The stat bars tell the story: Defense carries everything and Sp. Def's dead weight. But this Earthworm Pokemon still yields 2 Defense EVs per fight on a slow 1.25M XP grind.
When attacked, this Pokémon will wield the tendrils on its body like fists and pelt the opponent with a storm of punches.
This Pokémon lives in arid deserts. It maintains its metal body by consuming iron from the soil.
Orthworm is weak to Fire, Fighting, and Ground. On the flip side, it's immune to Poison-type moves entirely. It resists 10 types, so it can switch into a lot of moves safely. Orthworm's physical bulk (base 145 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Fighting, Ground |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Grass, Ice, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Dragon, Steel, Fairy |
| 0x (Immune) | Poison |
Donphan's Earthquake hits Orthworm for 49-58%.
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Orthworm View Donphan builds →Earthquake 2x49-58% Rapid Spin4-5% Knock Off11-13% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityThickfat ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Orthworm View Snorlax builds →Body Slam10-11% | ||
 Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPrankster ItemLightclay NatureImpish Moves View Grimmsnarl builds →
| ||
 ClodsireIgnores boosts via Unaware, recovers with Recover, threatens with High Horsepower PoisonGround | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityWaterabsorb ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Orthworm View Clodsire builds →Earthquake 2x33-39% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityAftermath ItemRocky Helmet NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Orthworm View Skuntank builds →Knock Off16-19% Sucker Punch18-21% | ||
Breeding is the whole story for Orthworm. A massive partner pool through one egg group, eggs are slow to hatch, and you won't need to evolve anything. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Orthworm with 278 breeding partners from the Ground egg group.
Orthworm's job is getting Stealth Rock up and staying on the field. Leftovers provides passive recovery each turn, Eartheater helps it stick around, and max HP and Sp. Def EVs prioritize longevity.
Best Build
Orthworm best EVs are HP and Sp. Def
Hazard Setter Moveset
- Body Press
- Stealth Rock
- Heavy Slam
- Coil
Recommended Teammates
Physical Tank Moveset
- Body Press
- Stealth Rock
- Coil
- Heavy Slam
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Hazard Setter Moveset
- Body Press
- Protect
- Stealth Rock
- Shed Tail
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Bulky Support Moveset
- Body Press
- Shed Tail
- Iron Defense
- Heavy Slam
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Most of Orthworm's flexibility comes from TMs. Same-type output runs through Steel Beam and Iron Tail, but Normal and Ground and the rest of the TM pool push it from predictable to genuinely threatening.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
low spawn rates is the best you'll get on Orthworm in mid-game routes. Use the sort toggle below. Best shows where the odds peak, Earliest shows where you can access it soonest in your playthrough.
Best Locations to Catch Orthworm in Scarlet & Violet
Which version you're playing matters for Orthworm. 6 walking spots at Lv. 22-65 spread across Violet and Scarlet, and some routes only appear in one cartridge. Check the version badges below.
Orthworm brings 480 BST to the table. B-Tier on our list: a solid choice for the right team. That 145 base Defense does the heavy lifting.
Earth Eater is the go-to ability for Orthworm. It restores HP when hit by a Ground-type move. Its hidden ability Sand Veil can work in specific setups.
Orthworm is a physical attacker with base 85 Attack. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. At base 65 Speed, it won't be moving first often.
The core moveset is Bodypress, Stealth Rock, Heavyslam, and Coil. Bodypress leads at 19% usage. Coil lets it set up before sweeping.
Since Scarlet & Violet, Orthworm has been obtainable in 1 games. A Generation 9 debut means a shorter history, but Orthworm has appeared steadily across every generation since.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SVDebut
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves