Explosion
2501005Normal
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM69
Rock Polish
20Rock
TM80
Rock Slide
759010Rock
TM94
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM39
Rock Tomb
609510Rock
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM37
Sandstorm
10Rock
TM23
Smack Down
5010015Rock
TM71
Stone Edge
100805Rock
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM87
Swagger
9015Normal
TM12
Taunt
10020Dark
TM25
Thunder
1207010Electric
TM73
Thunder Wave
10020Electric
TM24
Thunderbolt
9510015Electric
TM41
Torment
10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
9010Poison
TM72
Volt Switch
7010020Electric

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Block
5Normal
Egg
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
Egg
Endure+4
10Normal
Egg
Magnitude
10030Ground
Egg
Rollout
309020Rock
Egg
Stealth Rock
20Rock

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Block
5Normal
Tutor
Earth Power
9010010Ground
Tutor
Fire Punch
7510015Fire
Tutor
Gravity
5Psychic
Tutor
Ice Punch
7510015Ice
Tutor
Iron Defense
15Steel
Tutor
Magic Coat+4
15Psychic
Tutor
Magnet Rise
10Electric
Tutor
Pain Split
20Normal
Tutor
Sleep Talk
10Normal
Tutor
Snore
4010015Normal
Tutor
Stealth Rock
20Rock
Tutor
Thunder Punch
7510015Electric

Transfer Moves

Src
Gen 4
Ancient Power
601005Rock
Gen 3
Body Slam
8510015Normal
Gen 4
Captivate
10020Normal
Gen 3
Defense Curl
40Normal
Gen 3
Dynamic Punch
100505Fighting
Gen 4
Head Smash
150805Rock
Gen 4
Headbutt
7010015Normal
Gen 3
Mimic
10Normal
Gen 4
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
Gen 4
Natural Gift
10015Normal
Gen 4
Secret Power
7010020Normal
Gen 4
Shock Wave
6020Electric

decent spawn rates for Nosepass across 14 locations in mid-game routes. Nothing complicated. Check the sorted list below, compare the top few options, and head to whichever is closest.

Best Locations

Which version you're playing matters for Nosepass. 14 walking spots at Lv. 27-57 spread across Black 2 and White 2, and some routes only appear in one cartridge. Check the version badges below.

Chargestone Cave - 1F
Black 2GrassLv.27UncommonMidCaveAny
EASY
Chargestone Cave - 1F
White 2GrassLv.27UncommonMidCaveAny
EASY
Chargestone Cave - B1F
Black 2GrassLv.30UncommonMidCaveAny
EASY
Chargestone Cave - B1F
White 2GrassLv.30UncommonMidCaveAny
EASY
Chargestone Cave - B2F
White 2GrassLv.30UncommonMidCaveAny
EASY
Chargestone Cave - B2F
Black 2GrassLv.30UncommonMidCaveAny
EASY
Clay Tunnel - Room 1
White 2GrassLv.55-57UncommonPostCaveAny
EASY
Clay Tunnel - Room 1
Black 2GrassLv.55-57UncommonPostCaveAny
EASY
Clay Tunnel - Room 2
White 2GrassLv.55-57UncommonPostCaveAny
EASY
Clay Tunnel - Room 2
Black 2GrassLv.55-57UncommonPostCaveAny
EASY
Clay Tunnel - Room 3
Black 2GrassLv.55-57UncommonPostCaveAny
EASY
Clay Tunnel - Room 3
White 2GrassLv.55-57UncommonPostCaveAny
EASY
Underground Ruins - All areas
Black 2GrassLv.55-57UncommonPostRuinsAny
EASY
Underground Ruins - All areas
White 2GrassLv.55-57UncommonPostRuinsAny
EASY
  • At 375 BST, Nosepass is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Probopass before bringing it to any serious fight.

  • Watch for Milotic (Water), Venusaur (Grass), and Hitmonlee (Fighting) when using Nosepass. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Ground and Steel-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter. At base 30 Speed, Nosepass won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.

  • Nosepass evolves into Probopass using a Thunder Stone. Nosepass is the base form of this evolutionary line.

  • Sturdy prevents being KOed from full HP, leaving 1 HP instead — that's the one you want on Nosepass. Sand Force is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses. Magnet Pull works too if your team needs something different.

  • Nosepass is leaning toward the physical side (base 45 Attack). Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 30 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go.

  • Nosepass appears in 15 games, including Ruby & Sapphire, FireRed & LeafGreen, and Emerald.

Since Ruby & Sapphire, Nosepass has been in 15 games. Requiring an item-based evolution to obtain means it's consistently available but requires more effort than simply catching it in the wild.