Mixed
Balanced
60Speed · Below Avg

Nuzleaf Best Moveset

Grass/Dark at 60 Sp. Atk and 60 Speed. AbilityChlorophyll under sun helps the Speed but not the damage. The moveset is building toward Shiftry. One evolution from AbilityWind Rider and the mixed offenses that carve a niche.

SABCDEFEEEEEEERuby, Sapphire & EmeraldIIIRS/EPEAKDiamond, Pearl & PlatinumIVDP/PtBlack & White / B2W2VBW/B2W2X & Y / ORASVIXY/ORASSun & Moon / USUMVIISM/USUMSword & Shield / BDSPVIIISS/BDSPScarlet & Violet / Legends Z-AIXSV/LZACURRENT
Gen III — Ruby, Sapphire & EmeraldE

Nuzleaf saw minimal competitive use in Gen III (Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald). This was Nuzleaf's competitive peak. Its most popular set ran Chlorophyll with Leftovers, favoring a Lonely nature.

Received Chlorophyll and Early Bird

Best Moves

SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM46
Thief
Dark60POPULARSTAB
HM1
Cut
Normal50POPULARCoverage
TM39
Rock Tomb
Rock60POPULARCoverage
TM19
Giga Drain
Grass75POPULARSTAB

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Chlorophyll
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Nuzleaf
Lonely+ATK

Nuzleaf best EVs are Speed and Sp. Atk

EVs

Utility Moveset

  • ThiefSTAB
  • CutCoverage
  • Rock Tomb
  • Giga DrainSTAB
Gen IV — Diamond, Pearl & PlatinumE

Nuzleaf saw minimal competitive use in Gen IV (Diamond, Pearl & Platinum). Nuzleaf maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Chlorophyll with Life Orb, favoring a Adamant nature.

Physical/Special split overhauled move damage
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM31
Brick Break
Fighting75POPULARCoverage
Tutor
Seed Bomb
Grass80POPULARSTAB
TM64
Explosion
Normal250POPULARCoverage
TM80
Rock Slide
Rock75COMMONCoverage
Experimental
Physical Sweeper
Ability
Chlorophyll
Item
Life OrbPOWER
Best Nature for Nuzleaf
EVs

Physical Sweeper Moveset

  • Brick Break
  • Seed BombSTAB
  • ExplosionCoverage
  • Rock Slide
Gen V — Black & White / B2W2E

Nuzleaf saw minimal competitive use in Gen V (Black & White / B2W2). Nuzleaf maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran chlorophyll with Eviolite, favoring a Adamant nature.

Gained Pickpocket as hidden abilityHidden Abilities became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM22
Solar Beam
Grass120POPULARSTAB
Egg
Foul Play
Dark95POPULARSTAB
TM53
Energy Ball
Grass90POPULARSTAB
Tutor
Dark Pulse
Dark80POPULARSTAB
Experimental
Physical Sweeper
Ability
Chlorophyll
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Nuzleaf
EVs

Physical Sweeper Moveset

  • Solar BeamSTAB
  • Foul PlaySTAB
  • Energy BallSTAB
  • Dark PulseHazard
Gen VI — X & Y / ORASE

Nuzleaf saw minimal competitive use in Gen VI (X & Y / ORAS). Nuzleaf maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran chlorophyll with Eviolite, favoring a Modest nature.

Fairy type added to the gameMega Evolution became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM75
Swords Dance
NormalPOPULARUtility
TM97
Dark Pulse
Dark80POPULARSTAB
Tutor
Giga Drain
Grass75POPULARSTAB
TM22
Solar Beam
Grass120POPULARSTAB
Experimental
Special Tank
Ability
Chlorophyll
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Nuzleaf
Modest+SPA
EVs

Special Tank Moveset

  • Swords Dance
  • Dark PulseSTAB
  • Giga DrainSTAB
  • Solar BeamSTAB
Gen VII — Sun & Moon / USUME

Nuzleaf saw minimal competitive use in Gen VII (Sun & Moon / USUM). Nuzleaf maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran chlorophyll with Eviolite, favoring a Mild nature.

Z-Moves became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TM22
Solar Beam
Grass120POPULARSTAB
Egg
Foul Play
Dark95POPULARSTAB
TM97
Dark Pulse
Dark80POPULARSTAB
Lv 28
Leaf Blade
Grass90POPULARSTAB
Experimental
Special Sweeper
Ability
Chlorophyll
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Nuzleaf
Mild+SPA
EVs

Special Sweeper Moveset

  • Solar BeamSTAB
  • Foul PlaySTAB
  • Dark PulseSTAB
  • Leaf BladeSTAB
Gen VIII — Sword & Shield / BDSPE

Nuzleaf saw minimal competitive use in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield / BDSP). Nuzleaf maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Chlorophyll with Eviolite, favoring a Careful nature.

Gigantamax became availableDynamax became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
TR0
Swords Dance
NormalPOPULARUtility
Egg
Quick Attack
Normal40POPULARCoverage
Lv 57
Leaf Blade
Grass90POPULARSTAB
Experimental
Physical Setup Sweeper
Ability
Chlorophyll
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Nuzleaf
EVs

Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset

  • Swords Dance
  • Quick Attack
  • Leaf BladeSTAB
Gen IX — Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-AE

Nuzleaf saw minimal competitive use in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-A). Nuzleaf maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran chlorophyll with Eviolite, favoring a Adamant nature.

Terastallization became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 50
Sucker Punch
Dark70POPULARSTAB
TM181
Knock Off
Dark65POPULARSTAB
TM159
Leaf Storm
Grass130POPULARSTAB
TM190
Solar Blade
Grass125POPULARSTAB
Experimental
Physical Tank
Ability
Chlorophyll
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Nuzleaf
EVs

Physical Tank Moveset

  • Sucker PunchSTAB
  • Knock OffSTAB
  • Leaf StormSTAB
  • Solar BladeSTAB

Nuzleaf Weakness

Type-wise, Nuzleaf takes extra damage from Bug, Fire, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Flying, and Fairy. Watch out for Bug attacks, those deal 4x damage. Psychic moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. With 6 resistances, the defensive profile is strong.

Nuzleaf Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Bug
2x (Weak)Fire, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Flying, Fairy
0.5x (Resist)Water, Electric, Grass, Ground, Ghost, Dark
0x (Immune)Psychic

What is Nuzleaf Weak Against

Fragile
7Weak
6Resist
1Immune
Score-7

What is Nuzleaf Strong Against

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

Best Pokemon Against Nuzleaf

Cinderace can KO Nuzleaf with U-turn (112-132%). Kyurem's Draco Meteor hits Nuzleaf for 83-97%.

Evolution

Sitting between Seedot and Shiftry, Nuzleaf is part of a chain that requires an evolution item. Not your typical level-up setup. HP has grown the most so far (+30), but there's still another 140 stats to gain in the final evolution. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Seedot
Grass
Nuzleaf
GrassDark
Shiftry
GrassDark
HP
40
70+30
90+20
ATK
40
70+30
100+30
DEF
50
40-10
60+20
SP.ATK
30
60+30
90+30
SP.DEF
30
40+10
60+20
SPE
30
60+30
80+20
BST
220D-Tier
340D-Tier+120
480C-Tier+140
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Attacker
TYPE
Utility
Physical
Mixed

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Nuzleaf to get Seedot eggs easily using 278 partners from the Ground and Plant egg groups.

Egg Groups
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
15 cycles·3,855 steps
Quick~4 min with Flame Body
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachunidokinggolduckampharosvenusaurmeganiumtorterraroseradeserperiorrhydonludicolo

How to Get Nuzleaf

All 15 games

14 encounter spots for Nuzleaf at moderate rates starting from early-game routes. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.

Where To Catch Nuzleaf in SV

To get Nuzleaf, start by catching Seedot through walking encounters at Lv. 7-60. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.

  1. Seedot
    Step 1Catch Seedot
    Fellhorn Gorge
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Kitakami Hall
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Kitakami Wilds
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Mossfell Confluence
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Oni Mountain
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Paradise Barrens
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Revelers Road
    Lv.7-60Overworld
    Timeless Woods
    Lv.7-60Overworld
  2. Nuzleaf
    Step 2Nuzleaf
    Fellhorn Gorge
    Lv.14-60Overworld
    Kitakami Wilds
    Lv.14-60Overworld
    Mossfell Confluence
    Lv.14-60Overworld
    Oni Mountain
    Lv.14-60Overworld
    Paradise Barrens
    Lv.14-60Overworld
    Revelers Road
    Lv.14-60Overworld
    Timeless Woods
    Lv.14-60Overworld
    or evolve from Seedot (Step 1)
  3. Shiftry
    Step 3Evolve into Shiftry
    BREEDING
    Available
    Leave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Shiftry egg.

Base Stats

HP and Attack carry most of Nuzleaf's stat budget. Defense's the obvious dump stat. Common in the wild and yields 2 Attack EVs. Follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.

Base Stats
Avg
HP70
C
Attack70
C
Defense40
D
Sp. Atk60
C
Sp. Def40
D
Speed60
C
Total340
Details
Catch Rate
Moderate120 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height1.0 m
Weight28.0 kg
Base XP119
Abilities
Chlorophyll
Doubles Speed during strong sunlight.
Early Bird
Makes sleep pass twice as quickly.
PickpocketHidden Ability
Steals attacking Pokémon's held items on contact.
EV Yield
HPAtk+2DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training target
Pokedex Entry

The sound of its grass flute makes its listeners uneasy. It lives deep in the forest.

Pokemon Shining Pearl

Nuzleaf Guide

  • You can run Nuzleaf through the first few routes without issues. 340 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Shiftry as fast as you can.

Game Availability

Obtainable through an item-based evolution, Nuzleaf appears in 15 titles across 8 generations since Ruby & Sapphire. The evolution method adds a barrier that wild-catchable Pokemon don't have.

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