
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.
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.
Best Moves
Best Build
Nuzleaf best EVs are Speed and Sp. Atk
Utility Moveset
- Thief
- Cut
- Rock Tomb
- Giga Drain
Recommended Teammates
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 Sweeper Moveset
- Brick Break
- Seed Bomb
- Explosion
- Rock Slide
Recommended Teammates
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.
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Solar Beam
- Foul Play
- Energy Ball
- Dark Pulse
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.
Special Tank Moveset
- Swords Dance
- Dark Pulse
- Giga Drain
- Solar Beam
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.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Solar Beam
- Foul Play
- Dark Pulse
- Leaf Blade
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.
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Swords Dance
- Quick Attack
- Leaf Blade
Recommended Teammates
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.
Physical Tank Moveset
- Sucker Punch
- Knock Off
- Leaf Storm
- Solar Blade
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 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
FragileBest Pokemon Against Nuzleaf
Cinderace can KO Nuzleaf with U-turn (112-132%). Kyurem's Draco Meteor hits Nuzleaf for 83-97%.
Cinderace Fire | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLibero ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Nuzleaf View Cinderace builds →U Turn 4x112-132%KO Sucker Punch14-16% | ||
Kyurem DragonIce | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemLoaded Dice NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Nuzleaf View Kyurem builds →Icicle Spear 2x25-30% Draco Meteor83-97% | ||
Volcarona BugFire | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureModest Moves View Volcarona builds →
| ||
Conkeldurr Fighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityGuts ItemFlame Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Nuzleaf View Conkeldurr builds →Drain Punch 2x113-133%KO Mach Punch 2x61-72% Knock Off16-19% | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Recommended Build AbilitySheerforce ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Nuzleaf View Nidoking builds →Ice Beam 2x75-88% Flamethrower 2x75-88% | ||
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
How to Get Nuzleaf
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.
Step 1Catch SeedotFellhorn GorgeLv.7-60OverworldKitakami HallLv.7-60OverworldKitakami WildsLv.7-60OverworldMossfell ConfluenceLv.7-60OverworldOni MountainLv.7-60OverworldParadise BarrensLv.7-60OverworldRevelers RoadLv.7-60OverworldTimeless WoodsLv.7-60Overworld
Step 2Nuzleaf ✓Fellhorn GorgeLv.14-60OverworldKitakami WildsLv.14-60OverworldMossfell ConfluenceLv.14-60OverworldOni MountainLv.14-60OverworldParadise BarrensLv.14-60OverworldRevelers RoadLv.14-60OverworldTimeless WoodsLv.14-60Overworldor evolve from Seedot (Step 1)
Step 3Evolve into ShiftryBREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Shiftry egg.
moderate rates across 4 locations for Nuzleaf in endgame routes. Scroll the sorted list below and pick whichever spot sits closest to your current route. The rate differences between locations are worth comparing.
Where To Catch Nuzleaf in BDSP
The path to Nuzleaf starts with Seedot at Lv. 58-63 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch SeedotGrassland CaveLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameRiverbank CaveLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameStill-Water CavernLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameSunlit CavernLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-game
Step 2Nuzleaf ✓Grassland CaveLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameRiverbank CaveLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameStill-Water CavernLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameSunlit CavernLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameor evolve from Seedot (Step 1)
Step 3Evolve into Shiftry
high spawn rates in early-game routes across 17 locations. Nuzleaf's one of the easier catches on the list. Knock it out fast and save your time for harder targets.
Where To Catch Nuzleaf in SwSh
Seedot is your first catch on the way to Nuzleaf. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 4-40 across 25 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch SeedotWest Lake AxewellLv.8-14OverworldSwordRate 60%OvercastDappled GroveLv.11-15GrassSwordRate 40%Normal WeatherDappled GroveLv.11-15GrassSwordRate 35%Heavy FogRoute 2Lv.4-6GrassSwordRate 20%All WeatherDappled GroveLv.11-15GrassSwordRate 20%RainingDappled GroveLv.11-15GrassSwordRate 20%OvercastDappled GroveLv.11-15GrassSwordRate 20%ThunderstormRoute 2 - High LevelLv.37-40GrassSwordRate 20%All Weather
Step 2Nuzleaf ✓Rolling FieldsLv.7-9GrassSwordRate 40%RainingDappled GroveLv.13-15OverworldSwordRate 10%OvercastDappled GroveLv.13-15OverworldSwordRate 10%Intense SunDappled GroveLv.13-15OverworldSwordRate 5%SnowstormDappled GroveLv.13-15OverworldSwordRate 5%Heavy FogDappled GroveLv.13-15OverworldSwordRate 5%SnowingDappled GroveLv.13-15OverworldSwordRate 5%SandstormDappled GroveLv.13-15OverworldSwordRate 5%ThunderstormDappled GroveLv.13-15OverworldSwordRate 5%Normal WeatherDappled GroveLv.13-15OverworldSwordRate 5%RainingSouth Lake MilochLv.14-16OverworldSwordRate 5%OvercastSouth Lake MilochLv.14-16OverworldSwordRate 5%Normal WeatherGiant's CapLv.27-29GrassSwordRate 40%Normal WeatherRoute 5Lv.16-18GrassSwordRate 20%All WeatherGiant's SeatLv.30-35GrassSwordRate 15%RainingGiant's SeatLv.33-38OverworldSwordRate 60%RainingGiant's SeatLv.33-38OverworldSwordRate 25%Normal Weatheror evolve from Seedot (Step 1)
Step 3Evolve into ShiftryBREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Shiftry egg.
Nuzleaf is a fixed encounter, not a random spawn. Walk up to it, interact, and the battle starts immediately. Head to Ultra Space Wilds when your team is ready for the fight.
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.
The sound of its grass flute makes its listeners uneasy. It lives deep in the forest.
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.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB

Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS

Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RSDebut

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 7LGPE

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